One week had passed since Adonis had established a new order with brother Caius.
The castle on Mars 2 had returned to its familiar rhythm, its cold winds scraping against stone, the occasional distant echoes of steel on steel from the training hall, servants moving with quiet efficiency along the castle. They were barely noticed but always attentive to the castle, and the lords and warriors that resided in it.
But beneath it all, something had shifted. The hierarchy among the Blud children had subtly, and irrevocably changed.
Adonis sat alone in his chamber, legs crossed, his spine straight, his arms resting on his thighs. The room was moderately lit by the glow of the hearth, and the pale light reflecting off the frozen lake beyond the crystal window. Snow fell in slow, steady spirals outside, coating the world in white.
He breathed in and out. Slowly. An the mana answered his call.
It flowed toward him more readily now, no longer resisting his call. What had once been like pulling water through a open hand, now felt like guiding water along a channel. The translucent aura around his body thickened, becoming visible even to the naked eye, a faint, shimmering distortion that bent the air around his small form.
Jonathan felt it immediately. It was so much easier now.
The mana absorption process no longer strained at his nerves or left his chest tight with exhaustion. Instead, it settled into him, expanding his reserves without backlash or pain. His body and soul accepted it. But his soul was yet to recognize it.
My teacher said that when I get past the first gate of mana absorption, I shouldn't have to worry about quick exhaustion from using spells. Then my rudimentary spells will become stronger, and more efficient.
I would then be considered a high level rudimentary magic user. Which is still very respected in all galaxies. But my teacher said to her that's just being a passable mage. She said the next level to mana absorption, that separates the good from the greats, is mana purification.
She said this is the process of using mana to cleanse the body of impurities. It's based off a eastern practice, but is a lot harder to do in real life. A magic user will have to absorb the magic around them and concentrate it in their body. One mana spec at a time until all the mana in them is purified. This process also clears the body of impurities as well, which makes the body alot stronger and resilient. The result will also be extended life, and higher quality of mana, to even larger mana reserve.
Jonathan new he was nowhere close to hitting the first stage of mana purification, at most he would probably have a large mana reserve and powerful output. His teacher did say it's better to increase my mana reserves while I'm young, then by the time I'm older, I should start the process.
She said if someone started eight, she would tell them to start the purification process at twelve. But she says that's if she can find a genius, and besides her that hasn't happen yet. Good thing I am a transmigrator and regressor. I'm gonna build my mana reserve at five, and start the mana purification process at ten.
With that much time spent on building my mana reserves, and strengthen my spell proficiencies. I should be able to hit the, high rudimentary magic user level, by the time I am at least twelve or thirteen. If I keep up with my battle skills I should be able to enter the advance Agoge class.
The advance Agoge class, is for Spartan trainees who show skills above the rest. If you enter this even as a clanless or regular kid, then you have a chance of become a officer or at least a high ranking elite Spartan warrior. But if your part of the Blud Clan or one of its branch houses, you have the availability, no the duty of becoming a reserved officer.
Reserved Officers are future Blud Clan officers in waiting. They leave new Sparta to travel the universe on missions for the Clan and branch houses. From hunting magical species to use in magical experiments, potions, weapons, rituals, and taming.
Some mission could range from assassination, reconnaissance, and aiding a rival house or pantheon. The enemy of my enemy is not my current enemy. And as long as they have the money and something of value, a Spartan reserve officer can be hired. While a member of house Blud is a reserve officer, they cannot use the backing of the family or any special treatment. They go off into the universe to prove their strength and gain accomplishments of many kind.
Sometimes lesser gods or other entities, will find and form contracts with them, or bless them with boons. But Jonathan wants to join the advanced Agoge class for the freedom. He will be allowed to leave the planet. But he would have to be in the class and be at least fifteen before he could be considered for reserved officer status. That way he can gain more information, even meet the MC of the story, or find the boons of the gods, or take on trials of the gods. he would have until he's twenty one to prove himself.
But I'm not concerned with that for now.
Jonathan then steadied his mind. After several long breaths, the mana aura faded, dissolving into the air as if it had never been there.
Adonis opened his eyes. Sweat coated his face, his suit caught the rest of the liquid from the other parts of his body. But his tunic was starting to make him feel hot, but he wasn't gasping for air. He was happy his heart was beating steadily. His limbs felt heavy, but not weak.
That alone told him everything. In his previous life, pushing this far would have left him shaking on the floor and struggling to get up. Now, it barely slowed him.
He rose to his feet and stepped toward the wooden training post anchored near the far wall. The runes carved into its surface glowed faintly.
Adonis didn't hesitate. He began to move and practice his technique sequences. It was a seven-count sequence.
Left jab.
Right jab.
Left hook.
Right cross.
Left kick.
Right hook.
Left uppercut.
The post shuddered with each strike, runes flaring briefly as they absorbed and returned force. The shock setting sent pulses of pain through his limbs with each impact, biting into muscle and bone alike, but he didn't break rhythm.
Again.
Again
And again.
Adonis's movements were controlled, precise. No wasted motion. No wild swings. Each strike flowed into the next, hips rotating, feet grounding him against the stone floor.
Minutes had passed, then a knock echoed at the door. But Adonis didn't stop or slow down. The door opened quietly.
Harmonia stepped inside first, followed by Seris. Neither spoke. They simply watched as Adonis continued his sequence, sweat dripping from his chin, his breath steady despite the punishment the runes delivered.
Seris noticed immediately, that the shock setting was active, and that it was set to the Tough difficulty. Her lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk.
She'd seen demigod children handle Tough settings before, but not like this. Not with this level of consistency especially at five years old.
She did think about the First daughter Helena, and the Second daughter Andromeda. But then she dismissed the thought. Those two are different, they are anomalies compared to the youngest.
Adonis completed another sequence. Then began another, and completed it. He did it several more times. Then after a few minutes Seris spoke, her voice calm, but it cut cleanly through the room. "Adjust your hips," she said. "Build the power from your pivot. Don't throw the punch, drive it."
Adonis obeyed instinctively. He shifted his stance, rotated his hips deeper into the motion, and sent an uppercut into the post with far more force than before. The runes flared brightly, then Adonis stopped.
He took half a step back, chest rising and falling steadily, sweat showing on his face. The feint traces of mana he'd been using to reinforce his body with dissipated in faint wisps.
Seris's eyes narrowed slightly. He is definitely interesting. Alot more then his older brothers that's for sure.
Adonis turned toward them and inclined his head. "Sorry for making you two wait," he said evenly. "I assume you have important information to relay." Harmonia approached at once, pressing a towel into his hands. He wiped his face, the heat of exertion slowly bleeding away.
"Yes young lord," she said softly. "The Matriarch and Patriarch are arriving to Mars Castle in one hour. Along with their officers… and your oldest siblings."
Adonis paused only briefly. So today is the day. Good, it's time to make a good impression. "I see," he said. "Is my attendance mandatory?"
"Yes," Harmonia replied. "The Patriarch wishes to speak with you. Regarding your fight with lord Caius."
Adonis nodded. " Thank you. Then I will prepare. Is there anything else?"
Seris stepped forward, her gaze sharp. "A warning," she said. "You have never met your father. So understand this, he despises lies. He values honesty above comfort. Above pride. Above appearances. No matter how ugly the truth is… speak it. Your mother hates ignorance and incompetence. If you don't know then say you don't know, don't pretend and look ignorant. The Matriarch and Patriarch are still your parent's, so they do care about your upbringing. "
Adonis met her eyes and inclined his head again. "Thank you, Captain Seris."
She returned the nod and turned to leave.
Harmonia remained. Soon after, Adonis was bathed, scrubbed clean of sweat, with the help of Harmonia. He found it a little hard to look at her, because since he was little she has been his nanny and even his wet nurse. So she breast fed him up until last year, when he was four. He remembered everything.
Harmonie comes from the house of Aphrodite, and one of their main services they provide to the universe. Is having the most beautiful members who have many skills and jobs. From butlers and maids of all kinds, nurses, selective breeding partners. Which meant sending someone, to help produce the next heir of a house or clan. With a hundred percent guarantee the produced heir will be handsome or beautiful.
The Blud clan has trusted their children with the men and women, of the house of Aphrodite for generation. They are where we get the lavender eye gene as well. Which has only been known to appear in descendants of Ares and Aphrodite. They also have some unique abilities as well which makes them loved by almost every Pantheon. The only exception being the Eden Pantheon.
I get over my awkward discomfort, because Harmonie is the closest thing I have to a real mother. I wonder what happened to her in my past life. Most Handmaidens spend a lifetime with a Blud clan member, but when they go to the Agoge they are reassigned, unless they graduate early or become Reserved Officers.
She dressed Adonis in the Spartan ceremonial attire, it was sized for a child. Black fabric with blood red accents, with a bronze trim marking him as a scion of the main house. As Harmonia adjusted his collar, Jonathan's thoughts drifted.
It's been a long time since he seen his parents, between this life and the last. In his first life, his family had been distant. Some indifferent, some cruel, some unforgettable in the worst ways. A few had shown him decency during his years as a mercenary whenever he ran into them. Others tortured him just a bit more, either beating him bloody or threatening to kill him. Those memories lingered more like old scars.
But this time, things were different. He wasn't cursed, and he wasn't weak like before, and he would only grow stronger. And that alone made him dangerous. They just didn't know it yet, but they will when I am the last thing they see as their life fades.
Jonathan stopped his mind their. I'm starting to sound a little to dark or edgy so I need to calm down a little. They might treat me better now, he thought. But that only makes me trust them less.
As for Leonidas… Jonathan didn't know what to expect. On Earth, his father had died right before he was born. His mother died a few years after. He'd been raised by his grandparents and other older relatives. So being raised like this was familiar.
In his first life here, Leonidas had only acknowledged him once. When he exiled him. And Seraphine… had said nothing at all. I guess I'll just have to see how things are this time, Adonis thought.
The hour passed quickly. Ships thundered into the hangar, engines roaring as they pierced the thin Martian atmosphere. Heavy boots echoed through stone corridors as the leaders of House Blud arrived.
Seven of the thirteen children were present, those old enough to serve as officers and reserve officers.
They all wore imperial Spartan uniforms: black with blood-red accents, bronze trim for standard officers, gold for high command. They were designed for practical, and functional, use, and their presence was unmistakably intimidating. The women had the option between pants or pencil skirts, that flowed just enough for a wide range of movements. There was also the black thigh high heel boots or regular boots the men wore.
They all gathered in the ceremonial hall. At the far end, upon raised stone, sat two thrones. Were Leonidas and Seraphine took their seats. Behind them rested the symbols of their authority, an ebony-and-gold spear and shield bearing the Spartan crest.
On their uniforms rested the same insignia in gold. The shield on Leonidas's coat, and the spear on Seraphine's.
At the entrance stood Atreus and Seris. Between them stood two children. Caius and Adonis.
Caius trembled, while Adonis was calm. Then the Patriarch spoke.
"Twelfth Child. Caius. Present yourself." Caius stepped forward to the front of the hall, then knelt. "Welcome. Father. Mother."
A brief silence followed.
Then Seraphine spoke. "How did Adonis defeat you?"
Caius swallowed. "He… tricked me. I think he used mana. So he cheated like a coward."
A ripple of disappointment moved through the room. Leonidas's gaze sharpened. "So you claim Spartan warriors have no need for mana, and that is why you lost?"
Caius nodded frantically. "Yes, Father. Why would a Spartan warrior need mana when we have battle aura, If he fought me properly, I would have—"
"That's enough," Leonidas said raising his hand. "Caius you are dismissed.
Caius began to walk back to the door. But he noticed that none of his siblings looked at him minus one older sister, who had the look of disgust on her face. Seraphine sighed rubbing the bridge of her nose.
Then Leonidas turned his gaze to Adonis. "Thirteenth child. Adonis. Come forth and present yourself."
Adonis then walked past Caius, whose expression twisted into a smug shit eating grin. Adonis didn't look at him. he had bigger things to worry about. Making a good first impression in this life.
He knelt before the thrones. "The thirteenth child greets the Patriarch and Matriarch of House Blud." Leonidas and Seraphine raised eyebrow slightly. "You said Patriarch and Matriarch. Why not father or Mother?"
Adonis answered without hesitation. "Patriarch. This is a formal setting. The Patriarch and Matriarch are present with their officers and warriors. In an informal setting, we would not be dressed as we are now."
Surprise rippled through the room. Leonidas raised a hand. "Spartans" All the spartan warriors minus the Blud children snapped to attention. Leonidas continued. "Only blood-related members remain. The rest leave and head to the dining hall , you have my permission to eat and relax. Dismissed."
The hall emptied with military precision. Within one minute, the doors closed, leaving only the main members of the house of Blud. Leonidas spoke again. " Now that is fixed. You may call me father."
Adonis remained kneeling. "I will not do that patriarch" he said.
His siblings eyes widen with disbelief.
Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "Why will you not address the Patriarch as father when permission was given?" Leonidas also noticed he said he won't, not that he can't.
Adonis lifted his gaze. " Patriarch. In order for me to call you father, I would have to see you as one. And I do not."
The tension in the hall rose. One of Adonis's sisters began smile, showing sharp her canines.
Leonidas studied him. "Explain."
"Patriarch you are the reason I am alive, which I am grateful for. But this is my first time meeting you," Adonis said calmly. "You sent me here. That is your right. I will respect you as Patriarch of House Blud and ruler of the Spartan Empire. But 'father' is a title I have not yet seen you earn. I am willing to call you sir or lord until then."
Silence.
Then Leonidas's eyes widen as they began to burn with curiosity. He was actually surprise with how his youngest spoke to him. So honest and respectful. Even the Matriarch was intrigued and a little back.
Leonidas nodded. "Sir or Lord Blud will suffice."
"Adonis nodded and replied. " Yes sir."
Adonis and his siblings were surprised their father accepted that so quickly, with no push back. The First daughter Helena, who was the stoic and, reserved, beautiful woman standing in the front row. Began to take a interest in the youngest.
So was the Third daughter Otrera. Her goldish amber eyes never stopped looking at the youngest. Her mind began to race. Have I found another promising prey? She thought.
The First son Pleistarchos eyes began to narrow on the youngest.
Leonidas then continued. "Enough formalities. Did you beat your brother Caius using mana?"
I paused for a moment. Then I spoke with cold confidence. "I did," Adonis said. "And I do not regret it."
"Why not, I heard you beat him, until he was bloody and unconscious, and then had him tossed in the isolation pit . Due to the cold and being left down there for so long he got sick. But he could have died. Do you not care for your family, knowing he could have died?" Leonidas asked.
I too ka deep breath and, spoke with the same cold confidence. "We are Blud," Adonis replied coldly. "Descendants of the War God Ares and his Greek siblings. As well as his lover the Goddess Aphrodite. We were meant to grow and cull the weak, if they are meant to be culled. If brother Caius died from that, then he was weak and meant to be culled."
Caius shivered.
I continued. " It was his own fault he and sister Gorgo crossed me one to many times, so I took the time to pay back the debts they have incurred onto me, in blood."
Then Seraphine spoke. "What about your sister Gorgo she is not here?"
Adonis looked towards the Matriarch, his eyes began to darken. "She will get hers in time as well. We will have plenty of time in the Agoge."
Otrera smiled even more and thought to herself. The youngest is bold, I like that.
Leonidas nodded slowly. Then spoke. "Did you use mana?"
"Yes sir. I used mana"
Caius then shouted. "See I told you he's a—"
Seraphine's aura was unleashed on the room crushing him into silence. "Silence. You will speak only when spoken to!" She said in a cold tone.
Caius stricken with fear could only nod.
Adonis was stricken with fear as well. I haven't felt this kind of battle aura pressure, since my mercenary days. Even the people back then had nothing on the Matriarch.
Leonidas turned back to Adonis and asked. "What do you see mana as?"
Jonathan then remembered his teacher's words, from when he first started to learn magic in his past life. " Mana is a tool just like magic," he said. "Anyone who refuses to use every tool available is either prideful… or a fool."
Leonidas's eyes widened. Then he spoke again. "What if you face one hundred mages without battle aura and you couldn't run away. Would you surrender?"
Jonathan stayed his conviction. " No I would see that as a challenge I would have to overcome." Adonis replied. "The greater the disadvantage, the greater the victory will be. If I fall then I was weak, but if I succeed then I overcame a great labor. Just like our ancestor's before us."
For the first time, both Leonidas and Seraphine showed a small proud smile. That was something Adonis never saw them do for anyone in his first life. It was very off putting.
Then Leonidas spoke again. " Good Answer. Then hear this, Adonis. I will tell you something about the Spartan Empire. What I'm about to tell is not a well known thing among the empires people. And only those at the top of the empire know this."
"We Spartans… are unable to use magic."
Adonis's eyes widened from that statement .