"After twenty years of marriage, I deserve some entertainment," my mother teased. "Besides, watching our son hold his own against a Transcendent is rather impressive."

Final Exchange! CLASH!

We concluded the spar with mutual respect, both breathing heavily but satisfied with the demonstration.

"You've improved as well," my father acknowledged. "That enhancement of yours is becoming more refined."

"And your footwork integration is seamless, the technique suits your fighting style perfectly." I nodded.

My mother approached and kissed my father's cheek. "Now that I've had my entertainment, I suppose I should support my husband properly. Come back safely, Marcus. We'll be waiting."

----

After my father's departure, I decided to remain at the estate for the day. The academy had granted students an off-day following the recent examination, and I wanted to spend time with my mother while also assessing Kael's progress first-hand.

My mother had returned to her study to handle correspondence, leaving me to explore the training facilities. I found Kael practicing basic sword forms in one of the smaller training yards, his movements showing dedication even without supervision.

"Kael," I called out, approaching the area. "Would you be interested in a proper sparring session? I want to see how much you've developed."

His eyes lit up with enthusiasm mixed with obvious nervousness. "I'd be honoured, though I'm not sure I'll provide much of a challenge compared to your academy opponents."

"Everyone starts somewhere," I replied, gesturing toward the main sparring area. "Besides, I need to evaluate your capabilities if I'm going to sponsor your academy admission."

We moved to the reinforced training space, and I noticed how Kael's posture had improved dramatically. The malnourished orphan kid was completely gone, replaced by someone who carried themselves with emerging confidence.

"Begin whenever you're ready," I instructed, settling into a relaxed stance with my sword held loosely.

Charge! Strike!

Kael launched himself forward with respectable speed, his blade aimed at my midsection in a straightforward attack. The technique was fundamentally sound but lacked the refinement that came from combat experience.

Parry! Redirect!

I deflected his strike easily, redirecting his momentum past me rather than meeting it with force. "Good initial aggression, but your recovery is slow. You're vulnerable after committing to attacks."

He adjusted immediately, resetting his guard faster on the next attempt.

Slash! Block! Counter!

We exchanged several sequences, and I could sense his Elite-rank strength clearly. The power behind his strikes was legitimate - he'd been training seriously and his awakened abilities were developing properly.

What caught my attention more than his raw strength was the purity of his ice element manifestation. When he channelled his bloodline abilities, frost formed along his blade with remarkable clarity. The crystalline formations showed no impurities or instability, this was a high-quality ice bloodline..

Freeze! Extend!

Kael attempted to coat his sword with ice enhancement, extending its effective reach. The execution was clumsy, but the underlying concept was sound.

"Stop," I commanded, holding up my hand. "Your bloodline manifestation is impressive. The purity of that ice element is really good, you have potential."

Kael looked at his frost-covered blade with mixed pride and uncertainty. "The Duke's instructors said my affinity was unusually strong for someone with my background."

"They're correct. But you're treating it like a simple enhancement rather than understanding its true applications." I gestured for him to observe as I demonstrated. "Ice isn't just about making things cold or creating barriers. It's about controlling temperature gradients, manipulating moisture, and understanding phase transitions."

I channelled a small amount of energy to illustrate the principle. "Watch how energy flows and concentrates. Your ice should respond to intention, not just raw power."

Kael attempted to replicate the concept, his expression showing intense concentration. The ice formation became slightly more stable, responding to his directed will rather than just flooding outward.

"Better," I acknowledged. "Your experience is limited, but your learning speed is good. That's more valuable than raw power in the early stages."

We continued sparring, but the dynamic had shifted from combat test to teaching demonstration. I would execute techniques slowly, explain the underlying principles, then have Kael attempt variations suited to his ice abilities.

Strike! Freeze! Shatter!

He discovered he could create temporary ice formations that would shatter on impact, creating distracting debris clouds. The technique was crude but showed that Kael had creative thinking.

"Excellent adaptation. That's the kind of tactical innovation that will serve you well at the academy. Don't just mimic others - develop applications unique to your abilities."

After about forty minutes of intensive training, I called the session to a close. Kael was breathing heavily but his eyes showed the satisfaction of genuine learning rather than just exhausting exercise.

"You have Elite-rank strength with solid fundamentals," I assessed. "Your combat experience needs significant work, but that will come naturally with time and practise. Focus on understanding your ice bloodline's properties more deeply - that's where your true advantages will emerge."

"Thank you for the guidance," Kael said sincerely.

"The academy will push you harder than this," I warned. "But if you maintain this learning attitude, you'll adapt quickly."

Later that afternoon, I found my mother in the estate's garden, tending to some rare magical plants that required careful cultivation. She looked up when I approached, setting aside her gardening tools.

"How was your session with Kael?" she asked, already knowing I'd been evaluating him.

"Promising. He has legitimate Elite-rank strength and a strong ice bloodline. With proper training, he'll perform well at the academy." I sat on a nearby bench, watching her work. "How are you holding up with Father gone?"

My mother's hands paused briefly before continuing their careful movements. "I've been through this before. Your father has embarked on dangerous missions throughout our marriage. Each time, I worry. Each time, he returns."

"Indeed."

She looked at me directly, her maternal intuition clearly sensing something. "You know something you're not telling me. That's why you gave him those valuable items."

I chose my words carefully. "I have... sources that suggest this mission carries unusual risks. Political complications beyond just the monster threat."

My mother nodded slowly, unsurprised. "Your father suspected as much. That's why he assembled such a substantial force despite the Crown's support." She returned to her plants, though her movements had become more mechanical. "Tell me, Adrian - honestly - do you believe he'll return?"

"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "The odds aren't perfect, but they're acceptable. Father is too skilled and too prepared to fall to a simple ambush, even one disguised as a royal mission."

She smiled faintly. "Good, you need to believe in your father. Adrian, you know you've changed so much since your awakening. The old Adrian would never have been so direct about such serious matters."

"The old Adrian was foolish in many ways. I'm trying to be better."

In a calm, motherly tone she said. "You're succeeding, your father is proud of you, even if he doesn't always express it too much. Sponsoring Kael's admission, improving your combat abilities, winning your examination so decisively - these are achievements that reflect well on our family."

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the garden. Despite the underlying worry about my father's mission, there was peace in this moment.

"Stay for dinner," my mother suggested. "Kael would appreciate more time with you, and I'd enjoy the company."

"I'd like that," I agreed.

The estate felt different with my father gone, but not emptier. Instead, it reinforced the importance of the connections I was building - with Kael, with my mother, with the future I was trying to shape through knowledge and careful intervention.

Fifty-nine percent survival odds for my father. It would have to be enough, because I'd done everything within my current power to improve those chances. Now came the harder part - waiting and trusting that preparation would prove sufficient when the critical moment arrived.

The next day arrived with quiet morning light filtering through the estate windows. I had decided to remain another day, wanting to keep my mother company while my father travelled toward what could be his most dangerous mission yet.

We shared breakfast together in the smaller dining room rather than the formal hall - a more intimate setting that felt appropriate given the circumstances. My mother spoke about estate management, upcoming social obligations, and various mundane matters that provided comfortable distraction from heavier concerns.

"The Rosewood family has invited us to their summer gathering," she mentioned while reviewing correspondence. "Though given your father's absence, I'll likely decline or send regrets."

"You should still attend if you want to, I will accompany you if you want." I suggested.

She flashed me a smile before nodding. "Perhaps. We'll see how matters develop."

Throughout the morning, I accompanied her on various activities around the estate - reviewing accounts with the workers, inspecting the gardens, discussing menu planning with the head cook. The domestic routines provided grounding normalcy that we both appreciated.

As afternoon approached, I felt the familiar notification pulse in my consciousness that indicated my daily reward had become available.

[Daily Login Available!]

[Would you like to claim your daily reward?]

I mentally selected yes while maintaining my conversation with my mother, hoping for something more useful than the disappointing items I'd received over the past five days.

The previous rewards had been frustratingly mundane - basic healing potions, common herbs, low-grade equipment that offered no improvements over what I already possessed. It felt like the system was cycling through filler content rather than providing genuinely valuable acquisitions.

This time, I hoped the pattern would break and deliver something substantial that could contribute meaningfully to my various development priorities or the challenges ahead.

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