Chapter 112: A CHOICE OF TRUST

“Brother, what brings you here?” Rowan asked upon seeing Elias.

He hadn’t expected his older brother to show up so suddenly—especially since Elias usually kept his distance. They only spoke occasionally. Unless it was necessary.

“Why? Did I disturb something by coming here?” Elias asked with a faint smile.

“No, not at all. It’s just… you’re usually so busy,” Rowan replied. “Did you need something?”

“Not particularly. I just came to join you guys and get more familiar with our new guest. And…” Elias said casually, glancing toward Logan. “I was just curious about Logan.”

“Oh?” Rowan raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly sparked your curiosity about Logan again?”

Elias gave a small shrug.

“Well, for starters… why don’t you tell us where you learned to fight like that, Logan? I saw your sparring session this afternoon. It was amazing. Hard to believe, honestly—but amazing nonetheless. To be exact, I’ve never seen anyone move and fight the way you did.”

Both Logan and Rowan understood the real reason behind Elias’s sudden visit.

“Wel…”

Logan hesitated.

Just because he had shared everything with Rowan didn’t mean he was ready to do the same with Elias too. Rowan had earned his trust—not through strength or status, but through sincerity. The fact that he risked himself without hesitation for others said more about his character than any title or reputation ever could. Elias on the other hand, despite his promising future as a king, hadn’t yet crossed that line.

Logan wasn’t being arrogant—he was simply cautious.

Elias noticed this dilemma in Logan’s face..

“Did I ask something too difficult?” he asked gently.

Logan sighed inwardly, then replied finally,

“No, Your Highness. It’s just… that fighting style is mostly the result of my physical training. It’s nothing special.”

He continued calmly, “As I mentioned before, my mana core was sealed when I was younger. But I didn’t stop training. I focused on my body instead—building muscle strength and discipline. So when my core was unsealed again, the progress I’d made physically became an advantage in combat.”

He wasn’t lying.

He just wasn’t telling the full truth.

The part he left vague—intentionally—was the fact that his “training” was actually a unique cultivation technique that developed the body far beyond normal limits.

“Really? Is that even possible?” Elias asked with confusion.

“Why won’t it be? Your Highness, you saw it with your own yes, didn’t you?” Logan tried to solidify his claim.

“Oh! That’s… a very unusual approach then,” Elias replied, clearly intrigued.

And just like that—he believed every word.

It wasn’t hard to fool him.

In a world that had long since abandoned physical training in favor of magic, most nobles had no idea what true bodily refinement could achieve. To them, strength came only from spells, not sweat.

Logan’s trick had worked perfectly—like showing them gold, then handing them copper.

And Elias?

He swallowed it whole.

If he ever found out the truth—that Logan had just bluffed his way through the conversation—who knew what he would’ve done.

Rowan, on the other hand, had figured out exactly what Logan was doing.

He barely managed to suppress a smile.

Daliah sat quietly, listening to the conversation between the two.

She didn’t know much about cultivation either, so she also didn’t feel anything unusual.

Then Elias asked, with a curious tilt of his head,

“So, if I start physical training like you did… would I be able to fight like that too?”

Logan responded with a calm smile,

“Almost, Your Highness. The more effort you put in, the more your strength will grow. That part is absolutely true.”

Still, a faint guilt lingered in his chest.

He wasn’t lying—but he was manipulating the truth.

And he hated that.

But there was no other way.

He couldn’t tell just anyone about cultivation.

Not yet.

“Alright, you all carry on,” Elias said with a light nod. “Logan, I’ll speak with you in more detail tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, your highness.” Logan replied.

With that, Elias turned and left.

He had accomplished exactly what he came for. After watching Logan fight, he desperately wanted to know how he did it.

Once Elias was gone, Rowan gestured to an empty seat.

“Come, sit.”

Logan took the spot, and everyone settled in.

The conversation started casually, but Daliah kept avoiding eye contact with Logan.

She was still slightly flustered after seeing him like that earlier.

“You played that well,” Rowan said with a small smirk, nudging Logan lightly.

“I had to,” Logan replied, like a guilty-but-proud criminal.

Daliah frowned. “Played what?”

“Nothing,” Rowan said smoothly—

And both he and Logan burst into soft laughter.

Daliah blinked in confusion, but quickly let it go.

Then she suddenly remembered something. Her awkwardness faded, and curiosity returned to her voice.

“So when are you going to teach me how to fight like you?” she asked, eyes bright with excitement.

She had watched Logan’s duel—and like everyone else, she was blown away.

Now she wanted to learn it too.

Rowan raised an eyebrow. “What’s the rush?”

“Boo!” Daliah stuck her tongue out and made a funny face at him.

“You’re scared, aren’t you? Once I get strong, I’ll beat you up instead!” she teased with a grin.

“Oh, I’m terrified,” Rowan replied in an exaggerated tone—clearly mocking her.

He didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

Rowan reached over and gently tugged at her cheek.

Smiling at them, Logan said,

“Whenever you want.”

But hearing that, Rowan blinked in surprise.

Back in the afternoon, when Logan had said he would teach Daliah, Rowan had assumed he was just being polite—saying it to make her feel good.

But now, hearing him repeat it so casually, something stirred in Rowan’s chest.

Was Logan… really planning to teach Daliah the cultivation method?

The lost method?

Or was this just like with Elias—letting her believe something, without truly revealing anything?

Seeing Rowan’s stunned expression, Logan immediately understood what he was thinking.

He gave a gentle, reassuring smile and said,

“Rowan, don’t worry. You have earned yourself the right. So I’m going to teach both of you…..

The cultivation method.”

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