The first rays of dawn, thin and hesitant, peeked through the gap in the heavy curtains. They painted a pale stripe across the unfamiliar ceiling, a stark reminder that this wasn't some dream. Aren stirred, his muscles whispering complaints about the unaccustomed luxury of the mattress. For a disoriented moment, he thought he was back in Chronos Labs, but then reality snapped into focus: this was his room in the castle. He hadn't even registered the luxury of his chambers yesterday, lost as he was in exhaustion and the dim light. Silk sheets. Seriously? I guess I'm a big shot now.

He pushed himself up, the silk sheets practically trying to strangle him. Even sitting up felt different in this younger body. Weaker. Less responsive. Sixty-five years of hard living, and I'm stuck in this… this Ken doll. He glanced at the heavy metal mug on the bedside table, furrowing his brows. Not that I'm rested, let's try again.

He crawled to the mug and, using both hands, managed to lift it. Wouldn't be this hard with a proper handle. He drank the water as if he were in the middle of the desert, more to celebrate his victory over the unwieldy mug than to quench any real thirst. Right. Because struggling to lift a mug is the pinnacle of warrior training.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. A young maid entered quietly, her head bowed and a fresh set of clothes in her arms. Her cap, while concealing her hair, also hid her face from Aren at that angle. She moved swiftly to the table near the door, placed the clothes down, and turned to Aren, who was now sitting up, trying to look casual. Without raising her head, she spoke in a timid voice.

“Sir, I’ve been asked to escort you to the dining hall. Everyone is gathering for breakfast. Please change, and I’ll wait outside.”

For a brief moment, her eyes flicked up to his face, taking in his sharp features, pale skin framed by light hair, and the striking yellow of his eyes. A blush spread across her cheeks, and she quickly lowered her gaze, hurrying out of the room. Is there something on my face?

He rose and dressed in the clothes the servant had laid out for him. Fine blue linen, soft leather, supple calfskin. The kind of outfit that probably cost more than his rusty apartment back on Earth. Talk about a wardrobe upgrade.

He stepped into the hallway, where the maid waited a short distance away. She glanced at him, blushed again, and quickly turned around.

“Please, follow me,” she said, walking briskly toward the staircase with quick, small steps.

Aren trailed behind, his eyes taking in the grandeur of the castle. When they arrived at the dining hall, Duke Darius and his family were already seated, bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun. As he entered, a chorus of greetings met him.

"Ah, Aren! Good morning," Duke Darius greeted him, his voice a pleasant rumble.

"Good morning, Aren," Isla chirped, her eyes bright. Kira and Leo offered nods of acknowledgement, and Lady Oriana gave a subtle, almost imperceptible smile.

"Good morning to you all," Aren replied, offering a respectful nod to each of them in turn. He took his seat; the chair was as heavy as yesterday. A servant immediately appeared to offer him a goblet of water and a plate of food, which looked like ordinary scrambled eggs. The plate and utensils didn't seem heavier than usual, so perhaps not everything is made heavy here.

"I trust you found your accommodations to your liking?" Darius turned to Aren, after taking a big sip of mead.

"Sure, slept like a log. Though I confess, I'm still adjusting to the… differences."

Darius chuckled, a hearty sound that filled the hall. "Indeed. Stormborn Castle is not for the faint of heart. But you will find yourself growing accustomed to it, I assure you."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"We are all most grateful for your bravery in saving Isla," Lady Oriana spoke, breaking her usual silence.

"It was my honor," Aren replied, meeting her eyes. Though I still don't know why those goons were after her in the first place. "In fact, if I may be so bold, I was hoping to learn more about the Stormborn Dominion. I realize I have much to learn about this world, and I wish to be a worthy member of your court."

Darius's eyes twinkled with approval. "An admirable sentiment, Aren. Ask away, then."

"How does Stormborn Dominion stand in relation to the other Dominions in Atheria?" Aren inquired. "Are there alliances? Conflicts brewing?" Otherwise, why send mercenaries after the Duke's daughter?

Darius leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Atheria is a… complicated place, my boy. A tapestry woven with threads of alliance and rivalry. Stormborn Dominion is a strong and independent power, but we maintain trade and diplomatic ties with several others. To the north lies Wintervale, a land known for its… specialized research. To the east, the Sunstone Dominion, a collection of merchant city-states whose loyalty lies with their coffers. And to the west, the Shadowfen, a mysterious and dangerous land best left undisturbed. While the new Shadowfen Duke possesses a certain… affability, his recent reforms to render the Dominion more, shall we say, 'hospitable,' have raised certain eyebrows."

"Of course, there are always those who seek to undermine us… but enough of that. Let's not spoil our lovely breakfast with such unpleasantries."

Kira, as always, was more grounded. "The political landscape is a viper's nest, Aren. Alliances are fleeting, betrayals are commonplace, and power is a prize constantly fought over. Tread carefully."

Leo, predictably, was focused on more immediate concerns. "And you must be strong, Aren. Strength is the only language some understand in this world. Without it, words are just… air."

Couldn't agree more.

Lady Oriana offered a rare, subtle smile. "Indeed. Knowledge, strength, and a touch of… finesse are all valuable assets in Atheria. Strive to cultivate them all, Aren."

"Well said," Darius boomed, clapping his hands together. "Now I believe it's time for you young men to begin your training. Leo, be a good lad and escort Aren to the training grounds. The castle is a labyrinth to those who have only been here a few days. Valerian should be along shortly to explain the… finer points of Ether manipulation."

"Right away, Father!" Leo practically leaped from his chair. "Come on, Aren! Let's not waste any time!"

Aren stood up, excited to finally begin his Ether training. "Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to learning more about Atheria… and Ether, of course."

He followed Leo out of the dining hall, his mind already racing. He had gleaned some valuable information about the world he now inhabited, but he knew that there was much more to discover.

As he and Leo approached the training grounds, the familiar scene unfolded before them: guards training as they had the day before. Despite encountering many guards on duty, they clearly adhered to some sort of schedule.

Valerian was still absent. Therefore, Leo suggested they begin on their own. They warmed up, and after the warm-up, Aren asked, "You didn't use Ether yesterday, did you? Could you show me what your strike would look like with Ether?"

"Of course!" Leo practically bounced on the spot, delighted by the opportunity. "But I can't hit a regular training bag like that; I'll just demonstrate the strike in the air so I don't break the equipment."

Leo adopted his somewhat sloppy stance, and Aren watched intently. A faint, translucent aura began to envelop his body. Aren felt a tension in the air. This must be what Ether feels like.

Leo stepped forward and struck the air. The force of the blow kicked up a trail of dust several meters ahead. Even standing to the side, Aren could feel his hair flutter in the wind from the impact.

That's power. I have to learn this. A greedy smile crept onto his lips. "And how do you acquire the Ether to use it?"

"Everyone does it differently. For example, I feel it with my whole body, absorbing it from the environment like a towel absorbs water."

"And how do you train the amount or effectiveness of its application? Meditation? Practice?"

"Personally, meditation only helps me train my body as a conduit and vessel, meaning how much Ether I can take in and use. However, I practice applying it in combat like I just showed you, through active use." Leo was very proud and pleased that Aren was showing such interest in his skills. He straightened up, seeming to grow a couple of centimeters taller with a satisfied expression.

He was ready to continue his story about himself, but Valerian appeared on the training ground, strolling leisurely in his artifact armor that shimmered in the sun.

"My apologies for the delay. Count Darius was so inspired by your training that he instructed me down to the smallest detail. He was also very disappointed that he could not attend personally due to his duties. Well then, let's begin…"