Volume 3, Chapter 7: Testing the Rival
The morning sun bathed the capital city in golden light. Cael strolled through the streets, shadows flickering faintly at his feet.
> "Master… Kaelen is observing closely," Selene whispered.
> "Good," Cael replied calmly.
"It is time we test him… just enough to pique his curiosity."
Subtle Demonstrations
Cael allowed small hints of Absolute Atomic power to slip:
A street performer's magical display misfired subtly, corrected instantly by an unseen force, leaving Kaelen puzzled.
A merchant's cart teetered dangerously, but shadows stabilized it mid-fall, invisible to everyone else.
When Kaelen tried to sense Cael's aura directly, he felt only a faint ripple, like a shadow brushing across dimensions.
> "Impossible…" Kaelen muttered, frustration and intrigue mixing.
"He should be weak… yet… there's power here."
The Shadow Game
Cael smiled faintly, allowing Selene and the Seven Shadows to move in subtle synchronization, protecting him and observing Kaelen.
> "Patience," Cael whispered.
"Every step he takes, every attempt he makes, reveals a little more… about his mind, his will, his limits."
Kaelen continued to chase these fleeting traces, unaware of the multiversal-level control Cael held over the city and even reality itself.
Every encounter left Kaelen more intrigued, more obsessed with uncovering the "truth" behind the weak noble student.
A Calm Declaration
> "He must see only shadows," Cael murmured,
"and yet feel the weight of Absolute Atomic… without ever knowing the full scope. That is the perfect lesson."
The sun set over the city. To all but Kaelen, Cael remained just another noble student but in truth, Absolute Atomic observed, tested, and controlled everything from the shadows, preparing for the rival who dared to sense him.