The training grounds were already alive with the sounds of clashing steel.
Levi approached the Knight Captain, wooden sword resting over his shoulder.
"I'm here for today's training."
The Captain glanced at him before smirking.
"Took you long enough."
"I was beginning to think you'd finally run away."
Levi sighed.
"I considered it."
"A lot."
The Captain laughed.
"Too bad."
"Now listen carefully."
He immediately launched into another lengthy explanation.
"The technique I'm about to teach you requires proper footwork, timing, control, balance, momentum, precision-"
Levi raised a hand.
"Yeah..."
"Yeah..."
"I get it."
"Could you just show me already?"
The Captain scoffed.
"So impatient."
Without another word...
He drew his sword.
The lazy demeanor he'd worn moments ago vanished.
His feet shifted.
The blade flashed.
One slash.
Then another.
And another.
The sword seemed to multiply as countless silver arcs filled the air like a raging storm.
By the time he sheathed it...
The nearby training dummies were covered in dozens of clean cuts.
The Captain glanced at Levi.
"That..."
"...Is Regal Tempest."
Levi nodded slowly.
"...Wow."
"Yippee."
"I'm incredibly excited."
The Captain narrowed his eyes.
"Oh?"
"If you're that excited..."
"Show me."
Levi stepped forward.
He recalled every movement.
Every step.
Every angle.
He inhaled.
Then swung.
The same footwork.
The same rhythm.
The same flowing barrage of strikes.
Although lacking the Captain's overwhelming strength...
The technique itself was nearly identical.
Silence fell across the training grounds.
The Captain blinked.
'...Almost perfect.'
'How in the world...?'
'He only saw it once.'
His gaze drifted toward Levi's right hand.
A crimson mark peeked out from beneath his sleeve.
The Captain frowned.
"...Hold on."
He stepped closer.
"Your hand."
Levi looked down.
"Oh."
"This?"
The Captain gently grabbed his wrist.
His pupils shrank.
"A flame..."
His throat went dry.
"...Don't tell me..."
"...Is this..."
"...A Stigmata?"
Levi shrugged.
"I think so."
"I woke up yesterday and it was there."
"It was stinging a little."
The Captain slowly released his hand.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
"We're going."
"...Now."
"To His Majesty."
Levi blinked.
"...Can you come with me?"
The Captain immediately shook his head.
"Hell no."
"What if I'm wrong?"
"You explain it."
Levi folded his arms.
"You were the one who dragged me into this."
The Captain sighed.
"...Fine."
"I'll come."
-
The throne room doors opened.
King Maverick looked up from the documents spread across his desk.
"The two of you together?"
"That's unusual."
"What brings you here?"
The Captain bowed.
"Your Majesty."
"Young Master Levi has something you need to see."
Maverick raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"What is it?"
Levi lifted his right hand.
"The back of my hand."
The King glanced at it.
Then smiled.
"...You got married?"
Levi stared.
"...No."
"The fire-shaped thing."
"...Oh."
"Come closer."
Levi stepped forward.
The King gently took his hand.
His smile slowly disappeared.
His eyes widened.
"..."
"...No."
"...Impossible."
The Captain remained silent.
Maverick looked up.
"...This..."
"...This is a Stigmata."
Levi frowned.
"So it really is?"
The King immediately stood.
"Altharion."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Summon the High Priest."
"Immediately."
"At once."
Altharion hurried from the throne room.
Only minutes later...
The High Priest entered.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
Maverick nodded.
"Take a look."
The old priest gently took Levi's hand.
The moment he saw the crimson mark...
His expression softened into one of reverence.
He slowly knelt.
"...Remarkable."
"...Truly remarkable."
Levi blinked.
"...Father?"
The High Priest looked up with a warm smile.
"My child..."
"You have been blessed."
"This Stigmata bears the mark of none other than..."
"...Pyrathera."
"The Fire Goddess herself."
The room fell silent.
Even King Maverick struggled to hide his astonishment.
A blessing directly from one of the Gods...
Had not appeared within the Empire for generations.
-
Far beyond the borders of the Ashbourne Empire...
Within a quiet sanctuary bathed in white light...
A lone woman knelt in prayer.
Long silver hair flowed down her back.
Her hands remained folded.
Her eyes closed.
Then...
She slowly opened them.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"...So."
"The one chosen by a Goddess..."
"...Has finally appeared."
The candles surrounding her flickered.
As though responding to her words.