"Leah, did you break through to the third stage?"
At the tea party in the castle's rear garden, Amy looked at Leah with delight.
Leah nodded happily.
She herself never imagined reaching such a milestone. Even the Gray Wolf Knights were only third-stage knights, and now she had become one too. It all felt like a dream to her.
Rena looked at Leah with amazement. She remembered Leah was not yet twenty years old. Such a young third-stage knight would be considered a genius in any family.
Moreover, Leah came from common origins, meaning her actual training time was much less than those family prodigies, highlighting her talent even more.
No, it's not just talent. The magical power controlled by the Frostwolf Duke was key. Even Rena herself had benefited from this power, allowing her to quickly advance to the second-stage peak.
With this in mind, she clenched her fists in determination, believing her talent was no less than Leah's and she wouldn't fall behind.
During the day, David followed his usual knight training routine. Breaking through from a fourth-stage to a fifth-stage knight required converting gaseous battle energy to liquid, prompting him to focus on refining the quality of his energy.
At noon, he trained with Cynthia. Afternoons were dedicated to more knight training. Evenings were reserved for Leah, Amy, and Rena, and after each dual cultivation session, he used the time for meditation.
In the town hall, David held the latest intelligence report, pondering.
The old king of the Silver Moon Kingdom likely wouldn't last much longer, signaling the onset of a civil war. The Crown Prince wouldn't idly watch the Second Prince ascend.
Additionally, there was the Third Prince, known as the Silver Moon Star. The Silver Moon Kingdom was heading towards a three-way power struggle, making neutrality the best strategy.
David's task was to convince all parties of his ability to remain neutral. Even with the Second Prince, he maintained a facade of peace without openly breaking ties.
What he needed most now was time.
"Duke, do we really need to submit to the Silver Moon King?" Rena suddenly asked.
David smiled at his clever woman, "If I become the new Silver Moon King, it wouldn't be breaking any promises."
This was the first time he declared his ambition.
Since embarking on the path of a wizard, it was inevitable he would oppose the continent's largest organization.
To combat the Church, he needed the power of the throne. Throughout history, divine and royal powers had been different sources of authority and governance. Their opposition lay in the source of authority, legitimacy, and governance methods.
Divine politics emphasized rulers' power derived from gods or supernatural forces, while royal politics saw power as hereditary, conquered, or consented by the people, based on secular laws and traditions.
In this world, divine power centered around the Church, with the Pope representing God's authority on Earth, holding absolute spiritual authority. The Church not only taught faith but also meddled in secular affairs, influencing royal decisions through clergy.
Royal power, represented by kings or queens, governed military, legal, and administrative matters. David discovered the Frostwolf family's history filled with stories of struggles between royal and divine powers.
Royal families often challenged the Church's authority to weaken its control over the state, realizing true power required breaking the Church's shackles and liberating royal power from divine shadows.
A pivotal turning point occurred centuries ago when major continental kings allied to resist the Church's overreach, launching a reform movement aimed at weakening the Church's economic power, limiting divine authority, and ensuring direct execution of royal orders without clergy interference.
This movement, known as the "Revival of Royal Power," was fraught with blood and fire but ultimately established a more balanced power structure within major kingdoms.
However, this victory didn't end the divine-royal opposition. Over time, the Church regained strength, and as legendary knights faded, divine power began suppressing royal power again.
David realized his era still faced this delicate power game, and perhaps one day, kingdoms would unite again to oppose divine power, fighting for royal independence and national prosperity.
What he needed to do now was seize royal power, sparking another struggle between royal and divine powers to overthrow the Church.
As a wizard, to see the Church's demise, he must ascend the throne. Only by wielding a kingdom's power could he confront the Church, using royal power against divine power, to recreate a kingdom belonging to wizards.
Rena's eyes gleamed with fervor. She had seen the kingly potential in her man, something she longed for.
"Then I will help you ascend the throne," Rena declared, kneeling on one knee to pledge her loyalty without hesitation.
David smiled, lifting Rena's chin. "When I become the Silver Moon King, I'll help you reclaim the Crystal Song Kingdom."
"Now, may I collect some interest first?"
As Rena opened her mouth, she was silenced. Her foot was lifted, and her back pressed against the wall.