On the other side of town, Wilson walked straight to his house after leaving.
After rummaging through a cabinet, he pulled out a long sword.Although Wilson hadn't practiced much with the sword in the past, he had kept it close by—at least until recently. It had been a while since he last carried it.
But things were different now. He had started learning sword techniques seriously, and naturally, it was time to carry a weapon again.
"Hm?" he muttered, frowning as he held the sword in his hand.
What once felt like a perfectly balanced weapon now felt awkward—uncomfortably so.
"No wonder… I've grown taller lately," he realized aloud. "This sword is starting to feel too short."
He turned the weapon over in his hand, inspecting it with a hint of nostalgia before sighing.
"Maybe I should ask Father if there's a better one that fits."
With that thought, Wilson placed the sword back into its sheath and returned it to its place. He turned around, opened the door, and stepped outside.
Before long, he was standing in front of his father's study door. He knocked twice, firmly.
"Come in," came a deep, measured voice from within.
Wilson pushed the door open and stepped inside respectfully.
"My father, Family Head," he greeted formally.
Tom Ember, the stern and composed leader of the Ember Family, looked up and blinked in mild surprise at the sight of his eldest son. Still, his expression remained calm and serious.
"You're not training? What brings you here at this time?" Tom asked, his tone firm but not unkind.
Wilson bowed slightly and replied, "Father, I've realized that the sword I've been using is too short for me now. I came to ask if you could help me find a more suitable one."
Tom nodded slowly in understanding. "Yes, that sword was given to you two years ago. It's perfectly reasonable for it to be too small now."
He leaned back slightly in his chair, thinking for a moment before continuing. "I'll arrange for a new sword to be sent to you. Go back for now."
Wilson glanced briefly at the stacks of scrolls and documents piled on his father's desk. Not wanting to interfere with his official work, he bowed again.
"Yes, Father." With that, he turned and left the study.
Meanwhile, in the region, two great families stood as pillars of strength: the Frost-Heart Family and the Ember Family.
Though there had been tensions in the past, no major conflicts had erupted recently. This period could be described as relatively peaceful.
One month had passed since Arthur took on two apprentices, and during this time, he had been tirelessly traveling between the Frost-Heart and Ember families, fulfilling his duties as a teacher.
Sunlight bathed the courtyard of Adam's house, casting a warm glow across the training grounds. Leaning against a tree with arms crossed, Arthur watched the scene before him with a tired but satisfied expression.
Training two talented disciples was exhausting—especially when one focused on elemental magic and the other on swordsmanship.
Adam, with his Absolute Zero Ice Magic, had found his footing quickly, while Wilson often stumbled with his sword techniques, though he improved steadily.
Thankfully, both boys were remarkably gifted, easing some of the weight off Arthur's shoulders.
At that moment, Adam was sparring with Max in the open courtyard.
Though Adam hadn't yet fully developed the Frost-Heart's legendary Ice Source, his natural speed and instincts were extraordinary.
In terms of raw strength, Adam and Max had once been evenly matched. Max's talents were in no way inferior. But ever since Adam awakened the Absolute Zero Ice Source, his abilities had surged, placing him a step above.
Where they had once been equals, Max now found herself being pushed back.
"Absolute Zero Ice Magic: Spell of the Frozen Forest!" Adam shouted, his voice echoing through the air.
A glowing spell circle formed in front of him. As it pulsed with power, Adam's right arm released a breath of chilling energy. Thick columns of ice burst from the ground, rapidly growing into a dense forest of icy pillars.
Max's eyes sharpened. Channeling her magic energy, she darted to the right just in time to evade the attack.
Adam grinned, clearly enjoying the edge he now held.
With another quick motion, a smaller spell circle appeared beneath his feet. In an instant, a layer of frost exploded outward, sharp ice lances shooting from the ground toward Max.
The icy blades stopped just short of her throat.
Max sighed, lowering her hand. "Ugh… I lost again."
She raised her own spell, summoning a small cluster of ice spikes and casually slashing at the nearest tree branch. The attack left only a few faint white marks.
She blinked in surprise. "Wait… Adam, has the toughness of your ice magic increased this much?"
A month ago, the structures he created with Absolute Zero Ice were no stronger than regular ice. But now? They were clearly far more durable—almost like crystal.
Adam couldn't hide his triumphant smile.
"Haha, yeah! But my teacher always says, 'Take it slow and steady, focus on refining the quality before—'"
He suddenly cut himself off, realizing his slip.
But it was too late.
Max narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second… when did you get a teacher?"
Adam scratched his head nervously, chuckling in a way that clearly wasn't convincing. "Teacher? What teacher? I mean, I've just been… reading a lot lately!"
Max folded his arms, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I don't remember hearing anything about this, and I doubt the Family Head knows either."
Apprenticeship was a serious matter—one not to be taken lightly. If Adam had secretly accepted a teacher, it could mean serious consequences.
"I-I'm going to practice more magic!" Adam blurted out before quickly turning and running toward his room, clearly fleeing the conversation.
After awakening his Absolute Zero Ice Source, Adam had started copying and studying segments of ancient ice magic spells from the family archives. Some of the spells were incomplete, others inconsistent, and it required deep understanding to decipher them.
Max watched him go, then sighed. He had no solid reason to interfere with Adam's pursuit of magical study. With a shake of her head, she turned and walked away.
From a nearby tree, Arthur had been quietly observing the entire exchange.
He exhaled with a mixture of pride and exasperation.
"Talented in magic… but a fool in daily life," he muttered.
Despite Adam's brilliance, Arthur often found himself smacking the boy on the head for various infractions. Compared to Wilson, who might be mischievous but had a solid sense of judgment, Adam was unpredictable.
Arthur shook his head slightly and continued watching from the shade.