As the storm of razor-sharp wind blades surged toward Reyon, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense. The spell, Wind Razor Storm, was not an ordinary seventh-circle spell—it was one of the strongest, known for its relentless cutting force and near-impossibility to counter without overwhelming power.
Edward leaned forward slightly in his seat. "Derox, you asked him to stand against a seventh-circle magician, not to beat him. That spell is no ordinary spell. It is among the peak of the seventh-circle."
Derox folded his arms, his expression unwavering. "I understand that, but I want to see the extent of Reyon's abilities. If I see him struggling, I will stop the fight. But if he can handle this, it will prove his true potential."
Despite the storm of magic hurtling toward him, Reyon remained calm. He had faced ninth-circle spells before—this was nothing that could shake him. His eyes gleamed with confidence as he raised his hand, activating Σ (Sigma), a powerful vector magic symbol that manipulated force distribution.
The moment Σ activated, the wind blades lost half their strength, their cutting power fading into harmless breezes. With a flick of his wrist, Reyon cast Wind Rage, a fifth-circle spell. The moment his vectors reinforced the spell, it roared to life, exploding with the force of a seventh-circle spell. It crashed into the weakened Wind Razor Storm, shattering it completely.
A gasp rippled through the audience.
Alex, his breath caught in his throat, choked on his own disbelief. His strongest spell had been dismantled so effortlessly.
Before he could react, Reyon vanished in a blur. In the next instant, the cold touch of a wind blade pressed against his neck. The duel was over. Reyon had won.
Silence filled the hall as everyone processed what had just happened.
Even Edward, who had watched Reyon's progress closely, was stunned. "Incredible…"
Derox let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. "Haa… I seriously don't want to let him go. But a promise is a promise. I will agree to it."
With that, Reyon was officially freed from his enlistment obligation.
Edward stood up. "Reyon, come with me. There is something I wish to show you."
Edward led Reyon through the winding corridors of the Phoenix Palace until they reached a secluded area. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of rustling leaves created an oddly peaceful atmosphere.
A breathtaking garden stretched out before him. A masterpiece of architecture, the garden was an enchanting sanctuary filled with rare flowers, shimmering crystal-clear streams, and stone pathways leading to quiet gazebos.
Edward turned to face Reyon. "This garden… I had it constructed by the greatest architect on the continent. It was meant for your mother."
Reyon's eyes widened. "What…?"
In his past life, he had always wondered why his father, a man of immense status, had married his mother—a merchant's daughter. She had died shortly after his birth, and Edward had always been distant. Reyon had assumed his father never cared for her. Yet, here was undeniable proof that he had been wrong.
Edward continued, his voice unusually gentle. "You must be wondering… If I loved her, then why didn't I take care of you? Why did I let you suffer?"
Reyon didn't respond, but his silence was enough of an answer. Edward sighed, his gaze fixed on the flowers swaying in the breeze.
"I did my best to keep you in the family. But there were circumstances beyond my control. My marriage with your mother was not welcomed by the household. I married her against their wishes because I loved her. But the elders were furious. They sought to nullify the marriage entirely. The only reason they couldn't was because your grandfather was still alive at the time. He declared that I had every right to be with the person I loved."
Reyon clenched his fists. "Grandfather…"
Edward nodded. "But after he disappeared, everything changed. The elders revolted. The household was on the brink of collapse. Your grandmother—heartbroken by your grandfather's disappearance—fell unconscious from the shock. And then came the ultimatum."
He turned to Reyon, his eyes filled with the weight of regret. "If I wanted to keep you and your mother in the family, I had to marry the Duke's daughter, make her the first lady, and distance myself from both of you. If I refused, the Phoenix household would split."
Reyon's chest tightened. "So… you chose duty."
Edward let out a heavy breath. "I wanted to reject it. I wanted to fight back. But Evelyn was away on her journey, and I had no allies. My father had always told me one thing: Do what you want in life, but protect this household. I had no choice but to accept."
Reyon listened in silence. The pain in Edward's voice was evident. He had never imagined that his father had suffered just as much.
"Not long after," Edward continued, "Ray was born. Then, your mother became pregnant with you. And after you were born… Michelle died."
A sharp pang struck Reyon's heart. "My mother… died because of me?"
Edward immediately shook his head. "No. Never think that. Your mother was always frail. The pregnancy took a toll on her, and she knew the risks. But she never regretted having you. She told me… that you were the greatest gift she could have ever received."
Reyon's breath hitched.
Edward took a deep breath. "You were the last connection I had to Michelle. I wanted nothing more than to protect you, to pamper you. But if I had openly shown my love for you, the first lady and the elders would have seen you as a threat. Assassination attempts on you would have been inevitable. To keep you safe, I had to become distant. I had to make you seem unimportant."
A cold realization struck Reyon. All the neglect, the cold treatment—it had all been for his protection.
Edward clenched his fists. "There were times I even thought of sending you away. Kicking you out of the family so you could be free from this cursed fate. But then… you shined. You were so brilliant that no one could ignore you. And at that point… everything fell apart. I could no longer keep you hidden."
Tears welled up in Reyon's eyes, but he refused to let them fall. His father, the man he had resented for years, was not the heartless tyrant he had believed him to be.
Edward stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. "My boy… please forgive this powerless father who couldn't do more for you. Please… be safe from all dangers."
For the first time in both his lives, Reyon felt the warmth of his father's embrace. The warmth he had always longed for.
He wanted to cry. He wanted to let out all the emotions he had bottled up over the years. But he couldn't. Not yet. He scrubbed the tears from his eyes and stepped back.
He took a deep breath and spoke, his voice steady. "Dad… it's too late to make amends. But… I understand your position now. Don't expect me to be overly warm to you, but… take care of your health. I'll come visit you from time to time."
Edward smiled, his eyes glistening. "That is more than enough."
Reyon turned away and walked out of the garden, his heart heavier than before. He had finally learned the truth about his past. And now, as he moved forward on his journey, he carried with him the silent resolve to honor both his mother's memory and the father who had sacrificed everything for him.