“Your message caught us by surprise last night,” Licarus replied, his eyes scanning Sokram with interest.

“Uncle, this is my youngest son, Sokram,” Hilda said proudly.

“I greet Master, City Lord Licarus, and his family,” Sokram said, placing a fist over his heart with a respectful nod.

Dragons of the North bowed to no one but the crown, regardless of age or rank.

Seeing that Sokram greeted her first, placing her above even the City Lord in his acknowledgment, Leona grinned with pride, raising her head after nodding to him as she stood proudly beside her husband and wives.

“No need to be so formal, whelp,” Licarus said warmly. “And congratulations on awakening so young. Even the King was intrigued when he heard. It’s not often our city produces a genius like you.”

“Thank you, Great-Uncle,” Sokram replied humbly, fully aware of Licarus’s discerning nature.

“Heh, if only your grandfather Sorah, your great-uncle Solah, and great-auntie Mirah were alive to see you,” Licarus said, his expression turning somber as he remembered his late friend and his sons.

"I’m sure they’re all watching from Aetherium,” Hilda's tone wistful, wishing the fallen members of her family, not just her father, were still alive to witness Sokram’s growth.

“Alright, enough pleasantries,” Licarus said, waving a hand. He turned to Sokram, his gaze sharp. “Your Master says you’ve excelled in every subject, topped combat and general knowledge, and possess a deep understanding of Magi, Aura, and Vitha.

She claimed you were exceptional, and I thought she was biased. But seeing your awakening at such a young age, I admit her words hold merit. You’re graduated, but there’s a condition. You’ll only leave the city walls after passing my test.”

Licarus crossed his arms, his gaze stern. "If you fail this test, whelp, you'll stay within the city walls for another year. Only then will you get another chance. But if you pass... you'll prove you're ready to face the dangers beyond Eversnow’s walls."

Sokram shot a glance at Hilda and Miralyn.

Miralyn looked away while Hilda met his gaze unapologetically, her eyes reflecting a mix of pride and protectiveness. “What? Did you think just because you’re awakened, you’d get to conquer the world?” she asked, crossing her arms.

Sokram sighed and turned to Licarus. “What’s the test, then?”

Licarus gestured to Karini. “Your test is to land three clean hits on her before she knocks you out or makes you give up.”

Karini, the daughter of Sokram’s grandmaster Kamus, was a renowned Shieldmaiden and leader of the White Wolf Squad.

Sokram didn’t flinch. “Shall we head to the training grounds?”

Karini narrowed her eyes, her posture stiffening. “Boy, has no one taught you respect? Or do you think I’m weak?”

Sokram met her gaze without hesitation. “I apologize, Aunt. I meant no disrespect. Everyone in Eversnow knows the strength of the White Wolf Squad’s leader. But the test is to land three hits, not defeat you. If that had been the goal, I’d have declined outright and continued training instead.”

Karini’s smirk sharpened. “You really think you can get past my shield?”

Sokram’s calm demeanor belied the gears turning in his mind.

He’d studied Shieldmaidens in depth and knew this challenge wouldn't be about brute force; it was about timing and precision.

He met her gaze with a composed yet defiant smile. “I don’t know, Aunt. But as my Master’s disciple and a Dragon of the North, I’d disgrace both my name and hers if I didn’t at least try.”

Lycius laughed. “Good answer! A man, or wolf, or dragon, should never back down from a challenge.”

Cecille, noticing how the ambient mana swirled around Sokram, added, “But a mage should pick their battles wisely.”

Sokram nodded respectfully. “I’ll remember that, Aunt. But as a Battle Mage, facing challenges like this isn’t just something I do. It’s who I am. And besides,” he added with a confident glint in his eye, “I’m always prepared.”

Sokram answered, giving her an honest smile, earning a smile back from Cecille and his Master, Leona, too.

Licarus observed the exchange with approval.

Sokram’s bravery was undeniable, though the City Lord doubted the boy could best Karini, one of Eversnow’s most talented warriors in her generation.

Leona led the group to the Academy's training grounds. A small arena where most physical tests and combat practices took place.

The same one where Sokram had reencountered his beloved Master.

This was also where she spent the majority of her time, either teaching or refining her swordsmanship.

A few moments later, Sokram found himself standing face-to-face with Karini while the others watched from the stands.

“Go, girl! Show this arrogant kid what the leader of the White Wolf Squad is made of!” Hilda cheered, drawing confused glances from everyone except Miralyn.

Sokram watched Hilda’s antics, raising an eyebrow. ‘Shouldn’t she be rooting for me instead?’ He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. ‘I get it, Mom. You worry, like always. But this time, I can’t afford to wait. Our family’s future depends on it.’

“It seems even your mommy doesn’t have much faith in you, boy,” Karini teased with a smirk.

“Well, I’ll just have to show her that I’m no longer a child, then.” Sokram turned to Leona and asked, “Master, can I remove the seals?”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Go ahead, but take it easy on my wife, kiddo,” Leona answered, unfazed by the sharp glare Karini shot her.

Nor did she seem to care about the puzzled looks from the others.

The seals Sokram referred to were simple-looking iron bands enchanted by Hannah to make it very hard for him to use the movement spells he’d ‘developed’ over the past three years.

Leona had insisted on their use to ensure Sokram focused on mastering swordsmanship, believing it to be an essential foundation before awakening.

Although Sokram didn’t truly need such training, it allowed him to further harmonize with his ‘younger’ body while offering a plausible explanation for his extraordinary growth.

His rapid progress in cultivation, spell creation, and technique refinement might otherwise have raised suspicions.

Removing the weighted bands from his arms and ankles, Sokram turned back to Karini. “Are you ready, Auntie?”

“Heh. Just make your move, boy. Don’t embarrass yourself,” Karini replied, her tone dismissive.

She couldn’t believe Leona thought Sokram might give her any trouble, let alone go easy on her.

Karini smirked as she raised her shield. 'This boy thinks he can land a hit on me? He's in for a rude awakening.'

But then she noticed his confident smile, which hadn’t faltered since the match began.

“Alright,” Sokram's voice remained calm and unwavering. “Forgive me for being impolite.”

With that, Sokram made his first move.

He raised two fingers toward Karini, his gaze unwavering and intent, releasing a spell without a chant or spoken word, purely cast with a thought.

‘Dark Lightning – Storm Step.’

A sharp crackling thunderclap split the air as dark lightning surged forward, snaking across the arena like a living force.

As Sokram's first spell crackled toward her, a flicker of doubt crept into her mind. 'Wait... did he just cast that without a chant?'

Karini’s instincts took over.

She snapped her shield into position just in time.

The crackling surge skidded off the metal with a hiss, scattering blue sparks as she sidestepped.

The air vibrated with static, the faint scent of ozone clinging to her nostrils.

Her shield hummed from the residual charge, the metal tingling beneath her grip.

Lowering her shield to assess the situation, Karini’s sharp gaze swept over the arena.

Sokram wasn’t where he had been.

Her pulse quickened.

A flicker of movement caught her eye, but it was too late.

He was already behind her.

Without hesitation, he attacked. His katana descended in a swift, downward slash.

Startled, Karini spun around, her battle-honed instincts guiding her.

With perfect timing, she bashed her shield against the incoming blade.

The force of the collision reverberated through her arms, and a jolt of power surged into her body.

She fought to redirect the force of the impact, ensuring that she would not lose her balance.

“Pang!”

The clash of metal against shield rang out, echoing through the arena. Sokram's and Karini's eyes locked for a brief moment, and her chest tightened.

She saw that her shield bash had only pushed him back by half a step.

Her blade cut through the air in a powerful arc, using the momentum from her shield bash to strike at him, hoping to capitalize on his momentary lack of balance.

But Sokram’s Precognition was already in motion.

He read her move before it fully materialized, a fraction of a second ahead of her.

Without a sound, he cast another spell with a mere thought:

‘Water Wall.’

A surge of water erupted from the ground between them, forming a solid barrier just as Karini’s sword collided with it.

Water splashed violently around her blade, but she cut through it with ease, the edge of her sword slicing the watery barrier effortlessly.

But Sokram had anticipated this.

‘Freeze!’

The water transformed instantly into ice, encasing Karini’s sword and freezing it to her arm in an unyielding grip.

Karini’s eyes widened as the cold, solid ice trapped her weapon. Before she could react, Sokram moved like a shadow.

‘Killing Blade Art – Swift Wind: One Step.’

In the blink of an eye, Sokram closed the distance.

With his katana in hand, Sokram moved with chilling precision.

He struck with the blunt side, landing a controlled blow to Karini’s exposed back.

The impact was sharp and unforgiving, reverberating through the arena, yet Sokram remained eerily calm.

“Tack!”

Sokram’s voice was calm, almost detached, as he delivered the first blow. “One.”

The sheer speed of the strike left Karini no time to react.

She struggled to free herself, but before she could regain control, Sokram struck again.

“Tack!”

“Two.” His tone was just as nonchalant as before, but his gaze softened; there was a flicker of respect mixed with the quiet empathy of a seasoned fighter.

Karini’s eyes widened as realization struck.

This wasn’t just a talented boy; this was a warrior in the making.

Before Karini could recover, an unsettling chill washed over her.

Sokram’s next attack was imminent.

In a split second, she gathered her spirit essence, reacting instinctively.

She covered her frozen sword with her Aura, shattering the ice in a dozen sharp cracks as it broke apart.

‘Force Step.’

A surge of energy rushed through Sokram’s legs, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from where he stood, reappearing a few meters away just as...

“BANG!”

Karini’s sword, glowing with the raw power of her Aura Blade, swung down, releasing an explosion of raw energy that tore through the air.

The ground shuddered as the strike missed Sokram by mere inches.

Her heart pounded in her chest, not with fear, but with the thrill of real combat.

The moment she had dismissed him as a child, she had already lost the mental battle.

No longer underestimating him, she inhaled deeply, steeling herself.

She was done playing.

Her enraged voice filled the arena, fury radiating from her as she roared:

“You insolent little lizard! You dare humiliate me like this? I’ll make you pay!”

Sokram, his focus unwavering, noticed the change in Karini’s eyes.

She had unlocked her full potential, and the air around her crackled with the intensity of her resolve.

Her crimson Aura was no longer just around her sword. It enveloped her whole body, assuming the aspect of bloody flames that glowed and swirled around her.

‘Aura Manifestation?’ Sokram thought, a flicker of surprise flashing through his mind.

But as he watched her, he understood. She wasn’t just angry, she was fighting to protect her pride.

Karini, a seasoned warrior, was no longer holding back.

She lunged at him with a roar, her sword now blazing with spirit essence, and Sokram couldn’t help but feel a faint respect.

If she had fought like this from the start, the match might have been far more challenging.

But now it didn't matter anymore.

She had underestimated him one too many times.

Sokram clasped his hands on the rocky floor of the training grounds and, with a thought, ‘Stone Wall.’

Not just one but three stone walls erupted from the ground between them, cutting off Karini’s line of sight.

But using her full power, Karini plowed through the stone walls with ease, her Aura blazing bright, crashing through them as if they were made of paper.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

When she reached the other side, Sokram was gone.

For a moment, she stood still, scanning for any trace of him.

But she looked up, and by then, it was already too late.

‘Fire Rain.’

The temperature in the arena spiked dramatically.

Sokram summoned the spell, and hundreds of needle-sized bolts of fire rained down from above.

The fiery projectiles streaked toward her, blazing embers of destruction, each one humming with the force to sear flesh from bone.

Karini’s instincts roared in warning.

She dashed backward, trying to escape the onslaught. But sensing the heat on her tail, with a fierce battle cry, she raised her shield in defensive stance as her Spirit Essence rushed through her body, summoning the full force of her Aura.

“Shield Wall!”

As Karini braced for impact, Aura surged around her, wrapping her shield in translucent crimson barriers that expanded outward, forming an impenetrable wall of energy in front of her.

But Sokram had anticipated this.

As the fiery projectiles streaked toward her, they vanished in midair, dissipating into nothingness before they could strike.

Karini’s breath caught.

A flicker of movement... too late.

A sudden, sharp tap landed on her back. “Tack!”

Sokram’s presence was calm, almost too calm.

He stood behind her once more, his katana sheathed. “Three,” he said, his tone still detached, as if this entire fight had been nothing more than a training exercise.