Chapter 67

Chapter 67
## Chapter 67

“So… let me get this straight. You essentially gambled your life on a mere intuition that day?”

“I suppose you could put it like that,” Lucian admitted.

Felicia’s brow twitched as she processed his explanation. When she finally spoke, her tone was so icy it could have frozen a midwinter gale.

“My Lord, what were you thinking? If the path of my sword had shifted even a hair’s breadth from what you anticipated, you would have been cleaved in two on the spot!”

“Come now, you were the one who pioneered that strategy. I simply took a page out of your book after seeing it in action.”

“My circumstances are entirely different because I possess the ability to perceive mana! It is no wonder I found your behavior so unpredictable back then…!”

Even though the danger had long since passed, Felicia pressed a hand to her forehead, staggered by Lucian’s sheer audacity. The realization that a microscopic error could have ended him clearly rattled her to her core.

“Sigh… what is done is done. However, I must insist that you never attempt such a reckless stunt again.”

“Relax. Unless I encounter a genius I am so desperate to bring into my fold that I’d wager my soul on it, I won’t have any reason to—”

“You shouldn’t do it even then!” she interjected sharply.

“Fine, fine. I understand.”

Lucian retreated slightly under the weight of Felicia’s stern reprimand. In truth, he only took that specific risk because he possessed knowledge of the Felicia from his previous life, but that was a secret he couldn’t share.

Only after he gave his word did Felicia finally offer a satisfied nod.

“Very well. I shall instruct you in the way of the sword as you requested. But please keep in mind that I am a student myself; do not set your expectations too high. I may be a quick study, but I lack confidence in my pedagogical skills.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m not looking for a master class. I just need a partner who views combat through a lens different from the norm.”

Internally, Lucian hid a wry grin. *You were a phenomenal mentor in my past life; what do you mean you aren’t confident?*

To be honest, Felicia actually had a better instinct for teaching than Sir Eisen. Despite her overwhelming talent, she had a rare gift for identifying exactly why those with less natural ability were stumbling. While many geniuses fail to empathize with the struggles of the average person, Felicia could bridge that gap. A master combatant who could also teach was a rare asset capable of forging an army of elite warriors.

“Furthermore, since my style is unconventional, you will have to filter my advice. It sounds self-important, but…”

“Actually, that unique perspective is precisely why I sought you out.”

“I beg your pardon? What are you implying…?”

“You’ll catch on once we start trading blows.”

Lucian pulled out a wooden practice blade and tossed it to Felicia. Though caught off guard by the sudden invitation to spar, she fell into rhythm, and the two began exchanging light hits.

*Clack, clack.* After only a few passes, Felicia’s eyes widened in shock.

“My Lord, surely you don’t mean…!”

“It is exactly what you suspect,” Lucian said, a smirk playing on his lips as she trailed off. “I can see the world exactly as you do now.”

—

Flushed with excitement, Felicia immediately hurried Lucian to the training grounds. She seemed genuinely thrilled to finally have someone who shared a visual language that no one else could grasp.

“If you truly see what I see, then you must learn the proper application of these eyes.”

“Don’t I just use them to forecast an opponent’s intent and move accordingly?”

“That is the basic principle. However, that approach only functions against knights of comparable skill. If you face an opponent who is vastly superior, relying on these eyes can become a fatal weakness.”

“How so?” Lucian asked, tilting his head.

Felicia dropped into a ready stance. “It is more effective to demonstrate. I will initiate an attack; your job is to intercept it.”

Lucian centered himself and took his position. Even with shared vision, physical limitations usually dictated that some strikes were simply too fast to stop. However, Lucian could now track the flow of mana even from a warrior of Felicia’s caliber.

Just as Lucian prepared to counter the mana surging toward his vitals—

*Whoosh!*

“Wait—!”

Lucian gasped as Felicia suddenly closed the distance, appearing right in his face. Before his brain could process the movement, he felt the blunt, cold edge of the wooden sword pressed firmly against his throat.

“Did you catch that?”

“I… I saw it. I just wasn’t fast enough to stop it.”

“Precisely.” Felicia smiled, withdrawing her weapon. “It is a common error to view these ‘eyes’ as a form of invincibility. If you lean on them too heavily, you lose the instinct to retreat. Because you can visualize the strike coming, you fall into the trap of thinking you can always overcome it.”

“So, seeing the path doesn’t equate to having the ability to block the blow.”

“Exactly. A standard knight would have sensed the massive power disparity immediately and looked for an opening to escape, knowing a head-on clash was suicide.”

*I see.*

Because these eyes allowed a person to bridge a minor skill gap, it was easy to become arrogant. It was a vital lesson. It would be remarkably foolish to engage in a direct confrontation he would have normally avoided just because his perception had sharpened.

“Of course, you cannot always run. There will be moments where you must face a superior foe. Therefore, I will now show you the true depth of these ‘eyes.'”

“The true depth?”

“The flow of mana reveals more than just a path. The vibrations, the density, the faint aura surrounding the blade—all of these factors signal the enemy’s velocity, the weight of the impact, and the subtle shifts in their technique.”

Felicia channeled mana into her eyes, gesturing for him to mirror her. When Lucian focused, the nuanced details she described became startlingly clear.

“This is incredible. But the distinctions are so fine… it’s difficult to separate them.”

“Your precision will sharpen with consistent practice.”

“And what does this practice entail?”

“A great deal of combat.”

Felicia offered a radiant smile and tightened her grip on the practice sword.

“From this point forward, I will maintain a continuous assault. My Lord, you must observe my chain of attacks and deflect them with perfect timing.”

“You… you’re going to hold back if I miss, right? You won’t actually beat me senseless?”

“My Lord, my father gave me a specific piece of advice during my training,” Felicia said, her expression turning uncharacteristically solemn. “Without the sting of failure, there can be no true growth.”

“….”

“Now, defend yourself.”

Lucian felt a chill as he watched Felicia’s mana flare and pulse like a controlled detonation. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt a flicker of regret regarding his own proposal.

—

“Excellent work. That concludes today’s session.”

“Ugh…!”

The second Felicia called a halt, Lucian collapsed with a pained groan. A week had passed since they began this intensive regimen. He had been struck so many times that his entire body felt like one giant bruise.

*Actually, since there isn’t a single inch of me that hasn’t been hit, I suppose ‘everything’ is the correct answer.*

Felicia’s methods were so grueling that his former life of ease felt like a distant memory. It was so punishing that Lucian—the very person who had requested the training—had nearly cried for mercy several times, pride be damned.

The only problem was that the progress was undeniable.

*If I weren’t seeing results, I would have walked away, but I can feel myself evolving every single day. I can’t stop now.*

Despite his aching muscles, Lucian felt a profound sense of accomplishment. After seven days of hell, he could now manipulate his ‘eyes’ with high proficiency. He could read more than just movement; he could gauge the momentum of a charge and predict a defender’s reaction.

The same applied to his swordplay. While his knowledge of the forms hadn’t changed, his reaction time and coordination had reached explosive new levels.

*At this pace, I won’t have to rely solely on finishing fights in a single heartbeat. Instead of betting everything on one burst of power, I can hold my own in a prolonged exchange.*

“I will say this one last time: do not let your ego get the better of you.”

As if sensing his rising confidence, Felicia spoke with a stern face.

“You have undeniably grown stronger, My Lord. And it is natural to want to stress-test that strength. But as I’ve warned you…”

“If it’s a monster I would have run from before, I should still be wary of them now. I know. I won’t drop my guard.”

Lucian took her words to heart. He wasn’t a warrior seeking glory through the sword; he was a leader aiming to rule. It would be the height of stupidity to throw his life away for the sake of a fleeting moment of vanity.

“I was merely weighing my options. Even if my explosive speed is my greatest asset, a master of parrying could still counter me. I’m simply relieved to have a more versatile toolkit.”

“Yes, that is the right mindset. Relying on a single tactic is a dangerous gamble.”

Seeing Lucian’s measured response, Felicia finally allowed a gentle smile to surface. A knight eager to prove themselves was usually the first to fall in battle. Without cold, calculated judgment, most warriors died long before they achieved greatness, regardless of their raw power.

In that regard, she felt a sense of security serving Lucian. While he occasionally took breathtaking risks, he never did so without a strategic foundation.

“Young Master.”

“Yes?”

While Lucian was attempting to work a knot out of his shoulder, Hans approached with a visible air of tension.

“His Grace the Grand Duke requests your presence immediately.”

—

After scrubbing away the sweat and donning fresh attire, Lucian made his way to the Grand Duke’s private office. As he walked, his mind raced with possibilities.

*This is out of the ordinary. Under these circumstances, Father usually avoids private audiences with me.*

Lucian was already the frontrunner in the succession race; a private meeting would only fan the flames of gossip. It would signal to the entire court that the choice had been finalized. It was unlike the Grand Duke, who typically preferred to maintain a veneer of impartial opportunity for all his children.

*Is this about the uprising in Krepelt?*

The continent was still reeling from the collapse of the Grand Accord and the Imperial withdrawal, though the fallout was less catastrophic than in his previous life. The Empire had maintained its core strength, and the First Prince remained unharmed. Still, with Krepelt asserting its independence, the Empire couldn’t simply ignore the slight. For the sake of global standing, they would need to reorganize the Allied Forces and crush the rebellion.

*It’s time for the counter-offensive. I imagine the Emperor had a message for Father.*

The Emperor had shown Lucian significant favor during the initial conflict. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had specifically asked for Lucian to be part of the new task force.

With that theory in mind, Lucian entered the room to face the Grand Duke.

“A crisis has developed in the North.”

“…Excuse me?”

Lucian paused, wondering if he had misheard. To hear “the North” from his father’s lips, rather than a directive from the Emperor, was jarring.

“Uh, Father. Forgive me, but by the North, are you referring to matters concerning my mother’s lineage?”

“Precisely. That is the reason for this summons.”

“I am a Valdek now. While it is a tragedy that my mother’s bloodline was extinguished, to raise the issue at this late date…”

“It seems abrupt, I know. I recognize your confusion. The issue is that a talentless pretender has laid claim to the inheritance that rightfully belongs to you.”

“Inheritance?”

“The House of Calix has recently begun mobilizing the other Northern clans. They claim they seek to end the internal strife of the North and resurrect the prestige of the ancient kingdom.”

Lucian recognized the name House of Calix. They were a family of some status in the North, though they were nowhere near the prestige of the House of Grimaldi. Certainly, they lacked the historical authority to command the loyalty of the other Northern families.

“They are overstepping their bounds.”

“Indeed, it is a reach born of pure avarice. They are aware of this, which is why they aren’t using the Calix name to gather support. Instead, they are operating under the banner of the House of Grimaldi.”

“Wait—what!?”

Lucian stared at his father, stunned. The last living descendant of the House of Grimaldi was standing in this very room. Who on earth was bold enough to steal that name?