Chapter 8: Awakening the Sight

As Alistair stepped out of the king’s private chamber, his expression remained unreadable. His mind was filled with thoughts of the upcoming trial, his dwindling time, and his desperate need to awaken mana. He took a deep breath and turned to Sofia, who silently followed him.

"Let's go, Sofia," he said.

She didn’t respond immediately, simply nodding and keeping her gaze lowered. The air between them was heavy with unspoken emotions.

On the way to his quarters, Alistair finally broke the silence. "Do not disturb me. I am going to meditate."

Sofia paused for a brief moment before answering softly, "Yes, Your Highness."

Upon entering his room, Alistair wasted no time. He settled onto the floor, crossing his legs as he closed his eyes, focusing inward. As he attempted to channel his thoughts, an overwhelming flood of past-life memories crashed into his mind.

He saw betrayal. The faces of those he once trusted flashed before him, their voices filled with mockery and deceit.

“Weak. Powerless. Forgotten.”

The echoes of his past sneered at him, trying to drag him down. His chest tightened, his breath growing ragged. But Alistair clenched his fists, forcing himself to push forward. He refused to be shackled by the ghosts of his past any longer.

Then, as abruptly as it started, he stopped. His mind was unsettled. Meditation alone wouldn’t be enough—not yet. He stood up and headed to the door. Sofia, who had been waiting just outside, turned toward him immediately, concern flickering in her emerald eyes.

"Your Highness?"

Alistair was moved by her silent resolve, her unwavering determination to support him. Still, he shook his head. "I'm just going for a short walk. No need to follow me. Clean the room instead."

Sofia hesitated but ultimately bowed. "As you wish, Your Highness."

As he wandered through the palace grounds, his feet instinctively led him to the training grounds. At first, he noticed nothing unusual. But then, upon closer observation, something strange caught his eye.

A faint, flowing blue light surrounded the soldiers as they trained. It swirled and pulsed around them, most of it concentrated in their abdomens. His gaze sharpened.

Is that... mana?

Just then, a deep, authoritative voice called out.

"Your Highness."

Alistair turned to see a towering man clad in battle-worn armor. General Darius Valeheart, one of the kingdom’s most formidable warriors and a man deeply loyal to the king.

The general greeted him with a slight bow. "What brings you here, Your Highness?"

Alistair, sensing the general’s sincerity, responded with respect. "Just getting some fresh air."

Darius smirked. "The training grounds are hardly the best place for that."

Alistair chuckled, appreciating the man’s blunt but friendly demeanor. "General, may I ask you something?"

Darius hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Of course, Your Highness."

Alistair gestured toward the soldiers. "That blue light around them—what is it? And why is it stored in their abdomens?"

The general stiffened. His usual confident expression was replaced with sheer astonishment. "You can see... mana flow? And even the storage points?"

Alistair tilted his head. "Mana? So that’s what it is?"

The general took a deep breath. "Yes, Your Highness. That is mana—the very energy that empowers knights and warriors alike."

A notification flashed through Alistair’s mind. New Skill Acquired: 'See Mana.'

Darius, still in shock, thought to himself, If the prince hadn’t been poisoned… if he had started training earlier… he could have been a monster. What a pity. But he’s still alive, and that is what matters.

Alistair then asked hesitantly, "How do soldiers use mana? Is it different from mages? You mentioned that this is how soldiers use it."

The general’s eyes widened further. He even caught that detail? If I had known the prince sooner, perhaps this tragedy wouldn’t have happened...

Darius composed himself before answering. "Soldiers use mana to strengthen their bodies and weapons. Those who can store mana and use it effectively are called aura users."

He gestured toward the training soldiers. "You see, all of them are aura users. Aura users are ranked from 1-star to 12-star. Your father, our king, is a 9th-star Aura Master. Soon, he will break into the 10th star. General Roland Stormcrest and I are also at the 9th star."

Before Alistair could ask more, a soldier rushed over. "General, His Majesty has summoned you."

Darius turned back to Alistair and, with a rare smile, said, "Your Highness, you are welcome to visit the White Dragon Squad’s training grounds at any time."

With that, the general left, his thoughts still racing about the young prince’s potential.

Alistair, now deep in thought, decided to head to the mages' training grounds next. What he saw there shocked him even more.

Unlike the soldiers, the mages didn’t store mana in their bodies. Instead, they absorbed it from their surroundings, refining it into circular patterns within their abdomens before releasing it in bursts of power.

Floating above them, overseeing their training, was a tall figure with flowing silver hair, long pointed ears, and piercing violet eyes.

Archmage Eldrin Faelora—the high elf who commanded the mage corps.

In an instant, she turned to face Alistair, her lips curling into a creepy smile.

"Oh my, what an interesting guest we have here..." she mused, her voice dripping with amusement.

To be continued...