The next day after he obtained the strength he needed for his revenge, the corpse of Ulf was removed from the cell. It was reported to be natural death but it was evident that the soldiers knew that he was poisoned and they thought he finally succumbed to it.
The report was also sent to the capital because right after the corpse was removed from the room. Knights from the capital arrived to check the corpse, it was as if they were very fearful of Ulf.
He was after all the strongest swordsman of Angeras, Estefan ignored it for he now carried the revenge for his mother, himself and his Godfather Ulf. It wasn't a burden, it was a fire that gave a meaning to his current life because his enemies did not deserve to have a good life after what they did to him and his close aid.
If Estefan didn't do anything, then no one will. So he must and he began to ensure that he would.
The prisoners were given porridge of lowest quality. The food was bad, it smelled like rotten vegetables but he didn't bother with it. He ate it, perhaps the gift from Ulf was aiding him well because everytime he ate the body began to break down the good stuff inside the food even if it's a bit but it was enough for now.
Estefan would workout till he faced exhaustion but continued afterwards to push his limits.
He punched the walls, the cold walls were extremely hard. Everytime he punched, he could feel it. His bones cracked but the pain was nothing compared to the things that happened to him. He did not desire to quit, because he didn't have the luxury to do so.
He sat down and looked at his shivering fist, the fingers all but broken but suddenly he felt it. Energy although a bit gushing through his veins over towards his fingers. The bones began to recover at a faster pace while strengthening it.
Estefan was shocked "So this is Soul Essence... It's only a bit of what he gave me but it is enough and soon I'll bring it all out." He then sat cross-legged with his spine straight and placed his hands comfortably on his knees although they were shivering, palms facing down and maintaining alert state since he doesn't have much time left since there are guards who watch over but they are too lazy to do it often.
He began to focus, to reach deeper into his soul. To touch the energy residing deep inside, the soul was a finite energy source which was extremely powerful. Powerful enough to destroy a country or massacre millions.
But to achieve it, one must not only tap into the essence but learn to master it and bring it out in the form of an Aura. The colour of Aura mirrors one's soul the same way the dominion mirrors the inner world of the soul.
Estefan realised that entering such a place was harder, he concentrated and relaxed his body so he could reach it.
Slowly but surely he could see it, the vast world of his soul. It was like he was floating in space. Endless void of nothingness but at the centre he saw a blue orb, it was tiny compared to the void but it was large enough to cover his body.
Estefan floated towards it, the energy was pure. He could only feel goodness from it, a slight warmth as he touched it. The energy immediately revitalised his body but he couldn't fully release and absorb it due to the gap of level and understanding of what he was dealing with.
To cultivate something required more time than he anticipated even though he lacked but suddenly he began to feel something else.
Something odd, something he never felt, he turned his head around. The entire light turned from red to blue, the blue light illuminating from the orb couldn't match with what Estefan was seeing in front of him.
He was amazed or maybe afraid "That cannot be my soul essence... How?" All of a sudden he got ejected from the inner world.
He was panting furiously while his entire body was covered in sweat but there was a change in his body. All the injuries on the inside and outside, they have been healed and he could feel more strength in his body than before.
It was the energy released when he touched the orb but it was less nonetheless. This gave him more confidence and he continued to train.
30 days later— Estefan continued to train, his body showed slight change but not too much. After all he was a ten year old boy but he was stronger than a normal ten year old.
Estefan paused when he heard footsteps and it was a fellow guard of the prison, the guard knocked on the prison bar "You have a visitor." The guards do not care about the prisoners nor their well being. They mostly act like messengers or escorters.
Estefan was escorted to a tent outside, which was closely guarded by two Angeras knights who weren't part of the border region so Estefan figured out it was a visitor from the capital.
Maybe the Duke? He thought that what he thought was possible is what he thought next and he entered the tent.
Estefan was cuffed to ensure the safety of the visitor and when he entered, he saw Butler Benjamin.
The Old man looked at Estefan "You have indeed changed, Young Master." He spoke in a low soft manner but Estefan didn't care "Spare me the nonsense, what are you doing here?" He yelled since the butler is clearly his father's tool.
The Butler sat down on a chair and opened a suitcase, he showed a couple of papers to Estefan "These are the papers of your assets, assets given to your mother by Lord Simon before his death. It includes many estates, farmlands etc etc across the Duchy... Since you have been branded as a criminal, your father the Duke using his position has decided to revoke your ownership and give these assets to someone else." Estefan was surprised to hear those words but he kept his composure "Okay, did you just come here to tell me that everything I had was stolen but it was given to who?" He questioned Butler.
Estefan thought that the assets were given to Grandmaster Mason since he was the one to frame Estefan, "Young Master Carnel will be given those assets, it also includes the money you and your mother had in your Royal Bank accounts as well." That name indeed shocked Estefan.
It was his brother, the second son of the Duke and first son of Lady Cornelia and the Nephew of the King of Ikarus.
Estefan sighed "That was obvious, he would be the next Duke anyways." Those words made the butler rather surprised.
A ten year old keeping such composure and mental strength knowing his wealth and his mother's savings were all blatantly stolen, "You have indeed changed." The Butler jested but Estefan responded "When you are getting tortured in prison and getting betrayed by everyone then you are bound to make some changes." His words made the old Butler snicker a bit.
Estefan turned around but he stopped "What about Erika? Is she alright?" His words were met with the response of "You won't be able to handle it." The response immediately made Estefan's heart beat faster.
He was worried, not only that ruined her life, could they have maybe killed her since he loved her, she was the only person left for him after his mother's death, the only person who bothered to communicate and care for him while no one else did.
Estefan turned around "Tell me." His words were of worry, "She is now the fiance of Young Master Carnel, it was announced by the Duke himself and they exchanged rings yesterday in the Cathedral." Those words from the butler made Estefan freeze.
Many thoughts began to appear in his head and the butler simply responded "You are correct." Estefan was surprised, those words meant one thing and one thing only.
The bitterness of the betrayal he felt at that moment made him want to simply burn the world for what it truly was.
Estefan turned back around but the Butler yelled "Will you be focusing on revenge or rather give up on your life?" It was an important question since the answer could change everything.
He did not respond, "If you survive this ten years and recapture the City, I will tell you the truth." Estefan asked, "What truth?" And the butler responded "Truth regarding who your mother truly was and why she was killed... Do not think she was killed for simply birthing you because the truth is simply way beyond that." Those words made Estefan want to ask more but before he could, the soldiers pulled him out since the time was over for him to have a conversation with an outsider.
Now he had more reasons to stay alive, survive and get his revenge to know the truth but he pondered over it.
Benjamin was after all one of Duke's servant like Mason so it can very well be a trap. Estefan cannot take risk and fall for another trap since he already fell for a worse one which practically ruined his life.
But what made it worse was the fact that the girl he thought he loved ended up becoming the future wife of his brother which only made things worse and bitter.
They stole his mother, his Godfather and now gave him a false illusion of love just to steal that as well while expecting his inevitable death. They don't deserve mercy, that is exactly what Estefan thought because it was true.
He raised his fist just to slam it down on the floor, it was painful but it reminded him how weak he was and how much he have to do to have his revenge. "Pain is nothing but steps which I must take before achieving my revenge." He whispered while tears began to drip drop onto the floor.