Azrael moved swiftly, launching a powerful attack. Jarred barely managed to block, the weight behind Azrael’s strikes catching him off guard.


    ''How is he this strong?'' Jarred thought, gritting his teeth as he defended himself. ''This… this is beyond what he was capable of before. He’s gotten stronger in such a short time. No, this isn’t normal. Azrael really is a genius in combat—his ability to adapt is unbelievable.''


    As the duel dragged on, Azrael’s strikes grew heavier and faster, pushing Jarred further back. In a desperate move, Jarred created distance and released a flurry of sword slashes, but before he could react, Azrael vanished.


    “Wha—?!” Jarred’s eyes darted around, panic creeping in.


    In an instant, Azrael appeared before him, shrouded in an ominous, jet-black aura. The intensity of his presence sent chills down Jarred’s spine, and for a moment, he froze.


    The pressure broke his focus entirely, leaving him defenseless. Just as Azrael’s blade was about to strike, he stopped.


    “Jarred?” Azrael asked, his voice mixed with concern. “You okay?”


    Jarred’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. “Ha… ha… yeah… I’m fine.”


    “Are you sure?” Azrael pressed, his worried gaze fixed on his sparring partner.


    “I said I’m fine,” Jarred replied, forcing a nervous smile.


    Azrael frowned but eventually shrugged it off. “If you say so. Let’s head inside and eat.”


    “Good idea,” Jarred agreed, still slightly shaken.


    *


    As Azrael prepared food in the kitchen, Jarred suddenly rushed down the stairs from the third floor, excitement in his voice.


    “Az! He’s awake!”


    Without hesitation, the two ran to the third floor, bursting into Kyle’s room. The door flew open with a loud bang, startling Kyle, who looked at them with a mix of irritation and confusion.


    “Could you not be so loud?” Kyle grumbled, his tone sharp.


    “Kyle! You’re finally awake!” Azrael let out a sigh of relief.


    “How are you feeling?” Jarred asked, leaning closer.


    Kyle flexed his fingers, examining them thoughtfully. “I think I’m okay.”


    “Are you sure? Any lingering pain or weird sensations?” Azrael pressed.


    Kyle’s stomach growled loudly in response. He looked up, his expression deadpan. “Yeah. I’m hungry.”


    Azrael chuckled. “Fair enough. Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”


    They led Kyle downstairs to the second floor, where Azrael resumed cooking. Seated at the table, Kyle took in his surroundings, his curiosity aroused.


    “This… is this seriously a castle?” he asked, his eyes scanning every detail. “It’s huge.”


    “Yeah, I had the same reaction when I first got here,” Azrael replied, focused on his cooking.


    “But aren’t you royalty?” Kyle asked, raising an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be used to living in places like this?”


    “He’s got a point,” Jarred chimed in. “Don’t you live in some massive mansion or something?”


    Azrael paused, thinking. “Well, our house is big, sure, but not this big. And no, we don’t live in a castle.”


    “Huh?! You’re probably the only royal I know who doesn’t live in a castle,” Kyle said, unimpressed.


    “Not all royals live in castles,” Azrael shot back, a hint of annoyance in his tone.


    “Actually,” Jarred said, rubbing his chin, “every royal estate I’ve visited so far is either a castle or something close to it.” Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Azrael let out an exasperated sigh. “You sound just like Carl.”


    At the mention of Carl, Kyle’s expression shifted. “Speaking of Carl, I didn’t see him downstairs. Mika too. Don’t tell me—”


    “Relax,” Jarred interrupted, waving dismissively. “They just went to Aoyu Village to pick up supplies.”


    Kyle released a sigh of relief, placing a hand on his chest. “Oh, good. For a second, I thought something bad happened.”


    Azrael turned around with a grin, holding two steaming plates. “Alright, food’s ready! Dig in!”


    The three of them ate together, sharing laughter and stories as if they had known each other for years. Despite their short time together, Azrael felt a growing bond with Jarred and Kyle.


    After the meal, Azrael and Jarred returned to their training outside, while Kyle sat by the castle door, observing them with a curious expression.


    "Hmm, I don’t know what happened while I was unconscious," Kyle began, his eyes narrowing as he watched the two, "but here you are, Azrael, meditating in the middle of the snow, and Jarred, training shirtless out here in this freezing weather. Are you two alright in the head?"


    Jarred, mid-swing with his sword, smirked. "We’re just preparing. Better to be ready for whatever dangers lie ahead in the next place we go."


    Kyle shrugged. "Fair enough."


    Jarred added, "Besides, if it weren’t for the book Azrael found, I wouldn’t be this motivated to train."


    Kyle tilted his head. "A book?"


    "It’s on the table in the living room. Go check it out."


    Intrigued, Kyle wandered back inside. He found the book, sat on the sofa, and flipped through its pages. "Spells of Fungee, huh... interesting."


    He immersed himself in reading, occasionally glancing toward the window to check on the two still outside. By the time the sun began to set, Kyle had finished most of the books he’d picked up.


    As Azrael and Jarred came back inside, both dripping with sweat after sparring, Jarred eyed Kyle curiously. "Find anything interesting in those books?"


    Kyle leaned back with a shrug. "I won’t lie, they’re fascinating, but I’m not planning to use any of it."


    Azrael, drying his hands with a towel, asked, "Not even the part about mana flow?"


    Kyle chuckled. "I don’t use mana that much, so there’s no point. The bullets for my gun don’t rely on mana."


    "Then what do you use?"


    Jarred cut in before Kyle could answer. "Eternal Energy. It’s what makes him a Celestial."


    "A Celestial?" Azrael’s curiosity was sparked.


    Kyle smirked, leaning forward. "That’s what they call Angel Ring users." A glowing white halo appeared above his head as he spoke. "Though I’m still a novice at this whole thing."


    Azrael stared in amazement at the radiant ring.


    Kyle continued, crossing his legs. "From what I saw earlier, you’re meditating to start the first step of the Awakening Path. That’s called Eternal Energy Cultivation."


    Azrael blinked in surprise. "You know about that?!"


    Kyle held up the book he’d been reading, smirking. "Yeah, I just read about it. See?"


    Azrael glared at him. "The hell is wrong with you? I’m being serious!"


    Kyle burst out laughing, holding his stomach. "Alright, alright, don’t get mad! Relax." Once he calmed down, he added, "I know because I’m a Celestial too, remember?"


    Azrael sighed, his annoyance fading into curiosity. "So, how did you awaken your Angel Ring?"


    Kyle tilted his head, thinking. "It wasn’t through meditation. The book says you can awaken Eternal Energy through acts of devotion, intense emotions, or moments of profound clarity. Mine… just kind of appeared out of nowhere, maybe because of what happened on my past."


    "Past huh... hmm, how long did it take you to awaken it fully?"


    Kyle shrugged. "I don’t remember much. I was pretty young when it happened, so the details are hazy."


    "I see," Azrael murmured, deep in thought.


    Kyle gave him a serious look. "But according to the book, meditation is a valid path. So don’t lose hope. You’re young, Azrael. You’ve got plenty of time. Don’t rush things. Power like this isn’t easy to control."


    The weight of Kyle’s words made Azrael swallow hard.


    Then Kyle grinned mischievously. "But hey, keep at it. Who knows? Maybe by the time you return to your family, you’ll be so strong they won’t even recognize you. Heck, you might even end up fighting them."


    The three of them burst out laughing at the thought, the tension melting away.


    Azrael clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes. "You’re right. I’ll train harder. One day, I’ll surpass my parents."


    As they settled back into their conversation, Azrael suddenly recalled something. "Oh, wait! I just remembered."


    "Hmm?" Kyle glanced at him, curious.


    "I''m curious about how you make those bullets for your gun," Azrael said, leaning forward. "Do you manipulate Eternal Energy to create them?"


    Kyle smirked. "Ah, about that. The ability to create bullets is my power. It’s called Bullet Chain."


    "Bullet Chain, huh?" Azrael echoed, intrigued.


    "Yup," Kyle replied with a proud grin. "It’s a skill that lets me generate an endless supply of bullets capable of piercing thick armor. The only downside is that it’s not too powerful yet—simple barriers can still block it."


    "That’s incredible!" Azrael exclaimed, his excitement genuine.


    Kyle chuckled, clearly enjoying the praise. "Cool, right?"


    Their conversation carried on into the night, the warmth of their laughter filling the castle. It felt like the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only the connection they were building. For that brief moment, they were simply three friends sharing stories, dreams, and a flicker of hope against the cold backdrop of the world outside.