Chapter 2: Training with the Old Man
Elias remained unconscious for ten hours, shrouded in the deep silence of the forest and the ruins. When he finally awoke, he found himself in a vastly different sanctuary: a simple, humble hut.
A young girl, no older than eleven, peered down at him, her large brown eyes filled with curiosity.
"Are you awake?" she asked, her excitement unmistakable.
"Where am I?" Elias whispered, his voice hoarse.
"You're in my home! My grandfather brought you here," she explained, a bright smile lighting her face.
"And I'm a Nobel!"
Elias studied her innocent and friendly demeanor, a stark contrast to the brutality of the world he had just escaped.
He surveyed the humble surroundings, noting the quiet that confirmed his isolation. Turning to the girl, he asked,
"What is your name? And how did I come to be here?"
A genuine warmth illuminated her features. "My grandfather brought you," she repeated, her smile unwavering. "I'm Leila."
The name struck Elias like a physical blow. Leila—it was the name of his lost sister.
Memories of the massacre of his parents, the brutal deaths of his friends, and the sacrificial end of his father surged forth, unrelenting. Though he had taken vengeance, the psychological scars remained—a torment in the quiet moments.
As he processed his past, the curtain of the hut parted, and an elderly man stepped inside.
"You are awake," the man said calmly. "Good. Let us eat first, and then we shall talk."
Leila's face lit up with delight. "Grandfather, you're here! I've been waiting. This is Elias, and I've already been talking with him."
The old man chuckled warmly. "Ah, it seems you've made a new friend quickly."
Elias's confusion deepened. "Who are you?" he asked, puzzled by the term "Nobel."
With gentle certainty, the girl replied, "I am Leila Edward."
The surname struck Elias with even greater force. Edward—the Emperor's surname, a name synonymous with power and the throne.
"The Emperor?" Elias gasped, realization dawning. "Are you… connected to the Emperor?"
Leila shook her head. "No. My father was the Emperor's younger brother. That is why we share the Edward surname."
Elias's mind raced. "So you are the Emperor's niece, and… this…" He gestured to the old man. "…he is your grandfather, the Emperor's father?"
The elderly man's voice was calm, yet tinged with sadness. "We have been exiled from the Empire. We no longer belong to the Emperor; only our surname, Edward, remains. My own son cast me out."
Elias was stunned. The man before him, a former Emperor, had been betrayed by his own child.
"I am Audric," the old man continued. "Audric Edward. And this is Lisha Edward." His words carried the weight of experience and loss.
Audric studied Elias carefully. "I assume you are a commoner with no notable family. What were you doing in the ruins? I saw much bloodshed. You were the only survivor, and many villages in the area have been destroyed."
"My daughter and I have only been here for five or six days," Audric continued.
"I had no idea what was happening. I was wandering at night when I heard the commotion, and that's when I found you amidst the deceased."
During their meal, Elias recounted his harrowing ordeal, carefully omitting the awakening of his dual powers. Audric listened intently, the lines of his face etched with concern.
It was then that Audric explained the world's ranking system.
"All possess the Normal Rank," he began. "To awaken any magical power, one requires a Magic Crystal, which commoners do not possess.
Among Nobles, the ranking system is far more complex: Normal, Beginner, Advanced, Rare, Mythical, and Ancient. I, once Emperor, possess Mythical Rank, which allows me to create anything."
He paused. "The Ancient Rank… no one has yet reached it. They say one who does becomes a true God."
Audric's tone grew heavier. "Even within Normal Rank, there are tiers: D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS. My magic, by this standard, is Mythical SSS."
He then spoke of his disease. "I have only six or seven years left. If I cannot find the cure, I will perish. My son held it, but he is dead, as is his son. Another fled, taking both the artifact and the medicine ingredients."
Audric's voice wavered as he spoke of betrayal. "My son, who possessed the power of lightning, made a pact with the Lightning Nation, but it backfired.
Now, the Devilness Empire holds sway. The girl there is the daughter of the Queen of that Empire."
His gaze fell on Leila. "I must ensure her safety. She is all I have left."
Audric turned to Elias, his eyes serious. "Elias, will you protect my granddaughter?"
Elias's heart pounded. The responsibility was enormous.
Audric studied him further. "I have observed you. A child who defeated an A-Rank magician single-handedly… you possess immense power. I will train you to be untouchable, to become truly formidable."
Elias's brow furrowed. "But I am weak. How can I protect her?"
"You will train," Audric said with resolve. "Until no one can challenge you. This world has many types of power—Psychopath, Psychologist, Manipulator—and each can be countered in its own way."
Elias's determination hardened. "I must avenge my family. The bandits did not act without purpose. The death of the King, the rumors of the Devilish Queen… I will not let this pass."
A profound change overtook him. "I will never allow my loved ones to die again. I will become so strong that my name alone strikes terror. Anyone who threatens them will perish."
Audric nodded proudly. Leila clapped in delight. "Yay! Elias will live with us, grandfather!"
"Yes," Audric affirmed. Elias echoed the sentiment with conviction. "I will protect you, Lisha. I promise. Anyone who stands between us will fall."
From the next day, training began in earnest. Elias faced Audric in the forest.
"Master, what should I do?" Elias asked.
"Attack me, just like you did with the bandit," Audric instructed.
Elias hesitated. "I did that unknowingly! How do I awaken such power?"
"Focus your mind and feel it," Audric advised.
Elias meditated, and a sensation stirred within him. Two figures materialized before him.
"Master, we meet again. What shall we do for you?" they asked.
"I want my own power," Elias insisted.
"We are your power," they replied.
"I will not depend on you. I will use your power as I choose," Elias declared.
The figures produced two glowing orbs, one dark, one light. Elias absorbed them, and a blinding light erupted. He felt heat surge from his stomach, and his skin began to radiate light.
Outside, Audric was shocked. "Is that… a Mana Core?"
Only experienced mages could form such a core, yet one was forming inside Elias.
A massive burst of energy threw Audric back. When the dust cleared, Elias lay unconscious. Audric rushed to his side, carrying him back to the hut.
Once Elias awoke, Audric explained the danger. "Your power is beyond your control. You must prepare your body, or it will destroy you from within."
Months of rigorous training followed. Elias learned meditation, focus, and restraint. He could summon and dismiss his Dark and Light Magic at will. His Dark Magic shaped into a sharp obsidian blade, while his Light Magic enhanced his speed.
One day, Elias infused his magic blade with his Aura, striking a massive tree. The tree shattered instantly. He realized his combined power could level mountains.
Years passed. Elias and Leila became inseparable friends. Leila mastered Water Magic, attaining A-Rank, while Elias's power and Aura grew exponentially.
Yet Audric's health worsened. When he passed, Elias and Leila mourned deeply, standing silently over his grave.
Driven by vengeance and purpose, Elias stepped out of the jungle with Leila, wind whipping around them, a spark of determination lighting his eyes.
The world would remember his name.