The next weeks went according to the routine. Training in the morning, a lesson in the afternoon, meditation, and taming session in the evening. Nero spent most of his time without leaving his manor, preparing to accomplish what he had to do according to the deal with his grandfather. Even though such a life might look boring, this was not that way in reality. A plethora of things to learn, starting with knowledge Stein gave him, an imperial sword style he worked hard to master, and Azreya, a small tiger cub he had to take care of made it that way. Overall, Nero’s life during these weeks was full of worries and things to take care of.

...

..

.

A day before the start of the youth tournament.

Under the darkening skies when a sun slowly approached the slope, a boy with crossed legs sat inside the room with a small pond and birds watching him from the trees. Right now, he had only one goal. The goal, he worked for all these days, starting from the early morning till the late evening. To make a breakthrough to the next rank.

So, while he sat with closed eyes, his only focus now was events taking place inside his body.

His energy source, filled with inner energy, was just a step away from the start of the procedure. Harsh training, meditations, full energy reserve, and overall exhausted condition of the body combined and made it a time question before Nero could start a breakthrough. If not for the energy reserve, which wasn’t full, he could make it in the previous week.

‘Relax when you will be ready, and nature will complete the rest.’

So, when a water droplet reached the pond, and the waves appeared, Nero released a sigh and started the inevitable, following words of Primus as the first bang resounded across his source.

Following that bang, new followed, and soon the reaction started, creating a huge pain. But, together with that pain, the change started. Accumulated inner energy started impacting the source, increasing its size and area.

His breakthrough started, and with each new moment, his source slowly changed.

Nero spent the next half an hour bearing that pain, waiting till the end of that process. When the last bang ended, his source slightly increased in size, adding a bit cm to its area. There was no energy inside the source, but several moments later, it started shivering. The first new energy appeared and quickly filled reserves when the source shivered, starting another reaction and transforming the inner energy into the strengthening one.

When squires passed through the hardest and the most dangerous part of the breakthrough, changing their source. The transformed source restores the energy reserve, awarding the warrior with a sole blessing when energy leaves the source. So, squires could just sit and enjoy the process while their body gets stronger thanks to the blessing.

But that was different for Nero. Unlike others, he had a specific meditation manual up to his third transformation and had to follow the Purple Tide instructions. Strengthening of Veins was the necessity before the first transformation if he wanted to keep moving with this manual.

So, when eventually two gates of his source opened and inner energy poured inside his body, he didn’t just sit and watch the process. Nero increased his focus and started catching as many buds of energy as he could and directed them to his veins.

As the inner energy passed through his body, impacting bones, muscles, organs, and veins, it moved like an uncontrollable tide, impacting the closest areas to the source stronger. Of course, inevitably, some veins opened. However, Nero’s focus was on his legs. He wanted to unseal as much as possible there.

That’s why, while the blessing continued, Nero kept sending one bud of energy towards his legs after another. No pain or an unpleasant feeling could stop him.

As the blessing continued impacting his body, his veins, bones, muscles, and organs got slightly stronger. That blessing was one of the major reasons all warriors were physically stronger than mages.

That’s why a smile that appeared on Nero’s lips was inevitable. Who would keep a stoic expression, watching when it was time to gather the harvest of his training and efforts he made to get stronger. Nero made it. He became a second-rank squire and now could take part in tomorrow's youth tournament.

Clara, who secretly kept watching after Nero’s breakthrough, finally released a sigh of relief when she saw that smile. Her Young Master made it as smoothly as possible. No fallacies or mistakes happened during the breakthrough. So, when she felt weak undulations coming from him, Clara smiled and quietly closed the door of the meditation room, assured of his safety.

...

..

.

Inside the Lord’s working room.

There was an old man who was now reading a certain document. Primus and Stein were also there, sitting at the armchairs.

“My Lord, will you honor this year’s youth tournament with your public appearance. I heard that a daughter of the Atreides family will also take part,” said Primus as he sipped a tea.

“It’s a good chance to meet with Leonid. I am sure he will come, using the tournament as the reason for negotiations,” said Stein.

“He didn’t inform me about negotiations. I don’t have a reason to show there,” said Baron Claus when his voice stone started blinking, and moments later Clara’s voice appeared.

“Breakthrough was successful,” said the voice with a clear gladness in the tone.

When Baron Claus heard her, he paused his pen before raising his glance and looking at the Primus and Stein, who also heard the news.

A wide smile was on the lips of Primus while Stein acted as if nothing happened, but his grip around the cub intensified.

“I have a reason now. Looks like he earned a right to take part and will show me who he is,” said Baron Claus as a slight smile appeared on his lips.

...

..

.

Same time, inside Nero’s manor.

“Shhhhhh.”

“Rrrrrrrr.”

Right now, while Nero was busy gathering his spoils and his grandfather talking with his subordinates, almost visible tension appeared between two pets.

After the taming of Azreya, many days passed, and both griffon and the tiger got used to each other. After a few battles and punishments from both Clara and Nero, they learned how to live together. Ethel agreed to give a small tiger an area on the soft bed where she spent most of her time sleeping while Azreya became less clumsy towards Nero, according to Ethel’s demands. Such a peaceful coexistence continued for weeks, which Nero spent in training, learning, or meditation. They met him only during taming lessons when Nero played with both of them and gave an equal amount of attention. Besides, Clara clarified her punishments could be very harsh, making Ethel walk hungrily.

However, peace can’t last forever, and a small, last piece of the meat left on the table became a good prerequisite for the conflict, especially when both pets wanted it and there was no Clara to stop them.

Ethel stretched his body and adjusted his position, showing sharp claws. Azreya also made a battle-ready stance, revealing her claws, and adjusted her head to use her fangs. For a short moment, an equilibrium appeared between them before Azreya made the first move.

Thanks to her limbs, and natural properties, it wasn’t hard for her to jump at the table with the last piece of meat much earlier than slightly slower Ethel and bite the meat. Such behavior only increased griffon’s rage, and Ethel speeded up, catching up, right when she tore the meat and already wanted to escape with the best part.

But Ethel was much stronger and quickly bit the meat with his beak, devouring as much as he could. After a short fight in which both the tiger and the griffon used all methods they could, using dishes and other things to win, Ethel ended up victorious eating the 2/3 parts of the meat.

After so fast eradication of the meat, both pets just threw angry glances at each other. Azreya hissed at Ethel while Ethel growled at the tiger. But it didn’t take long for them to move to their next battlefield where they could contest for territories.

On that soft battlefield, Azreya was an invader, while Ethel was a defender.

But, when they already wanted to move to the bed, a familiar female figure in the maid’s uniform entered the room and that scene petrified her. Broken dishes, torn tablecloth, and her pie she cooked as a congratulatory gift, laying on the floor as an appetizer to their gift, made Clara clench her fists.

Her eyes narrowed in rage as she slowly turned and looked at the two small figures, who already retreated from the crime zone. That was just too much for her patience to bear.

“You scoundrels, don’t even try to hide,” said Clara as she took two ropes from her artifact and jumped following the griffon and the tiger.