The next morning, Leon stood outside the Varian estate, the early dawn casting a golden hue over the training grounds he had grown familiar with. Today marked a turning point—his training would now continue at the main Novaris household, alongside Elaine Novaris herself.
His parents stood with him, their expressions unreadable as they watched the skies. Then, a faint hum resonated through the air, growing louder with each passing second. A massive shadow eclipsed the morning light as a sleek, obsidian-colored flying vessel descended.
The Voidfang, a transport ship exclusive to the Novaris family, came to a silent hover above them. Its polished black metal gleamed ominously, intricate golden etchings forming arcane circuits along its streamlined surface. With a soft hiss, the lower hatch opened, revealing a ramp leading into its interior.
A figure clad in high-ranking Novaris attire descended, his yellow eyes glowing with quiet authority.
"Leon Varian," the man spoke, his voice even and cold. "It is time."
Garrick placed a firm hand on Leon's shoulder. "This is your path now, son. You have everything you need—strengthen yourself, sharpen your mind, and above all, do not falter."
Selene leaned down slightly, brushing a hand through his white hair. "We'll be watching your progress. Make us proud."
Leon nodded, gripping the hilt of Midnight Fang at his waist before turning toward the ramp. With steady steps, he ascended into the Voidfang, leaving behind the only home he had ever known.
As he stepped inside, the sleek interior of the ship unfolded before him—walls lined with glowing conduits, seats crafted from reinforced alloy, and a transparent control panel displaying navigational data.
"Strap in," the Novaris officer commanded, motioning to a seat near the front.
Leon obeyed, buckling himself in. The moment the ramp sealed shut, the ship's hum intensified. A slight tremor passed through the vessel before—
Boom.
The ship vanished into the sky.
Through the reinforced windows, streaks of light blurred into endless tunnels of warped space. The Voidfang was moving at light speed, reality bending around them as they crossed distances that would take lesser vessels weeks in mere moments.
Leon clenched his fists. He had an hour before arrival. His heart pounded in his chest—not from fear, but anticipation.
Standing before him on the landing platform, several Novaris Elders observed his arrival with unreadable expressions. Their flowing robes, embroidered with silver and gold sigils, denoted their status within the family's hierarchy. Their white hair and golden eyes—an unmistakable trait of the Novaris lineage—seemed to glow under the artificial lights of the floating estate.
But it was the young girl at the center that drew his attention the most.
Elaine Novaris.
Even at ten, her presence was suffocating. With long, snow-white hair cascading down her back and piercing golden eyes that carried an unnerving coldness, she exuded the weight of nobility. There was no childish warmth in her gaze, only the silent, razor-sharp calculation of someone who had already accepted their path—absolute power.
Leon, maintaining the etiquette drilled into him since childhood, stepped forward and bowed deeply, placing his right hand over his chest.
"It is an honor to stand before the esteemed House Novaris," he intoned, voice steady.
One of the elders—a stern-looking man with a chiseled face and imposing stature—gave a short nod.
"You understand your role here?" he asked, his tone carrying an edge of authority.
Leon met his gaze without hesitation. "Yes, Elder. As the retainer of Lady Elaine, my duty is to protect and serve, to grow alongside her, and to wield my strength as an extension of House Novaris."
A flicker of approval passed through the elder's golden eyes before he turned to Elaine. "What do you think?"
Elaine observed him for a brief moment, then turned away. "He will do."
Leon barely stopped himself from raising an eyebrow.
That's it?
But he had long expected this reaction. From what he remembered of the novel, Elaine was detached, efficient, and merciless—the embodiment of a ruler who viewed all things as either useful or expendable. Now looking back he didn't understand how the protagonist was able to make her fall in love with him but he was at least going to forge a bond with her until he was strong enough to stand on his own.
"Good," the elder said. "From today onward, you will train alongside Elaine in all disciplines—weapon tactics, martial arts, diplomacy, and etiquette. You will be granted resources to increase your strength, and when the time comes, you will prove your worth."
Leon simply bowed again. "I understand."
"Then let us not waste time," the elder said, turning on his heel. "Follow."
Life at the Novaris main household was a relentless storm of discipline and refinement.
From the moment Leon stepped into the training halls, there was no mercy, no leniency. Every second of his time was accounted for.
His mornings began at the break of dawn with martial arts training. Whether it was hand-to-hand combat or sparring with weapons, Leon had to master it all. The Novaris instructors were unforgiving, their techniques refined through centuries of warfare. Even the other retainers, children from lesser families like him, fought with a brutality that left no room for weakness.
After that, it was tactical warfare and strategy—understanding battle formations, political maneuvering, and the responsibilities of serving under a Supreme Family.
Even etiquette lessons were a battlefield of their own. A single mistake in posture or form could bring disgrace, and Leon had no intention of being ridiculed for lacking refinement.
Elaine was at the center of it all—impeccable, untouchable, relentless.
She never faltered. Never hesitated. Never allowed herself to fall behind.
Leon had long since expected her to be talented, but witnessing it firsthand was another thing entirely. She was a machine—each sword stroke, each decision, each movement calculated to absolute perfection.
Yet, rather than feel discouraged, Leon felt something else stir inside him.
"If she can be that strong… then so can I."
And so, the years passed in an unrelenting cycle of training and growth as he was forged into a perfect weapon.
(TIMESKIP-3 YEARS)
The air crackled with energy as Leon and Elaine faced off in the grand Novaris training hall. The reinforced walls shimmered with protective barriers, preventing their destructive spells from damaging the environment. At thirteen years old, both had grown into formidable combatants—Elaine, a mage specializing in light magic with swordplay capabilities, and Leon, a warrior wielding the swiftness of lightning alongside his blade.
Elaine stood tall, white hair tied back neatly, yellow eyes piercing as ever. Her aura glowed softly, the light around her subtly bending to her will. She exuded a calm, untouchable grace, her sword at the ready, as if she had absolute control over the battlefield.
Leon, in contrast, crackled with energy. His silver eyes hyper focused on Elaine. Thin arcs of blue lightning danced across his body, his katana, Midnight Fang, pulsing with his mana. His stance was lower, built for speed and aggressive counterattacks.
The tension thickened between them as the countdown to their spar ticked down.
"Begin!"
Elaine vanished in an instant.
A flash of pure light erupted where she had stood, and she reappeared ten meters away—her movement spell, [Luminous Shift], making it nearly impossible to track her in a blink.
Leon reacted immediately, his body surging with electricity as he activated [Thunderclap Dash], his form blurring forward in pursuit. His movements weren't as instantaneous as Elaine's, but his spell made up for it with raw speed and unpredictable bursts of motion.
Elaine raised a hand, light condensing rapidly into a radiant spear.
"Luminous Spear!"
The projectile shot forward at blinding speed, illuminating the entire hall.
Leon twisted his body, dodging just in time as the golden spear tore past his cheek, scorching the air. He countered with a flick of his sword, sending a streak of lightning forward.
"Storm Fang!"
A crescent blade of electricity arced toward Elaine, tearing through the air.
Elaine side-stepped, her movements precise, and twisted her sword in a defensive motion.
[Radiant Reflection]
A thin golden barrier formed in front of her, absorbing the lightning slash before dispersing it harmlessly.
Leon clicked his tongue. Light magic was annoying.
Elaine wasted no time pressing forward.
With unnatural grace, she dashed forward with [Luminous Shift] again, appearing right in front of him.
Leon barely had time to react before she swung her blade.
"Solar Arc!"
Her sword glowed with golden brilliance, releasing a sweeping slash of condensed light.
Leon parried, but the impact sent a searing vibration through his arms. He gritted his teeth—Elaine's attacks were slightly stronger than his own.
But he wouldn't let that stop him.
He channeled more mana into his body, activating [Storm Step]—a spell that let him weave around his opponent with flickering bursts of lightning speed.
Elaine's golden eyes widened slightly as Leon vanished from her sight, only to reappear at her flank.
"Thunder Fang!"
Leon's katana crackled as he struck forward.
Elaine twisted her body mid-air, raising her free hand.
"Radiant Pulse!"
A sudden burst of divine light erupted from her body, sending Leon skidding backward. The sheer force of her magic disrupted his movement spell, breaking his flow.
Leon steadied himself, panting slightly. He looked up to see Elaine standing tall, her light glowing faintly around her like a protective aura.
She wasn't even out of breath.
Leon grinned.
Elaine smirked.
They both knew she still had the edge—but not by much.
"You've improved," she admitted. A rare compliment.
Leon rolled his shoulders, sparks still dancing around his body. "So have you."
Elaine sheathed her sword. "That's enough for today."
Leon sighed, lowering his weapon. He had come a long way, but she was still one step ahead.
"One day," he muttered, his grip tightening on his katana.
Elaine tilted her head, her cold exterior softening just slightly.
"We'll see," she murmured. Then, she turned and walked away.
Leon sat on the balcony of his training quarters, the cool night breeze brushing against his skin. The training session with Elaine had ended hours ago, but the faint hum of lightning still coursed through his veins, a testament to how much he had pushed himself. His muscles ached, and the bruises from their spar still throbbed, yet a small smirk played on his lips.
"She's still stronger than me," he admitted to himself, watching the twin moons hanging high in the sky.
Elaine was a prodigy, her mastery of light magic nothing short of terrifying. Her attacks were precise, almost divine, and her control over mana was leagues ahead of most at their age. While Leon relied on speed and precision, she combined her magic with impeccable swordsmanship, forcing him to stay on the defensive for most of their fight.
"Still... it wasn't like before," he mused.
There was a time when she had completely overwhelmed him without breaking a sweat. Back then, he was simply trying to keep up, but now—he could hold his ground. He had pushed her to use more of her strength, forced her to acknowledge him as an equal opponent rather than just a retainer.
That realization alone made all the brutal training worth it.
But it wasn't just their battles that had changed. Their relationship had too.
At the start, Elaine had viewed him as just another retainer—useful, but ultimately expendable. She was cold, distant, and indifferent to his presence outside of training. But over the years, that had shifted. They had fought together, struggled together, grown together.
Elaine no longer treated him like an accessory to House Novaris, but as someone who mattered. She respected his skill, listened to his opinions, and even shared moments of silent understanding. She still carried herself with the same pride and authority, but when they were alone, the air between them was lighter, less formal.
"She doesn't see me as just a vassal anymore."
The thought sent a strange warmth through his chest.
Leon leaned back against the railing, gazing at the endless expanse of stars above. He wasn't foolish enough to think things were easy from here on out. He wasn't the strongest, not by a long shot. There were monsters out there, both literal and human, who could erase him with a flick of their wrist.
But the difference between now and before?
Now, he had the strength to fight back.
He clenched his fists, feeling the faint hum of mana flowing through his body.
He had gotten stronger.
He took a look at his status screen.
STATUS SCREEN
Name: Leon Varian
Age: 5
Race: Human
Affiliation: House Varian (Affiliate of Novaris)
Rank: F+
TALENTS
Officially Recorded:S-Rank | Lightning Affinity ⚡
Hidden:SSS-Rank | Chaos Affinity ☠️(Undetected by others)
ATTRIBUTES
Strength: F
Agility: F+
Endurance: F-
Mana Capacity: F
Mana Control: F+
Intelligence: F
Willpower: D+
ABILITIES
Combat Techniques:
[Storm Fang] – A crescent-shaped lightning slash, delivered at high speed. Effective for mid-range attacks.
[Thunder Fang] – A piercing thrust imbued with lightning, capable of momentarily paralyzing the target.
[Arc Flash] – A rapid multi-slash technique where lightning enhances speed, allowing for a flurry of near-invisible strikes.
[Sky Breaker] – A downward lightning-infused slash that increases in force mid-air, capable of shattering the ground upon impact.
[Crackling Edge] – Channels electricity along the blade, increasing sharpness and the ability to cut through armor
Movement Techniques:
[Thunderclap Dash] – A burst of speed, moving in unpredictable zig-zags. Difficult to track.
[Storm Step] – A high-speed short-range teleportation, leaving afterimages due to residual lightning.
[Flash Rebound] – A counter-movement technique that allows Leon to instantly sidestep upon taking an attack, reducing direct impact.
Defensive Techniques:
[Lightning Veil] – Coats the body in a thin layer of electricity, reducing physical impact and slightly increasing speed.
[Static Guard] – A reactive lightning shield that shocks attackers on contact, deterring melee strikes.
[Volt Endurance] – Temporarily numbs pain and boosts reaction speed, allowing Leon to fight past exhaustion.
Mana Absorption & Training Techniques:
[Azure Thunder Circuit] (3-Star Orange Skill) – A technique designed to absorb ambient mana efficiently and refine it into the user's core, enhancing lightning affinity.
Leon looked at his status and he was satisfied he ranked up to F-rank a year ago and also gained lightning based attack skills, movement skills, defense skills and mana absorption from Novaris elders who were impressed with his skills.
He looked at his Chaos element, he wasn't able to use it before as he could feel he wasn't ready for it but now he can feel as if his body is now awakening something, but it is coming at a slow pace.
He let out a sigh and looked up at the night sky, his thoughts of his own as he let his mind wander elsewhere.