Chapter 31: Chapter 31 – Expectations of a Genius

The moon hung high above the silver towers of the Aurelius estate.

Cold wind drifted through the enormous training grounds where countless members of the branch family practiced day and night in pursuit of magical perfection. Every generation of the Aurelius lineage carried immense pressure on their shoulders.

Failure was unacceptable.

Weakness was shameful.

And talent alone meant nothing without results.

Leon Aurelius Sinclair understood that better than anyone.

He stood alone inside one of the private training halls, gripping the massive sword resting against his shoulder while sweat rolled down his face. Silver mana spiraled violently around his body like a storm barely contained.

BOOM.

His sword crashed against the reinforced training dummy hard enough to shatter the stone floor beneath it.

The impact echoed throughout the hall.

Yet Leon’s expression remained grim.

"...Still unstable."

The mana around the blade fluctuated violently before dispersing uncontrollably into the air.

Even after years of training—

Even after abandoning traditional spellcasting—

Control still haunted him.

A voice suddenly echoed from behind.

"Using brute force again?"

Leon’s expression stiffened slightly.

Three figures entered the training hall slowly.

His older brother.

His younger sister.

And another sibling standing behind them with crossed arms.

All three possessed the elegant silver hair of the Aurelius branch.

All three looked at him with thinly veiled contempt.

His older brother sighed dramatically.

"You really plan on embarrassing the family at the academy like this?"

Leon stayed silent.

His younger sister smirked.

"You can barely stabilize enhancement magic consistently and yet you still call yourself a mage."

"I never said that."

"Oh?"

She tilted her head mockingly.

"Then what exactly are you?"

Silence.

Leon tightened his grip on the sword.

The third sibling spoke calmly.

"The elders are already discussing removing you from succession."

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...I know."

"You know?"

His brother laughed coldly.

"Then maybe stop playing knight and actually learn magic properly."

The words carried obvious ridicule.

Because within the Aurelius family—

Magic swordsmen were looked down upon.

To them, relying on weapons meant relying on imperfection.

True pure mages required only spells.

Only mana.

Yet Leon—

Could barely perform advanced spellcasting consistently.

So he adapted.

And for that adaptation, they mocked him endlessly.

His sister folded her arms.

"You were born with everything and still turned out defective."

BOOM.

The mana around Leon surged violently for a brief second.

The air pressure inside the room increased instantly.

His siblings immediately stopped smiling.

Because despite mocking him—

None of them underestimated Leon’s raw power.

His mana reserves were monstrous.

Terrifyingly so.

Even now, unstable mana spiraled around him like a living vortex threatening to devour the surroundings.

Leon slowly lowered his sword.

"...Leave."

His brother scoffed.

"Or what?"

Silence.

The atmosphere became heavier.

The floor beneath Leon’s feet cracked slightly from leaking mana pressure.

For a moment—

Even his siblings looked nervous.

Then—

A powerful voice echoed throughout the hall.

"That’s enough."

Everyone froze instantly.

Two figures entered calmly.

The current patriarch and matriarch of the Aurelius branch.

Leon’s father and mother.

The overwhelming pressure hidden beneath their calm expressions instantly silenced the room.

His siblings immediately bowed respectfully.

"Father."

"Mother."

The patriarch’s sharp silver eyes swept across the room once before landing on Leon.

"...Come with us."

A few minutes later—

Leon stood inside the highest chamber of the Aurelius estate.

The room felt strangely quiet.

Heavy.

His father stood near the large window overlooking the estate while his mother sat nearby silently.

Neither spoke immediately.

Leon lowered his gaze slightly.

"...I caused trouble again."

"No."

His mother answered softly.

"The problem began long before today."

His father finally turned around.

"You know why your siblings are moving against you."

Leon nodded quietly.

"...Because I’m weak."

"Wrong."

The patriarch’s answer came instantly.

Leon blinked slightly.

His father’s gaze sharpened.

"They fear uncertainty."

Silence filled the room.

"You possess overwhelming mana reserves."

The patriarch slowly walked closer.

"If you ever gain complete control over your mana..."

Even he paused briefly.

"...You may surpass the entire Aurelius branch."

Leon’s eyes widened slightly.

"But."

The word alone made the atmosphere colder.

"If you fail to control it..."

The patriarch’s expression hardened.

"You will destroy yourself."

Leon lowered his head silently.

He already knew that.

Every time his mana spiraled violently—

He could feel it.

The instability.

The danger.

The feeling that his own power might someday consume him entirely.

His mother looked toward him quietly.

"The academy entrance is approaching."

Leon’s fingers tightened slightly.

The academy.

The place where true monsters gathered.

Where noble geniuses fought for dominance.

Where the future rulers of the continent sharpened themselves.

His father’s voice lowered.

"This is your final chance."