Aaron sat at the edge of the estate's training ground, staring blankly at the splintered remains of a training sword he'd snapped in half the day before. He sighed.
"It's official. I'm just not built for swordsmanship," he muttered, rolling his sore shoulder. "Maybe something simpler. Like… poking stuff."
He winced at the soreness still lingering from his "normal" swing that had created a small crater. No one had dared to correct his form afterward. They just stood around clapping.
He stood, dusted off his robe, and wandered toward the armory again. This time, he wasn't looking for something flashy. He was looking for something humble. Insignificant. Something befitting someone painfully average like himself.
That's when he saw it: a snapped spear shaft, forgotten in the back of the equipment shed, wedged behind a crate of rusted helmets.
It was barely longer than a walking stick and missing its blade entirely. The shaft was chipped, weather-worn, and coated in dust. Aaron's eyes lit up.
"Yes. Perfect. This is exactly my level," he whispered, lifting it with reverence.
The moment he touched it, a gust of wind stirred outside. He ignored it.
"Looks like someone's kid broke this. I can't possibly screw up a stick. Right?"
With his new "training tool" in hand, Aaron stepped onto the practice field again. Most of the staff had cleared out, having grown wary of the accidental earthquakes and lightning bolts that seemed to follow his "modest training exercises."
Aaron planted his feet and jabbed the stick forward with both hands.
Thump.
He blinked.
"Huh. Not bad," he muttered, pleased with how smooth it felt. The next jab was a little faster. Then another. He added a spin for flair, thinking: If I can make this look good, maybe Father will think I'm improving.
He stabbed forward again—just as a soft pulse of mana surged unconsciously from his core.
The stick flew from his hands like a streak of light.
CRACK.
The training ground boulder—placed specifically for endurance tests—split in two. Perfectly. Cleanly. As if sliced by the heavens.
Aaron blinked. "Oh no. That wasn't supposed to happen…"
Behind him, a gasp.
He turned.
Lady Vayla, former General of the Starlight Spear Regiment, now acting spear instructor for House Aetherwyn, stood slack-jawed, tea cup falling from her hand and shattering on the stone.
"You…" she whispered.
Aaron jumped. "Wait—I didn't mean to—please don't report me! I'll clean it up! I swear I thought it was just a poking stick!"
Lady Vayla didn't respond.
She stepped forward, fell to one knee, and bowed so low her forehead touched the training ground.
"I have searched thirty years for someone who could perform that technique. I had all but given up. And here you are. The Starlight Dragon Fang Thrust—flawless. Elegant. Divine."
Aaron went pale. "Starlight what—no, no! I just jabbed it really hard! It was a fluke!"
Vayla shook her head. "False humility. Of course. Forgive me, Master. Please… allow me to become your student."
Aaron's jaw dropped.
"Student?! Me?! No, I—You were a general! I'm just… just some guy!"
Lady Vayla bowed lower.
The staff began to gather, whispers spreading like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Lord Aaron used the Starlight Dragon Fang Thrust."
"That technique was lost with the war saints!"
"Could he be a celestial rebirth?"
"Didn't he say he was just 'poking stuff'? That's genius-level modesty!"
Aaron began to sweat. "Wait, no! Listen! I literally found a stick! It was broken! That boulder was probably cracked already—!"
"—and he's pretending he doesn't even know what he did. Incredible."
"This is true mastery. The kind that goes beyond technique."
---
Later that evening…
Aaron sat at his desk, furiously scribbling in his notebook.
Training Log – Day 14
Weapon: Stick (possibly a child's broken spear?)
Objective: Practice poking.
Result: Destroyed large rock.
Hypothesis: Rock was defective.
Conclusion: Still below average. Progress questionable. Try skipping weapons and throw rocks tomorrow.
He closed the journal with a sigh. "Maybe I'm just more of a ranged guy. Sticks and swords are clearly too advanced."
A knock came at the door.
"Lord Aaron," came a voice. "The staff has scheduled an official Spear Art demonstration tomorrow. They say you've inspired a new training discipline."
Aaron blinked. "What?!"
"We've also received a letter from House Virelith. Lady Lily is... intrigued by the news."
Aaron groaned. "How does poking a rock become a diplomatic incident?!"
---
The next morning…
The entire training grounds had transformed. A crowd of knights, mages, and noble guests had gathered. A banner read:
"Witness the Revival of the Lost Spear God's Teachings – Featuring Master Aaron Aetherwyn"
Aaron peeked out the window, pale as a ghost.
"I need to leave the continent," he whispered.
---
End of Chapter 14