Aron woke up with a sharp pain running through his whole body.
His arms felt heavy. His legs refused to move. Even turning on the bed hurt.
He took a slow breath.
Yesterday... I pushed too much.
Still, he tried to sit up.
Instantly, a wave of pain hit him and he clenched his teeth.
"Merl... how is my progress?" he asked in his mind.
A calm voice answered.
"Your body is very weak right now because you forced it yesterday.
But if you keep training like this every day for one month, you will build a perfect foundation for the martial path."
Aron blinked in surprise.
"A perfect foundation... in one month?"
"Yes," Merl said. "But you must follow a strict routine. No skipping. No excuses."
Aron nodded slowly.
"Tell me the routine."
"Morning - light stretching and body awakening
Midday - stance practice
Afternoon - stamina training
Evening - basic martial movements
Night - Emperor's Breath to calm the body
Repeat this every day for one month."
Aron looked at his shaking hands.
This was not easy.
This body was still a child's body.
But he had already decided he would not waste this second chance.
I never had a good foundation in my past life. I grew fast but fell fast too. Not this time.
He pushed himself up from the bed, each movement painful but possible.
"Alright," he whispered. "I will follow this plan."
He took a slow breath using Emperor's Breath. Warm energy spread through his muscles, easing the pain a little.
Not enough to make him strong.
But enough to stand.
He dressed simply and opened the door.
The house was quiet.
His father was still away dealing with the monster hoard.
Davin and Robin were with him.
Only Rina Velaris stayed at home.
Aron walked through the silent hallway with sore steps.
Another hard day was waiting for him.
But he was ready.
Aron walked slowly toward the dining hall, every step stiff from last night's training.
When he entered, he saw Rina Velaris already sitting at the table, eating quietly.
Her eyes lit up when she saw him.
"You woke up early again," she said with a bright smile.
"You really are changing, Aron. I'm happy you're working hard now."
Aron gave a small nod and sat down. His body still hurt, but he tried not to show it.
Rina leaned forward a little.
"By the way, I have good news. Mom's research finally succeeded."
Aron paused. "Research? Which one?"
Rina's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"She found a way to increase mana permanently. With training and a new potion she made, anyone can raise their mana capacity. It will help our empire a lot."
Aron blinked slowly.
The memory hit him like a wave.
That potion… the whole empire celebrated it.
Countless mages broke through their limits because of it.
Even I used it. It helped me grow faster in my past life…
He stared at the table for a moment, lost in thought.
Rina kept talking happily.
"They said it will be tested in the capital soon. If it works as expected, Mom will become famous all over the continent."
Aron smiled softly.
"Mom worked hard. She deserves it."
Rina nodded proudly.
"Of course. She never stops researching."
Aron looked at her, and then at his food.
Everything was different this time.
He was training hard.
Rina was smiling more.
Mom's research had succeeded earlier than he remembered.
Maybe… this life really can change.
He took a quiet breath and finished his meal.
After breakfast, he stood up.
"I'll start training again," Aron said.
Rina laughed lightly.
"I knew you'd say that."
Aron stepped out of the dining hall with one thought in his mind:
I will protect this family… no matter what.
After breakfast, Aron and Rina walked to the training ground together.
The morning was peaceful, bright, and quiet.
They began their training side by side.
Rina swung her wooden sword in smooth, perfect arcs.
Aron focused on stretching, stances, and balance.
As they trained, they talked more freely than ever before.
For the first time, Aron felt something new.
Something he had never allowed himself to feel in his past life.
Warmth.
Family.
Connection.
Rina glanced at him and said with a smile, "Your posture is getting better. Good job, brother."
Aron paused for a moment.
Brother.
The word hit him gently but deeply.
He had spent his past life shut inside books, avoiding people, barely speaking to his own family.
But now, talking with Rina, he saw how bright she really was.
How innocent.
How kind.
How she always cared for him, even when he ignored her.
He looked at her and said quietly:
"You know... I'm really lucky to have a sister like you."
Rina stopped mid-swing.
Her ears turned a little red.
She looked at him like he had said something unbelievable.
"What are you saying?" she asked.
"Stop saying weird things. Are you sick?"
Aron blinked. "No, I'm fine."
Rina puffed her cheeks slightly and faced away.
"Then don't talk like that out of nowhere. It's embarrassing."
But even as she said that, her hands trembled slightly, and her next sword swing was a little faster, a little brighter.
Aron smiled softly.
She is such an innocent soul.
And this time... I won't let anything happen to her.
He watched her train, knowing how strong she would become.
Knowing how she died in his past life.
Knowing how much he had lost.
His chest tightened with silent resolve.
Never again.
He clenched his fists.
Rina... this time, I will protect you. Whatever it takes.
Beside him, Rina continued swinging her sword, pretending nothing happened, but her ears stayed red for a long time.
Aron and Rina were still training when the door to the training ground opened softly.
A gentle voice floated in.
"Good morning, you two."
Both turned toward the entrance.
Standing there was Lady Seris, their father's third wife.
She wore a simple white robe, her long hair tied loosely behind her. Her calm smile made the whole training ground feel warmer.
Rina's face lit up.
"Lady Seris!"
She ran forward and hugged her tightly.
Seris laughed softly and hugged her back.
Then her eyes landed on Aron.
She smiled at him with genuine warmth.
"Our little prince is working hard today. Good."
Aron felt a sudden flicker of embarrassment.
He was a grown man inside, but to her, he was still a child.
"I'm just trying to improve myself," he said quietly.
Seris nodded gently.
"That is good. Seeing you train like this makes me happy."
Rina pulled back from the hug and asked quickly:
"You came back from Brintal Kingdom already? You were gone for so many days!"
Seris let out a soft sigh.
"Yes, the black death was spreading fast there. The king requested help, so I had to go."
She placed a gentle hand on Rina's head.
"My healing ability was needed to contain the sickness. Many soldiers were in danger."
Aron lowered his eyes.
In my past life, she always rushed to heal others first.
A healer with huge mana, always pushing herself.
Too kind. Too trusting. Too soft for a cruel world.
Seris continued in a calm voice.
"The worst part is under control now. It should not spread further."
Rina smiled proudly.
"You're amazing, Lady Seris!"
Seris chuckled and tapped Rina's forehead lightly.
"I just did what I had to. Nothing more."
Aron watched her quietly.
Lady Seris was not his mother, but she was always kind to him.
Never harsh.
Never unfair.
She treated all the children gently, even if she wasn't their birth mother.
And in his past life, her caring nature often put her in danger.
People took advantage of her.
She trusted too easily.
She always walked into places she shouldn't, just because someone needed help.
This time… I won't let you get hurt.
Seris smiled at both of them.
"I'll prepare something warm to drink. Continue your training."
Rina nodded happily.
Aron said politely, "Thank you, Lady Seris."
Seris gave them one last warm smile before leaving the training ground.
As soon as she left, Rina whispered:
"She's always worried about us."
Aron looked at the doorway.
"Yes," he said softly.
After Lady Seris left the training ground, the air became quiet again.
Only the sound of Rina's sword and Aron's breathing echoed softly.
Aron wiped sweat from his forehead and looked at his trembling hands.
Am I doing something wrong with Emperor's Breath?
Why is my mastery still stuck?
What if I'm not using it enough?
A strange thought hit him.
What if I try using Emperor's Breath during exercise... not after it?
Morning, evening, night... every time I move?
The idea made his heart thump.
It sounded insane.
Dangerous.
But also... possible.
Aron took a deep breath.
"Let's try."
He positioned himself and began his stance practice.
At the same time, he activated Emperor's Breath.
Slow inhale.
Steady exhale.
Mana flowed through his limbs as they moved.
The result was immediate.
His body felt heavier.
His lungs burned faster.
Sweat poured down his face.
But it was manageable.
Difficult... but not impossible.
He pushed through it.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
By fifteen minutes, his whole body shook.
His arms felt like iron.
His legs nearly buckled.
But he didn't stop.
If I can perfect this... if I can train and regulate my breath at the same time... my foundation will become even stronger.
His breathing grew rough, but Emperor's Breath stabilized the pain each time he nearly fell.
He kept going.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Trying to match every movement with perfect breathing.
Trying to make the technique flow with his body instead of after training.
For the first time, he felt a small shift inside him.
Not a level-up.
Not a breakthrough.
Just something... smoother.
Something right.
Aron smiled faintly through the pain.
"This might be it..."
He continued until his muscles refused to move, and only then allowed himself to collapse onto the ground, panting heavily.
I will perfect this.
No matter how hard it gets.
The moon was rising again by the time he ended.
A full day of training behind him.
A new path ahead.