The morning light crept into Naomi's chamber, casting soft shadows against the stone walls. The air was cool and quiet until the door creaked open, and Seraphina stepped in, balancing a silver tray.
"Master Nel, your breakfast is ready," she said, her voice calm yet firm as always.
Naomi flinched, instinctively reaching up to his head, where the small, black lizard with violet eyes still rested. He froze for a moment, his heart racing. Could she see it?
"Seraphina," he said cautiously, "do you notice anything... unusual about me?"
She paused, her cold eyes briefly meeting his before she set the tray down beside his bed. "No, my Lord. You appear exactly the same."
Naomi's pulse steadied. Somehow, the lizard was invisible to her. The tiny creature remained still, its tail wrapped comfortably around a lock of his hair. Shaking off his unease, Naomi turned his attention to the food – a simple meal of fresh bread and warm soup.
As he broke the bread, another knock echoed from the doorway. One of his newer maids stepped in, carrying another tray.
"Master Nel, I have brought your breakfast," Faria said, her tone polite but tinged with nervousness.
Faria froze, her eyes flicking between Naomi and the already prepared tray on his bedside table.
"Master Nel, please excuse me, but it is my duty to serve you. I cannot allow others to take my place."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed, her body stiffening ever so slightly. "It is my duty to protect my Lord," she said coldly.
"You are new here, maid. I do not trust you yet."
Naomi sighed, rubbing his temples. He clapped his hands once, cutting through the tension. "Enough, both of you. Let me eat in peace."
Faria quickly bowed and retreated, casting one last wary glance at Seraphina before disappearing into the hallway. Seraphina remained, her eyes still sharp, ready for any sign of threat.
As he dipped a piece of bread into his soup, Naomi glanced at Seraphina, her ever-present, silent shadow. "Have you eaten, Seraphina?"
She hesitated, eyes briefly flicking to the side. "No, my Lord. I cannot eat until you have had your fill."
He chuckled softly, breaking off a piece of his bread. "Take this, then. I'm not that hungry."
She froze, a faint hint of color rising to her normally pale cheeks. "As you wish, my Lord," she whispered, stepping closer. She reached for the bread, then stopped abruptly, her hands still clad in pristine white gloves.
Naomi noticed her hesitation. He held up the small piece, leaning forward. "Open your mouth, Seraphina."
For the first time, Naomi saw a genuine flicker of surprise in her usually steely eyes. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then slowly parted her lips. He placed the bread gently in her mouth.
She chewed slowly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, her eyes cast downward.
Naomi watched her, perplexed by her sudden shyness, but decided not to dwell on it. He finished his breakfast in thoughtful silence.
Once the meal was over, Naomi leaned back, his mind turning once more to the strange creature hiding in his hair.
He glanced at Seraphina, considering his next words carefully.
"Seraphina," he said slowly, "does our kingdom have... spirit tamers?"
She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. "Yes, my Lord. We do, though they are extremely rare. In the entire Dukestar, there are perhaps only ten who can truly tame spirits."
Naomi's eyes widened slightly. "Only ten?"
She nodded, her tone thoughtful. "Yes, but that was based on old records. Most of them are now quite aged, and the newer generations are fewer still. Perhaps only three remain active, and none of them reside within our Dukestar."
Naomi exhaled, a wave of relief washing over him. For now, it seemed, the risk of his secret being discovered was low. He leaned back, the lizard on his head shifting slightly, as if sensing his newfound calm.
___
The days that followed became a harsh but focused training arc for Naomi. Determined to master his aura, he spent every spare moment pushing himself, testing the limits of his newfound power. He had no intention of remaining weak in this world.
One morning, in the castle's barren training grounds, Naomi stood before Seraphina, sword in hand. His breaths came slow and steady, the faint pulse of his aura thrumming beneath his skin.
"Focus, my Lord," Seraphina said, her own blade drawn, glistening with a faint, icy sheen. Her eyes locked onto his, sharp and calculating. "You must learn to channel your aura without hesitation."
Naomi closed his eyes, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. He cleared his mind, letting the sounds of the world around him fade.
He reached deep within himself, searching for the dark, swirling power that had manifested on that chaotic night. He could feel it – a cold, crackling presence, like a shadow coiled around his heart.
"Concentrate," he whispered to himself. "Let it flow..."
He felt the aura stir, sharp and fierce, a whisper of black flames licking at the edges of his consciousness. It surged into his arms, spiraling down the blade, growing hotter, darker.
Naomi's eyes snapped open, and in a single, fluid motion, he swung his sword forward, cutting through the air. His blade erupted with a fierce, dark flame, a searing black arc that raced toward Seraphina.
Her eyes widened, just a fraction, the first genuine surprise he'd ever seen on her face. She reacted instinctively, raising her blade, her ice aura flaring to life, crystal blue mist clashing against the incoming darkness.
The two auras collided, sending a shockwave across the training ground, frost crackling against the black flames before both forces dissipated into the cold morning air.
Seraphina lowered her blade slowly, a rare, approving smile touching her lips. She gave a short, respectful bow. "Congratulations, my Lord. You have managed to awaken a Black Flame aura – one of the rarest and most feared forms."
Naomi stood there, his sword still vibrating in his grip, his heart pounding. He had done it. For the first time, he had truly harnessed his power.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his own breath visible in the suddenly colder air. "But this is just the beginning..."
As Naomi caught his breath, the small lizard perched on his head finally spoke into his mind, its tone brimming with pride.
"Ohhh, my Lord, you actually used Black Flame! Congratulations!"
Naomi blinked. "Oh, you finally spoke."
"Yes, Master. I was regaining my mana," the lizard replied.
Naomi smirked faintly. "I remember your old self rambling about power levels and all that stuff."
"Yes, Master. I remember everything," the lizard said calmly.
Still recovering, Naomi responded through his thoughts. "Can you tell me Seraphina's power level?"
The lizard's violet eyes gleamed. "Of course, my Lord. Give me a moment... Ah, there it is. Seraphina uses an Ice Aura—one of the strongest types. If I had to measure it, her level would be around 59 out of 100. Quite formidable."
Naomi's eyes narrowed. "You're more useful than I thought."
The lizard puffed up, its tiny chest swelling with pride. "See? I told you, Master."
As Naomi sheathed his sword, his gaze drifted across the training grounds—landing on Murin Darkstar, who was shamelessly flirting with a maid.
Naomi's gaze darkened. "What about him? Can you gauge his strength?"
The lizard's tail flicked with curiosity. "Hmm... Murin Darkstar. Fire Aura, around level 30."
Naomi tensed. "And me?"
"Oh, Master, you should know this," the lizard teased. "You're around level 26. You just awakened Black Flame, after all."
Naomi clenched his fist. "Still weaker than him..."
Two days remained before the official duel. Naomi had to master his newfound power if he wanted to enter Slviya Academy.
To be continued...