One day passed.
Sirius, while watching Aurelius practice his martial arts, finally understood the true difference between a novice and someone at the Early stage of the Self Vision Realm. It wasn't about power. It was simply about awareness, understanding that inert energy existed within the body by unlocking the upper daitan. Nothing more.
Sirius was not yet able to direct that energy freely through his body, but he was sure that, as he progressed in the Self Vision Realm, that would change. Even just sensing one's own energy meant understanding exactly how long one could train or fight, which movements consumed more energy, and how to adjust.
There was no dramatic change in strength. But there was now clarity.
Sirius often asked Aurelius what he understood about his own realm, and for the first time, Aurelius could help him. Now that Sirius had reached the Self Vision Realm, he could speak with him about energy and power on equal terms.
And so, knowing his time was running short, Aurelius began to speak. Every time he could, he shared his knowledge about the world, about martial arts, and about human society.
Sirius had already read many books, but books could never teach everything.
Aurelius told him of the strength of the imperial family. Their guards were all at least in the Early stage of the Completion Realm. The elite were in the Echo of Resolve Realm. Their generals stood at Crimson Step, and the King, the Grand General, and even one of the Princesses had reached the Pinnacle Realm.
When meals passed, Aurelius would stop his lessons and return to swinging his sword endlessly. When dinner came, he would sit again, and continue to teach.
And so, one month passed.
Sirius looked at Aurelius.
"Grandfather, you're... sick, right?"
Aurelius didn't answer for ten long minutes. Words refused to come. Then finally:
"I'm... dying, child"
Sirius's eyes widened. He had known that something was wrong, a month of observation had made that obvious, but he had never imagined his grandfather was dying. He thought it was just illness. Something temporary.
"That's why you've been teaching me all these things, right?... Because you knew."
Aurelius gave a faint smile.
"Indeed. I'm old, my child. Too old. But I can still teach you, to make sure you don't make the same mistakes in the real world. It's my last duty."
"I don't want you to die, grandfather…"
"No one wants to die, child."
"Can't you just stay? I… I'll be alone when you're gone."
"If I could, I would stay. Gladly. But I can't. Death surrounds me now. I'll probably die in less than two months, and the more I swing this sword, the faster time will slip away."
If this had been the Sirius from before he began practicing martial arts, he might have begged his grandfather to stop. But now, he understood. If death was inevitable, then striving for one final achievement was the only answer.
Tears ran down Sirius's face.
He didn't want his grandfather to die, the only person he had ever known, the only one he had in this world.
But he could do nothing.
How could a mere Self Vision martial artist stop death itself?
So he cried. He cried because he was helpless.
Aurelius patted his head gently, trying to comfort him.
"Everyone dies one day, Sirius. Even those glorious Kings far above us. That's life. You know it too. Remember the name of your technique, my child."
Death was the end of the cycle, the final bloom, in Cycle-Ending Bloom.
"And since I can do nothing to stop my death, I'll do what I can. I'll teach you all that I know. And I'll reach the next realm. That is my duty."
And so, every day, Aurelius taught Sirius about the world. And then he trained, in the forest, alone. Cutting. Piercing. Destroying.
The old man was truly determined to reach it. He would reach it. He had to.
One week passed.
Aurelius felt something.
A flicker. A glimmer.
A glimpse of the path to the Echo of Resolve Realm.
He trained even more fiercely, swinging his sword with all the strength he had left. His will was as solid as a mountain.
Even if the Heavens denied him, so what? He would reach it anyway.
Two weeks passed.
The path widened. With each swing, Aurelius felt himself draw closer. With every movement, with every step he took, he neared his goal.
And he knew it, two weeks. He will die in a mere two weeks.
At the same time, he cherished every moment he spent with his grandson. Their conversations were warm, heartfelt. Sirius did his best to hide the sorrow growing inside him, forcing himself to smile, to stay strong, for him.
Eventually, Sirius stopped training. He spent his time simply watching, recording every movement, every step his grandfather took.
Three weeks passed.
Aurelius saw it clearly now, the path he had followed all his life.
The path to the Echo of Resolve Realm.
The path to ascend, to become more than just a man, to become a King.
The feeling was right there.
One step away.
He knew he would reach it.
The only question was…
Would there be enough time?
He had no answer.
And so...
So he trained harder.
Blood dripped from his hands, he was gripping his sword too tightly.
Blood ran from his mouth, his body pushed far beyond its limit.
His legs bled from overuse, yet he never stopped.
He stopped eating.
He stopped speaking.
Even with Sirius, he no longer shared a word.
All that remained was the path.
All that remained… was the feeling.
One month had passed.
Aurelius finally saw it.
Just one more step.
Just one more swing.
That was all he needed.
But death was already reaching for him, trying to pull him down.
He didn't care
He stepped forward, slowly, pouring every ounce of his will into that single step.
And then, he raised his sword.
One last swing.
All of his strength.
All of his will.
All of his life.
And he struck.
He did it.
The sword came to rest in the air before him, his arm outstretched.
He had reached it.
The Echo of Resolve Realm.
Aurelius Altharys, eighty years old, in his final breath, in his final swing… had ascended.
And then…
he died.
But he was smilling.
He had passed on everything he knew to his beloved grandson.
He had reached his final goal.
And as his soul left his body, he saw them.
Lea, his wife.
His parents.
His son Samaël.
Sonia, his daughter-in-law.
Waiting for him.
"I'm finally here, dear."
It was the end of the story of an old man, a man who defied the Heavens and reached a realm he was not meant to touch.
A man who lost everything, and still found the strength to smile.
His name was Aurelius Altharys.