Archon Realm:

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"Oi! Keep it going!" A deep, commanding voice boomed across the training grounds. The towering figure, clad in pristine white armor, nodded with approval. "Yes, just like that. Grip it tightly," he instructed, his tone stern but encouraging.

From a distance, I watched Thaddeus, my mother's most loyal lieutenant and one of our realm's strongest generals, as he drilled the newest cadets. Archonians typically have two pairs of wings, but there are whispered tales of exceptions. Rumor has it that Thaddeus possesses six, though I have yet to see them. His long black hair, slicked back, contrasted sharply with the golden runes etched into his armor, radiating an otherworldly aura. Despite his intimidating presence, he’s one of the kindest souls I know.

Yet, compared to him, to my mother, and to others... I’m still weak.

Thwack!

"Ow! What was that for, Mrs. Elsiya?" I yelped, rubbing the sore spot on my head where she had just smacked me.

"Lost in thought again, dear?" My wife, Elsiya, teased, a mischievous glint in her piercing blue eyes. She barely reached my chest, her fair complexion and short white hair only accentuating the playful smirk on her face. Despite her devilish nature, she looked stunning in her light blue training robe, smeared with hints of violet from our earlier sparring.

"Thinking about me, were you?" she quipped, narrowing her eyes with that same mischievous smirk. Sometimes, I swear she can read my mind. "Focus, Suwan. Faster, and don’t forget to use your momentum," she added, swatting me lightly on the head.

"Roger that, ma’am," I replied, matching her playful tone with a wink.

"Oh, and I almost forgot to mention," Elsiya said casually, stretching her arms. "General Auriel and his squadron are currently away in the Asuran Realm."

Our world is like a series of interconnected bubbles, each representing a different realm. Picture a box of sweets from the lesser realms, with each sweet carefully placed in its own smaller box to avoid mixing. That’s how our world is structured—realms separated by the fabric of space and time, each home to a different race or species. The Archon Realm, our home, is smaller than most, but it’s rich in resources, which often makes it a target for envy and greed.

But anyone who thinks it would be easy to conquer us is gravely mistaken. Despite our small population, Archonians are among the strongest, and our realm is protected by a formidable barrier. At the center of our realm lies the Citadel, its walls carved from obsidian crystals, with towers that serve as guard posts. And at the very heart of the Citadel stands the Royal Palace, a masterpiece crafted by Morgrim, the legendary architect from the Eldritch Elder Realm.

"Was it some kind of invitation?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"Yep, you guessed right. Krynnor, the new king of Asura, sent a letter yesterday, expressing his desire to discuss a 'prosperous future,'" Elsiya replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Krynnor… The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. The Asuran Realm has always been our arch-rival, and Krynnor, though newly established as king, has already earned a reputation for being ruthless. But his recent overtures of peace were entirely out of character.

"Hah! Full of crap, but his methods are certainly different from his ancestors," I snorted.

"Indeed, darling. And one more thing—Krynnor sent five precious sets of armor and ten high-grade weapons to our four generals, excluding Auriel since he’ll receive his there."

Our realm is protected by five generals, ranked as follows: Auriel, Celestia, Lucious, Caspian, and Elara. My mother, Seraphine, is the chief of generals, and she’s the strongest Archonian since our late queen.

"And with Auriel away…," I began, feeling a twinge of unease.

"No need to worry, dear. My mother-in-law Seraphine will handle it," Elsiya declared, puffing up her chest with pride. "And don’t forget, the lesser realm beings are with us too. Even if the Asurans decide to attack, they won’t be able to breach our realm unless someone from our side lets them in—and that’s not going to happen," she added, balancing her sword in her palm.

"Yeah, you’re right. Humans, elves, dwarves—they’re all interesting species. It was a good decision to protect them," I agreed. "But let’s finish our spar first, shall we?"

She nodded, her playful smirk returning as she took her position, sword drawn.

I analyzed the surroundings: she stood in a defensive stance, holding her training sword with both hands. The ground was covered in grass, and behind her stood a Yegsil tree, known for its strong trunks.

Planting my right foot forward, I bent low and strengthened my legs with mana before dashing toward her.

She raised her sword to defend, her left foot behind her.

Quickly, I slashed at her in an arc.

She deflected it with ease.

But I anticipated that. Shifting my weight, I aimed a kick at her abdomen.

She blocked it with her leg and quickly retreated backward with a flip.

"Fast as ever, Elsiya," I remarked, admiring her speed.

"Hehe, I’m right, aren’t I?" she replied, puffing out her chest with a playful smirk.

I dashed behind her, wind rushing past me as I appeared behind her, ready to strike again. But she was too quick—my sword sliced through the air, missing her entirely. A kick from behind sent me flying, crashing into the Yegsil tree’s sturdy trunk.

Recovering with a flip, I grabbed my sword, which had fallen when I hit the tree. "Ha! Brace yourself—I’m going to use magic now," I called out, a grin spreading across my face.

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"Sure, darling! Or else it’d be too boring," Elsiya yawned, raising her arm and beckoning me forward with a flick of her finger. She was taunting me again. "But wait—what stage is your core at now?"

"Mana core or Aether core?" I asked, frowning.

"Idiot! How can an Archonian have a Mana core—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I interrupted, hiding my embarrassment. "It’s still at the first stage of Aether."

Every living being has a core, mostly a Mana core. But we Archonians have Aether cores. Aether cores have three stages—Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III. From what I’ve heard, Mana cores have more stages than Aether cores, but Mana is easier to understand and train. Aether, on the other hand, requires deep insight and precise circulation.

"Hehehe, I’m at the second stage of Aether!" Elsiya boasted with a smug grin. "But I still can’t figure out what my Aether path is...." I nodded along, trying to keep up with her explanation.

"Oh… Did everything go over your head again?" Elsiya asked, raising an eyebrow, her ears turning red with annoyance.

"Are you listening?" she smacked me again.

"Yes ma’am, please continue."

"Okay, so Mana users can manipulate the various elements in nature. But we can manipulate pure Mana and influence Aether," she continued, her voice patient but firm.

"Yeah, yeah, I know this stuff."

"Don’t interrupt me, dear," she frowned, clearly irritated. "Aether is a mysterious element, even for us. After you reach the second stage, you’ll receive an Aether path."

After a brief pause, I asked, "But you’re at the second stage and still no sign of a path?"

"Yes, that’s what’s strange," Elsiya muttered, raising her palm and closing her eyes for a moment, her brows furrowed in thought.

"What if it’s hidden, and you just haven’t sensed it yet?" I suggested carefully. "Maybe you need to understand it differently."

Elsiya’s eyes shot open. "Maybe!" she exclaimed, suddenly pulling me into a tight hug.

Her excitement was infectious. "Don’t worry too much," I reassured her, returning the hug with a wide smile.

"Soo… when is our baby coming?" Elsiya asked innocently, raising her eyebrows.

I froze, my ears turning hot. "We just got married because of the custom, but we’re still only 19," I stammered, turning away to hide my embarrassment.

"Mother-in-law mentioned it too…." I could feel her grin burning into my back.

"Ah, time will tell…" I muttered, walking a bit away from her, trying to hide my smile. "Oh! I was actually going to show you my spells today."

"Okay, come at me," she replied, her voice tinged with boredom. Despite everything, her attitude only made her more adorable. I nodded, chuckling as I took my position.

Archonians can manipulate Mana with the help of Aether by influencing or guiding it. I began guiding Aether from my core, channeling it to my back. A familiar warm sensation flooded through my veins as Aether responded to my will. Taking a deep breath, I focused on that warmth, visualizing it as a spinning wheel behind me.

Aether gathered around my back, following my mental image. A soft golden glow enveloped me, growing brighter as Aether concentrated. Slowly, my wings unfurled—two brilliant, ethereal wings extending out from my back.

"Ready?" I called out, a smile spreading across my face as I prepared to strike.

"Come at me, darling," Elsiya replied, her voice steady and confident.

Even Archonians can manipulate mana by guiding it with Aether, bending its nature to our will.

I drew upon the Aether within my core, channeling it through my veins as warmth surged through my body, a familiar yet exhilarating sensation. With each breath, I focused on that warmth, envisioning the form of my wings.

Slowly, the weight on my back shifted. It was like unfurling a coiled spring, heat radiating from within as the air around me shimmered with energy. My wings emerged with a gust of wind, golden particles of light dancing across each feather. With a stretch and a powerful flap, I propelled myself toward Elsiya, the wind whipping across my face as I closed the distance in an instant. My foot connected with her, sending her hurtling backward.

She defended with her forearm, her speed still unmatched, even after I had invoked my wings. Impressive, but not enough to stop me.

I channeled Aether once more, exerting my influence to command the mana. The fire element responded, a small globe of flames materializing in my palm, glowing with a menacing purplish hue. With a spin, I hurled it toward her, the orb growing in size as it neared. Elsiya evaded effortlessly, ascending with a graceful leap. The flaming orb exploded upon impact with the ground, a cloud of dust rising in its wake.

"Is that all?" she taunted from above, her voice dripping with smugness.

A smile crept across my face. "Of course not."

In a flash, I conjured dozens of purplish fireballs, each encased in a layer of wind element to match her speed. Another powerful flap of my wings, bolstered by Aether, sent me rocketing above Elsiya. Without hesitation, I unleashed the barrage.

The first five orbs grazed her as she dodged, but the next three found their mark, sending her crashing to the ground amidst a cloud of dust. The remaining orbs followed, exploding in a symphony of thunderous booms. Had I overdone it?

Just as I was about to descend, a sharp sense warned me of an incoming blow. I twisted my wings, dodging the attack with a swift flap, turning to face my assailant. Elsiya had spread her wings too, and she came at me with a straight punch aimed for my face.

Barely blocking the strike, I pushed her back with a burst of wind, retreating to regroup. I channeled Aether once more, forming another set of purplish fireballs. This time, I added a special touch—the spheres crackled with lightning, buzzing with the energy of a miniature thunderstorm.

"Here I come!" I announced, hurtling toward her with the spheres orbiting around me. Elsiya's expression shifted, her stance turning serious.

As I closed in, I released two spheres—one aimed directly at her, the other at the ground below. She dodged the first, soaring upward as the second hit the ground with a thunderous boom, shrouding me in dust.

Hidden within the dust, a few spheres lay in wait. I ascended, appearing above Elsiya just as she looked up. With a downward swipe of my finger, I unleashed the hidden spheres.

Elsiya dove downward, just as I had hoped. The spheres from below struck her back, sending her crashing to the ground. In the same instant, the spheres from above closed in, detonating in a powerful explosion.

With a single flap, I cleared the dust, revealing Elsiya standing tall despite the relentless assault. She had dodged most of the attacks, but I could see the toll they had taken. Her robes, once pristine, were now tattered and scorched.

"Let's call it a day," she said, her voice calm but her expression weary as she brushed the dust from her robes.

"Sorry about that," I offered, glancing at her torn attire. "I might have gone a bit overboard."

"Don’t worry about it, dear," she replied with a warm smile. "Just buy me a new one from the lesser world." She beckoned me to follow, and as we walked side by side, a gentle breeze cooled our heated bodies.

Her short hair swayed with the wind, vibrant and full of life. The once vibrant grass beneath our feet was now trampled, the sky above painted in shades of crimson and violet. Yet amidst this ethereal scene, Elsiya stood, her face glowing in the amber rays of the setting sun, laughing like a maniac.

"What are you staring at?" she asked, her tone shy, her eyes reflecting her flustered heart.

"Just analyzing our battle," I lied, though my thoughts were elsewhere. A sudden sense of foreboding gripped me, as if something terrible was about to happen. My fears were confirmed when a chorus of screams pierced the air, followed by a deafening explosion.

We turned toward the source of the sound, smoke spiraling into the sky.

"Let’s go," Elsiya commanded, her voice unwavering. We sprinted toward the chaos, the scent of fire and death thick in the air. The once serene Archon realm was ablaze.

The invaders wore red armor, accented with black, a ghostly dragon symbol emblazoned on their chests. Their horns spiraled upward, marking them unmistakably.

"Damn those Asuras," Elsiya cursed as she pierced an unfortunate soldier with her sword, killing him instantly.

"Krynnor, the king of Asura, sent his Wraith Asura division," I said as we reached the heart of the devastation. Lifeless bodies of Archonian women, children, and the elderly lay strewn across the blood-soaked ground, the vibrant grass now drenched in red.

"Those bloody Asurans," Elsiya muttered, her anger palpable.