Overwhelming Firepower

Despite the obvious preparations of the neighboring nobles, it’s not like they would just attack right now. They were waiting for the right timing, and they were also making their preparations.

’Yeah, unlike modern warfare, in this world that’s like the Middle Ages with magic, it takes years of preparation to start a war.’

Lucen thought that the timeline of this world’s events were coming faster than he expected, but it would seem that there were some things that couldn’t be fast-forwarded.

’Well, this is better for me. The second those guys attack us, I will show them the power of f*cking firepower!’

Seeing as the supposed attack was not happening yet, Lucen simply continued with his training.

***

Robert was having the time of his life. Right now, the Yellow Tower has more funds than ever before. It was like they had returned to the golden era of the Yellow Tower.

Due to the increase in funds, Robert was able to experiment however he wanted without the old man nagging him. Well, not like Thelwin was in Ironhold to scold him to begin with.

’Who knew that job given to me just a few years ago would change everything?’ Robert the mad genius looked at the scene outside his room.

There were now several towers in Ironhold, a place where there used to be not even a single tower present. Now, compared to the Capital City Caelhart, Ironhold looked like something that could only be seen in Robert’s imagination.

’In just a few years, this place has changed so much.’ A manic smile appeared on Robert’s face.

’Not only are we moving towards the future, but we are creating it with our own hands.’

Robert, alongside Lucen, had created many things, and by following Lucen, Robert had seen many things. Like a person who had a constitution that didn’t allow him to gain any aura or mana, but his body was ridiculously strong.

Every day with Lucen was fun, and Robert learned more than he ever did by reading books and doing experiments by himself. The excitement in his chest felt like a furnace that refused to go out.

Robert turned to his cluttered workbench, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Bottles filled with shimmering liquids, powdered minerals, chunks of monster cores, it looked chaotic to anyone else, but to him it was a symphony waiting to be conducted.

Today was another day to step forward into the future, and Robert was ready to pull the future to the present with his own hands.

***

Ever since the increase in his Big Brother’s popularity, Cael started training even harder than before.

As the son of the Iron Duke and the younger brother of the Ever-Victorious Cael, he did not want to fall behind.

He was praised as a genius surpassing all others, by gaining a first aura mantle, the very second he held a sword.

He learned everything taught to him very quickly; he could practically copy techniques he had seen only a few times.

He was just eight years old and was already nearing a breakthrough to the second aura mantle.

Yet even with all that, he felt like he was still so far away from his older brother. Similar to Elyra before, Cael could not even begin to imagine how his sword would be able to reach his older brother, Lucen.

As he swung his sword again and again under the cold morning air, sweat dripping down his chin, Cael bit his lip.

’I need to keep up, I need to show them I too am a Thornehart!’ Cael was practically shouting in his mind, but his face remained as stoic as his Father, Vardon.

His aura flared slightly in response to his determination, shimmering like twinling stars. Cael had a similar aura to the First Duke, which meant he was the most compatible with the Thornehart swordsmanship.

He had so much going for him, even so, the gap he felt between him and Lucen was suffocating.

’The view Big Brother sees, I want to see it too.’ Cael’s movements were becoming sharper. A snowflake fell, and he cut it with his sword.

The crisp sound of steel slicing air echoed across the frost-covered courtyard. His breath misted in front of him like smoke, fading quickly in the cold dawn.

No one was watching, no servants fussing, no cheers, even Vahn’s watchful eye was not present.

Right now, it was just him, the sword, and the overwhelming desire to reach the back of the person he admired most.

Cael straightened his stance as he once again swung his sword. He kept on swinging his sword in different angles, adding thrusts every now and then.

His arms trembled, his small hands reddened from gripping the handle too tightly. His young muscles screamed for rest, but Cael didn’t stop. If he stopped because of something like this, he would never be able to follow his Big Brother.

”I need to be faster, stronger.”

His voice came out in a breathless whisper, almost swallowed by the winter air. Cael drew his sword back and lunged, aura flaring faintly along the blade. The snow beneath his feet scattered.

His movements were becoming sharper than before. Every strike was becoming more efficient.

If any knight saw this sight, they would simply think as expected of a Thornehart, but that wasn’t what Cael wanted. Cael wanted those who saw him not to think as expected of a Thornehart, but instead, as expected of Cael.

Not his father’s shadow, nor his brother’s echo, but his own blade, his own path. He wanted to be his own kind of Thornehart.

He inhaled deeply, frost filling his lungs, and struck again. On the final swing, his aura surged, a small bloom of power erupting from his feet like a shockwave of frost.

It lasted less than a heartbeat, faint and unstable, but real. Snow blasted outward in a ring. The young man was sweating profusely as his breathing became a little erratic. Cael looked at what he had done and closed his eyes.

”Not good enough... Not nearly good enough...”

Cael tried to lift his sword again, but it felt so heavy right now. He knelt on the ground on one knee as he tried to control his breathing.

”I guess this is my limit for now.” Cael gritted his teeth as he lay on the snowy ground, looking at the sky.

Cold seeped into his clothes, numbing the ache in his muscles. His breath came out in ragged puffs, scattering into the wind like fleeting resolve.

For a moment, Cael simply listened to the stillness of dawn, to the soft whisper of falling snow, to his own heartbeat thundering in his ears. He lifted a trembling hand, reaching toward the endless sky.

”Someday... I will reach it.” His eyes softened. A small, rare smile bloomed on his stoic face. ”And I will go further beyond.”

Vahn, who was watching in the distance, had his lips curled upward, and standing beside him was Thalos, who had a huge grin on his face.

”The one being chased, and the one desperately giving chase...” Vahn murmured. ”It reminds me of two foolish boys from long ago who were filled with the vigor of youth.”

”Heh, old man, that’s such a long time ago. He and I have lost much, and we have gained as well. Still, even now, I couldn’t reach his back, but my hard work was not fruitless. I was able to become someone whom he trusts his back to.” Thalos spoke as the grin on his face grew even wider.

”Yes, you and the lord have gone through so much. Both of you have grown into fine men.” Vahn chuckled beside Thalos.

”Not as much as you have gone through, old man.” Thalos exhaled, the steam of his breath curling like smoke in the cold air.

”I guess that’s one of the things about being as old as me. Those lessons I’ve learned, those things I have experienced, I can now pass on to the young ones. Just like I did for you and the Lord back then. It is so that the young ones can burn brighter than we ever did,” Vahn spoke, his gaze never leaving Cael’s small figure collapsed in the snow.

”And they will,” Thalos responded quietly. ”I will make sure that their passion will not only burn brighter, but they will also burn longer.”

”Heh, then I hope I’m still alive to see how bright the two young lords will shine.” The second Vahn said those words, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

”Come on, old man, don’t talk like that. You’ll be able to see not only how the two young lords shine brighter, but I’m sure you’ll even get to see the next generation as well.”

”That would be nice. I already served the Thorneharts for three generations, I guess being there for the fourth would be nice.”

Thalos smirked. ”You old fossil. I’m sure you’ll outlive us all.”

Vahn chuckled, the sound deep and worn yet gentle. ”If that’s true, then I’ll gladly keep swinging this old sword a little longer.”

His eyes softened as he watched Cael lying in the snow, chest rising and falling with exhausted determination.

”The young walk forward,” he murmured, ”but it is we who lay the stones beneath their feet.”

Snow continued to fall, painting the courtyard in silver. The young boy who dreamt of reaching his older brother lay on the ground, exhausted, unaware that a former master and student were having a conversation about him.

Somewhere else in Ironhold, Lucen continued forging the future, and behind him, inch by inch, a boy chased after his footsteps.