"What is this place?" Vlad asked quietly.

  "It's Sylvie's spirit realm," the figure replied.

  Sylvie slipped out of Vlad's chest and began circling the man in playful loops. He chuckled as she brushed past him.

  "What happened to me?"

  The figure met his eyes. "Your body was too frail to handle her power. I didn't expect it would turn out like this I'm sorry."

  Vlad lowered his head. "Please don't apologize. You were trying to help me. If anything, it was my weakness."

  A faint smile appeared on the man's face.

  "It was Sylvie's choice. She found you in the forest. She's the one who brought me to you."

  Vlad watched her spin happily through the air. "Thank you… for saving me."

  Then he looked back. "Can I ask you something?"

  "Of course."

  "You called her your friend… Are you the First Patriarch?"

  The man's smile deepened just slightly.

  "Yes. Aurelion Dravenir. Though what you see now is only a fragment Sylvie remembers."

  Vlad bowed deeply. "Greetings, First Patriarch."

  A hand rested gently on his head.

  "None of that. Call me Leon."

  "As you wish… Lord Leon."

  They talked a little longer.

  "Don't you get bored here?" Vlad asked.

  Leon glanced at Sylvie. "Not while she's around. She never lets things stay quiet for long." He looked back at Vlad. "Since you're here… how about a spar? It's been ages."

  Vlad hesitated. "I'd like that, but I'll disappoint you. My mana is weak. I can barely use healing magic."

  Leon waved it off. "This is the spirit realm. Mana is everywhere. Stop limiting yourself."

  Vlad straightened. "…Then I accept."

  They stepped apart. Sylvie hovered between them and chirped once.

  Leon vanished.

  No sound. No ripple.

  Just absence.

  Vlad's eyes sharpened. He scanned the sky—

  "Tempest Slash."

  Wind crashed down from above.

  It struck him cleanly and sent him skidding across the surface of the spirit sea. Water burst outward in silver arcs.

  He rose, breath uneven.

  Leon stood several paces away, relaxed. "You won't be harmed here. Go all out."

  Vlad extended his arm. "Wind Spear."

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  A spiraling lance shot forward, slicing through the air.

  "Flame Wall."

  Fire surged upward and swallowed the attack whole. Heat shimmered—

  Leon was suddenly beside him.

  A palm pressed lightly against Vlad's abdomen.

  "Wind Thrust."

  The blast detonated.

  Vlad was hurled backward, skipping across the water before regaining balance.

  "Think of it as training!" Leon called.

  Vlad smiled—

  —and vanished.

  Leon's eyes flicked upward. "You learn fast."

  "Earth Pull."

  The air distorted.

  Vlad was dragged from above and slammed downward by crushing force, the surface of the sea exploding on impact.

  He rose again, laughing lightly. "This is fun, Lord Leon!"

  Leon grinned. "Then don't hold back."

  They collided once more.

  Flames roared across the horizon.

  Blades of wind carved through clouds.

  Lightning tore jagged scars through the sky.

  Leon moved through it all.

  He stepped aside just enough for fire to graze past him.

  Raised a hand and scattered lightning into harmless sparks.

  Shifted his stance and let wind dissolve against his shoulder.

  Then he countered.

  A burst of flame forced Vlad to guard.

  Compressed air struck his flank.

  A precise arc of lightning drove him back again.

  The spirit sea churned violently beneath them.

  Leon vanished.

  Vlad steadied his breathing.

  A presence formed behind him—

  "Lightning Punch."

  The strike descended—

  Vlad disappeared.

  He reappeared at Leon's side, palm already pressed forward.

  "I got you now."

  "Wind Thrust!"

  Air exploded at point-blank range.

  For a split second, Leon's expression brightened with genuine excitement.

  Then—

  "The King's Gaze."

  Everything fell silent.

  Not gradually.

  Instantly.

  The wind ceased.

  The sea froze mid-ripple.

  Even Sylvie stopped mid-flight.

  The sky darkened as though something immeasurable had opened beyond it.

  Pressure descended.

  Not violent.

  Not chaotic.

  Absolute.

  Ancient authority pressed upon the realm.

  The spirit world did not shake in resistance—

  It trembled in acknowledgment.

  Vlad's knees struck the water.

  His lungs refused to draw breath.

  His bones felt as though they were bowing.

  This was not force.

  It was command.

  The clouds tore apart in a widening fracture, revealing nothing—yet implying everything.

  Something vast watched.

  Something sovereign.

  Leon stood at the center of it, eyes gleaming, smile slowly stretching—not in cruelty, but in exhilaration.

  The weight intensified.

  The spirit realm, a domain that nullified pain, screamed in silence.

  Sylvie shrieked and threw herself in front of Vlad, forming a barrier. She unleashed a desperate Tempest Slash.

  The moment the wind struck—

  Leon blinked.

  The sky sealed.

  The sea resumed its motion.

  The pressure vanished as if it had never existed.

  Only Vlad remained kneeling.

  His fingers trembled slightly against the water's surface.

  For a moment, he did not rise.

  He breathed in—

  Slowly.

  Steadily.

  Then he pushed himself up.

  His voice, when it came, was quieter than before.

  "That move… was that what you used to bend the heavens?"

  Leon chuckled. "You've been reading stories. Yes. That was The King's Gaze. Though I was never strong enough to truly defeat the heavens."

  He offered his hand and helped Vlad up. "Your ambush was excellent. I'll give you the win."

  "It was an honor sparring with you."

  Leon nodded. "It's time to return. Your mother will be worried."

  Vlad smiled faintly. "You're right. I shouldn't worry her."

  Leon tilted his head. "You're not going to ask for Sylvie's power back?"

  Vlad shook his head. "She's your friend. If I take her, you'll be alone."

  For the first time, Leon's expression softened completely.

  "I want you to take her. Show her the world. Grow stronger together. She'll be happier with you."

  Vlad bowed lightly. "Then I'll protect her."

  Sylvie flew into his chest once more.

  "Come here," Leon said.

  Vlad stepped closer.

  "I owe you a reward."

  Two fingers pressed against his chest.

  Cold.

  Not burning.

  Not painful.

  Just heavy.

  Something spread beneath his skin.

  Vlad gasped as a faint mark surfaced over his heart.

  It was not large.

  An oval shape, thin and precise, as though drawn by a single unbroken stroke. At its center lay a narrow vertical line—straight, unwavering.

  An eye.

  Not detailed.

  Just a shape.

  Ancient.

  The skin around it did not blister. It did not scar. It simply accepted the mark.

  The oval darkened slightly.

  The vertical slit seemed deeper than ink—less a drawing and more a seam in reality itself.

  For a moment—

  The spirit realm trembled.

  Then it went still.

  Aurelion withdrew his hand.

  "The Sovereign does not need to shout," he said.

  The mark faded until it was barely visible, like a birthmark hidden beneath pale skin.

  "I've infused a fragment of my mana into it. You won't fear exhaustion anymore. And when the time comes… the sovereign slit will part."

  Vlad bowed.

  He closed his eyes.

  —

  He opened them in his bed, breath uneven.

  "Vlad!"

  Elarys rushed forward and embraced him.

  Slowly, he pulled aside his clothing.

  The Sovereign Eye rested over his heart.

  The sovereign slit lay calm.

  Sealed.

  He stared at it quietly.

  What would happen… when it's parted?