3 Chapter 3

In the vast continent of Runiya, a delicate balance was meticulously maintained between the forces of light and darkness. This equilibrium hinged on the existence of the 'Seven Monarchs,' who radiated power and authority, representing the continent's radiant suns, and their counterparts, 'The Seven Sins,' who dwelled in the shadows, sowing fear and despair wherever they went. They embodied darkness itself and were dreaded by all who heard their names.

House Lionhart, one of the Seven Monarchs, commanded the Northern lands, standing tall and unwavering in their dominion. Within this prestigious family, a child named Klaus was born, his fate entwined with the complex dynamics of light and darkness on the continent.

Klaus, as he had been named by his grandfather Roman Lionhart, gazed up at the head of House Lionhart, his tiny form uncertain in the grandeur of his surroundings.

'Is this a good thing?' Klaus couldn't help but wonder. House Lionhart appeared as formidable as the Zagerfield Clan, the very entity that had exploited and ultimately ended his previous life. Yet Klaus knew that growing stronger in this environment would expedite his path to vengeance.

As Roman Lionhart, the head of House Lionhart, held Klaus in his arms, a surprising sensation coursed through him, warming his tiny body with an aura of purity and nature.

'What's this aura…?' Klaus wondered. Roman's aura was not only warm but carried an extraordinary level of purity, as though it emanated directly from nature.

'It's warming up my body.' Klaus had been more sensitive to the cold after his reincarnation, initially attributing it to his infant body. However, he soon realized that there was a deeper issue with his constitution. Roman's aura felt like sunlight coursing through his veins, dispelling the chill he had endured.

Roman used his aura to carefully inspect Klaus's body, an assessment that yielded no discernible changes in his expression.

'Why is he not reacting?' Klaus couldn't understand why Roman, a seasoned warrior, appeared uninterested in the apparent issues with his body.

"Elisabeth," Roman addressed his daughter-in-law.

"Yes."

"The child's name shall be Klaus."

"Klaus? F-Father-in-law. The name Klaus means…"

Elisabeth furrowed her brow, prompting a stern response from Roman.

"It signifies 'the guide of the people.' A name that befits our family's legacy."

Roman's voice, in stark contrast to the gentle use of his aura, was cold and firm.

Klaus's name, a repetition from his past life, left him astonished at the absurdity of the situation. He had been born into the most formidable family on the continent, the Lionhart family, presided over by Roman Lionhart, the Ice Monarch of the North.

The day had come, and Klaus found himself reclining in his crib, free from Elisabeth's watchful eye as she lay soundly asleep.

'Is she asleep?' Klaus's tiny eyes flitted over to Elisabeth, who lay in peaceful slumber on the nearby bed.

Knock.

Elisabeth's slumber remained undisturbed as Klaus gently tapped his crib.

'At last…' A sigh of relief escaped him.

The past one hundred days had been stifling, with drowsiness frequently plaguing him. He couldn't utilize mana or engage in training because he had to remain by Elisabeth's side when he was awake.

Disruptions during his training could be problematic, and Klaus was acutely aware of the importance of an uninterrupted practice. But the moment he was placed in the warm crib, his opportunity had arrived.

'Thank you, crib.'

Klaus had been sleeping separately in the crib ever since Michelle, the head maid of the bedchambers, had suggested it. Despite Elisabeth's proximity, she was a sound sleeper and would not wake easily.

Klaus seized the chance to initiate his practice.

'Let's get started.' Klaus let out a slow exhale. He focused on cultivating the Ten Eyes Mantra, a skill he had inherited from his past life.

Unlike the conventional method of accumulating aura in the abdomen by drawing in mana from nature through breathing, the Ten Eyes Mantra was distinct. It required mentally rotating a spherical ring around his heart, as if creating a magical circle. This practice enhanced his physical prowess, improved his body, and heightened his willpower and mana sensitivity, making it ideal for becoming a skilled mage.

'And it has other advantages.' What set the Ten Eyes Mantra apart was its natural flow, making it nearly impossible for anyone, even a seasoned mage, to detect that he was practicing it.

Not even Damien Zagerfield, the greatest mage on the continent, had a clue that Klaus was employing the Ten Eyes Mantra.

However, Klaus discovered a significant issue with his current body.

'Darkness.' His mana pathways, akin to veins for mana flow, were partially blocked by a substantial amount of darkness.

This revelation was recent. Klaus stumbled upon it when he attempted to use his mana while pretending to be asleep and encountered the dark blockages within his mana pathways. The shock left him nearly screaming in surprise.

Klaus released some mana to scan his entire body and found that nine locations in his mana pathways were obstructed by the dark impurities.

'This is severe…' A baby's mana pathways were wide open, unlike those of an adult. With the darkness already filling them halfway, there was a risk that they would become entirely blocked as he grew older.

'I must eliminate this darkness before it reaches that point.' Using the Ten Eyes Mantra, Klaus decided to dissolve the darkness obstructing his mana pathways.

'I should attempt to disperse the darkness within my mana pathways using the Ten Eyes Mantra.' Rather than simply dissipating the darkness, Klaus found it wasteful, given its high purity.

Klaus directed the dark fragments using natural mana, following the flow of the Ten Eyes Mantra.

Although this would significantly delay his Ten Eyes Mantra practice, his immediate priority was survival.

Klaus slowly absorbed the mana from the air, taking deep breaths. The absorbed mana fragmented into thin, needle-like shards and pierced through the dark blockages in his mana pathways.

Screech!

It was as if he was chipping away at a frozen waterfall with a pickaxe, but he managed to chip off a tiny piece of the darkness.

'Wait... Can I make use of this?'

Instead of simply dissipating the darkness, Klaus felt it was wasteful, especially considering its high purity.

Klaus guided the dark fragments with the natural mana, following the Ten Eyes Mantra's flow. The natural mana and the darkness melded together to circulate through his entire mana pathways.

'I did it!'

Klaus clenched his tiny fist in triumph. While much slower than in his past life, he was able to use mana smoothly through the Ten Eyes Mantra's flow.

He could sense the dark aura that had previously filled his body being drawn into his mana pathways.

'Maybe it's because of this child's body.'

Fortunately, a baby's mana pathways were wide open, allowing him to utilize the Ten Eyes Mantra's flow despite the darkness obstruction.

'Next, I should... Huh? Already?'

His body seemed to protest, indicating fatigue from using both his mental and physical strength. Klaus felt his eyelids drooping as if they had a mind of their own.

'Damn it...'

Klaus let out an annoyed groan and reluctantly closed his eyes.

As he drifted into slumber, the moon in the sky moved closer to the horizon. Just as it hung about three fingers-width above the edge of the sky, a figure silently entered the room.

The intruder, who appeared without opening the door, was Roman, the head of House Lionheart.

"..."

Roman's eyes fixed on Klaus, who was peacefully asleep. He extended his hand, and a faint, sunset-like light radiated from his clenched fist.

Klaus's furrowed forehead smoothed out as the dark obstructions in his mana pathways dissolved away, like a shadowy mist dispersing under the gentle rays of dawn.