The training grounds had completely abandoned their original purpose.
Nobody was training anymore.
Nobody was sparring.
Nobody was practicing swordsmanship.
Instead.
Several hundred knights sat around their Lord as if attending some strange academy lecture.
An academy where the lessons were dangerous.
Not because they involved weapons.
But because every question somehow led to a new discovery.
The northern winds continued blowing.
Snow drifted lazily across Frostbound Coast.
The winter sun hung above the horizon.
Meanwhile.
Kel sat calmly beside a mountain of paperwork.
The two Aura Pens had already disappeared.
Yet their impact remained.
Several knights were still discussing whether Aura Clerks would eventually replace administrative workers.
The administrative department wasn't present.
Fortunately.
Because if they were...
Several people would have suffered heart attacks.
"My Lord."
Another knight raised his hand.
Kel looked up.
"Yes?"
The knight immediately shook his head.
"No."
The Count blinked.
"What?"
The knight pointed toward another knight sitting beside him.
"He asked the question."
Immediately.
The accused knight looked horrified.
"What?"
"You asked it."
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
The nearby knights immediately began nodding.
"Yes."
"We heard it."
"You definitely asked it."
The accused knight looked ready to flee Frostbound Coast.
Unfortunately.
Kel had already become interested.
Which was bad.
Very bad.
The Count calmly folded his hands.
"What question?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Several knights looked away.
Others suddenly became fascinated by the weather.
One knight began studying snow.
Very intensely.
Eventually.
The unfortunate knight stood.
Slowly.
Like a condemned prisoner approaching execution.
"My Lord."
"Yes?"
The knight swallowed.
Then asked.
"If Aura can become swords..."
A pause.
"If Aura can become pens..."
Another pause.
"If Aura can become almost anything..."
A much longer pause.
Then came the question.
"Can you create... a person?"
The entire training grounds froze.
A person.
Not a sword.
Not a pen.
Not a construct.
A person.
The silence became so heavy that even the wind seemed to stop.
Then.
The knight immediately made things worse.
Specifically.
A female person.
Silence.
Deeper silence.
More dangerous silence.
Several knights covered their faces.
Others slowly moved away from him.
A few brave souls saluted him internally for asking what everyone secretly wondered.
Meanwhile.
Lyra stared.
Then stared harder.
Then slowly turned toward Kel.
Because honestly.
She was curious too.
Not for the reason everyone else was.
Mostly.
At least mostly.
The serpent woman crossed her arms.
Waiting.
Watching.
Nearby.
Gareth covered his face.
The veteran captain was tired.
Extremely tired.
A few hours ago they had been discussing swordsmanship.
Now they were discussing the creation of life.
What happened?
Nobody knew.
Meanwhile.
Deep beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren suddenly became interested.
Very interested.
"Actually..."
The Guardian leaned forward.
"I also want to hear this answer."
Kel ignored the growing chaos.
Instead.
He thought seriously.
Not because the question embarrassed him.
Not because the question was strange.
But because it was genuinely interesting.
Several moments passed.
Then he finally answered.
"Everything is possible."
The training grounds instantly became silent again.
The answer surprised everyone.
Even Lyra.
The serpent woman narrowed her eyes.
Everything?
Kel continued calmly.
"Everything is possible."
Another.
"The real question is cost."
The knights listened carefully.
"The real question is power."
Another.
"The real question is understanding."
The Count slowly stood.
Snow drifted around him.
The cold winds tugged lightly at his dark coat.
His silver hair moved gently in the breeze.
Then he pointed toward the sky.
"What is a sword?"
Nobody answered.
Kel continued.
"A shape."
Another.
"A concept."
Another.
"Information."
The knights became confused.
Kel pointed toward one of his Aura Swords.
The sword appeared beside him.
Floating.
Glowing softly.
"This sword isn't real."
The knights blinked.
It looked real.
Very real.
Yet Kel continued.
"It only appears real."
Another.
"It exists because Aura continuously supports its existence."
Then he pointed toward the ground.
"A stone exists because reality supports its existence."
Another.
"The sword exists because I support its existence."
The knights slowly began understanding.
A little.
Very little.
But a little.
Kel continued.
"If I possess enough power."
Another.
"And enough understanding."
Another.
"Then theoretically I can create increasingly complex things."
One knight slowly raised his hand.
"My Lord."
"Yes?"
"How complex?"
Kel thought briefly.
Then answered.
"As complex as my understanding allows."
The crowd became silent.
Meanwhile.
Lyra narrowed her eyes further.
Because unlike the knights.
She understood exactly how terrifying that statement was.
The limitation wasn't power.
The limitation was understanding.
And Kel's greatest weapon had always been his mind.
The realization was horrifying.
Nearby.
Seiren laughed softly.
"You're explaining reality to soldiers."
Kel replied mentally.
"They're listening."
The Guardian smiled.
"Fair point."
Back on the training grounds.
Another knight raised his hand.
"My Lord."
"Yes?"
"If understanding is enough..."
The knight hesitated.
Then asked.
"Could someone create a human?"
The crowd immediately focused.
Everyone wanted the answer.
Every single person.
Even Gareth.
Especially Gareth.
The Count remained thoughtful.
Then answered honestly.
"No."
The crowd immediately relaxed.
Thank the heavens.
Then Kel continued.
"Not with my current abilities."
The entire crowd almost collapsed.
NOT WITH HIS CURRENT ABILITIES?
The clarification somehow made everything worse.
Lyra rubbed her forehead.
Seiren started laughing again.
Several knights looked emotionally damaged.
Meanwhile.
Kel remained completely unaware.
Or perhaps completely aware.
Nobody knew anymore.
The Count slowly sat back down.
Then continued explaining.
"A human isn't merely flesh."
Another.
"A human possesses memories."
Another.
"Experiences."
Another.
"A soul."
The final word made the atmosphere become serious.
Even the joking knights became quiet.
Kel's expression remained calm.
Yet his eyes carried unusual depth.
"A sword is easy."
Another.
"A body is difficult."
Another.
"A soul..."
He paused.
Then shook his head.
"...is beyond me."
Silence followed.
A different silence.
One filled with thought.
One filled with understanding.
For a brief moment.
The conversation moved beyond jokes.
Beyond curiosity.
Into something deeper.
Then.
A knight ruined it.
"My Lord."
Kel sighed.
"Yes?"
The knight looked nervous.
Then asked.
"If you someday can create a female person from Aura..."
Several knights immediately covered their faces.
The disaster was returning.
"...would she have to do paperwork?"
The training grounds exploded.
Laughter erupted everywhere.
Even Lyra laughed.
Even Gareth laughed.
Even Kel smiled faintly.
A very faint smile.
Then he answered.
"Probably."
The unfortunate imaginary Aura Woman immediately became the most tragic existence in Frostbound Coast.
Because apparently.
Even if someone managed to transcend reality itself...
Kel would still assign paperwork.
Deep beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren sighed dramatically.
"I finally understand your true ambition."
Kel raised an eyebrow.
"And that is?"
The Guardian's voice echoed through his mind.
"You're trying to conquer paperwork."
Several seconds passed.
Then.
For the first time all day.
Kel genuinely considered the statement.
And somehow.
That answer frightened everyone more than anything else.