Chapter8 : John Lionheart.
Cloud stared at the ornate walls and the towering ceiling, his mind drifting for a moment.
"The Earl's Palace..." he whispered to himself. The name alone carried a weight of grandeur and awe. He had never imagined that his feet would step into such a place—after all, not long ago, he was living a life of misery in a village ravaged by repeated monster attacks.
"This will be your room from now on," Edward spoke in a calm tone as he handed him a small brass card bearing his name, picture, and some basic information. "You'll be staying here for six months, during which you'll train under my supervision."
Cloud looked at the card in his hands, but his eyes remained fixed on the man in front of him with a gaze full of anticipation.
"Does that mean I'll be training in Origin Energy?"
"Yes, and you've already shown promising talent. You can even apply for the Imperial Academy's entrance exam. In fact... from this moment on, you're also my disciple." Edward gestured casually toward a side wardrobe. "You'll find clothes and shoes there. Use them as you like."
"Thank you, Sir Edward—no... thank you, Master!" Cloud responded with an enthusiastic and joyful voice.
Trying to restrain his excitement, he added, "Master Edward, I have a question."
"Ask."
"What's the rank of my talent?"
"Three stars," Edward replied. "Flip the card and see—everything's there!"
Cloud quickly did as instructed, revealing three large golden stars in the center of the brass card!
He smiled, his eyes gleaming with a glowing light, but he suppressed it and thought, 'Above average. But not something to be arrogant about.'
"At this stage, even a one-star talent is considered impressive," Edward added, as if reading his thoughts. "But three stars... that puts you among the most prominent Origin Energy cultivators. Four stars? Those are extremely rare. Their bearers are destined to be profound cultivators whose depths are unfathomable. The current Emperor is one such talent."
"Three days from now, your training begins. Prepare yourself well. If you want to take the entrance exam, you can't afford to slack off. Time is chasing you," Edward continued, with a smile carrying many unspoken meanings as he turned to leave.
But just as he opened the door, a man in his forties appeared. Blonde hair, cold features reminiscent of Edward's, and piercing silver eyes that could cut through the soul. His tall, muscular frame radiated the aura of an indomitable warrior.
It was Edward's second older brother—John Lionheart!
"Who did you bring this time, Edward?" he asked in a deep, gravelly voice filled with repressed anger.
Edward didn't flinch. "Second brother, I didn't expect you. How's your cultivation coming along?"
"Spare me the pleasantries. Who is this boy?"
"My new disciple," Edward replied with a faint smile.
"Disciple?" John laughed mockingly. "Another piece of trash, just like his master."
Edward's expression didn't change. He maintained his calm smile, as if the insult hadn't even reached his ears. As if... he simply didn't care.
Cloud watched it all in silence. This kind of conflict was far from anything he was used to. But... what exactly was the relationship between these two?
John stepped into the room, passing by Edward and standing before Cloud with a haughty expression. "What's your talent rank?"
Cloud looked at Edward with a hesitant expression, but the latter nodded at him with a smile.
"Three stars."
The man's expression shifted instantly. The mockery vanished, replaced by a look of surprise. His narrow eyes stared intently at the boy, as if his gaze was piercing through Cloud's soul.
A moment passed. He murmured something that Cloud couldn't hear, then left the room after casting a sharp, threatening glance at Edward.
End of Chapter.