The Uninvited Guest

They reached the massive central door at the end of the staircase. Its surface was etched with intricate patterns—dark wood inlaid with shimmering metal, like a mosaic forged of ancient scripts and serpents. The brass handles were shaped into coiling dragons, weighty and majestic.

As the door creaked open, a warm, radiant light poured through—sunlike in its brilliance.

They stepped out onto a grand balcony attached like a bridge to a tall gazebo. Open on the sides, the space resembled a veranda overlooking an estate.

Stone tiles beneath their feet gleamed as if newly polished. 

Below them stretched pristine estate grounds—lush, manicured gardens, bubbling fountains here and there, and shaded pavilions. Past the gazebo, just right under it, Leonardo spotted the training grounds: vast enclosed spaces with high walls.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of this place," he murmured.

A few minutes later...

Leonardo stood where Elara had gestured earlier to get a sword, examining the pile of weapons, the structure was a small shed at a corner of the grounds.

What caught his attention most were the vines curling around some barrels—elloros, a unique plant species.

They thrived in Rasvian-rich environments like training grounds. Their delicate, iridescent flowers emitted a soft fragrance that neutralized odors and absorbed residual energy, which made the vines glow faintly in dim light.

Their vivid colors and pleasant scent contrasted sharply with the otherwise utilitarian weapon storage.

Leonardo dug through the barrels, brushing fingers over sword hilts—some cool and inert, others vibrating subtly with stored energy.

"They seem like sparring weapons," he muttered, pulling out a rusted blade. Despite its wear, intricate etchings were still visible on the surface.

He frowned. "Using a weapon helps control Rasvian energy?" he wondered, unable to think of a better explanation.

As he continued rummaging, his hand closed around something different.

"Wait, this is nice!" he exclaimed, pulling a sword from the third barrel.

"This'll do for now…"

The weapon was no ordinary blade—an experimental sparring sword, crafted by blending multiple fighting styles.

It had the slender flexibility of a rapier but the broad base of a longsword. Its hilt featured a weighted counterbalance designed to adapt to the user's needs.

He flexed the blade repeatedly. "It could work for my fighting style," he muttered.

Oddly, it suited Leonardo's butler attire—an outfit that, like the sword, was far more functional than it appeared.

Now standing before a training dummy, Leonardo examined his find.

The dummy mimicked human flesh over a wired framework—uncanny in its realism, it holds a prop sword.

He frowned at the sword in his grip.

"It doesn't even fit in my sheath," he muttered.

Before he could decide on a strike, a sudden noise from the mansion broke his focus.

Through the windows, he saw Kaelan and Astraea sprinting frantically down the hallways of the upper floors. Panic etched their faces as they twisted through corridors.

"I hate this!!" Kaelan's voice echoed across the grounds—equal parts fear and fury.

Then, the source of their terror appeared: Anna's mother, blade drawn, wreathed in flame.

She moved like liquid fire, each step elegant and lethal. Her blade flared with energy, sending bolts of burning light streaking through the air—missing the pair by mere inches as they ducked and wove between walls.

Leonardo stood transfixed, the training dummy forgotten, the experimental sword suddenly heavier in his hand.