For three days and three nights, Ashora and Ikshita do nothing but count.

  Forty-five kilograms of rice.Without using Sei.Without enhancing their senses.

  They sleep only two hours each day. The rest of the time, they sit inside the formation, picking up grains one by one and counting them carefully.

  The room remains silent except for the faint sound of rice grains shifting.

  Time passes slowly.

  Their eyes grow heavy, their bodies tired, but neither of them stops.

  Both of them know that even a single mistake will force them to start again—with double the amount of rice.

  So they continue counting.

  Grain after grain.

  Three days later, Aarath quietly walks toward the formation.

  He stops nearby and observes them.

  Ashora is sitting calmly with his eyes closed, meditating. The three bags of rice beside him are already filled again.

  On the other side, Ikshita sits cross-legged, slowly circulating Sei through her body to recover her strength.

  Aarath taps the ground twice with the wooden stick in his hand.

  Knock. Knock.

  Ashora opens his eyes immediately.

  “Grandmaster,” he says respectfully.

  He stands and bows.

  Ikshita also rises and bows.

  Aarath looks at them calmly.

  “So,” he says, “is your task complete?”

  Both of them nod.

  Aarath turns toward Ashora first.

  “Ashora,” he says, “how many rice grains are in the three bags you counted?”

  Ashora answers without hesitation.

  “There are 702,350 grains of rice in the three bags.”

  Aarath stares at him sharply, his gaze intense, as if trying to shake his confidence.

  But Ashora does not change his answer.

  After a moment, Aarath smiles faintly.

  “Very good.”

  “It is correct.”

  Ashora quietly lets out a breath of relief.

  Aarath then walks toward Ikshita.

  “And you?”

  “How many rice grains did you count?”

  “There are 697,744 grains,” Ikshita answers.

  Aarath looks at her closely.

  “Are you certain?”

  Ikshita smiles slightly.

  “Yes, Grandmaster. I am confident in my answer.”

  Aarath nods.

  “It is correct.”

  Both of them relax slightly after hearing his words.

  “Now,” Aarath says, “both of you go and rest.”

  “Take the entire day to recover.”

  He turns toward the door.

  “Tomorrow, at this same time, your final test will begin.”

  With that, Aarath leaves the room.

  Ashora stretches his arms and yawns.

  “I’m extremely sleepy,” he mutters while looking at Ikshita. “I just want to sleep.”

  Ikshita nods tiredly.

  “I’m sleepy too.”

  “Good night.”

  She turns and walks toward her room.

  Ashora watches her leave, then slowly stands up.

  The final test…

  He pushes the thought aside.

  “I’ll worry about it tomorrow.”

  For now, all he wants is sleep.

  Ashora returns to his room and collapses onto his bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

  Ashora wakes early in the morning, excitement already filling his mind.

  Today is the day of the final test.He slowly opens his eyes.Something feels… different.

  Ashora blinks.

  Then he closes his eyes and opens them again.

  “What…?”

  He stares toward the door of his room.Even though the door is far away, he can clearly see the small details of the lock. The shape of the metal, the tiny scratches on its surface—everything appears sharp, as if the lock is right in front of him.

  Ashora sits up quickly.

  Is this real?He rubs his eyes and looks again.The vision remains the same.

  How did my eyesight become so sharp? he wonders.

  Usually he needs to use Sei to enhance his vision like this.

  But right now… he is not using any Sei at all.

  Maybe Grandmaster can explain.

  Ashora gets out of bed and prepares himself.After getting dressed, he leaves his room and heads toward Aarath’s chamber.

  As he walks through the royal palace, Ashora still struggles to adjust to his new vision.Everything looks unusually clear.Even objects far away appear close.

  While walking down the corridor, he suddenly sees Ikshita approaching from the opposite direction.

  She looks just as confused.

  “Are you also having trouble with your eyes?” Ashora asks.

  Ikshita nods.

  “Yes. When I woke up this morning, my vision felt strange.”She looks around carefully.

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  “It’s like I’m constantly using Sei to amplify my eyesight.”

  Ashora nods.

  “Same here.”

  He thinks for a moment.

  “I believe this might be the result of counting the rice grains.”

  Ikshita agrees.

  “Let’s ask Grandmaster.”

  Together, they walk toward Aarath’s chamber.

  As soon as they enter, Aarath looks at them calmly.

  “So,” he says, “are you feeling something new?”

  Ashora nods.

  “Yes, Grandmaster. My eyesight has become much sharper.”

  Aarath smiles faintly.

  “That is normal.”

  “Counting the grains of rice while pushing yourselves to maintain focus has trained your eyes and concentration.”He folds his hands behind his back.

  “Your senses have sharpened naturally.”“You will get used to it soon.”

  Then his expression turns serious.

  “Now, today is your final test.”

  “If you pass this… both of you will have completed your royal education.”

  “Follow me.”

  Ashora and Ikshita start following him.Soon, they reach an open training ground.Aarath stops and gestures upward.

  “Look above.”

  Ashora and Ikshita raise their heads.Four servants stand on raised platforms in four different directions. Each of them holds a bucket filled with flower petals.

  Aarath explains the test.

  “You will stand in the center.”“The servants will throw the petals from all four directions.”“You must count the number of petals that fall.”“You are not allowed to use Sei.”

  “If your answer is correct, you pass.”

  “If not…”

  He looks at them calmly.

  “You return to counting rice grains.”

  Ashora and Ikshita exchange a glance.

  “So,” Aarath says, “who will go first?”

  “I will.”

  Ikshita steps forward confidently.

  Ashora smiles slightly.

  “Good luck.”

  Ikshita walks to the center of the field.She steadies her breathing and looks upward.

  “I am ready.”

  Aarath raises his hand.With his signal, the servants throw the petals.Hundreds of petals scatter through the air from all four directions.

  Ikshita’s eyes follow them carefully as they fall.Her entire focus is on the petals.

  Within thirteen seconds, all the petals reach the ground.

  Aarath looks at her.

  “Are you ready to answer?”

  “I am, Grandmaster.”

  Her voice is steady and confident.

  “How many petals?”

  “A total of 9,876 flower petals.”

  A faint smile appears on Aarath’s face.

  “Correct.”

  Ikshita exhales softly.

  “From today onward,” Aarath says, “your education is complete.”

  Ikshita steps away from the center.

  Ashora grins.

  “Congratulations, Ikshita. You did well.”

  “Thank you,” she replies happily. “Now it’s your turn.”

  “Good luck.”

  Ashora nods and walks into the center.He closes his eyes for a moment, calming his mind.Then he opens them again.

  “Grandmaster, I am ready.”

  Aarath raises his hand once more.

  The servants throw the petals again.

  They scatter through the air in every direction.

  Ashora watches carefully, his sharpened eyes tracking each falling petal.

  In thirteen seconds, all the petals reach the ground.

  A confident smile appears on his face.

  “9,954 flower petals.”

  Aarath nods.

  “Correct.”

  He looks at both of them with satisfaction.

  “With this, both of you pass the final test.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “You have successfully completed your education.”

  Ashora and Ikshita stand before Aarath, both filled with excitement after passing the final test.

  Ashora steps forward and bows respectfully, placing his fist against his palm.

  “Thank you, Grandmaster,” he says sincerely. “For training me to this level. I will forever be in your debt.”

  Aarath places a hand on Ashora’s shoulder.“It was my pleasure to teach you,” he replies calmly, though pride can be seen in his eyes.

  “Grandmaster,” Ashora continues eagerly, “please allow me to give this news to Mother, Father, and Grandfather.”

  Aarath nods.

  “Go.”

  Ashora turns to leave but stops briefly and looks at Ikshita.

  “Want to spar at noon?” he asks with a grin. “Let’s test this new enhanced vision.”

  Ikshita smiles confidently.

  “Why not? I’m ready to defeat you.”

  Ashora laughs.

  “Good luck with that dream.”

  With those words, he leaves the chamber excitedly.

  Ikshita remains standing in the room.Her smile slowly fades, replaced by a serious expression.

  Aarath notices the worry on her face.

  “What troubles you, child?” he asks gently.

  Ikshita hesitates for a moment before speaking.“Grandmaster… I am thinking of learning magic from my uncle.”She looks at Aarath seriously.

  “I want your opinion. Should I learn it?”

  Aarath suddenly laughs softly.

  “Child,” he says, “did I not teach you to follow your own heart?”“You do not need my permission.”“You are an adult now. You know yourself better than anyone.”

  He pauses before continuing.“Handling both Res and Sei is difficult.”“But it is not impossible.”“Many have tried to master both… yet none have reached the peak of both paths.”

  He looks at her with confidence.

  “But with your talent… you might.”

  “Go and learn.”

  “Never stop learning. That is the true way of life.”

  He gently pats her head.

  “And whenever you struggle… come to me. I will guide you.”With that, Aarath begins walking away.

  “Good luck.”

  Ikshita bows deeply toward his back.

  “I will not disappoint you, Grandmaster.”

  A new determination shines in her eyes.

  Meanwhile, Ashora runs through the palace corridors with excitement.

  “Father! Mother!”

  His excited voice echoes through the royal chamber.

  Amitrochates looks up as Ashora rushes inside.

  “Father! I completed my education under Grandmaster Aarath today!”

  Amitrochates smiles proudly.

  “Congratulations, Ashora.”

  A gentle hand rests on Ashora’s head.“I’m proud of you, my darling.”

  It is Tisya.Her voice is filled with warmth.

  “Leona was eighteen when she completed her training,” she continues proudly. “You did it at sixteen.”

  “My children are my pride.”

  Amitrochates stands up.

  “Ashora,” he says, “meet me with Leona in the council chamber in one hour.”

  With that, he leaves the room.

  Ashora grabs his mother’s hand briefly.“Mother, I need to go call sis now.”

  He quickly pulls away and starts running.

  “Wait, Ashora! I’m not done—”

  “Later, mother!”

  Ashora runs at full speed down the corridor.

  He knows very well that once Tisya starts fussing over him, she will treat him like a small child again.After running for a while, he slows down.

  “Mother really can’t see that I’m an adult now,” he mutters to himself.“She always treats me like I’m still a kid.”Soon, he reaches Leona’s room.

  He knocks on the door.

  “Sis, are you in there?”

  “Yes,” Leona’s voice comes from inside. “The door is open.”

  Ashora enters.

  Leona is sitting at a large table.In front of her lies a detailed battlefield model with small figurines placed across it.

  “Again practicing war strategy?” Ashora asks.

  He looks around the table.“We’re not even at war. And none of our neighboring kingdoms are strong enough to fight us.”

  Leona shrugs calmly.

  “I know. But this is what I enjoy.”

  She looks at him.

  “Why did you come?”

  “Did you finish your education?”

  Ashora grins.

  “Yes. Both Ikshita and I passed.”

  Leona raises an eyebrow playfully.

  “Oh? Looks like talent beats hard work.”

  “I was eighteen when I finished.”

  Ashora rolls his eyes.

  “Listen to yourself talking about hard work.”

  “You awakened when you were three years old.”

  “And during your training you spent more time playing with me and Ikshita than studying.”

  Leona smirks slightly.

  She folds her arms.

  “So why did you come?”

  Ashora suddenly remembers.

  “Oh! I almost forgot.”

  “Father called both of us to the council chamber.”Leona frowns slightly.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Ashora shrugs.

  “But we should go.”

  Leona stands up.

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  A short time later, the two of them enter the council chamber.

  Inside sit three people.

  Amitrochates.

  Androcottus.

  And Grandmaster Aarath.

  Leona steps forward and bows respectfully.

  “Father. Grandfather. Grandmaster.”

  She looks at them seriously.

  “Why have you called us? Has something serious happened?”

  Amitrochates nods slowly.

  “Yes.”

  His expression turns solemn.

  “It is serious.”

  “And it concerns the future of this kingdom.”

  He looks at both of them.

  “Now that both of you have completed your education…”

  He pauses briefly.

  “…it is time to decide who will rule the kingdom.”