Although not much was said about Erik Frenzel, his training methods were notorious enough to be well known and feared within the knights of the Royal Palace. There was even a moment in the novel where a couple of soldiers under the command of the First Prince talked about the horror they went through training under the hands of Erik Frenzel.
["I was young and ignorant." Spoke to one of the soldiers. His face was covered by the shadows of the fire, but the young Prince was still able to see the faintest look of reminiscence mixed with fear. "My father tried to warn me and I should have listened." The soldier laughed and covered half his face as if he had gone crazy. "What I went through in those short three months was more terrifying than any war I have ever fought." The Prince silently gazed at the soldier, poking the fire. His gaze was unreadable.]
At the time it made Aether both curious and scared of the man named Erik Frenzel, but now that he was living it? The fear overpowered any curiosity he once had. He wasn't necessarily worried that his father would put him through the same hellish training his father did, but instead he was worried about what his father could possibly use him for.
As much as he wanted to high tail it out of here, his father stood by his side as he led him to the edge of the training field. They stood in front of a large double staircase that led to the back of the mansion. Aether had never been to this part of the mansion before, but he couldn't help but take a second glance at the staircase. There was nothing magnificent about this staircase. It was simple and rather boring, something that he wouldn't usually take interest in and yet here he was staring at the staircase with such intensity that he was beginning to worry.
His eyes narrowed to the top of the staircase. The shadows seemed wrong. Almost as if they were moving. He took a step forward, his heart pounding as a small shadowed hand reached out to him before curling back into the shadows as if they were hesitant to come out into the light.
"Aether." His fathers voice brought him back to reality. Aether snapped his attention back to his father and smiled in a clumsy attempt as an apology. His father gazed at him for a moment and shook his head, "Pay attention."
His father snapped his fingers and a person covered in shadows arrived at his side. Aether had only seen these figures from afar, but up close he could see that the person covered in shadows was actually a soldier dressed entirely in black. This one was a female. Her long black hair was tied up into a high ponytail and except for her dark blue eyes her entire face and skin were covered by black cloth and clothes. Her aura was almost non-existent and her silent approach made her come off even more intimidating than she should have.
"Chair." His father ordered.
Without a word she nodded and brought over a single wooden chair from the side. One that had some cracks running up its sides. Aether gave both her and his father a questioning gaze as the seat was placed directly behind him.
Without a word his father grabbed him by the shoulders and sat him down on the chair. From the seat, Aether had a perfect view of Leon battling the other seven shadowed figures. It was chaotic and even more ferocious than before.
Although Leon was further away, Aether could still see the bloody gaze in his eyes. There was a gash on his forehead and blood was dripping down his face and into his eyes. Yet, his eyes were still open and there was a strange glint in his eyes. Aether didn't want to believe it, but the small smile gracing Leon's face proved his hunch.
Leon was enjoying this.
Aether looked away.
For a moment he had forgotten who Leon was. The eldest son and heir to the Frenzel household. It was expected of him to be the best in everything he does, including fighting and war. It shouldn't have been a surprise that Leon would enjoy a brutal fight.
Aether glanced down at his hands. His fingers curled until he could feel the faint pressure of his nails digging into the palm of his hands. He wasn't sure why his father made him sit in a chair that was one hit away from breaking, with Leon fighting in front of him. He let out a deep sigh, he should have listened to Mina.
After composing himself he glanced up at his father with a curious look, "Father? Why am I sitting here?"
His father didn't look at him, instead his gaze was focused on the battle before them. The hands on his shoulder tightened just a bit before his father shifted his weight and leaned down until his face was next to his.
"Your brother is going through...a trial of sorts." His father whispered, toying with the word 'trial' as he spoke. "This trial is based on a theory, it is a bit difficult to prove, but not for a Frenzel, never for a Frenzel." His father's voice hardened. "After his little mishap at the Palace this is the least he could do." His father squeezed his shoulders lightly.
"A trial?" Aether mumbled. He didn't remember reading anything about a trial. Wait. "Little mishap?" Aether turned to face his father, his eyes narrowing. 'This little mishap couldn't be because of me. Could it?'
His father ignored him and continued to speak, "You see this theory is rather interesting. It was developed by a member of the Royal Researchers. It states that a unique ability could grow if the person was capable and willing to go through a tedious trial." His father scoffed, "This theory hasn't been proven. Mainly due to the grueling and painful experience that the person has to go through, spineless bastards." He mumbled the last part.
There was another squeeze to his shoulders, "Your brother has all the capabilities to advance his unique ability, but it seems he doesn't have the right motivation to break through the last step." He said duly.
Aether paused. He glanced down at the worn out chair and then at the fight before him. His stomach churned as realization dawned on him.
His father smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you won't get hurt, but he doesn't know that."
"Wait!" Aether yelled, but it was too late.
With a snap of his fingers the shadowed figures changed their direction, coming straight for him. Aether went to stand up, the chair screeching across the concrete floor, but a firm push on his shoulders had him sitting back down. Aether gazed up with shaky eyes at what he had assumed was his father, but instead was met with the dull blue eyes from before. He was being held firmly in place by the female shadow guard that had replaced his father when he wasn't looking.
Noticing the change in action, Leon shifted his gaze and finally noticed his presence. Leon's eyes went wide and the next thing Aether knew his brother had disappeared.
It happened so fast.
The shadow guards that were mere inches from his face froze. Their swords shattered and they fell to the floor. Bloodied slashes appeared all over their bodies as they moved to sit up. Blood gushed from their wounds and they coughed up blood as they tried to stay on their knees. They were smart and stayed on the ground not moving as Leon appeared right in front of Aether.
He was breathing heavily, but seemed calmer than before. He kept clenching and unclenching the sword in his hand as if he were trying to decipher something. The smile on his face was both unnerving and calming.
Aether was also breathing heavily. He was covered in a cold sweat. For a moment he truly believed that he would be harmed. With furrowed eyebrows he gazed at Leon. 'What if he didn't get here on time? Would they have harmed me?'
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP
The slow sound of clapping came from behind him. Their father walked right up to Leon, ignoring Aether. With an ecstatic smile he got straight to the point. "How long?"
Leon glanced at his father and then back at Aether, his smile fading just a bit as he poke, "A minute."
Their father smiled and patted Leon on the shoulder, "Good, good! Tera!" The female shadow guard from before nodded her head slightly in response. Aether noticed that she too was cut. Her hands that had been holding him down had multiple alterations on them, but that was it. Aether felt a single moment of pity for her, but in a way she should have been glad she didn't end up like her fellow soldiers kneeling on the ground.
"Deal with this." His father gestured to the shadow guards on the ground and the training ground that was in complete disarray.
"Leon, Aether, with me." Their father turned and walked away briskly. Leon glanced down at Aether. He opened his mouth, but then closed it tightly. Without another glance he followed their father into the mansion.
Aether deflated. He took deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself, 'What the hell is wrong with them.' He thought. He knew that his father said no harm would come to him, but a part of him couldn't help but think that if it came down to it, he was okay with him getting hurt.
A dull ache spread from his chest and his eyes dimmed, 'It's all about results, isn't it.' he let out a hoarse laugh. What was he expecting?
Aether shook his head and focused his attention on something else. 'Who are they?' Aether glanced at the eight people covered in darkness. They were silent and didn't flinch or groan in pain even though their wounds were bleeding. They were tending to the training grounds, fixing it up without batting an eye at their wounds. A select few were struggling to stand up and Aether was ready to go and help them, but he was unsure.
They moved like soldiers, but looked like assassins.
Aether narrowed his eyes, 'Did the novel ever mention shadowed people under the command of the Frenzel household?'
"Young Master, let's go." Mina interrupted his thoughts. She gently grabbed his still shaking arm and led him to the stairs, nudging him to follow Leon who was standing at the top of the stairs like a statue.
Aether had a hunch that he was standing there waiting for him. His frown quickly turned into a scowl as he observed Leon. He wanted to be thankful for Leon protecting him and in his own way showing his care, but he couldn't find it in himself to do so. A simmering anger was growing inside his chest and with every passing second he found it harder to hold his tongue. He wanted to curse at him, to yell at him and hit him for what he...why was he angry?
Aether paused in his steps watching as Leon flinched. He took a deep breath and placed a hand on his head. He wasn't sure what was happening, but whatever it was he couldn't let it get to him.
With shaky steps he reached the top of the stairs and stood next to Leon. Leon kept glancing at him from the side. There was a hint of unease in his eyes.
'He must still be worried.' Aether thought to himself. Leon was undoubtedly stubborn and hard on himself. It was as easy to see in real life as it was to see in the novel. He wasn't a fan of losing and often took the hit hard if he did. Aether couldn't do much when it came to his brother's self criticism, but the least he could do was reassure him that he was fine.
He took a couple of breaths and smiled and only then did Leon turn to enter the mansion. Aether rolled his eyes at Leon's actions and made his way into the mansion himself.
Aether was unsure of what he was going to see when he entered the mansion. So when he found himself in a giant circular room with a high ceiling he was, for lack of words, pleasantly surprised.
He gazed up at the ceiling, observing the strange circular object that dangled. The ceiling itself was separated into five panels, each depicting a different painting. One painting that caught his attention was a painting of a man kneeling as a young lady shrouded in white touched his head. 'Is that the spirit that blessed the Frenzels?' He wanted to take a closer look, but he was quick to be ushered towards a side room.
"Send this off to the Palace, make sure that the King reads it while in the presence of those imbeciles." His father passed off a sealed letter to a butler who was standing off to the side.
"Yes sir." The butler bowed and hurried out of the room.
"Aether, sit."
Aether didn't have to be told twice and quickly moved to sit in the one empty seat in the room. Their father sat across from them, piles and piles of papers lay on the desk. Aether briefly glanced over at them, only catching a few words like Gelani and assassins.
It seemed his father knew more than what he let on. Aether glanced at a paper on the far right corner, buried underneath multiple papers that each contained the word Gelani on it. 'Are they preparing to attack the Gelani Empire? But, it's too soon. The plot line of the book hasn't even started. Or did the Gelani Empire infiltrate the Soline Kingdom prior to the start of the book? If that was the case, then could the assassination of the noble families be prevented?' He frowned, 'The Frenzel household was one of the only households that survived the assassinations. Was that a coincidence?'
"Does something interest you Aether?" His father's words snapped him out of his thoughts. Aether startled for a moment then shook his head, giving a gentle smile as reassurance, though he was certain that his father wasn't buying it. His father's eyes narrowed, but he changed the subject much to Aether's relief.
He threw some papers out in front of Aether, a look of aggravation in his eyes as he did so. "It seems that the Royal Academy was made aware of your special intellect."
Aether picked up the papers, reading it over a couple of times while his father kept speaking.
"You have been moved to the uppermost classes. Thankfully I was able to have some say in this change and put you in the same classes Leon is currently taking."
Aether gulped. He wasn't at all happy with this development. These classes were the deadliest classes to take which meant that more harm than good can come out of this. It was comforting to know that his brother would be in all his classes, but would that alone guarantee his safety? Or would he become an even larger target?
"Aether." His father's voice was firm. He was leaning on the table with his hands linked in front of him with a deep look in his eyes. "I know that these classes may prove to be simple for you, but I don't want you going around solving problems that are only heard of in theory. Understood."
Aether blinked. 'That's what you care about!' He wanted to scream out loud. With a forced smile and clenched teeth he responded, "Yes, father." he clenched his fist underneath the table. In the end his father didn't care about his safety. Rather his father wasn't too keen on the idea of others taking credit from the Frenzel family.
"Leon, I expect you to watch over Aether while at the Academy." He paused, his eyes darkening slightly, "And keep those wretched pests away from him at all times. Knowing them..." He trailed off. Gritting his teeth he gestured towards Aether, "Go and get some rest. You head back tomorrow. A new school uniform and required material has been sent to your room."
Aether nodded and stood up. Mina had entered through a door in the back, her head was lowered and her eyes were cast down. Aether sighed in relief when he saw her and bid farewell to his father and brother. His eyes lingered on their figures for a couple of seconds. 'They are staying behind to talk? Are they going to be talking about the Gelani Empire and their infiltration?' He narrowed his eyes slightly at the thought. For a moment he hesitated on leaving. 'If I could get them to let me stay, would I learn the real reason why the Frenzel family survived the assasination attempt?'
He debated for a moment and then shook his head. Although finding out more information was vital to his survival, it was best not to show too much interest lest his father take even more interest in him. Sighing he followed Mina out of the room, completely missing the suffocating atmosphere developing in the room.
Before Aether could even take a step away from the door he ran into an unexpected person. Startled, he called out, "Aria?"
Aria was walking towards him, her steps light. Her cold gaze brought shivers down his spines and he found himself regretting calling out to her.
Honestly he struggled to interact with Aria. So he had been avoiding her as much as possible, but even he knew that avoiding her completely was impossible. So, with a forced smile he greeted her, "Are you here to see father as well?"
She didn't immediately respond. She stopped a couple feet in front of him, her frown deepening. "Do not stick your nose where it doesn't belong." With that she walked past him and into the room where Leon and his father were.
The door slammed shut leaving Aether at a loss for words.
Was he right? Did the Frenzel household know something about the Gelani Empires assasination plans? He took a step back towards the room, but a firm grip on his arm had him halting.
Mina shook her head and gestured for him to come with her. Aether glanced at her and then at the door once more. After a moment he shook his head and left with Mina. After all, he should follow his sister's warning.