The next morning, Aldric showed up at the training grounds bright and early, dressed in practical gear, waiting for his father. Gavric arrived looking a bit worn out, but as he gazed at the handsome young man nearly as tall as him, a surge of pride welled up unbidden. Damn, my genes are top-notch, he thought. All four kids turned out exceptional.
Across from him, Aldric caught the barely suppressed smirk on his father's face and tilted his head in confusion. He also spotted faint scratch marks on Gavric's neck but couldn't make sense of them. What he didn't know was that last night, when Gavric told Elara about his decision, she'd nearly gone ballistic, even grabbing her staff. It took some serious sweet-talking to calm her down. Gavric had his reasons—the Nightshade Clan was leaning on the Rivermark king through connections to target the Skyforge family. Aldric's departure might be the safest bet.
Snapping back to the moment, Gavric barked, "Time's short. I'm teaching you the family secret, Thunderstrike Fist, right now. Memorize it carefully, then hit the road to the academy. Got it?"
Aldric nodded vigorously. "I'll give it everything!"
Without another word, Gavric launched into a demonstration of the eight forms of Thunderstrike Fist right there on the grounds. As he moved, he explained the key principles and shared his personal insights.
Aldric watched intently, not blinking once, absorbing every motion.
In the Eldoria Realm, martial techniques and magic skills were ranked in five tiers, from lowest to highest: C, B, A, S, and SS. The rarer the rank, the more powerful. The Skyforge family's Thunderstrike Fist was an A-rank technique—a big deal. Even the Rivermark royal family might not have an S-rank, let alone SS.
Thunderstrike Fist was a brutal, aggressive style. Master it, and each punch would crack like thunder, sending shockwaves that pierced through defenses. At minor proficiency, you'd get two thunderclaps and two penetrating waves. At major proficiency, three claps and three waves, each stronger than the last.
Gavric had poured nearly thirty years into it, reaching major proficiency. His strikes were lightning-fast, shattering stone. Every one of his eight punches echoed with three thunderous booms—he'd pushed the technique to its peak.
After the final punch's triple crack, Gavric steadied his breathing and turned to Aldric. "That's the Skyforge family's ultimate technique. I tried to teach you before, but you weren't interested. Now that you've seen it once, how much do you remember?"
Aldric thought for a second. "All of it!"
Gavric paused, recalling Aldric's photographic memory. "Good. Show me. Don't worry about mistakes—just feel the flow of power."
Aldric stepped forward, poised and full of energy. He replayed his father's demo in his mind, then exploded into motion, form after form.
Gavric started with a stern expression, but shock soon took over. Aldric's movements were spot-on, even nailing the finer details. But had he grasped the energy channeling? Then came the final punch—a single thunderclap!
Gavric froze, as if struck by real lightning.
Aldric beamed at the sound. He'd nailed it, though only on the last strike. He turned to his father for feedback, but Gavric stood gaping at him.
"Father?" Aldric called twice before Gavric snapped out of it.
Suppressing his turmoil, Gavric asked slowly, "Not bad. Have you practiced Thunderstrike Fist before?"
Aldric shook his head. "I know Brant knows it, but I've never watched them train. Used to give me a headache just thinking about it."
Gavric exhaled heavily. "Then keep at it. Focus on the forms and power flow. Once every punch thunders, you're ready to go."
Aldric nodded firmly. "I'll master it quick!"
Gavric waved him on and walked away, hands clasped behind his back. But his white-knuckled grip betrayed his inner storm.
He remembered being thirteen when Thane taught him the fist. It took three full demos for him to get the basics, and ten days of practice for his first thunderclap. Thane had smiled proudly, calling him a natural.
With his own kids, Dorian cracked it in five days, Brant in six. And now Aldric, the one he'd wanted to throttle daily, nailed a thunderclap on his first try. How could he stay calm?
Behind him, more booms echoed from the grounds, proving it wasn't a fluke. Gavric frowned, then grinned, before punching a nearby tree, sending leaves scattering. "Damn kid—what took him so long?" he muttered in frustration.
Unaware he'd bruised his father's ego, Aldric dove into training, not leaving the grounds all day. Meals were simple bites brought by servants, scarfed down before he resumed.
A few figures watched from the sidelines: one with arms folded, another nursing a jug, one in a wheelchair, a girl with a bun, and an old man with white hair and beard.
Aldric trained tirelessly through the night. As dawn's first light hit the grounds, every punch of his Thunderstrike Fist rang with thunder.
He collapsed laughing, savoring the thrill of martial success for the first time.
The watchers slipped away quietly, their steps lighter, as if a spark of hope had ignited in the manor.
By noon, Aldric packed his gear in silence. Time was running out—he had to reach Sanctara Academy for the entrance exams. This was his shot.
A belt was thrust toward him. He turned to see Thane's kind smile.
"Aldric, take this," Thane said first. "It's got a storage space inside—about the size of a study. Handy for travel."
Aldric recognized it as the belt the king awarded Thane for expanding the kingdom. It was his grandfather's hard-earned pride, now offered for his journey.
"Grandpa, I can't..." Aldric choked.
Thane cut him off with a wave. "No arguments. It's just a storage belt—its value is in helping you. I can't give you much else. Safe travels on your path to knowledge."
Aldric bit back tears, nodded, and fastened it on. With a thought, he accessed the space—small, but enough for weapons, clothes, and rations.
Thane nodded approvingly, seeing echoes of his younger self in the tall boy.
Elara entered with a wooden box, her face a mix of emotions.
This youngest son was the biggest handful, always riling her up, but also the sweetest, charming her with his antics.
"These are healing pills your grandpa left—nothing fancy, but practical. Take this set of needles too. Be careful out there—don't get hurt..."
In the past, Aldric would've plugged his ears and bolted from her nagging. Now, he hung on every word.
Brant wheeled in Dorian next. Sober today, Brant looked like his old martial-obsessed self. He pulled out a pair of twin swords. "Aldric, I've got nothing fancy for your trip, but these blades are solid. Use them to stay safe."
Aldric grinned, taking them and twirling one expertly. "Thanks, Brant. With these, I'll look like a real pro!"
Brant's mood lifted at the carefree vibe.
Dorian, quiet since the incident, managed a rare smile and offered a coin pouch. "Aldric, this is all I've got. Gold for the road."
Aldric eyed it but didn't take it. "Isn't that Ophelia's dowry?"
Dorian's smile faded, then turned bitter. "The Nightshade Clan's too powerful. She resisted, but Prime Minister Nolan sent it back."
He paused, forcing a grin. "Take it. I don't need it. Otherwise, I'll give it to Brant for his wedding, and don't cry favoritism later!"
Aldric looked at Dorian—the brother who'd always shielded him, taken the blame for his messes.
He smiled softly. "Fine, consider it an investment in a future powerhouse. When I'm strong, I'll pay you back a hundredfold. Best deal you'll make!"
Dorian chuckled, nodding deeply as he handed over the pouch.
A small, pale hand extended next, clutching a few gold coins. Lysandra, tears streaking her face, sniffled, "Then I'll invest too. Don't forget to pay me back a hundred times when you're strong!"
Aldric hugged her tight, then took the coins. "Deal. I'll bring you a whole sack—make you the richest girl around!"
Lysandra laughed through her tears, blushing as she hid in Elara's arms.
The Skyforge family lived frugally, pinching pennies for the kids and using extras to support wounded soldiers. Those coins were Lysandra's saved-up allowance—her entire fortune.
With everything packed, Aldric headed out. Gavric opened his mouth but stopped.
Aldric turned, resolute. "I'll come back strong to protect the family. Wait for me!"
He scanned their faces one last time, committing them to memory.
Then, without pause, he sprinted, leaped, and scaled the wall. He knew Nightshade spies watched the front gate—better to slip out unseen.
Nightshade Clan, just you wait, he thought. Today you force me over this wall. Tomorrow, I'll tear down your whole damn house!
A few bounds later, the boy vanished around the street's bend.