As Sven vowed to find his mother, Aiden gritted his teeth, feeling the sting of being ignored. "When was the last time I was humiliated like this?" he thought angrily, his gaze fixed on Sven, who seemed to brush him aside like an insignificant fly.

    Controlling his anger, Aiden vowed silently, "I will surely avenge this humiliation." He felt the weight of others'' gazes, noticing the pity in their eyes. This only fueled his determination.

    Soon, King Orion''s voice broke the tension. "Everyone, return to your chambers. Tend to Chloe," he commanded, signaling the end of the assembly. The room began to clear as everyone moved to follow the King''s orders, leaving Aiden to seethe in silence, his resolve hardening with every passing moment.

    Aiden stood up and returned to his chamber, where he sat on the bed and closed his eyes to meditate. After a week of intense focus, he finally opened his eyes, having reached the peak of the Spirit Warrior Realm. With this ascension, each of his spirits unlocked one new skill.

    After bathing, Aiden emerged from his room, only to find his maid angrily glaring at him. She swiftly picked him up, setting him on a table to fix his clothes and apply minor details to enhance his charm further.

    Once satisfied, the maid allowed Aiden to leave, trailing closely behind him. She followed him until they reached the waiting carriage. Today was the day he and Chloe would be leaving for the Academy.

    The carriage exuded both royalty and elegance as Aiden hopped inside. Chloe sat with her maid, visibly upset, and Aiden waved at her, only to receive a huff in response. Understanding her anger, he quietly took a seat beside her.

    Soon, two more carriages appeared—one in front of them and one behind. These carriages were filled with powerhouses who would escort Chloe and Aiden to the city, where they would be picked up by representatives from the Five Kingdom Academy.

    As King Orion and Queen Ameha arrived, a solemn atmosphere settled over the scene, signaling a farewell. Ameha''s demeanor, unlike Sylpa''s, carried a mature grace as she bid farewell to her youngest daughter.

    Chloe and Ameha shared a heartfelt embrace, while Aiden exchanged brief words with King Orion.

    "Take care of Chloe. She''s yet to experience the darker side of the world," King Orion remarked, his eyes fixed on the departing mother and daughter.

    Aiden solemnly nodded. "I''ll do everything I can to shield her from life''s harsh realities."

    King Orion''s response was stern, his tone unwavering. "You had better."

    Approaching Chloe, King Orion gently placed his hand on her head, his expression devoid of emotion. "You are the most talented child our kingdom has seen in the last 10,000 years. Strive to become someone people aspire to be."

    Chloe nodded in acknowledgment, meeting King Orion''s gaze with determination.

    As the carriages rolled away, Ameha sighed in resignation, offering quiet words of encouragement to Chloe. Meanwhile, King Orion retired to his chambers, finally allowing his emotions to surface. Tears flowed freely as he mourned the loss of Sylpa.

    Ameha did her best to console him, pouring them both wine and providing comfort in the midst of grief.

    The old man arched an eyebrow, sensing the truth in the man''s words. After a moment of consideration, he instructed, "Follow me."

    With no other recourse, the young man complied, trailing behind the old man as they made their way to the first carriage. Once there, the old man gestured for the young man to enter, silently acknowledging his newfound passenger.

    "What''s your name, kid?" the old man inquired, eyeing the seemingly 12-year-old boy.

    "My name is Loyd," Loyd replied calmly.

    The old man nodded and proceeded to ask Loyd basic questions about his background, including details about his parents and what brought him to this place.

    "Show me your Spirit," the old man then requested.

    Loyd hesitated, recognizing that revealing one''s Spirit is a significant move. Sensing his apprehension, the old man reassured him, "It''s okay. No one else can hear our conversation."

    Loyd nodded and extended his right hand, summoning forth a pitch-black dagger adorned with glowing purple characters of an unknown language.

    "Hmm, interesting Spirit. What''s its name?" the old man inquired, studying the characters intently but unable to decipher their meaning.

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    Loyd remained silent this time, opting not to answer the old man''s question, before retracting his Spirit.

    Though curious, the old man didn''t press further, understanding that knowing a Spirit''s name often reveals its capabilities.

    Both of them fell into a comfortable silence, allowing the journey to pass quietly. As dawn approached, the guards found a suitable location for camping, settling upon the territory of a Frost Bear. After dispatching the creature and utilizing its hide to construct a warm shelter, they established camp for Aiden and Chloe.

    Aiden and Chloe, accompanied by their maids, disembarked from the carriage.

    Observing from the middle carriage where the Royal family sat, Loyd cast a confused glance at the old man. "Who is the boy with Her Highness?" he inquired, his fists clenched behind his back.

    The old man, opening his eyes, calmly responded, "Her fiance?."

    Crack!

    At the moment the old man answered, a cracking sound echoed around them, causing the old man to scan their surroundings. Meanwhile, Loyd''s mind went blank upon hearing the old man''s revelation.