Karl suddenly appeared in his training ground along with Kevin.
"Huh?" Karl blurted as he clutched his stomach trying to calm down his stomach along with trying to understand his situation.
What happened became very clear to him as he saw Kevin standing right in front of him.
"Karl, did you say that due to your anger at me?" Kevin asked sharply.
Karl stood silently until his stomach got normal after which he decided to annoy Kevin a bit more.
"Which one? To use a kid as a chair? Not completely but to some extent yes." Karl spoke while pricking his ear, trying to get on Kevin's nerves.
Kevin's lips twitched at Karl's word but he continued with a sigh.
"That is also something you should not have done. You need to learn to control your anger son.
But that is not what I am talking about. About becoming an arhat do you know everything?"
"Yes I know it al-" Karl stopped as he recalled that all he knew was from the novel.
"...I would like to hear it from you." Karl spoke after a pause.
Kevin sighed at Karl's answer but then started to tell the basics of arhat, arya and mage.
'Thankfully, it is the same. The only new info is the process of forming mana and aura as it was not explained in the novel.' Karl thought as he heard Kevin's explanation.
"So I just need to put some kind of will into ether to convert into aura or mana?" Karl asked Kevin.
"...You can say so. Scholars have found that the will power in aura and mana is of different type thus giving them different properties." Kevin replied.
"So that is why they should be in equilibrium. If one type of energy becomes too strong then the will power will overmine the other type of will power making ether run wild and causing a blast." Karl concluded as he nodded in understanding.
"Right. And that is just one of the many reasons to not become an arhat. So now you get it?" Kevin asked, thinking that Karl had changed his mind.
"Yes I do. So when will I form both mana and aura?" Karl asked with a smirk.
Kevin finally lost his cool as he started shouting.
"Karl this is not a joke. Death is something that can happen anytime if you become an arhat. Do you want to make your mother sad due to your death?"
"Dad, I am not going to die. I will take it slow and steady." Karl said, reassuring Kevin.
Kevin did not stop talking, trying to change Karl's mind
"It will not make you a lot powerful either. With the level of talent you have you can easily reach my level! But by becoming an arhat you might die of old age before you reach your full potential! You will always be weaker than your peers!"
"Dad, you know I can control ether right? I can become a lot stronger with just ether control. Being an arhat will just act as a cover for my powers." Karl said.
'Though if my talent is like novel, it won't be an issue to have faster growth than others my age.' Karl thought to himself.
Kevin stared at Karl for a moment before continuing.
"If you only want a cover, why risk your life by becoming an arhat!?"
"I already said, I am not riski-"
"You might not want it but the risk always stays Karl. There are a lot of things that happen in life which you can not control.
And your mother and I will always know that you are always in the risk of death even if you are practicing by yourself.
Since you are so intelligent, you should be able to think how worrying it is for us."
Kevin's words hit Karl differently as he also started having second thoughts.
'Fuck. He is not wrong. I can be the strongest even if I do not become an arhat.
This is not a game. I am actually risking my life but...'
"Dad, as you said, there are a lot of things that happen in life which you can not control and that is why I want to do whatever I can." Karl spoke seriously his voice showing his resolve.
"Just because one can does not mean one should."
A voice came from behind Karl.
As Karl turned back to look at who spoke, he saw the person he had expected the least.
"Grandfather" Karl blurted in surprise.
Marcus nodded to Karl as he continued.
"Even if one does whatever they can does not mean that they will be able to control their life. Intelligence is needed as much as power to make life better. Do not get blinded by greed for power." Marcus said as he stared at Karl.
Karl looked at Marcus for a moment thinking about his words before he opened his mouth.
"My growth will not be slower. I am talented." Karl spoke in a matter of fact tone which made Marcus curious.
"How talented is he?" Marcus asked as he turned towards Kevin.
"...He had 11 score in both physical and mental potential." Kevin spoke, still in shock at his son's potential.
Marcus's eyes widened at Kevin's words.
"Do you know what you are saying!?" Marcus asked again, his voice loud due to his shock.
Kevin nodded with a wry smile.
"What does that score mean?" Karl also became curious at Marcus' reaction.
"Only dragons have the score of 10 and that too only in magic potential. Your score is... something which should not be possible." Kevin explained to Karl.
"Two traits? No, it must be the trait is more complex then just being able to control ether." Marcus spoke his mind to which Kevin also thoughtfully notice.
But Karl frowned as he found something missing in Kevin's explanation.
"Then why and how was the number 11 made? There must be some beings with 11 score as well right?" Karl asked shocking both Kevin and Marcus with his intelligence.
"The score 11 is given for... mythical beings like primordial dragons and such." Kevin answered.
'What the fuck!? Primordial Dragons!? ...Wait what are those? Novel did not mention them.
But other than that, my potential is higher than that of dragon's? Karl was very talented but was it to this extent?.'
Before Karl could understand the greatness of his potential better, Marcus spoke again.
"Have you really thought about your decision?"
Karl gave Marcus a determined nod, making the later nod in satisfaction.
"I hope you do not come to regret it." Marcus said as he turned around and walked away.
Kevin was a bit shocked when he saw Marcus give his permission but trusted his father enough to back down on this matter.
"Karl is this really what you have decided. You can not change it later on. Even if you do not like it." Kevin asked hopefully for the last time to which Karl nodded seriously.
Kevin sighed as he started planning the next steps.
"You can already sense ether right?" Kevin asked, though he knew the answer.
Karl just smirked in response.
"I will send a tutor for you tomorrow morning. You will go to the children's hall after you form the aura core and the mana ring.
And Karl, I think you know it already but do not show your powers in front of others. It will cause a lot more problems than you can think of.
Your potential and ability to control ether will be kept a secret even within the family."
"Won't me beating a kid raise questions." Karl asked, wondering the reason to keep a secret.
"That will just be reasoned as you being physically stronger than Taner. What you did was still very stupid even if I get your intention.
And that is also why I am asking you to form mana core and aura ring as soon as possible as that will provide a cover for your powers.
Your ability to control ether is something we call a trait. Traits are something which are very rare and exclusive to a person.
Make sure that no one finds out about your trait." Kevin said heavily.
"Why though? Won't it be more helpful for the family?" Karl asked, finding another thing that the novel had skimmed over.
"No. It will rather be very bad for the family. You might not even be able to become my successor if that happens." Kevin spoke his tone very serious.
"...Why?" Karl asked, shocked at Kevin's words.
Kevin replied Karl with a complex expression.
"People with traits are forced to join the forces of crown. You, being the next duke will not be forced to join the crown's force but will instead be kept under severe surveillance."
"...So if I then become the next duke, the crown will take the whole dukedom?" Karl asked absurdly.
Kevin nodded bitterly, inwardly surprised at Karl's quick thinking.
"That is why you must not ever show it. I will get you a good tutor so try to develop your mana rings and aura core instead of your trait. Keep practicing it as someday it might save your life. Living like a prisoner is still better than dying."
Kevin said as he turned back and started walking away.
"Now go and sleep. Be here at 7 o'clock in the morning." Kevin reminded as he exited the training ground.
Karl stared blankly in the air for a moment before he also walked away, excited about what the next day held for him.