The Sovereign System.

Luke awoke from a deep slumber, stretching his stiff limbs and savoring the sensation. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic snores of Kayson and the faint birdsong drifting through the window.

He wasted no time, kicking off the sheets and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. Experience had taught him that the longer he lingered, the harder it was to rise for his morning training. The memory of the last time he'd overslept was enough to make his face pale—Kayson had subjected him to an even more grueling evening session to "make up for lost time."

The irony wasn't lost on Luke. Despite being used as Kayson's personal alarm clock, it was Luke who bore the consequences if he overslept.

"Alright, time to get up," Luke muttered, hurling a dirty sandal at Kayson's sleeping figure. The sandal struck squarely in the chest before miraculously bouncing onto Kayson's chin.

The initial impact didn't wake him, but a few moments later, Kayson stirred, his face twisting as he began to retch from the sandal's rancid smell. His entire body heaved, and Luke burst into hearty laughter.

Watching his tormentor suffer a dose of his own medicine was oddly satisfying. Even Luke struggled to tolerate the smell of his feet; for Kayson, it must have been unbearable.

The sandal shot back at Luke, hurtling past his head with far more force than he'd thrown it. Had it hit, his nose would have surely been broken.

Seeing Kayson still gagging, Luke knew he had mere moments. He snatched up the sandal and bolted for the door.

"I'll go get warmed up!" he called, his voice echoing down the hall as he fled.

Once outside, Luke inhaled deeply, relishing the crisp morning air. It had been three months since his arrival at the Academy, and he was finally settling into a routine. The lessons were insightful, even for someone with his ever-growing knowledge base.

Master Gale, despite his evident disdain for Luke, was a meticulous teacher. His expertise was unmatched—at least within the Academy's walls. Over time, the old man had stopped calling on Luke in class. Luke's knack for providing correct answers, bolstered by his daily visits to the library, had rendered the effort futile.

Apart from the occasional glare, Master Gale had largely left him alone, which suited Luke just fine.

Stretching his muscles to prepare for training, Luke scanned his surroundings, wary of any unwelcome interruptions.

Satisfied that all was clear, he exhaled in relief.

'Looks like that woman really has disappeared,' he mused silently.

Victoria's sudden vanishing act had been a mystery. He wasn't sure how a maid could come and go as she pleased, but her absence brought nothing but relief.

The old Luke Nero might have pursued the truth behind his father's death with fervor, but he, Luke Drakon had no such intentions.

'It's not my problem,' he thought, pushing the matter from his mind.

"You bastard, what have I told you about your godforsaken shoes?" Kayson grumbled, still pale from the punishment he'd endured moments earlier.

Luke flashed a wide grin. "Hey, you wanted me to wake you up. If you don't like my methods, then wake yourself up, young master."

Kayson rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested in rising to the provocation. "Are you ready or what?" he muttered, still annoyed.

Luke laughed, springing into action as he began his jog. His muscles protested at first, tight as always in the beginning, but as he fell into a steady rhythm, the tension eased. A flood of dopamine coursed through his body, invigorating him.

Having trained daily for the past three months, Luke's fitness had improved drastically. Once a scrawny figure, he now carried a healthier glow, his lean frame finally showing some muscle definition.

'I've come a long way,' he thought, marveling at his progress. While still far from the likes of Sebastian—or even Kayson, for that matter—Luke felt a growing sense of pride in his transformation. 'But this is just the start. I'm not stopping here.'

As he approached the halfway mark of the estate, Kayson jogged past him effortlessly, his graceful strides widening the gap between them. Even now, the guy's handsome figure and natural athleticism stirred a pang of envy. But they had grown closer since declaring themselves brothers, and Luke pushed aside the feeling.

Kayson increased his pace, pulling further ahead. Luke narrowed his eyes. 'Show-off.' Determined not to let the gap widen too much, he quickened his own steps, his lungs burning with the effort.

By the time they reached the living quarters, Luke was drenched in sweat, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. "I almost had you," he wheezed, hands on his knees as he tried to recover.

"Yeah, sure." Kayson's tone was dismissive, though the sheen of sweat on his brow betrayed his own effort. Annoyingly, his breathing was as steady as ever.

"Catch your breath. We're moving on to the next exercise," Kayson said, already heading toward the garden.

"Yes, Young Master," Luke replied sarcastically, though Kayson ignored him as usual.

The garden was their designated training ground, where they practiced exercises that reminded Luke of calisthenics mixed with martial arts. The movements were demanding but effective, and Luke couldn't deny the benefits. His stamina and strength had grown steadily, and he could feel the improvement in his coordination.

After completing their grueling workout, they returned to the living quarters to bathe and eat. The maids, well aware of their routine, had already drawn hot water for their baths, sparing them the trouble of waiting around.

Clean and refreshed, the two sat down to a hearty breakfast of eggs, rice, and assorted side dishes. The short-grain rice provided much-needed energy for the long days ahead at the Academy.

"Are you nervous?" Kayson asked, setting down his chopsticks and watching Luke carefully.

Luke forced a smile. "Of course not," he lied, though his trembling hands gave him away.

Kayson smirked knowingly but didn't press the matter.

To his classmates, Luke was a devil on the training field. His ruthlessness in combat, combined with overwhelming tactics, made him a formidable opponent. His strategies, often deceptively simple, always concealed an unexpected twist.

His classmates avoided him like the plague, desperate to steer clear of his brutal sparring sessions.

However, Kayson was the only person who truly knew him. Over the past three months, Luke had felt his guard gradually lowering in the guy's presence, to the point where he was willing to show his vulnerabilities.

At first, he'd worried the system might interpret this openness as weakness and punish him for it, but his anxiety seemed misplaced.

"I still find it odd that someone who hasn't lost a single game of chess or war strategy would be so nervous about a simple mock battle," Kayson said, his incredulity clear.

Luke shrugged. "I don't quite understand it myself. I guess it's because a mock battle feels closer to a real one."

But that wasn't the whole truth. If there were no stakes, Luke wouldn't be nearly as anxious. The real reason for his nerves lay in the system quest.

Auxiliary Quest: Mock Battle

Details: Once a Sovereign enters a battle, there can only be one outcome.

Task: Obtain an overwhelming victory during the mock battle.

Reward: Eagle Eye (Skill)

- [Passive] The user gains enhanced visual acuity and perception, allowing them to see distant objects and fine details with remarkable clarity.

- [Active] Gives a birds-eye view of the battlefield

Failure: Removal of the Sovereign System. All registered subordinates will turn on the user.

The Eagle Eye skill would be invaluable on the battlefield, so failure wasn't an option. The problem was, what exactly did the system consider an "overwhelming victory"?

The specifics of the mock battle had yet to be announced, leaving Luke with nothing but speculation.

"Luke, my brother, you need to have more confidence in yourself," Kayson said with a bright smile, his perfect teeth catching the morning sun.

Luke squinted, feeling a surge of annoyance. 'Easy for you to say, you handsome bastard…' he thought bitterly. Still, he couldn't deny the sincerity in Kayson's words, which offered some comfort.

Despite what his classmates believed, Luke struggled with self-confidence. He'd done an excellent job of hiding it so far and needed to maintain that façade if he wanted to keep the status quo.

No one dared to oppress him for his commoner status because they feared him. A few "unfortunate accidents" during combat classes had sent some students to the infirmary, solidifying his reputation. Of course, those incidents were purely the result of misapplied techniques, but no one believed that.

Master Boyd had merely chastised him after each event, offering pointers to refine his form. But the truth didn't matter to his peers; all they saw was a ruthless, untouchable fighter. Luke had to keep it that way. Showing weakness wasn't an option.

Kayson cast Luke a final look before standing. "We should head over to meet with Master Gale. You already have a reputation for being tardy."

Luke chuckled softly, placing his chopsticks down and rising. "Then we shouldn't keep the old man waiting."

The two made their way to the meeting place on the north side of the Academy estate, just inside the gates. By now, most of the students had already gathered, waiting for Master Gale to address them.

Luke's gaze lingered on the gates. He hadn't left the Academy grounds in the three months since arriving, a decision influenced by more than just training. He still didn't know where Sebastian was or how to reach him. Kayson had invited him to visit the City Lord's Estate several times, but Luke had always declined.

After all, he wasn't sure if Viscount Diego had truly forgiven him for injuring his son—despite the fact that he and Kayson were now on good terms.

"Has everyone arrived?" Master Gale's voice cut through Luke's thoughts. The old man scanned the group of students, his sharp eyes taking silent attendance.

"Ah, Mr. Drakon. Good to see you've decided to be on time today," Master Gale remarked, his tone laced with dry humor.

The group remained silent, too cautious to laugh at the jab. Luke's lips curled into a faint smirk.

"Thank you, Master. It's good to see you in good health," Luke replied, cupping his fist and offering a respectful bow.

Etiquette was crucial here. In the military Academy, respect wasn't optional—it was enforced. Punishments for insubordination ranged from public lashings to, in severe cases, the death penalty. Luke had no intention of giving anyone a reason to single him out.

Master Gale seemed momentarily annoyed at Luke's unshaken demeanor but moved on, continuing to count heads until he was satisfied.

"Alright," the old man began, his voice commanding the group's attention. "Today, we'll be leaving the Academy grounds and heading into Xia Forest for the mock battles. Some of the City Lord's men will meet us there and serve as your soldiers for the exercise."

Luke's throat felt dry as anxiety clawed its way back to the surface.

The addition of the City Lord's men was a clear challenge—an opportunity to test how well the students could command an unfamiliar force. But Luke knew these seasoned soldiers wouldn't take orders from officer trainees without resistance.

'This might be even harder than I expected,' he thought, licking his dry lips as his unease grew.