Kairos walked over to the unconscious Lux with tired legs, then reached down and ruffled his pockets.

A short while later, he held a shiny and uneven rock in his hands that undulate a strong wave of energy.

It is the Ki stone which allowed Lux an immense store of energy in battle. A powerful artefact which stores and compresses large volumes of energy for the user to draw from when needed.

Oohhh!! Kairos, it’s a Ki storage device… How unique!

“Isn’t there such things in the Divine realm?”

Kairos asked the surprised Aisa, he had thought that the upper realms would be superior in all manners, yet a Mortal Realm object caught her eye?

Hehe, there’s hardly a need for celestials to use this, so it is a rare find, how lucky!

Kairos nodded, but he did not keep the item in his pocket. Focusing his concentration upon the object for a moment, he tried analysing its internal structure. An action that defies all logic in Saint Empire, even all the onlookers could not tell what he is doing standing over the fainted Von.

As he thought, the stone is depleted of all its energies from their battle.

“There are odd crystallised structures within, that traps energy. This design is a natural catch to draw in power continually from the surroundings.”

Impressed by what this little rock could do, he smiled and placed it back on Lux’s person. Those that saw this scene couldn’t believe it. Is the young master of the Snowdrifts so rich that such a treasured artefact can be discarded?

Isn't kairos going to take it? Such a waste!

“I don’t have to,” He replies confidently despite Aisa’s avid interest on the stone.

It is a high-level object that could store the energy needed for a dozen S ranked attacks. This item, while overly powerful for a fight at B and A ranks, it has a rather disappointing capacity. No wonder Von could only cover the battle area for a single moment before he had to change fighting tactics.

Having one may significantly improve his survival rate, but nevertheless, he requires one with greater potency and left the place without hesitating.

It has indeed become an object of little value to him after understanding its basic composition. Besides, he is indifferent to the jealousy and hatred that the Steel Rose cousins felt for him.

When Von wakes up a little later, he noticed the mana stone left on his chest and howled in frustration.

“He threw it back… My greatest treasure and he threw it like trash!? He… did not even consider me equal…”

It was a defeat he could not deny, and there wasn’t even a factor of luck that determined this outcome. As much as he wishes it is untrue, Von knows that he could challenge Kairos a hundred times more and the results will stay the same.

The news of this battle travelled quickly, creating an uproar in the Academy. All the way from the Head Instructors to the first year students, everyone learned of the now legendary battle between Lux, heir to Steel Rose house, against Kairos, the youngest Earl in Saint Empire.

The former had surprised everyone, as a treasured practitioner of the rare transcending element, Time. While, the latter, achieved a tremendous win against such an individual.

Shortly after, tales of the battle reached the high nobles and Emperor Galahad. When they verified what the truth was, a momentous question comes to mind.

…..

Within the palace of Saint City.

The Emperor had finished reading the reports written for Kairos’ activities within the academy, and he tapped his table in quiet contemplation.

The ministers that submitted the reports stood in silence, awaiting their sovereign to address them.

“Your accounts described the boy’s victory over the child of the Steel Rose family, who is a Time Elemental Practitioner?”

“Yes Sire,” an old man stepped forward and bowed his head while holding his hands together in reverence.

“And, he triumphed by receiving every single attack… until his adversary could offer nothing more?”

“Y..yes Sire. Your..r. old servant apologises for this ridiculous sounding account, but it is all true your majesty.”

Galahad waved his hand, dismissing the minister’s anxiety. If the young Earl does not have at least this level of strength, he would have died back in the Silent Lambs Empire.

But, being durable enough to survive hours of the onslaught, is indeed surprising.

“He defeated one more opponent before this, also from the Steel Rose House?” Galahad asked the stoic monarch seemed to have unending questions today. This time another minister respectfully stepped forward.

“Sire, the young Earl indeed defeated two of our members. It is a disgrace of our Steel Rose House to show your Majesty such shameful display.”

“It’s all good, old Floretinus, your sons, are as impressive as previous generations of Steel Rose. This time, it is simply the young Earl Kairos who is the outlier.”

The man called Floretinus, the family head of the Steel Rose family smiled gracefully but the sly twinkling of his eyes did not escape Galahad’s notice.

With just a few words, the old minister displayed humility to the Emperor, prompting his emperor to magnanimously state that it was Kairos who is too outstanding that his sons lost.

It was a play on words that offered the Emperor to gladly fall into, so that he may show his people of his generosity, but at the same time, it would save the face of their Steel Rose family.

“My lord, your foresight is indeed matchless on Gaia to have found such an exceptional person. Oh, my... If Earl Kairos isn’t someone favoured by your majesty, your old servant would have had my daughters consider betrothing to him.” The scheming old noble immediately made use of the situation to praise the Emperor, while at the same time, tactfully suggested a possible marriage between the Steel Rose house and the newly made house of Astroire.

In a way, Floretinus is publicly announcing that the Steel Rose house no longer intend to pursue the results of the trade war and their losses in the Saint Cadets Academy’s tournament. The other nobles that heard his words rolled their eyes internally, thinking how wily this old chap is.

The Emperor did not seem to mind, but he did not answer Floretinus on the possibility of marriage.

In this day and age, the young ones have their own methods of choosing their partners. As long as the next generation produces powerful practitioners to become the future pillars of the empire, he does not meddle in their business.

But on the other hand, Galahad felt that the boy, Kairos, would not be suitable for the Steel Rose. A mage princess from the South or the queen of the Northern Barbarians, for example, would be more useful.

How much can a noble of this place benefit the Empire, when they are already a citizen? The royal family of a foreign superpower having a bond with Saint Empire would be far better.

The more Galahad thought of this, the more intrigued he is, but his mind dwelled on it for not more than a moment before he refuted himself.

“No, the young Earl is a treasure chest of strange techniques. It would not be wise to trade him for an ally.

Yes, yes… Instead than letting someone else snare him with marriage. Shall we have a talk with little Relestia?”

“This second son of yours, Lux,” Emperor Galahad suddenly continued in the conversation after a silent moment, “We have heard that he was undefeated before his fight with the young Earl because of his golem techniques. Yet, Lord Kairos was capable of breaking through such a technique. Is it true?”

“Yes, my lord, the boy indeed shattered my useless son’s techniques.”

“Does that mean, the Earl’s attacks is strong enough to penetrate one of the best defensive techniques among the young generation, and his defence is tough enough to withstand even a Time Element user without regard?”

“Y…yes my lord, I will return and double the training of my sons,” a beet-red face Floretinus said. The emperor’s repeated questions have made him blush with shame. His previous success to uphold his family's reputation once again pummelled into the abyss.

“In that case, then who can answer me, how did a son of the Devilheart house who is far lower in cultivation ranking, managed to fight the Earl to a standstill?”

The audience hall immediately turn silent with this revelation. They now know why their Emperor had so much curiosity on this matter.

Indeed, if a B ranker and an A ranker fell at the hands of Kairos, then how did Calculus, a C ranker, managed to achieve a draw?

The Emperor barked orders for this to be properly investigated and a report to be on his table by the week. And, then, if Calculus is found to be a talent, he shall summon the boy.

…..

Princess Relestia, the only daughter of Galahad, and the youngest of his children at ten years of age found herself summoned to her father’s study the same day.

The inside of the room appears intriguing to her wide, soft brown, doe eyes. She had never been allowed into the place before, because of her inquisitive nature, and given this chance, she looked all around in marvel at the books stacked till the top of the room, and the simple but elegant lacquered furniture.

The study room of the Emperor is grandiose like the other places the princess had been to, but this place had an exclusive cosiness to it that is seldom seen in the cold palace. Perhaps it is the soft lighting or the smell of books that made it feel homely to her.

“Come here Relestia,” Galahad said gently, and the little girl immediately pattered over in her white one-piece dress and silver sandals. A fashion that recently became popular with the royal family.

The Emperor looked endearingly at his daughter and patted the cushion on a small chair he prepared for her, indicating her to take a seat.

The little girl promptly bounced over and sat down with a flop, then smiled sweetly at her father. No matter how busy he is with work, he will always make time for her. It is unsurprising that she felt more at ease with her royal father than her royal mother.

“Relestia, would you like to have a playmate?” The Emperor said with a rarely seen grin on his face. He wonders what expression that boy Earl who is too matured for his age, would make.

…..

School continued as usual for Kairos, filled with classes and duels.

After his recent victories, his fame has now risen to new levels, and since then, he has been continuously challenged by those who wish to use him as a stepping stone. If one could somehow become renowned throughout Saint Empire, the resources the family would grant will make one smile even asleep.

But, without exception, every challenger was promptly defeated by him, and all of them without him using his Soul Perception. Unfortunately, things did not continue as smoothly as he wished, as another wave of trouble came. Out of jealousy and sore pride that a low-born could upset their influence, a number of students born of the gentry gathered under Calculus’s banner.

Their cause is to drive out Kairos and his group, naming the Earl a ‘phoney’ due to his heritage as a village boy.

“The Snowdrifts are a joke! A mud-caked boy like Kairos will only sully our names!”

“What would he know of our traditions, of our responsibilities? He thought that he understands the needs of the commoners, but what has he contributed to the country compared to any of our noble houses?”

“Intolerable, absolutely intolerable!”

Those that felt threatened by the Snowdrifts’ rise in power flocked to Calculus, together with those who genuinely believed that their blood set them apart and made them superior to any commoner.

This group, which they called the Blue Blood, targeted the members of Snowdrifts and all commoners within the tournament, seeking to cause grievous wounds or cripple their opponents. And fervently they encouraged the other nobles to do so.

Then, one day, Calculus was secretly summoned to the palace, as a rumour started running through the academy that he has become the owner of a five-clawed golden dragon.

Although he had summoned the dragon and even fused with it during the battle with Kairos, the number of spectators were few. And fewer could identify that it was an Ancestor Dragon. After all, the divine beast is too swift for mortal eyes during battle, and Calculus’ appearance after his fusion with the Contract Beast is a first anyone’s eyes.

However, the investigations by the Vestimore royal family quite easily discovered the existence of that legendary creature. The commotion that ensued within the palace was a spectacle to behold, where everyone had something to say. But those that know of this were soon bound into silence with soul jades, even the members of the royal family were not excluded.

Without any information to feed on, the rumour going around the school about Calculus soon died.

It is unknown what the Emperor had said to him. When Calculus returned he become withdrawn from the Blue Blood he created, but by then, the group’s hostility towards the Snowdrifts had already snowballed to a boiling point.