[One Month Later]
A month has passed since I began training under my father's relentless gaze.
Thanks to the secret training I conduct within my soul space every night, I manage to surprise him each morning—just enough to earn a raised brow or a grunt of acknowledgment. But, naturally, this only makes him raise the bar higher. Every day, the intensity increases. Not that I hate it… but sometimes, it's downright humiliating.
After training, none of us usually have the strength to even speak. Our bodies ache, and our mana is drained. So, dinner has become our only time to sit, breathe, and actually talk like humans again.
Everyone's been working hard—brutally hard.
My mother, in particular, held nothing back. From what the girls have told me, she's even harsher than my father. Ruthless and precise. She's used me as a benchmark, telling them, "If Noah can endure it, so can you." That... somehow worked.
Layla, fueled by that challenge, managed to convert her flames into a scythe and even attacked my mother fiercely. The result? A smirk from Mom—her version of praise.
Lyra's control over ice has skyrocketed. She can now cast twenty ice lances simultaneously without losing form or precision. My mother had her cultivate in a -5°C chamber for three hours a day, every day for a month. It paid off. Her mana now radiates a denser, purer cold. The air around her feels like it could snow at any moment.
Scarlett has grown in her own terrifying way. She learned several new spells, including shadow clones—similar to mine, but darker, sharper. Her stealth skills, though, are what truly evolved. Mom had her locked in a pitch-black room for hours, forbidding even a whisper. If she made a sound? A volley of icicles would strike her without mercy. Three hours of this. Every day.
Now… if Scarlett doesn't want to be found, no normal method could detect her. Only through my heightened senses—or mana domain—can I trace her presence.
But the biggest change?
Was me.
At dinner, my father can't stop bragging. He tells everyone how I've started fighting back, how I've begun channeling lightning through my body, and how my wind element now fuses with it—boosting my speed so much that I can even match his movements.
My mother, upon hearing that, walked over, gently placed her hand on my head and whispered, "You've worked hard, Noah." Her touch was warm, her eyes proud.
Layla grinned. "That's my man."
Scarlett offered a soft smile. "Good job, Noah."
Lyra, cool as ever, nodded. "Well done."
I bowed my head slightly. "Thank you... all of you."
After dinner, for once, none of us left to collapse into bed. Instead, we lingered, walking together beneath the silver moonlight. We ended up on a bench in the garden, surrounded by the chirps of crickets and the scent of blossoms.
Layla sat to my right, her head resting on my shoulder, casually feeding me bites of cake she'd smuggled in as dessert.
Scarlett sat on the other side, resting peacefully. By now, she was used to Layla's open affection. Beside her, Lyra quietly gazed at the moon, her face serene.
"Noah, say 'aah!'" Layla teased, holding up another bite.
I accepted it. "Mmm… it's good."
For a moment, no one said a word. The night wrapped around us gently, filled with unsaid thoughts and quiet affection.
And then, I decided to break the silence.
"So… what was it you all wanted to talk about?"
The words left my mouth.
And I immediately regretted it.
Layla's eyes lit up first, her amber gaze twinkling like a mischievous fox.
"Oh? You're giving us permission to speak freely, my dear boyfriend?" she whispered, leaning in close until her lips brushed against my ear.
Scarlett lifted her head from my shoulder, red eyes narrowing.
"Well, since you asked… I think we're all wondering the same thing."
She glanced at Lyra, who gave a calm nod. Layla's grin widened like a predator catching a scent.
"How," Scarlett continued, "did you get so strong in just one month?"
I blinked, stalling with a bite of cupcake.
"Just training, I guess? You've seen my dad—"
"Don't dodge," Lyra said, licking frosting off her finger. "We've been training with your parents too, and we've improved… but your growth is different. Even your father keeps talking like you're the next Sword Saint."
Layla leaned in closer, eyes sharp.
"And you definitely didn't have lightning crackling around you last week. Or that intense aura."
She pouted dramatically. "Did you start hiding things from your Layla?"
I stayed silent.
Scarlett tilted her head, voice soft but firm. "Noah."
"…Fine."
I exhaled slowly. There was no escaping this.
"I've been training somewhere else… in a place called the Soul Space."
They froze.
"A what now?" Layla asked.
"It's a personal dimension I unlocked it after my soul got healed . Time flows differently inside. One day outside equals several inside. I train there every night after everyone sleeps."
Scarlett blinked. "So that's how you…?"
I nodded. "Yeah. That's how I've been improving so fast."
They stared at me like I'd just said I was the son of a dragon. Oh wait…
Layla's eyes twitched.
"Noah… you adorable idiot. You've been suffering in silence instead of inviting us?"
"I-It's my soul space! You can't just—!"
"Shhh." She placed a finger on my lips. "Not the point."
Scarlett sighed, half-exasperated, half-impressed. "You always do this… carrying everything alone."
Lyra's gaze softened slightly. "It explains a lot."
I rubbed my neck awkwardly. "I just wanted to get stronger. For all of you."
Layla huffed, snuggling up beside me. "Idiot. That's sweet. But next time, share."
Scarlett leaned back into me, whispering, "I'm proud of you."
"…Me too," Lyra added quietly.
Layla stretched like a cat, then smirked.
"But now that we know, we're not letting you train alone again, right girls?"
Scarlett nodded. "Yes. I want to grow stronger too."
Lyra smiled. "We could even duel inside. A perfect training ground."
Layla's grin widened. "See? You won't be lonely anymore at night, Noah~"
'I train with eleven clones. I'm never lonely,' I thought. But thanks for the sentiment.
I looked at them seriously. "Are you all sure about this?"
"Yes!" they said in unison.
"There's one condition. You can only enter the Soul Space if you're in physical contact with me when I open the gate. Otherwise, your body will just… stay there. Like you're asleep."
A pause.
Layla's eyes gleamed.
"Oh? That's all? You should've said so earlier. Where should I touch you? Here? Here? …or there?"
Scarlett's face turned bright red. "Y-You mean we all have to… to—ah…"
"I have to… sleep with him?!" she screamed internally.
Lyra's cold expression cracked a bit.
"It's a little embarrassing to sleep beside him without being in a relationship yet, but… power has a price."she thought
She folded her arms. "So, basically, we all have to stay close to you at night. Like… sleeping together."
Layla clapped. "Exactly! Sleepover with Noah, every night~!"
"Hehehe, every night with my love on the same bed… I might drool—No! Calm down, Layla, he likes gentle girls!"layla's thought made Noah feel a little chill.
I raised an eyebrow. "So… you still want to train with me, knowing this?"
Lyra: "I'm fine with it."
Layla: "I've been waiting for this moment. Just say the word. Chu~!"
Now all eyes turned to Scarlett.
I looked at her gently. "Scarlett?"
Scarlett's inner thoughts tumbled:
"I love him… but isn't this too soon?"
"But if I say no, will he think I'm distant?"
"He likes it when Layla's open… I can't lose him…"
After what felt like a century of silence, she took a deep breath.
"I-I'd like to train with you. Every night."
I smiled. "Alright. Everyone, come to my room at 9 when everyone's asleep. And don't get caught by Mom."
Scarlett smiled faintly. "My sneaking skills are sharp."
Lyra: "I'll handle distractions."
Layla: "No one can stop me now~ I have permission!"
She kissed me on the cheek and skipped off. "See you tonight!"
One by one, the girls returned to their rooms.
I headed to mine, trying not to think too hard about what I'd just agreed to.
----------
1 hour later
"…Layla, can't you sleep in a different position?" I groaned.
"Nope. This is the perfect spot," she said, clinging to me like a koala.
—To be continued.