The northern training grounds remained wrapped beneath silver moonlight.
Snow drifted endlessly through the freezing winds while ancient dragon statues towered silently around the massive black-stone arena of House Rosenfeld.
The demonstration had ended.
Yet no one left.
Because the atmosphere itself still carried tension.
Interest.
Curiosity.
The returned heir of House Rosenfeld stood quietly beneath the night sky after demonstrating Sovereign's Orbit Sword Arts—and now everyone watching understood clearly:
Kel von Rosenfeld was no longer weak.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly returned the practice sword toward the nearby weapon rack while cold winds moved softly through his black hair.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"They're definitely not sleeping anytime soon."
Kel quietly glanced toward the watching family members.
"…Probably not."
Meanwhile—
Several knights continued whispering among themselves nearby.
Even the older generation remained focused.
Because although Kel only condensed two aura swords—
The quality itself had looked monstrous.
Too smooth.
Too stable.
Too natural.
Meanwhile—
Among the gathered family members—
One figure suddenly stepped forward.
A young woman.
Tall.
Sharp-eyed.
Wearing fitted northern training attire beneath a heavy white fur-lined cloak draped across her shoulders.
Kel's third cousin.
The sixteen-year-old daughter of his eldest uncle.
Her silver-black hair moved softly beneath the northern winds while her crimson eyes remained fixed directly upon Kel.
Unlike the others—
Her gaze carried excitement.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
A warrior's curiosity.
Meanwhile—
She stopped several meters away before speaking calmly.
"Kel."
The arena quieted slightly again.
Because everyone immediately sensed what was coming.
Meanwhile—
The young woman crossed her arms lightly.
"If you don't mind…"
Another pause.
"…can we spar?"
Several younger cousins immediately looked excited afterward.
Meanwhile—
She continued calmly.
"I practically understand the theory behind Sovereign's Orbit Sword Arts already."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"But theory alone means nothing."
Another step forward.
"I want real combat experience against it."
Inside his mind—
Sairen immediately laughed softly.
"Oh this should become entertaining."
Kel quietly sighed internally.
"…I should decline."
The silver-haired spirit sounded amused.
"And ruin everyone's expectations?"
Meanwhile—
Kel was indeed about to refuse.
Not because he disliked sparring.
But because controlling himself within real combat had become increasingly difficult recently.
Especially against weaker opponents.
However—
Before he could answer—
Another voice spoke first.
His eldest uncle.
The girl's father.
"Kel."
The older man folded his arms beneath the moonlight.
"Accept."
Another pause.
"She's talented."
The young woman immediately frowned slightly.
"Father."
The uncle ignored her entirely.
"You also need proper battlefield evaluation."
Then his sharp gaze shifted toward Kel again.
"And honestly…"
A faint grin appeared briefly.
"…I want to see more too."
Meanwhile—
All eyes gradually shifted toward Duke Aktaris afterward.
Because ultimately—
The Duke's permission mattered most.
The cold northern winds drifted silently across the arena.
Then finally—
Aktaris calmly spoke.
"You may proceed."
Instantly—
The atmosphere tightened.
Inside his mind—
Sairen sounded delighted.
"Your father absolutely wants to test you."
Kel silently picked up another practice sword afterward.
"…I know."
Meanwhile—
Across the arena—
His cousin removed her fur cloak before handing it toward a nearby knight.
The training attire beneath fit tightly around her athletic figure while silver aura already faintly moved around her body naturally.
Unlike many noblewomen—
She clearly possessed genuine combat experience.
Meanwhile—
She slowly drew her sword afterward.
A northern military-style longsword.
Simple.
Practical.
Sharp.
Then quietly—
She lowered herself into stance.
Balanced.
Controlled.
And immediately—
Several watching knights nodded slightly.
Because her posture looked excellent.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly stepped toward the center of the arena opposite her.
The snow drifted softly between them beneath moonlight.
And strangely—
The scene itself looked beautiful.
Two members of House Rosenfeld standing beneath the frozen northern sky while ancient dragon statues watched silently around them.
Meanwhile—
His younger brother nearly vibrated with excitement nearby.
"This is going to be amazing."
The younger sister meanwhile clung closer toward Helena quietly.
Meanwhile—
Kel's cousin softly exhaled.
Then calmly spoke:
"I won't hold back."
Kel quietly nodded once.
"That's preferable."
Inside his mind—
Sairen suddenly laughed.
"You say things exactly like your father."
Kel ignored her.
Meanwhile—
One nearby knight raised his arm afterward.
The signal for beginning.
Silence spread completely across the training grounds.
Even the winds felt quieter somehow.
Then—
The knight lowered his arm.
And instantly—
The spar began.
BOOM.
The black stone arena cracked lightly beneath Kel's cousin's first step as she exploded forward aggressively.
Fast.
Far faster than ordinary noble heirs.
Her sword slashed diagonally toward Kel's shoulder immediately afterward with sharp northern precision.
Yet—
Kel moved almost casually.
One small sidestep.
The blade missed him entirely.
Meanwhile—
His cousin's eyes narrowed instantly.
Because Kel's movement looked absurdly effortless.
Not rushed.
Not defensive.
Simply efficient.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"She's good."
Kel quietly agreed.
For her age—
She truly was talented.
Meanwhile—
The young woman immediately adjusted.
No hesitation.
Her second attack followed instantly.
A thrust aimed directly toward Kel's center line while simultaneously rotating her body for follow-up momentum.
Yet once again—
Kel avoided it cleanly.
Minimal movement.
Perfect timing.
The watching knights gradually became quieter afterward.
Because the difference in experience already felt visible.
Meanwhile—
His cousin abruptly increased output.
Silver aura burst outward around her blade while the pressure across the arena intensified instantly.
Then—
She attacked properly.
Multiple sword strikes erupted continuously afterward.
Sharp.
Fast.
Precise.
The northern Rosenfeld combat style emphasized overwhelming offensive momentum—
And she executed it beautifully.
Yet—
Kel remained calm.
Too calm.
He parried smoothly while stepping backward through drifting snowflakes beneath moonlight.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The sounds of steel echoed endlessly across the frozen arena.
Meanwhile—
The cousin's expression gradually sharpened further.
Because no matter how aggressively she attacked—
Kel remained completely composed.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly laughed.
"She's realizing something."
Kel calmly blocked another strike.
"What?"
"That you're reading her completely."
And honestly—
She was right.
To Kel—
His cousin's movements looked predictable.
Not because she lacked skill.
But because compared to dragon generals…
Compared to mercenary battlefields…
Compared to life-or-death survival…
This spar felt painfully straightforward.
Meanwhile—
The cousin suddenly retreated backward afterward.
Cold breath escaped her lips beneath the winter air.
Then slowly—
Silver aura expanded around her sword further.
The watching knights immediately focused intensely.
Because they recognized the preparation.
Sovereign's Orbit Sword Arts.
Meanwhile—
The leaking aura around her blade gradually condensed afterward.
Compressed.
Shaped.
And finally—
One floating aura sword materialized beside her shoulder.
Several younger knights reacted immediately.
"She can already do it?"
Meanwhile—
The cousin immediately attacked again.
This time—
Far more dangerous.
Her main blade struck horizontally while the floating aura sword simultaneously attacked from Kel's blind spot.
A coordinated two-angle assault.
Fast.
Deadly.
Beautiful.
Yet—
Kel calmly raised his own sword.
And for the first time since the spar began—
Silver aura emerged around him again.
Then—
Two floating swords appeared behind his shoulders instantly.
The entire arena became silent.
Because compared to her slow condensation process—
Kel's manifestation looked instantaneous.
Natural.
Effortless.
And before anyone could react—
His floating swords moved.
One intercepted her aura blade directly.
The second stopped her main attack.
CLANG!!
Silver sparks exploded beneath moonlight afterward.
Meanwhile—
Kel himself remained perfectly still.
Only his floating swords had moved.
His cousin's eyes widened completely.
Because at that moment—
She finally understood.
The gap between them…
Was enormous.