The air was still damp with morning dew as I followed Leonel to the family training grounds. Unlike usual, I heard no complaints or curses from his lips. The Young Master simply walked calmly, his face serious, as if truly preparing himself for something.
In the center of the field, Instructor Gareth was waiting. The man stood with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes evaluating Leonel's every move as he approached.
"Starting today, you will train under my supervision," Gareth said without preamble. "I care not for rumors or your excuses. If you cannot show tangible results, all of this is a waste of time."
Leonel nodded. "I understand."
I stood at the edge of the field, my heart pounding.
The training began with the most fundamental task: cultivating aura through breathing. Gareth instructed Leonel to sit cross-legged, close his eyes, and direct his life energy into his core.
"Focus. Feel the flow within your blood. Control your breath, draw aura from the air, and unite it with your own strength."
The instruction sounded simple, but I knew full well: for someone without talent, this was impossible. For years, Leonel had tried, but the result was always zero.
Yet that morning… something was different.
I watched Leonel's chest rise and fall rhythmically. The air around him seemed to vibrate faintly, as if being slowly drawn into his body.
In a short time, that faint glow appeared around him again. Thin, but stable.
Gareth raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Hmph. Not bad… for a start."
I held my breath. I had never seen Leonel focus like that before.
The next exercise was basic aura swordsmanship. Gareth handed him a wooden sword, then stood in front of Leonel.
"Basic slash. No technique, no excessive flair. Just aura and discipline."
Leonel nodded, then swung the sword. His slash was simple, but a thin light of aura followed the wooden blade, leaving a faint trace in the air.
Gareth narrowed his eyes. "Again."
Leonel repeated it. Once, twice, three times. Each slash became neater, more consistent.
At the edge of the field, I felt my throat go dry. I knew Leonel was no born genius. But this progress… was too fast.
How could someone who had been incapable for so long suddenly train as if he were accustomed to it?
[Leonel's POV]
The wooden sword felt unfamiliar in my hand, but my mind was calm. In my head, the mechanical voice of the System kept speaking.
[Skill Unlocked: Aura Breathing Lv.1]
[Skill Acquired: Basic Swordsmanship Lv.1]
[Passive Activated: Accelerated Learning – Efficiency +50%]
I could feel the energy pathways in my body as clearly as a map. Every breath, every sword movement, everything was automatically corrected by the constant notifications.
"So this is what it feels like to have a cheat…" I muttered to myself.
I looked at the instructor who kept watching me with assessing eyes. I knew, for them, this was just the beginning. But for me, this was a chance to surpass the limits of this body.
[Rian's POV]
The training continued until the sun was almost at its peak. Sweat poured profusely from Leonel's body, but his eyes never lost their sharpness.
Instructor Gareth finally signaled to stop. "Enough for today. You… are better than I expected. But don't get arrogant. Your path is still long."
Leonel nodded, then bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Instructor."
I jogged over with a towel. Leonel took it and gave a faint smile. "Thank you, Rian."
I bowed my head, but inside, I grew more confused.
Who exactly was my Young Master now?
On the way back, I couldn't resist asking. "Young Master… how did you change so quickly? Today's training… it was almost as if you were already used to it."
Leonel glanced at me, his eyes calm. "Sometimes, we just need to look from a different perspective. If we keep doing the same things the old way, the results will be the same too."
I fell silent. Those words… weren't something that usually came from the mouth of a spoiled noble. They sounded more like the philosophy of someone who had seen much failure in life.
I bowed my head, clutching the towel still damp with his sweat.
This change made me more certain than ever.
Leonel Kaelthorn was no longer the Young Master I knew.
And if I wasn't careful… I might be the only one who could realize this truth.
That night, while Leonel rested, I stood outside his room. I stared at the large wooden door, my chest feeling heavy.
In the past, I was just a servant trying to survive my master's wrath. But now… for some reason, I felt pulled into something far greater.
My Young Master had changed.
And that change… could bring either glory or ruin.