Lord of Ascension: The Birth of Chaos-Chapter 61 Blades and Portals

Gabriel turned to Scarlet, nodding toward the other end of the yard. "Come. Your training will be different."

Scarlet followed him without a word. He’d already known this would happen. Unlike Kaelith, he didn’t have a drop of magic in his blood. All he had were his arms, legs, and whatever strength he could build.

Gabriel stopped near the weapon rack and pulled out a practice sword. It wasn’t too heavy, but it was long and a little bit old, with the weight meant for endurance rather than speed.

"Take it," Gabriel said, handing it to him.

Scarlet gripped the hilt and tested its weight. "It’s heavier than it looks."

"Good. You’ll start with fifty swings. Don’t stop until I say so."

Scarlet adjusted his stance and swung. The first few strikes were clean. But by the twentieth, his arms started to ache. Sweat dripped down his back, and his grip faltered more than once.

"Your feet are moving too much," Gabriel called out. "Keep them planted. Strength comes from your lower body."

Scarlet gritted his teeth and kept going. His strikes weren’t smooth, and he was getting slower.

Gabriel crossed his arms, watching him without emotion. "You’re not weak. But you’re rough around the edges. That won’t help you out there."

Scarlet didn’t stop, even when his arms hurt. ’I have to prove to everyone that I’m not weak... I can be as powerful as the mages... even the Sages.’ His eyes darkened, and his sword cut through the air.

When he finally hit the fiftieth swing, his shoulders dropped.

"Again," Gabriel said simply.

Scarlet blinked. "Another fifty?"

Gabriel’s tone remained stern. "Another hundred. You want to fight, don’t you? Then train like someone who means it."

Scarlet tightened his grip and began again.

As the sword cut through the air again and again, his thoughts blurred from the pain radiating from his palms down to his body. His heavy breathing and the sound of the air parting were the only things he could hear.

Beads of sweat dripped down his face, and his hands turned sweaty.

Gabriel let him go on for a while longer before finally raising a hand.

"Enough."

Scarlet dropped the sword to his side, panting.

Gabriel walked over to the shade, he picked up a leather bag of water, and tossed it to Scarlet.

"You have the will," he said, "but that’s not enough. You’ll build muscle, learn balance, and get used to pain. The rest will come with time."

Scarlet nodded, too breathless to answer. "So how was it?"

"You have good endurance. But your form is poor, which we can fix."

Gabriel’s gaze shifted across the yard, back to where Kaelith stood.

Kaelith had formed another portal, and this one was steadier than before.

Gabriel’s brow lifted slightly. He walked over, leaving Scarlet to rest for a moment.

"Already managing a stable formation?" he muttered under his breath.

Gabriel stood a few paces behind him, his arms crossed behind his back. The edges of the portal weren’t perfect yet, but it held its form without shaking.

He hadn’t expected progress this fast.

A quiet sound of approval escaped him.

"Not bad," he said.

Kaelith didn’t respond, but Gabriel saw the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, as if he was mocking him.

The training ended just before midday.

Gabriel wiped his hands with a cloth and gave a brief nod toward the two of them. "You both did better than I expected," he said, but there was no warmth in his voice. Just an honest assessment.

Kaelith picked up his cloak without a word.

"Thank you for teaching us," Scarlet said before he followed closely behind Kaelith, still catching his breath as they walked toward the exit.

Gabriel led them through the same stone path they had arrived from. The air outside was a bit warmer now, the mist clearing under the sun. The gardens looked brighter, the scent of herbs and damp earth trailing faintly in the breeze.

When they reached the manor gates, a servant opened the black and gold carriage door.

Just as Kaelith was about to step inside, he paused as he felt a pair of eyes fixated on him.

His eyes drifted upward. On the second floor of the manor, a tall window stood open. And behind the glass, Emelia was watching.

She rested her chin on her palm, the wind ruffling her short dark brown hair. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes fixed solely on Kaelith.

Kaelith looked at her for half a second, then turned away and stepped into the carriage like she didn’t exist.

Scarlet, however, caught her gaze. His brows lowered as he stared back at her, something dark flickering in his eyes.

Emelia tilted her head slightly and smirked at him, as if she enjoyed the emotions dancing behind his eyes. There was a flicker of challenge in her eyes like she wanted him to come for another round.

Scarlet’s glare deepened, and he scoffed at her before he proceeded to climb into the carriage. He shut the door with more force than needed. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The ride back to the palace was silent. Kaelith closed his eyes, one of his arms casually resting on the window. He wrinkled his nose. The carriage smelled faintly of sweat and damp clothes.

Meanwhile Scarlet sat stiffly, still bothered by Emelia’s presence. He hated that girl so much that he wouldn’t hesitate to punch her in the face.

His finger brushed over the edge of his left eye... it was still hurting from her punch. And the way she had sent him flying the other day made his fist tighten. ’I will train to be one of the best warriors that the world has ever seen... and she will be the first person that I’m going to teach a lesson.’

When they reached the palace grounds, the carriage slowed to a stop. A guard bowed and opened the door.

Kaelith stepped out first, then Scarlet followed.

They both started walking toward the inner courtyard when Kaelith suddenly stopped and turned to him.

"Come to my room at midnight," he said quietly.

Scarlet blinked. "Midnight?"

Kaelith didn’t repeat himself. He turned and walked off toward the east wing.

Scarlet froze to his spot, the warmth in his eyes slowly disappearing. "Always nonchalant. I bet he is jealous of my face."

Kaelith walked down the hallway, the servants made way for him, and bowed their heads. ’Peasants... I feel so bored... It has been a long time since I last tasted the sweet taste of chaos.’ He clicked his tongue.

His steps faltered when he saw River right outside his door. "Looking for me?" His eyes narrowed slightly at him.

Hearing his voice, River turned around and offered him a bow. "My prince." He greeted. "The Empress requests your presence."

Kaelith tilted his head slightly. ’Why would white lotus request for me?’