Malrik looked at her condition and sighed.
"Stubborn girl, I just wish you could continue your life without all these ridiculous goals you've set for yourself," he said as he gently carried her to the entrance of the arena and headed toward her room.
As soon as both of them left the arena, three figures suddenly appeared in the sky. All three of them were old men who were looking in the direction Malrik had left from
The man on the right suddenly asked: "Am I the only one who felt the strangeness of his aura?"
The man at the center replied, "I felt it too; it's as though a certain power currently dwells in his body, but it doesn't seem to be causing any harm to the boy."
The one on the right kept silent, but his expression showed that he was deep in thought.
"But it seems he's growing very well despite being sent to that place to suffer," the old man at the center said
The man who hadn't spoken since Malrik left finally spoke, "Isolde's willpower is exceptional. I see why Elowen loves her so much. Making her a disciple wasn't a bad decision."
After he said this, the remaining two nodded in agreement before they vanished.
Morning came quietly.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Valdis' room, casting soft golden lines across the polished floor. The estate had already stirred to life, but within his chamber, there was only stillness.
Valdis opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, he lay there, unmoving, his mind clear—untouched by the events of the previous night. Unknown to him, the clash between Malrik and Isolde had stirred the attention of figures whose presence alone could shake the foundations of the Ebonhart House.
And Valdis knew nothing of it.
He exhaled softly and sat up without hesitation.
As he rose from the bed and headed straight for the bath. Moments later, the sound of running water filled the room. Steam rose, curling gently through the air as he washed away the fatigue of the previous day. When he emerged, his expression was calm, focused—sharper than before.
He dressed quickly and left his room, but instead of heading toward the training grounds like the day before, he turned and headed in the opposite direction.
The corridors of the estate were alive now, as Servants moved with quiet urgency, knights passed in measured strides, and the atmosphere carried the disciplined rhythm of a powerful household in motion.
As he walked past the servants, each of them bowed and greeted him, but Valdis walked through it all without pause. His destination was clear.
The patriarch's office.
Duke Draven sat behind his desk, reviewing documents, when the door opened. He lifted his gaze to see who had just entered his office so casually.
Seeing the person who had just entered, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Valdis?"
He hadn't expected him, not this early, and definitely not today.
He set the document aside, leaned back slightly, and asked
"What brings you here?"
Valdis stepped forward, his posture straight.
"I want to attempt a breakthrough to the Meridian Opening Realm?"
Hearing this, Duke Draven's eyes narrowed slightly.
Seeing his expression, he continued
"I'd like to use the Ebonhart training chambers."
Silence filled the room, and for the first time, the duke was genuinely surprised.
"You're nine, even your brother, as big a monster as he was, broke through to the meridian opening realm at eleven."
The words came out slowly, as though he were trying to believe them as they came out of his mouth.
Valdis didn't respond; he simply stood there staring at his father with an unwavering gaze.
Draven, in turn, studied him carefully, then he exhaled.
The surprise had faded to be replaced by thought, then acceptance.
"You reached the peak of Body Refinement during your awakening," he said. "At that point, this was inevitable."
He stood and said
"If you're attempting it, then you'll do it properly."
He walked around the desk.
"The training chambers will give you the best possible environment."
They immediately left the office and began moving, his voice continued.
"They are constructed with layered array formations, all connected to high-grade aether stones."
Valdis listened quietly.
"The formations purify the aether in the air," Draven continued, "and increase its density far beyond what you'd find naturally, except you find some blessed lands."
Soon they stepped into the corridor, and servants and guards immediately lowered their heads in respect.
"Patriarch."
Duke Draven acknowledged them with a slight nod.
Nothing more.
"If you break through in such an environment," he continued, "the dense aether will temper your meridians during their formation, giving you a sturdier foundation than most."
Valdis's eyes sharpened slightly as he heard that.
"It will also strengthen your blood vessels," Draven added, "and reinforce your heart, which you'll need if you intend to properly utilize your bloodline energy in the future."
Valdis understood immediately.
This wasn't just about breaking through; it was about how he broke through, as it would pave the way for future breakthroughs. If done wrongly, future breakthroughs will be significantly harder.
So, creating a solid foundation was extremely important as it concerned future growth.
They continued walking deeper into the estate, towards the Aether Training Hall.
The hall stood apart from the rest of the estate, looking extremely massive with an ancient aura around it.
Its very structure radiated a faint, almost imperceptible pressure, evidence of the power of the formations embedded deep within its foundation.
They entered.
At the front desk, an old woman sat quietly reading a book, so she didn't look up and didn't notice their arrival.
Duke Draven stopped and said
"Prepare the top chamber."
The words were simple, but they carried the weight of authority
The old woman froze, and slowly she lowered her book. Her eyes shifted upward and landed on him.
And immediately she shot to her feet
"P-Patriarch!" she said, her voice trembling
She bowed deeply, her expression tightening with urgency.
"I—I'll prepare it immediately—"
"No need," he said
His words seemed to have frozen her limbs in place as she looked at him
Draven, on the other hand, wasted no words as he stepped forward, reached out, and took a key from the desk, before he said
"I'll handle it."
She didn't dare object.
"Yes, Patriarch!"
Without another word, he turned and walked towards the inner area of the hall.
Valdis immediately followed.
They didn't take the usual path. Instead, they moved through a quieter passage—one less traveled, more isolated.
Soon, they arrived at the top chamber. Duke Draven swiftly inserted the key and opened the door.
The interior of the training chamber was vast, far larger than Valdis expected.
The room was circular, its walls lined with an intricate array of inscriptions that pulsed faintly with a soft blue glow. At the center was a raised platform, carved from a smooth, dark stone that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
Above them, the ceiling formed a dome, layered with complex formation patterns that converged toward a single point.
Like a pyramid inverted into the sky.
The air in the chamber felt different. It felt dense and pure.
With every breath, he felt his body getting lighter, and all the lingering stress of the previous day's training vanished.
Valdis felt it immediately.
His body reacted instinctively, his senses sharpening as the aether in the air brushed against his skin like a tangible force.
Duke Draven finally stepped inside and said
"The entire hall operates under a massive ancient formation," he said. "It gathers aether from outside and compresses it in a pyramidal manner."
He gestured downwards.
"The lower levels receive the least concentration while the top chamber receives the highest."
Valdis's gaze remained steady.
"All rooms have smaller formations within them," Draven continued. "You can activate them using the key."
He handed it over.
"The formation will run for the duration assigned to you, and after that, they will stop."
Valdis took it.
"So how long do we have?" he asked
Draven looked at him and said
"The top chamber has no time limit as it's reserved for individuals of high authority—Grand Elders… and myself."
Valdis's eyes flickered.
"Meaning?"
"You can stay as long as you need," Draven said
Silence.
For the first time, Valdis was slightly taken aback.
But only for a moment before he replied, "Understood."
Duke Draven, seeing this, nodded and began walking towards the door. He opened it and said
"I'll be outside. If you need any help, just call me. But for now, focus on your breakthrough."
After saying that, he left, closing the door behind him.
Silence returned as Valdis stood alone in the chamber.
The air pressed gently against him.
He exhaled slowly before he moved, stepping onto the center platform.
Raised the key and activated the formations.
The inscriptions around the room lit up as the aether in the air surged, condensing rapidly and thickening with each passing second.
Valdis didn't hesitate; he reached into his spatial ring and brought out two objects.
One was the core of the blood-devouring tree, the strange instructor he encountered at the end of the first phase of the trial had gifted him.
The other was the Blazing Meridian fruit from Instructor Alaric.
He looked at them briefly before he sat down cross-legged, placing the two cores before him. Before he closed his eyes and began meditation to calm his mind, he had a breakthrough