The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

The training grounds were alive with activity. Klaus could see his fellow trainees spread across the vast expanse of the grounds, each engaged in their respective disciplines. To his left, an arena echoed with the clash of swords as trainees sparred with fervent intensity. The crisp ring of metal meeting metal filled the air, punctuated by the occasional shout of exertion or the bark of an instructor correcting a stance.

A running track stretched along the perimeter of the grounds. Groups of trainees sprinted at full speed, their expressions a mix of determination and strain as they pushed themselves to their limits. The rhythmic thud of their boots against the ground melded with the hum of mana in the air. Klaus's eyes wandered to a quieter corner of the grounds, where a group of trainees sat cross-legged in the lotus position. Their focus was absolute, their eyes closed as they channeled mana into the griffon eggs resting in front of them, the faint glow of arcane energy pulsing from the shells.

Klaus immediately noticed the disparity. Most of the trainees had already succeeded in hatching their griffon eggs. Only five remained in the process, their eggs still unbroken. His gaze then shifted to the far end of the running track, where a handful of baby griffons sat obediently in a makeshift nursery. Their downy feathers shone in the sunlight, their curious eyes following the movements of their masters with unwavering attention.

Dudu stirred on Klaus's shoulder, his golden eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. Klaus gestured toward the nursery. "Go on," he said softly. "Join the others."

The small dragon hesitated, letting out a disgruntled chirp as if protesting the command. Klaus arched an eyebrow. "Don't make me force you," he said with a smirk.

With a reluctant huff, Dudu spread his wings and took flight. The trainees nearby paused momentarily, their gazes snapping to the unusual sight of the black-scaled dragon gliding toward the nursery. Dudu landed gracefully in the midst of the baby griffons, his presence instantly commanding attention.

The effect was immediate. Almost all the baby griffons scattered in every direction, their cries of alarm echoing across the grounds. The trainees, startled by the commotion, turned to see what had caused it. Their faces fell into shameful expressions as they realized their griffons had been terrified by Klaus's dragon.

Only two baby griffons held their ground, their defiance evident in their posture. The first was a striking creature with shimmering blue scales and a single horn protruding from its forehead. Its cold, piercing blue eyes glared at Dudu, unflinching in the face of the dragon's oppressive aura. The second was even more unique—a pure white griffon with golden eyes and two elegantly curved horns. Unlike the others, this griffon bore an uncanny resemblance to a dragon, its noble presence exuding an aura of mixed bloodlines.

Klaus's eyes narrowed as he observed the two griffons. He could sense their resilience, their innate strength resisting Dudu's dominance. His gaze shifted, seeking their masters. To his right, he spotted Alex Lionhart, standing with his arms crossed and a faint smirk on his face. Klaus immediately deduced that the blue griffon belonged to Alex. On the far left, a boy with fiery red hair and intense red eyes watched the scene with quiet amusement. Klaus recognized him as Nicolas Davoss, and it wasn't hard to guess that the white griffon was his.

Klaus allowed himself a small smile. "Interesting," he muttered under his breath.

Dudu, noticing the two griffons standing their ground, tilted his head as if intrigued. His oppressive aura lessened slightly, though his gaze remained locked on the challengers. The blue and white griffons continued to hold their ground, their eyes never leaving the dragon.

"Enough," came a gruff voice from nearby. Klaus turned to see his instructor, Rick, striding toward him with an exasperated expression. Behind Rick stood Erina Davoss, her arms folded and her blind eyes somehow managing to fixate on Klaus.

Klaus snapped to attention, giving a crisp military salute. "Ranked 1 trainee, Klaus Lionhart, here to resume training."

Rick nodded, his expression neutral. "Good. I hope you're rested."

"I am, sir," Klaus replied.

Rick's gaze flickered to Dudu, who was still causing a small commotion. "Can you calm down your little dragon, please?" he said, his tone carrying a hint of irritation.

Klaus turned to Dudu, his expression firm. The dragon seemed to sense his intention and immediately reduced his aura. Dudu let out a low growl before curling up in a corner of the nursery, his golden eyes still watching the two defiant griffons. The blue and white griffons remained standing, their postures tense but unwavering.

Erina stepped forward, her blind eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded Klaus. Despite her inability to see in the conventional sense, her perception was unparalleled. She could feel the changes in Klaus—his heightened strength, the controlled aura he exuded, and something else. Something deeper. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

"Good. That's better," she said in her usual raspy voice. "Now go warm up."

Klaus nodded and made his way to the running track. As he jogged past the other trainees, he felt their eyes on him. Whispers followed in his wake, a mix of awe, envy, and curiosity. Klaus ignored them, focusing on the rhythm of his movements and the feel of his muscles stretching after days of rest.

From her position, Erina continued to observe Klaus, her expression thoughtful. Her unique perception allowed her to see more than just his physical form. She could sense his life force, and what she saw puzzled her. Klaus's life force was fractured, like a mirror shattered into countless pieces. Yet, despite its fragmented state, it burned with an intensity that far surpassed anyone else on the training grounds.

'What happened to him?' she wondered, her brow furrowing. 'How is he still standing, let alone growing stronger?'

Rick, noticing her expression, raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" he asked.

Erina shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Just... observing," she replied cryptically.

As Klaus completed his warm-up, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. The weight of the past, the expectations of the present, and the promise of the future all coalesced within him. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Dudu, from his corner, let out a soft snore, seemingly unbothered by the world. The blue and white griffons, however, continued to watch him, their eyes filled with a mix of caution and determination. Klaus couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

The training grounds had always been a place of growth, competition, and discovery. Today would be no different.