Chapter 4 — The Anomaly
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The training grounds were loud.
Steel rang against steel.
Magic flared in controlled bursts.
Orders were shouted. Movements were precise.
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Malik stepped in—
And paused.
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"…wow so this is the training grounds."
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"Indeed."
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The voice came from behind him.
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Malik turned.
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A tall man stood there.
Armor worn with authority.
Presence heavy, but controlled.
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"Rex the knights commander ."
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A pause.
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"You must be Malik."
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"…yeah."
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Rex gave a small nod.
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"Follow me."
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—
They walked past rows of knights and mages.
They now slightly.
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At the far end—
Two figures waited.
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A woman in white and gold.
Calm.
Observant.
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A man in robes.
Glasses.
Eyes already analyzing.
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Rex stopped.
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"The priestess—Elyria."
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A slight nod from her.
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"The Grand Court Mage—Aldren."
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Aldren adjusted his glasses.
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"…so this is the summoned one."
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Malik looked between them.
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"…wow so you guys are like really mage and prist right"
malik said in excitement
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"Yes," Elyria said.
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Aldren stepped forward.
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"Have you opened your status window?"
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"…ho yeah honestly I didn't think about that."
mlik said while open his status window
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"Good."
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"Make it visible."
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Malik didn't question it.
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Visibility: Public.
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The window appeared.
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[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Malik
Race: Human
Class: Hero
Level: 1
Strength: 12(+)⏫
Agility: 11(+)⏫
Endurance: 13(+)⏫
Intelligence: 15(+)⏫
Mana: ♾️
Unique Ability: [Unassigned]
Passive Trait: [Adaptive Growth]
Continuously evolves body, mind, and mana over time. Growth occurs passively but accelerates under pressure, allowing rapid adaptation to any condition. No fixed upper limit detected.
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Silence.
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Aldren leaned closer.
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"…what is that symbol?"
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"I have never seen it before," Elyria added.
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Malik looked at them.
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"…you don't know what it means?"
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Aldren shook his head.
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"No."
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Malik scratched his head slightly.
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"…in my world it means infinity."
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"…what?" Elyria asked.
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"it's endless."
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Silence.
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"…that is not possible," Aldren said quietly.
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Malik shrugged.
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"…that's what it says."
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Rex stepped in.
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"so u saying you can use mana infinitely?"
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Malik looked at his hand.
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"…I think so."
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Aldren raised a hand quickly.
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"Wait."
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A pause.
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"If this is true then..."
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He looked at Rex.
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"Training first."
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Rex nodded.
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"Agreed."
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They moved to a quieter part of the training grounds.
Far from the noise.
Far from distractions.
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Rex stopped first.
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"This will do."
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The space was wide and empty.
Perfect.
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Aldren stepped forward, adjusting his glasses slightly.
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"Before we begin," he said, "you need to understand something."
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Malik folded his arms loosely listening.
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Aldren raised his hand.
A small glow of mana formed above his palm.
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"Mana exists everywhere. In the air, in the body—everything."
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The glow steadied.
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"But it cannot be used as it is."
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He tapped his chest lightly.
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"Mages refine mana around the heart."
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A faint circular pattern flickered over his chest.
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"The heart circulates. Blood flows through it—so does mana. That allows us to control it outward."
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The glow shifted slightly in shape.
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"Spells. Range. Precision."
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He lowered his hand.
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Rex stepped forward.
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"Knights are different."
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He placed a hand over his core.
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"The core is where movement begins."
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A faint pressure pulsed from him.
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"Every strike. Every step. Every reaction."
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A pause.
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"So we refine mana there."
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His voice was steady.
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"It strengthens the body directly."
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Aldren continued.
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"Different paths. Same rule."
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A brief pause.
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"Draw it in."
"Refine it."
"Store it."
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Then he looked at Malik.
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"Then use it."
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Silence.
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Malik nodded once.
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"…alright."
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He raised his hand.
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Closed his eyes slightly.
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"…I can feel it."
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Aldren gave a small nod.
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"Good. Then refine it."
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Malik paused.
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Then opened his eyes.
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"…why?"
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Aldren frowned.
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"…what?"
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Malik glanced around.
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Then lifted his hand slightly higher.
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"…if it's already here…"
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The air shifted.
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Mana gathered.
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Not into him—
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Around him.
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Visible.
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Blue.
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Unrefined.
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Elyria's voice dropped.
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"…that's raw mana…"
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Aldren froze.
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"…no refinement…"
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Malik moved his fingers.
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The mana condensed instantly.
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No delay.
No structure.
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Just control.
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"…I can just use it like this."
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Silence.
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Rex stepped forward slightly.
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"…you didn't store it."
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Malik shook his head.
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"No."
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A pause.
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"I don't need to."
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Aldren stared at him.
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"…you bypassed everything."
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Malik tilted his head slightly.
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"…was I not supposed to?"
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No one answered.
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Because there was no answer.
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—
Aldren exhaled slowly.
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"…fine."
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His tone shifted.
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"Then show me control."
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He raised his hand again.
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A small fireball formed.
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Stable.
Refined.
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"This is a basic spell structure."
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He released it.
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"Try."
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Malik watched carefully.
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Then raised his hand.
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Mana gathered instantly.
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Blue.
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He shaped it—
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Compressed it—
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A fireball formed.
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Cleaner.
Sharper.
Denser.
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Aldren's eyes narrowed.
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"…less loss…"
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Malik frowned slightly.
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"…yours wastes energy."
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Silence.
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Rex exhaled quietly.
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"…again."
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Malik didn't hesitate.
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Fire.
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Ice.
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A blade.
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Each formed instantly.
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No chant.
No delay.
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Just intention.
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Elyria whispered—
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"…he's not casting…"
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Aldren finished it.
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"…he's controlling."
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That realization settled heavily.
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—
After a while—
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"Enough."
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Rex's voice cut through.
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Malik lowered his hand.
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"…that's it?"
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"For today," Aldren said.
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Malik shrugged.
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"…alright."
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"Return to your quarters."
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Malik turned without argument.
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"…see you tomorrow."
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And left.
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—
Silence followed.
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Aldren spoke first.
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"…that is not normal."
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Elyria nodded slowly.
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"…and it will not stay small."
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Rex turned.
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"…we report."
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—
The throne room.
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King Richard IV sat in silence.
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Around him—
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Lord Halven.
General Varis.
Duke Viremont.
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The doors opened.
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"My king."
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"…report."
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Aldren stepped forward.
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And explained.
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The mana.
The control.
The absence of refinement.
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Silence.
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Then—
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"…the strongest yet," Halven muttered.
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General Varis frowned.
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"Or the most dangerous."
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Elyria spoke calmly.
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"He does not follow the system."
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A pause.
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"He ignores it."
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Duke Viremont leaned back slightly.
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"…we've seen heroes grow before."
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His gaze darkened.
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"…they never stay the same."
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Silence.
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The king finally spoke.
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"…we will not repeat past mistakes."
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A pause.
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"Train him."
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Another.
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"…and watch him."
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His voice lowered slightly.
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"…closely."
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Silence settled.
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Unspoken—
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But clear.
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Something had begun.
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Not trust.
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Not loyalty.
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But caution.
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—
End of Chapter 4