Matthew watched, arms crossed, as he studied Aidan, whose aura was pushed to its very limits.
Aidan let out a frustrated huff, disappointment heavy in his voice as he muttered, "I didn't even land a single hit."
Matthew's smile faded slightly. He stepped closer, giving Aidan a sharp look before flicking him on the forehead.
"Aidan," Matthew said, voice steady. "You did well. Extremely well. So do not let Zane's growth dishearten you."
He paused, then added more seriously, "But this... this was never your match to win. Not against someone like Zane."
His words weren't cruel—just honest.
"And that's not a failure, Aidan. That's reality. And you fought against it better than most ever could. He is a first-rank being now."
Matthew hesitated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He glanced at Aidan, opening his mouth to speak—then closing it again, as if unsure if he should say it or not.
Zane, watching the interaction from a few steps away, scratched his cheek awkwardly. He didn't really understand why Aidan looked so down.
With a sheepish laugh, Zane stepped forward and said,
"I... uh, didn't mean to go that hard," Zane said, stepping forward with a hint of concern in his voice. "You okay? Sorry about that."
Aidan shook his head, a sharp snort flaring from his nose. His voice, though a little weak, was firm as he said, "Do you really take me for someone so petty? I lost because I lacked strength. Nothing more, nothing less. There is no need for saying sorry."
Aidan dramatically looked Zane up and down, his expression exaggerated. "Maybe I should be the one asking you if you're okay," he said, his voice a bit grumpy. "Since when did you start acting all concerned? You're starting to gross me out."
Zane flashed a grin. "Now that's the Aidan I know," he said, tapping his stick lightly against his shoulder. "Thought for a second you were gonna throw a tantrum or something."
Zane, who clearly wasn't planning to stop anytime soon, suddenly froze under Matthew's sharp glare.
Slowly, he raised his hands in surrender. "Ah—sorry," Zane said with a sheepish laugh. "Forgot you were still here, Master."
Matthew arched an eyebrow, unimpressed."You're lucky I'm patient," he said, his voice sarcastic.
"Keep pushing and see how long that lasts."
Matthew let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Before you go scratching your cheek again, at least listen first," he said, his voice more tired than sharp.
Zane froze mid-motion, hand hovering awkwardly near his face."Yes, Master," he said quickly, offering a sheepish smile as he lowered his hand.
"The attribute you have is unique," Matthew said, his tone serious.
"It falls under a distorted rarity—something that doesn't follow normal logic. Very few people have it. Not even I possess one, but it doesn't mean you are the only one."
He paused, then pointed toward Aidan."The other people I know who have a distorted attribute... are your father Aidan, and also my master, as well as Lady Charlotte. And honestly?" Matthew let out a quiet laugh.
"Even now, I have no idea what attribute exactly master has. He rarely fights, and when he does... let's just say there aren't many survivors to tell the tale."
"As for Lady Charlotte, she has a shadow attribute. I am unsure how it works though, from what I know she is widely respected even in other empire."
Aidan's mind drifted the moment he heard the words "distorted ability." His father's figure flickered in his memory—appearing out of thin air, calm and untouchable.
Absentmindedly, Aidan stroked his chin, deep in thought. Could it have been some kind of space attribute?
But before he could chase the idea further, Matthew's voice cut sharply into his focus, pulling him back to the present.
"There's a saying," Matthew began, his tone slow and deliberate, "that those born with distorted attributes walk a harder path than any other."
He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing.
"At the start, they seem weak—fragile even. Easy to overlook."
Matthew's gaze shifted, pinning Zane with a stare so heavy it felt almost physical.
"But as they grow," he said, his voice lowering like a weight dropping, "they become forces no one can ignore. Their presence alone... shifts the battlefield."
"There's a saying," Matthew said calmly. "Most who awakened before you didn't understand their attribute right away, as distorted attributes are difficult to grasp. It took time—patience and perseverance—to truly understand it. What you've shown so far, turning what you touch into a weapon... that might just be the beginning. Your attribute could be much more than that."
The air seemed to tighten as Matthew asked, "Do you understand, Zane?"
Matthew's gaze remained unwavering, but for a brief second, it flickered toward Aidan before turning back to Zane.
"Do not waste this power," he said, his voice low and deliberate, each word carrying weight.
"Understanding it... that path is yours alone to walk. Do not rush. Understanding is the key. Pursue understanding, not ranks—and the ranks will follow on their own."
Zane's eyes darted toward Aidan, and in that brief glance, he understood: the advice wasn't meant for him alone.
Aidan stayed silent, his expression unreadable, a veil of quiet over his thoughts.
Matthew, seemingly done with what he needed to say, waved his hand dismissively.
"That's all for today. You're dismissed."
His eyes locked onto Zane, the shift in tone unmistakable. "From now on, you'll train on a different ground. Aidan will remain here."
The finality in his voice made the change clear. "Am I clear?"
Both Zane and Aidan nodded in acknowledgment, bowing to Matthew before they turned and made their way out.
Each carried their own thoughts, their paths diverging as they walked, each with their own weight to bear.
Matthew watched them go, his gaze lingering on their retreating figures.
For a moment, his thoughts wandered, and his eyes turned upward, as if searching the sky for something buried deep in his memory.
A faint frown creased his brow, his mind preoccupied with a lingering question.
What will you become, Zane?
He could feel the weight of the unspoken doubt Aidan had felt. There was conflict in Aidan's heart, but he didn't know what it exactly was. He wasn't sure anymore how Zane's growth would affect Aidan now.
The thoughts hung there, unsettling, before another memory surfaced, cold and sharp.
There's a rumour, Matthew recalled. In the Demon Empire... they say there's a witch with the attribute of curse.
She can kill from miles away... with just one curse.
His sigh escaped without him meaning to, the heaviness of the memory settling over him.
Many dismissed it as mere rumour, but Matthew knew better.
He was one of the few who knew the truth behind the whispers—the truth about the death of the Elf Guardian.
She was one of the few confirmed to possess a distorted attribute, a rare and dangerous gift.
Her power was not just feared—it was respected across the empire.
Even the Demon Empire itself treaded carefully around her, making her one of the key figures in the Demon Empire, wary of the devastation she could bring with a single gesture.