SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Scholar

"Haa…"

The gentle hum of Aether filled the chamber as Neron sat cross-legged on the smooth marble floor, his breathing even and his focus absolute.

The golden radiance of the energy coursed through him, collecting in his newly-formed Aether Core—a shimmering sphere of power nestled deep within his being.

The sensation was intoxicating.

With each passing day, he could feel himself growing stronger, his connection to Aether deepening. It was unlike any other energy he had wielded before. Mana and Miasma had felt crude in comparison—tools that lacked the elegance and precision of this higher power.

"This is it," Neron murmured to himself. "I'm finally beginning to scratch the surface of true power."

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Before he could open his eyes, a familiar voice rang out.

"Neron! Are you in here?"

Kuzon's cheery tone pulled Neron out of his trance.

He sighed, opening his eyes to see the young prince bounding into the chamber, his golden hair gleaming under the ambient light.

"Kuzon," Neron said with a raised brow. "What brings you here?"

"I was bored," Kuzon replied, plopping down on the floor beside him. "You're always training these days. Come play with me!"

Neron frowned, shaking his head. "I can't. Training is important. Besides, you should be training too. When was the last time you worked on your Aether control?"

Kuzon waved a hand dismissively. "Training? Please. I don't need it. I've already mastered Aether. It's in my blood, you know."

"Mastered Aether, huh?" Neron smirked, crossing his arms. "That's a bold claim for someone who spends all day wandering the palace."

"Hey! I'm serious!" Kuzon protested, puffing out his chest. "I'm way better at this stuff than you think."

Neron leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Alright then, prove it. Let's have a duel."

Kuzon blinked, taken aback. "A duel? You mean, like… fight? With Magic?"

"Exactly," Neron said, standing up and stretching. "Let's go to my training chamber and see what you've got. Unless you're scared, of course."

"Scared?" Kuzon scoffed, leaping to his feet. "Of course not! It's just… we don't do that here. The Midas Empire is a peaceful place. We don't use Magic for violence."

Neron shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "Who said anything about violence? It's just a friendly match. Think of it as practice. It'll be fun."

Kuzon hesitated, glancing at the doorway as if considering an escape. But then he sighed, nodding.

"Alright, fine. If you're so eager to lose, I'll play along."

Neron chuckled, gesturing for Kuzon to follow. "We'll see about that. Come on."

As they made their way to the training chamber, Neron's smile lingered.

It wasn't just about testing Kuzon's skills—it was about understanding more about the Midas Empire and their relationship with Aether. And, perhaps, it was a chance to teach the prince a lesson about overconfidence.

The chamber door loomed ahead, and as they stepped inside, the air crackled with anticipation.

Kuzon looked around, his curiosity piqued.

"So, how do we start?" he asked, his tone laced with both excitement and uncertainty.

Neron turned to face him, his expression firm but encouraging. "We start by showing each other what we're made of."

VWUUUM!

Power instantly swelled in the room.

The air inside the training chamber shimmered with golden light as Kuzon raised his hands, summoning a colossal sphere of Aether. The energy crackled and pulsed, its brilliance illuminating the chamber.

"Let's see you dodge this, Neron!" Kuzon shouted, grinning widely as he hurled the glowing sphere straight at his opponent.

Neron stood calmly, watching the attack approach with measured focus.

With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a small, concentrated blade of Aether. He slashed through the sphere with precision, cutting it cleanly in half. The pieces fizzled out harmlessly, dissipating into the air.

Kuzon's grin faltered. "Huh? That's it?"

"You're using too much energy," Neron said, his tone almost teacher-like. "Big spells like that are flashy, but they're inefficient. Try again."

Kuzon frowned, determination igniting in his eyes.

He clasped his hands together, conjuring a series of smaller, faster orbs that whizzed through the air like projectiles. Neron sidestepped the first, deflected the second with a small shield, and let the rest collide with a barrier he'd raised around himself.

"Not bad," Neron remarked, dissipating his barrier. "But your attacks are still too predictable."

"Predictable?!" Kuzon snapped, frustration evident in his voice.

"Alright, then how about this!"

The young prince raised his hand high, summoning a storm of golden lightning that rained down across the chamber. The sheer power of the attack was impressive, filling the space with a deafening roar and blinding light.

~BBBBBTTTTZZZZ!~

Neron, however, remained unfazed.

He extended his hand, channeling a calm stream of Aether that absorbed the lightning as it fell. The storm dissipated, leaving Kuzon panting and visibly drained.

"Done already?" Neron teased, lowering his hand.

'He's too weak despite having so much power. I wonder how this is how Lilith felt when she was training me.'

Kuzon collapsed to the ground, his arms spread wide. Your next read awaits at empire

"Fine! You win! You're crazy strong, Neron."

Neron walked over, offering Kuzon a hand to help him up. "You're impressive too, Kuzon—especially for a three-year-old."

Kuzon shook his head, letting out a small laugh as he accepted the help.

"It's not the same. I'm of royal blood, born with the Midas gift. Everyone in my family is strong. On top of that, I've been training with Aether since I was born. But you…" He paused, staring at Neron in awe. "You've only been learning Aether for a few months, and you've already surpassed me. It's scary how much potential you have."

Neron's lips curled into a small smile, though his mind was racing.

'Scary potential, huh? I can't deny that anymore.'

Neron could feel himself growing absurdly stronger with every passing day, and he could feel the bottomless pit that the energy within him was filling.

'It's not enough! How much more could I grow?'

Their moment of camaraderie was interrupted by the sound of the chamber doors opening. Both turned to see Kido strolling in, his usual calm expression softening as he spotted Kuzon.

"Looks like you've been busy," Kido said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

He walked over to the young prince, ruffling his hair. "You've been keeping Neron on his toes?"

Kuzon grinned.

"Tried to, but he's impossible to beat!"

Kido chuckled before turning his attention to Neron. His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "We need to talk."

Neron raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Now?"

"Yes," Kido replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Neron nodded, gesturing for Kuzon to wait. The young prince sat cross-legged on the floor, still catching his breath as Neron and Kido stepped aside.

"What's this about?" Neron asked, crossing his arms.

Kido's eyes narrowed.

"It's about the next phase of our plan."

"What?" At this point, Neron shuddered in shock. "You mean—!"

"Yeah. I've found what could possibly be where your comrades were locked up before being executed."

"R-really?"

"I'm not sure, but…" Kido's eyes narrowed, causing Neron to nervously gulp.

"... If this is the right place, then you'll be able to find traces of them."