Chapter 6: The Test Before Initiation
The courtyard of Argelion Castle. A morning imbued with foreboding.
Five long years.
Five years had passed since the day Romulus had awakened in this world, like a wave washed up on a foreign shore.
Today he was five, the age when the scions of noble families were first initiated into apprenticeship. But Romulus had long outgrown that formality.
He stood in the middle of the training arena, painted with colorful flags, and checked the balance of his training sword with an elusive anxiety.
"Light. Ridiculously easy..."
Around, as if enchanted, froze representatives of the nobility - knights, whose polished armor shimmered in the rays of the rising sun, maids, hushed on the benches, and even cooks, looking curiously from behind the fence, wiping their hands on greasy aprons.
Count Lucian stepped into the arena in a simple, silver-embroidered doublet, without armor, but carrying the family blade, the Thunder Fang, which servants whispered could cut through even magic.
- "Well, son?" - A smirk touched the Count's lips. - "Ready to show what you've learned this year? Or have the years gone to waste?"
Romulus took a deep breath of the frosty air and nodded briefly.
"System, status."
[ ROMULUS VON ARGELION ]
■ Level: 14
■ Skills:
- Telekinesis (Advanced)
- Flame Thread (Newcomer)
- Evasion (Medium)
- Fencing (Medium)
■ Feature: "Seal of Spiritual Reflection" (active)
The Count waved his hand and the deafening blow of a gong heralded the start of the fight.
First strike. Symphony of Steel.
Romulus rushed forward, sword slicing through the air with a whoosh full of youthful fury.
The Count parried the blow almost carelessly, but his eyebrows involuntarily crept upward.
- "That was fast! I didn't expect such a rush."
"He didn't even tense up... It's like he's playing."
Romulus bounced back, changed his stance like a dancer, and a phrase his father had once said in passing came to mind:
"A sword is an extension of the hand. If the hand trembles, so does the blade. Remember that, Romulus."
He launched another attack on his father, three swift blows in succession, but the earl repelled each as if he were fighting off a pesky gnat without moving.
- "You've been studying with me for a year, Romulus," the Count grinned, "Show me something other than memorized moves. Surprise me."
Romulus smiled faintly.
"Okay. How about this?"
Second stage. The dance of the elements.
He abruptly lowered his sword and swung his palm like a conductor waving a wand.
Telekinesis - five sharp stones broke off the ground and, obeying his will, rushed towards the Count like messengers of chaos.
The crowd gasped in amazement.
Count chuckled and sliced through the stones with one strike of Thunder Fang - but at that very moment, Romulus activated a second skill.
A thread of fire-a thin, quivering strip of flame burst from his fingers and coiled snakily around his father's sword.
- "Sneaky!"
The Count yanked his blade sharply, and the thread broke, scattering sparks, but some of them flew to his sleeve, leaving a dark trail.
First mark. Victory in small things.
The audience murmured excitedly.
- "He burned the Count?!"
- "At five years old! Unbelievable!"
Romulus didn't relax for a second.
"He's not serious yet. If he wanted to, it would have been over long ago."
Phase three. Shadow play.
The Count took a step forward for the first time, and his movement gave off a chill.
And disappeared. Like he vanished into thin air.
"WHAT-"
The blow struck him on the back like a thunderclap, and Romulus tumbled forward, just in time to bring his sword to bear.
This is Ghost Step," the Count explained, appearing as if out of nowhere. - You thought I only wielded swords? Speed magic is an old friend of mine."
Romulus wiped the blood that appeared on his lips.
"So... now it's real."
He concentrated, gathering his will into a fist - and the System immediately gave a clue:
[🎯 TIP: Use "Flame Thread" + "Telekinesis" ]
"Yeah... That could work!"
Romulus released three strands of fire at once - not into the Count, but into the ground, creating an ominous fire trap around him.
The Count slowed, forced to sidestep the flames like a crouching beast - at which point Romulus telekinesis grabbed his legs.
Just for a moment.
But it was enough to make the Earl's sword quiver, losing its deadly grace for a moment.
Romulus rushed forward -
Finale. A touch of hope.
- "HA!"
His training sword touched his fathers chest a moment before Thunderfang came down on his shoulder, ready to shred bone.
Silence, tinkling and tense, like a taut string.
Then there was the deafening roar of the crowd, breaking free like a genie out of a bottle.
- "He...he got the Count?!"
- "No one has ever done this before at his age! Unbelievable!"
The Count slowly lowered his sword and chuckled, looking at his son with undisguised pride.
- "Not bad. Very good, Romulus."
Romulus was breathing hard, but smiled, feeling a pleasant shiver spread through his body.
"I did it. I really was able to..."
The Count put his hand on his shoulder and, turning to the audience, proclaimed:
- "My son is the first in two hundred years to touch me in a duel before the age of seven. Today he has proven himself worthy of the name of Argelion!"
The crowd erupted in applause, saluting the young hero.
After the battle. Father's advice.
When the last spectators had left the courtyard, the Count took Romulus to a quiet, shady garden.
- "You didn't just use magic," he said, looking carefully into his son's eyes. - 'You were thinking. That's the main thing. Power without mind is nothing."
Romulus nodded, remembering recent events.
- "After Karsten... I realized that strength without tactics is certain death. I remember his lesson."
The Count frowned at the mention of the fugitive mage's name, as if from touching a long-standing wound.
- "He will answer for his evil deeds. But today is not about that. Today is your day."
He pulled a small black casket from his pocket and opened it.
Inside on a velvet cushion lay a silver ring with a scarlet stone glimmering in the midday light.
This is the Vigilance Stone. It will warn you if a stranger using dark magic is nearby. Wear it at all times."
Romulus took the ring, feeling the cool metal pleasantly chill his skin - and the System reacted immediately:
[🔍 ARTIFACT ANALYSIS ]
■ Effect: Detect dark magic (50 m radius)
■ Feature: Bound to the blood of Argelions.
"So Dad knows Carsten might come back... And is preparing for it."
- "Thank you, Father," he said aloud, hiding the anxiety in his voice.
The Count smiled as if he had read his thoughts.
- "Next year will be harder, Romulus. Prepare yourself. You're in for some serious training."
Romulus' thoughts
"I've gotten stronger. But Carsten... he's still out there somewhere, biding his time."
"Alicia is also progressing. Her 'Vision' is getting clearer and longer. I wonder what she saw this time..."
"What happens when I turn seven? Will the real magic that everyone talks about be revealed? Or are they just fairy tales for children?"
The system issued a new quest, as if answering his questions:
[🏆 **NEW QUEST: "Preparing for Initiation "** ] ]
■ Goal: Learn 2 new skills before age 7.
■ Reward: Access to **class** (Mage/Warrior/Hybrid)
Romulus clutched the ring in his hand, feeling a surge of determination.
- "I'm ready. Whatever lies ahead of me."