The tall windows of the Valencrest estate stretched from floor to ceiling, letting in pale morning light that barely warmed the vast chamber.
Valerian Draven Valencrest stood still, his gaze fixed beyond the glass.
Far below, the training grounds were already active.
Small figures moved like scattered pieces on a board—some clashing, some repeating the same movements over and over again.
His eyes, however, were not on all of them.
They were fixed on one.
"…The boy again, my lord?"
A calm voice came from behind.
Valerian did not turn.
"Yes."
His tone was quiet.
Measured.
Behind him stood an elderly man, dressed neatly, his posture straight despite his age.
His butler.
A man who had served the Valencrest house longer than most had lived.
"I assume you are referring to the one Sir Aldric brought," the butler continued.
Valerian's gaze remained steady.
"The same one Kael has taken interest in."
A brief silence followed.
The butler stepped slightly closer, though still maintaining distance.
"With all due respect, my lord," he said carefully,
"…he appears rather ordinary."
Valerian's expression didn't change.
"That is precisely why he is not."
The butler paused.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly—not in disagreement, but in thought.
Valerian continued.
"He lacks talent."
"He lacks strength."
"He lacks discipline."
Each word was spoken without hesitation.
And yet—
"He still stands."
The room fell silent again.
Valerian finally turned.
His sharp eyes met the butler's.
"Do you know what is rare?" he asked.
The butler lowered his head slightly.
"…No, my lord."
Valerian's gaze returned to the window.
"Not strength."
"Not skill."
"…Persistence."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Most break long before they realize their limits."
A faint pause.
"But that boy—"
"He continues without understanding them."
The butler remained silent.
Not because he had nothing to say.
But because he understood.
Valerian rarely observed something without reason.
"Shall I arrange for him to be observed more closely?" the butler asked.
Valerian shook his head slightly.
"No."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Let him struggle."
"Interference would only ruin it."
His gaze softened—just slightly.
"…For now."
Scene 2 — Aldric & Kael
The training ground had quieted slightly as the morning session came to a pause.
Kael stood near the edge, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he watched the trainees disperse.
Footsteps approached.
"…You seem busy as always."
Kael didn't need to turn.
"Aldric."
Aldric stepped beside him, his usual relaxed demeanor unchanged, though his eyes carried a certain sharpness.
"You've been pushing them harder," Aldric noted.
"They need it," Kael replied simply.
A brief silence followed.
Then—
"…And the boy?"
Kael's gaze shifted slightly.
"…He survives."
Aldric let out a quiet chuckle.
"That sounds like you."
Kael didn't respond.
After a moment, he added—
"He is slow."
"Weak."
"And lacks any foundation."
Aldric nodded.
"As expected."
Kael continued.
"But he adapts."
That made Aldric glance at him.
Kael rarely said more than necessary.
"He observes," Kael added.
"…And he repeats."
Aldric's smile faded slightly into something more thoughtful.
"That alone won't be enough."
"It won't," Kael agreed.
Another pause.
Then Aldric spoke again.
"I'm leaving."
Kael finally turned.
"…Where?"
"The western fortress."
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
Kael's expression hardened slightly.
"…That soon?"
Aldric nodded.
"There have been movements."
"Unusual ones."
Kael didn't ask further.
He didn't need to.
The western fortress wasn't a place one visited without reason.
"…And the boy?" Kael asked.
Aldric looked toward the training ground.
Leo was there, barely standing after his spar.
"…Leave him to you."
Kael didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"He won't survive if he stays the same."
Aldric's gaze remained on Leo.
"…Then make sure he doesn't stay the same."
A faint smile returned to his face.
"I'll be back."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
Kael watched him leave.
Then his gaze shifted back to Leo.
Silent.
Evaluating.
Scene 3 — Leo & Ryan
The ground felt colder than usual.
Or maybe—
Leo's body had simply stopped resisting it.
He lay on his back, staring at the sky, his chest rising and falling heavily.
Each breath came out uneven, as if his body hadn't yet decided whether to continue or give up.
His arms felt numb.
His legs refused to move.
Even his fingers twitched faintly, as though they no longer belonged to him.
"…You look worse than yesterday."
Ryan's voice came from somewhere beside him.
Leo didn't turn.
"…Feels worse too," he muttered weakly.
Ryan let out a small breath, something between a sigh and a quiet laugh.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The sounds of the training ground filled the silence again.
Wood clashing.
Voices calling out.
Life moving on as if nothing had happened.
"…You should sit up," Ryan said after a while.
Leo didn't respond immediately.
Then, slowly, he forced his body to move.
His arms trembled as he pushed himself up, his back protesting with every inch.
He sat there, slightly hunched, catching his breath.
"…Do you all do this every day?" Leo asked.
Ryan shrugged.
"More or less."
Leo let out a quiet breath.
"…Does it get easier?"
Ryan glanced at him.
"…No."
A pause.
"You just get used to it."
Leo stared at the ground.
That answer didn't comfort him.
But it didn't discourage him either.
It just… existed.
"…What happens after training?" Leo asked.
Ryan leaned back slightly, resting his arms behind him.
"Eat."
"Rest."
"Train again."
Leo blinked.
"…That's it?"
Ryan nodded.
"For most."
Leo frowned slightly.
"For most?"
Ryan's gaze shifted toward the distance.
"Those who pass the selection… leave."
Leo remembered.
Kael's words.
Removed.
Assigned.
"…Have you seen it?" Leo asked quietly.
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Yes."
His voice was quieter this time.
"Not everyone comes back."
Leo fell silent.
The weight of those words settled slowly.
Not all at once.
But enough to be felt.
"…Why stay then?" Leo asked.
Ryan looked at him.
For a moment—
as if measuring something.
Then he said—
"Because leaving is worse."
Leo didn't ask what that meant.
He didn't need to.
He could imagine.
A life outside.
Alone.
Hungry.
Uncertain.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"…Then I'll stay," Leo said quietly.
Ryan didn't respond.
But he didn't laugh either.
They sat there for a while.
Not speaking.
Not moving.
Just breathing.
Above them, the sky stretched endlessly.
And somewhere beyond what they could see—
something much bigger was already in motion.