I was hoping for some sort of reaction, some sign that he was finally opening up to me. But he only looked at me for a moment before turning away. It seems it’s too soon for him to let his guard down. I haven’t earned his trust yet.

[I want to see Your Highness smile. So I’ll do my best to make that happen.]

He had said that once, a long time ago. He wanted to make me smile, to share in the laughter as much as he did. But now the roles have reversed. His face has grown as cold and expressionless as mine once was, and now it’s me who wants to see him smile again like he used to.

***

There is a term known as “Ki” (energy). For swordsmen, it manifests as sword energy, and for mages, it becomes magic energy.

Although the names differ, the essence is the same: gathering and channeling the natural energy that permeates the environment into one’s body. The way this energy is used is similar in both the human world and the demon realm.

The main difference is the distribution of Ki. In the human world, the concentration of Ki is so low that it’s difficult to detect, whereas in the demon realm, the concentration is so high that weaker beings are often overwhelmed and easily crushed by it.

People train and discipline themselves from an early age to feel this ki. On average, it takes five to ten years just to feel it. Reaching the stage where one can manifest sword energy usually happens after the age of thirty, and mastering it to the point where one can use it freely in combat usually takes until the age of forty. And that is only for those who have dedicated their entire lives to honing their sword skills.

Of course, there are always a few child prodigies who are the exception to the rule.

“I thought the Imperial Academy would be something extraordinary, but it’s not as impressive as I expected.”

Not long ago, my younger brother transferred to the Academy. Although only three months younger, being half-brother and half-sister, he was far more physically imposing – his muscles rivaling those of a warrior like Bapharos.

This brother, Riog, was idly swinging his sword as he walked around, looking bored. When he saw me, his eyes lit up with amusement and he grinned.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Crown Prince? Oh, wait, that’s not right, is it? My apologies, Jaibid. I forgot for a moment that you were dethroned.”

His eyes shone with the excitement of having found an entertaining target. It was clear from his repeated mention of my dethronement that he intended to humiliate me publicly in front of the students.

“Now, where’s that little monster brat of yours? I don’t see him among the other attendants. Ah, there he is. All alone in the corner—how pitiful. Is he being shunned by the others? Looks like even the servants don’t want him around.”

Riog had spotted Zetak standing in the far corner near the entrance to the training grounds. Unlike the other nobles’ attendants gathered in the cool shade of the wall, Zetak stood alone in the sunlight, not even entering the training grounds. His isolation was painfully obvious.

No one had forbidden him to mingle. Even though I was no longer the Crown Prince, he was still a royal servant. Despite being tainted by a monster, no one dared treat him lightly. Still, Zetak had chosen to keep his distance from the others.

“Wow, from here, he does look creepy. What’s with the long hair covering his face like that? Oh, I see. Did you order him to cover up his hideous, monster-turned-face, brother?”

“Just get to the point.”

“Well, nothing in particular. I just saw a familiar face and wanted to say hello. I haven’t gotten close to anyone since I moved here… Oh! Brother, how about a spar? It looks like no one else is queuing up to spar with you anyway. It’s free sparring time and you’re just standing there by yourself. It’d be perfect if we fought.”

His words were casual, but I could see through the facade. Nearby nobles, who had pretended not to listen, were now openly watching with great interest. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation, eager for what they assumed would be an entertaining spectacle.

I stopped swinging my sword idly and turned to face him. Riog had always been praised as a prodigy, and with that came a confidence – no, an arrogance – that he could beat anyone, especially me. He counted on showing off, and the nobles were eager for a show.

But in my eyes, he was full of openings. Three strikes – no, I could take him down in just two. That was the extent of his skill. If I were to choose a worthy opponent, it would be Bapharos. Unlike Riog, who was simply a prodigy by birth, Bapharos combined talent with relentless effort, making him a far more satisfying opponent.

“You’re not worth the effort.”

I told him exactly what I thought. Instead of getting angry, Riog merely shrugged and laughed.

“Is that so? Well, I suppose that’s your opinion, brother. But who knows, maybe you underestimate me. Would you like to test that?”

“You have many ways to avoid this, brother. Come on, just one spar. Please? What, are you afraid I’ll be too hard on you? We’re brothers, even if we’re only half-brothers. I wouldn’t be that cruel.

It was obvious that he wanted to humiliate me in front of the students, to show them that he could beat me. The whole charade was ridiculous. No matter how much of a prodigy he was, he was still just a human – a fledgling with no real combat experience. He wouldn’t last three days in the demon realm, yet here he stood, obliviously proud, with his nose in the air.

He was hailed as a prodigy, and it was said that he would manifest Sword Energy within three years. If that made him a genius, what would you call someone like me who manifested Sword Energy at the age of six? A god? The thought amused me.

In the Demon Realm, the density of magical energy is so overwhelming that even breathing becomes a challenge. To survive in such a place, one must completely master the control of energy. Those who can’t are crushed under its weight and die. Weak creatures perish soon after birth, while only the strongest survive, following the brutal law of natural selection. Those that survive are trapped in a perpetual cycle of devouring each other. I have spent over 80 years in this realm. Do you think I wouldn’t even be able to feel Ki if I were reincarnated as a human?

Of course, due to the incredibly low concentration of ki in the human realm, it took me six years just to accumulate enough to manifest sword energy. Still, it was a minor inconvenience compared to my previous experiences.

“Ah, come on. Are you going to keep avoiding me? You’re making it uncomfortable for everyone.”

“Enough with your reckless behavior.” came a voice—not mine, but Bapharos’s.

I turned to see him making his way through the group of students, walking toward us.

“I’ve been watching for a while now, and it’s getting pretty tiresome. Constantly challenging someone who isn’t interested – where exactly is that considered good manners?

“Oh… well, if the wise Bapharos says so, I guess I have no choice but to give up.”

It was clear that Riog openly despised Bapharos. The nobles who had been practicing with their swords tried to act indifferent, but it was obvious that they were quietly observing the tension between the two. They were weighing their options, trying to decide which side to take. While Riog’s arrogant behavior might seem overbearing to some, there were certainly nobles who saw his brazenness as a form of boldness and found it appealing.

Then some preferred the idea of placing a simple-minded figure like Riog on the throne, someone they could easily manipulate to their advantage. These nobles naturally disliked Bapharos, who was not only clever but also difficult to control. Likely, the nobles had already begun to form factions, divided between the two.

“What sudden wind blew you here to transfer? I thought you didn’t like the dormitory system of the academy and wanted to take private lessons at the palace”.

“Oh, come on, why do you pretend not to know? How many people come to this academy to learn anything? Most of us got our education from private tutors when we were kids”.

Riog replied, casually throwing an arm around Bapharos’ shoulders in a mock display of camaraderie. Then he leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper, just loud enough for Bapharos to hear.

“They call it an academy, but it’s just a miniaturized version of the social scene, isn’t it? A perfect place to solidify alliances and build influence. Don’t you think?”

“I can’t just sit idly by while the Crown Prince’s seat is vacant.”

There was some truth in Riog’s words. It was likely that other siblings would soon enroll at the Academy, seeking to build their factions by allying themselves with noble heirs who would one day lead their families. To me, however, it all seemed like a desperate, belated attempt.