After leaving Dawn Village, Imperial and his companions journeyed toward the border.
It took those two days of quiet travel, passing forests and scattered villages until they finally reached the checkpoint marking the edge of the Central Empire.
At the border, a guard stepped forward, stern-eyed and cautious.
"ID or name, please."
Without hesitation, Imperial pulled out their CA cards and handed them over.
He spoke exactly the lines he and Ari had practiced the night before. Calm, clear, and just formal enough.
The guard inspected the cards carefully, then gave a short nod. "You may proceed."
As they crossed into the Solaria Empire, something immediately felt different.
Unlike the Central Empire, which opened into bustling towns and orderly farmlands, this land welcomed them with a stretch of serene forest. Only after walking a while did they glimpse towns nestled beyond the trees, harmonizing with nature rather than conquering it.
Just as they entered the first town, one of the border guards lit up a communication crystal.
"Imperial Alden has just crossed the border. He's traveling with three others—two girls and one boy. I'm sending their image via crystal now."
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The group decided to continue on foot, preferring not to draw attention.
Upon entering the town, they agreed to explore separately and meet at the central food plaza later. Imperial chose to go alone, while Ari, Tracey, and Dawn wandered the market streets together.
The town felt unusually peaceful. Everyone they passed wore gentle smiles and walked with a relaxed ease. Vendors greeted them kindly. Children played under the shade of fruit trees. It was... comforting.
Ari stopped to buy some food supplies, focusing on dry goods and preserved items—things that would be useful once they set up camp in the forest. After shopping, the three headed toward the food plaza and sat in a cozy open-air restaurant located at the very center.
An hour passed.
Still, no sign of Imperial.
"Why isn't he back yet?" Dawn asked, scanning the street.
Ari exhaled sharply. "I just hope he didn't get into another argument with royal guards like last time..."
Dawn turned to her, curious. "Are you two childhood friends or something? You seem to know him well."
Ari shook her head. "No, I've only known him for almost 2 years."
Tracey leaned in. "Was he always this strong?"
Ari gave a half-smile. "Not at all. When I first met him, he was the complete opposite of what you see now. Back then, he could barely control his magic. And even before that, he couldn't use it properly at all."
Both Dawn and Tracey looked stunned.
"Even though he was royalty?" Dawn asked.
Ari nodded. "Yeah... it surprised me too. Despite being of royal blood, he was mocked often. Bullied by other students. Even his own teachers called him names—'Lightning Failure' was one of them."
Tracey winced. "That's harsh…"
Ari's gaze grew distant. "Eventually, he left the Royal Academy. Most people saw him as a weakling... a disappointment. There was even a prophecy made when he was ten years old. It claimed he would bring destruction to the world by walking a path of darkness. After that, he became isolated. The only people he really trusted were his mother and older brother."
"Wait…" Tracey said, narrowing her eyes. "You mean… he was labeled dangerous? Just a kid?"
Ari nodded solemnly. "When I first met him during the Pillar Incident, he was bitter, guarded... We argued a lot at first. But as time went on, I saw how hard he was training—every single day. Like he was trying to prove something. Like he had to prove something."
"And his master… Uncle Kaien?" Dawn asked.
"Yes. Kaien believed in him. Trained him when no one else would. And during those two years, I lived at Imperial's estate. I saw it all. The change. The fire in his eyes."
A quiet moment passed.
Ari broke it with a small smile. "He may act unserious or even goofy sometimes, but only when he's around family. The rest of the time, he's... focused. Cold, even. Always thinking ten steps ahead."
Then Dawn asked curiously, "What about you? How did you end up living with them?"
Ari hesitated, then shared her own brief past—how circumstances led her to the Alden family and how, over time, she became a trusted friend.
"And in those two years," Ari continued, "Imperial trained for one thing: a major tournament. He came in third."
"Third?" Tracey said, eyebrows raised. "There are people stronger than him?"
Ari nodded. "His brother, Kai, came first. And Kai's best friend—who treats Imperial like a little brother—came second. But... it's still a secret that Imperial chose to lose in the semi-final."
Dawn's eyes widened. "He chose to lose? Why?"
"Because Uncle Kaien asked him to. If he had won, it would have drawn too much attention. People would have started asking questions. And Kaien knew that Imperial's true strength was... unnatural. Dangerous."
"But wouldn't it help their empire to have someone that strong?" Tracey asked.
Ari glanced at her. "Maybe. But at what cost?"
There was silence. Until Ari finally asked, "Do you both believe that Imperial is stronger than what he shows now?"
Both Tracey and Dawn nodded instantly. "Absolutely. We saw him take down a captain—an A-rank fighter—with ease."
Ari looked at them with a quiet seriousness. "Then let me tell you something. What you've seen... is only 40% of his power."
Their jaws dropped.
"What?" Tracey whispered.
Ari nodded. "Yeah. Just imagine what would happen if he went all out."
Dawn stammered, "But... how do you know it's 40%?"
"His sword," Ari said. "It's not an ordinary weapon. It's a legendary blade passed down through his bloodline. But a few decades ago, the sword rejected the current emperor. It lay dormant, hidden by Kaien's descendants until it chose a new wielder... Imperial."
She leaned in closer. "That sword can store and regulate its wielder's power. It literally holds him back. That's how I know. He's been suppressing himself since the day that sword accepted him."
Both Tracey and Dawn were left speechless.
Ari sighed. "There are still so many things he hasn't told me. But I know this much... because you're his friends now, too. You deserve to understand who you're walking beside."