A massive magic circle loomed before me, stretching out to the far corners of the room. It was enormous - easily the size of one of the guest suites within the castle. I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight before me. Even in my previous life, I had never witnessed anything quite like it.

I watched as the mages in front of me began their preparations, their movements precise and deliberate. It was clear they had done this many times before. They worked with a level of expertise that spoke of years of experience, of countless hours spent mastering the art of arcane magic.

As the portal began to take shape, I could feel my body growing heavier. It was as if the air around me was pressing down, making it difficult to move.

I had done well during the past five years I'd spent in the palace. I'd grown stronger than I expected and gained a vast amount of knowledge that was sure to come in handy one day. Still, I had so much left to do, and I was certain that this new stage of my life was going to be anything but a breeze.

"A word of warning, son."

Valtair's voice shook me out of my thoughts, his dark gaze boring down on me. "Learn to be humble, be prepared to listen, and talk very little. If you do these things, you'll survive the training. My master doesn't like talkers or egotistical brats."

Of all the people in this universe, I can't believe Valtair is talking about humility?! How the hell did an egocentric maniac like him survive?

A small smile managed to escape my lips as I accepted his advice with great pain. "I understand, father."

"If you tell me that next time we meet, I'll believe your words."

I looked back at the gate and saw that it was emitting a steady bluish-purple light.

"So, this is the legendary imperial gate?"

"Dear God, of course not. This is my personal portal."

Personal portal?! What a show o-

Wait a moment! I've seen this portal before... But from where?!

I hastily dropped my backpack to the ground and fished out the worn book on barrier magic and magic circles that I had brought along for my journey. As I gazed at the shimmering portal before me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension. The portal's physical features looked strikingly similar to the sketches I had seen in the book, and I felt compelled to review my notes.

I quickly flipped through the pages of my book, scanning the countless diagrams and detailed descriptions of magic circles and portals until I finally came across the one I was searching for. With a furrowed brow, I began to scrutinize every detail of the sketch, comparing it to the portal before me.

Despite a few minor discrepancies, the major physical characteristics were nearly identical. It was as if the author of this book had designed the portal himself. The thought sent a chill down my spine. Was it possible that the same person who had written this book was behind Valtair's portal? It seemed too uncanny to be a mere coincidence.

"Interesting," Valtair said as I flipped through the sketches.

"What's interesting?"

"I'm surprised you're interested in the work of Maestro Edward."

"Maestro Edward?"

"The author of the book."

"I see..."

Valtair gestured toward the portal. "He was also the brains behind most of the portals in Valoria."

"This Edward guy sounds like quite the visionary."

"He was," Valtair nodded in agreement. "I got the chance to meet him once, very early in my life. He was a man of science, one who was very dedicated to the modernization of Azurax."

"How come I've never heard of him? I'm sure his name ought to be somewhere in the archives."

Valtair shook his head as a shadow crossed his gaze. "His name has been erased from the history books, and his work has been branded the empires. Any trace of his existence has been rendered null."

"How come?!"

"Because he was born in the wrong era. Edward condemned the former Demon King for seeking war instead of peace and paid a heavy price for defying him. After being branded a traitor, he was executed and any record of his existence was purged. A very unfortunate end for one of the brightest minds in the last millennia."

"Unfortunate indeed."

To be honest, the story of Edward didn't surprise me one bit. I'd heard countless stories like his before; the greed of the many eclipsing the wisdom of the few. That was how the demon race functioned. A race filled with greedy beings that craved only power and cared very little about who they hurt to get it.

"My master is going to try to break your body, mind, and spirit. Don't let her words get to you, and no matter what, never give up. Think of it as a game that you need to win, like a test you need to pass."

"Noted."

Noticing the preparations were complete, I stepped forward into the glowing portal, and felt a sudden rush of energy, as if the very air was electrified.

The magical circle started to glow in a bright light, as a thin veil of mana covered my body. Just as I began to feel a thick warmth seep through the pores of my skin, I turned my gaze to Valtair for one final time.

"Take care of mom."

"Worry not, I'll take good-"

SWOOSH!!!

Before he could finish his sentence the world around me dissolved into a blur of colors and shapes, and I felt myself hurtling through space at an alarming speed. Time seemed to lose all meaning, and my thoughts grew jumbled and confused. But then, as suddenly as it had begun, the journey came to a jarring halt, and I found myself standing in a strange new place.

The air was thick with an unfamiliar scent, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. As I looked around, I realized that I was standing in the midst of a dense forest, with towering trees reaching up towards the sky. The ground beneath my feet was soft and spongy as if I were walking on a thick layer of moss.

Where the hell am I?

For a moment, I stood there, taking in my surroundings, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

Without warning, a rustling sound nearby caught my attention, and I felt a sudden sense of alarm. With my heart racing, I turned towards the noise, wondering what could be lurking in the shadows of the forest.

"You have strong instincts, my child."

Someone's behind me!?!

With urgency fueling my every move, I darted forward, determined to put as much distance as possible between myself and the danger looming behind me.

I pivoted around, my fingers instinctively closing around the hilt of my blade as my eyes fell on a young woman. The woman's gaze sparkled with a mysterious air of uncanniness and her black hair flowed down her back like a shimmering night sky. Even though I was struck by her beauty, that wasn't the only thing that caught my attention. As I looked closer, I noticed that her ears were long and pointy, like an elf's.

I-Is she an elf, because she looks like one... Wait a second, if she's an elf, that must mean I'm in elvish territory... Am I in Alveria?

Before I could even begin to form an answer in my mind, I saw something even more extraordinary - two pairs of transparent wings on her back. They were unlike any wings I had ever seen before, shimmering like diamonds in the dim light of the thick forest.

She's not an elf... She's something new, something I've never seen before, a new race... A new species...

Despite her petite figure, the power emanating from her was overwhelming. Her very presence radiated an aura of power so immense that the trees around us quivered and shook with each of her breaths. I felt both fascinated and frightened by her, unsure of what to do next.

As she gazed at me, I could feel her power reaching out to me, probing my mind and searching my thoughts. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but I didn't want to show any weakness.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Her silence was unnerving, as she scrutinized me with her piercing gaze, studying me from head to toe.

A few moments passed, and then, without warning, she smiled at me. "You bear a striking resemblance to your father, young one."

Her words reverberated through me, sending shivers down my spine. I could feel my heart beating frantically in my chest. I had never encountered someone so imposing and beautiful at the same time.

"I assume you're my father's master," I said, my words laced with caution and reverence.

"I am many things to your father," she replied cryptically, and I could sense that there was more to her words than met the eye. "But that is not important right now."

H-her voice... It's so smooth... So elegant...

"I don't doubt it," I replied, not quite sure where this conversation was heading.

"In all my life, I've never seen a child act or speak the way you do..." The woman trailed off, studying me as if I was a rare specimen under a microscope.

"What can I say? I guess I'm just a weird kid."

The woman shook her head, unconvinced. "The moment I made myself present, you reacted immediately and took the best course of action to defend yourself. You are a five-year-old with the instincts of a grizzled warrior who's fought in hundreds of battles."

The weight of her words hit me like a freight train. Was it possible that she'd seen through me?

"I'm really, really weird."

I can't let her see through me... I need to lead her focus elsewhere...

"When your father told me you were marked, I didn't believe him," the woman said as she closed the distance between us, her voice low and measured. "For centuries I've wondered how powerful a marked being is, but now I can finally put those doubts to rest. If you're already at this level at such a young age, there's no doubt in my mind you'll become a monster."

"My father told you?!" I sputtered, my mind reeling.

"You're father told me everything." The woman's voice was calm, but her words were like a punch to the gut.

Valtair had betrayed me and had revealed our secret to this stranger. Even though it was a lie, it was one that could bring me a great deal of problems.

My thoughts spiraled as I tried to make sense of what was happening. Why had Valtair done this? Did he think that this was the only way to get her to train me?

I guess that's what I get for trusting that lying sack of...

As angry as I was with Valtair, I couldn't deny that his actions had inadvertently given me an advantage. Thanks to his poor judgment, I'd discovered something important. By presenting myself as a marked child, I had created a cover story that had fooled even Valtair's master, a woman with centuries of experience. If my lie could fool someone as powerful as her, it could also fool the rest of the world.

The woman's voice broke through my thoughts, bringing me back to reality. "My name is Dahlia, by the way," she said, extending her hand.

I cleared my throat and tried to appear unfazed. "Nice to meet you, Dahlia. I'm Lucian."

Dahlia nodded and turned away from me, walking towards a nearby tree. She placed her hand on the trunk and closed her eyes as if she were talking with the tree.

I watched her in silence, unsure of what to do. Part of me wanted to run away, to escape this strange and terrifying woman. But another part of me was drawn to her, to the power that she exuded.

Finally, Dahlia opened her eyes and turned back to me. "Your father said that you were in need of training."

I nodded, still unsure of what to say.

"Well, then. Let's get started." Dahlia walked back towards me, her wings unfurling from her back. "Your body might be strong, but without a strong mind, you'll never amount to anything."

As soon as Dahlia finished speaking, she vanished into thin air, leaving me standing there alone in the forest.

The wind was howling, the trees were rustling, and the only sound I could hear was the pounding of my heart. Out of the blue, Dahlia appeared in front of me, her index finger pressed against my forehead. I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through my body, and then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the top of a mountain, and the altitude was making it difficult to breathe. My chest felt tight, and every breath was a struggle. The cold wind was biting, and my teeth were chattering. I had no idea how I had ended up here, or how Dahlia had managed to teleport us without a portal.

"How did we get here? What kind of magic did you use to teleport us to a mountain?"

Dahlia smiled at me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "We're not on a mountain, young one. We're in the spirit realm."

I stared at her, utterly confused. "The what?"

"The spirit realm," she repeated. "It's a world I've created in my mind. A place where I can test the willpower of those I choose, without physically hurting them."

I was dumbfounded. How was this possible? And why had Dahlia brought me here? How come I'd never heard of this so-called spirit realm? Even as I thought of my old life, I couldn't remember ever hearing of such a place.

As if reading my thoughts, Dahlia walked over to me. "Only fairies are capable of creating spirit realms and transporting the spirit of others inside."

Wait?! I-Is D-Dahlia a fairy!? Does that mean that fairies actually exist!?!

My mind was racing with questions, but before I could even begin to ask them, Dahlia made me an offer. "I'll answer all your questions if you manage to land a single hit on me."

I looked at her, unsure if I had heard her correctly. "A hit? Like, a punch?"

Dahlia nodded, her eyes challenging me. "That's right. If you can land a hit on me, I'll tell you everything you want to know."

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was worth the risk. But then I remembered how little I knew about her and realized that this might be my only chance to find out the truth.

"So, one hit is all I need to win?"

Dahlia's silver eyes gleamed with amusement as she nodded. "Yes, just one hit."

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and focused all my concentration on the flow of mana within me. As I exhaled, I raised Blood Reaper into the air, feeling the cool metal in my grip.

Every muscle in my body tensed as I channeled all the mana I could muster into my arms, legs, and eyes. I could feel the surge of energy as it rushed through me, awakening my senses and sharpening my reflexes.

I got into my fighting stance and fixed my gaze on Dahlia. She stood poised and ready to strike, like a predator waiting for its prey. Unfortunately for her, I wasn't planning on acting like prey either.

"Don't you dare forget about our agreement when I win," I reminded her, my grin growing wider by the second. "I just need to land one hit, and you have to answer all my questions."

Dahlia's smile widened, and she raised her arm, beckoning me to come forward. "Show me what you're made of, son of Valtair."