The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

The Awakening of RealmHeart

February 28th, 1809

It was a bright yet breezy day, with leaves rustling in the wind as birds chirped from the tree branches, filling the air with their melodies.

Xavier stood in the training grounds of his family's estate, beads of sweat dripping down his face as he struggled to maintain RealmHeart. Alcmena watched over him, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. They had been at this for weeks, but Xavier could barely keep the transformation stable for more than a few seconds.

With an exhausted sigh, Xavier collapsed onto the ground. "This is impossible, Master!" he groaned, frustration lacing his voice.

Alcmena scowled. "Stop whining and focus."

Xavier gritted his teeth. "We've been at this forever! A whole year in your realm and weeks here, and I still can't hold RealmHeart for more than a moment."

Alcmena sighed, his irritation giving way to understanding. "I get it, kid. It's frustrating. But not everything in life comes easy. If it did, it wouldn't be worth much. Now get up."

Still lying on the ground, Xavier muttered, "Can't we try another method? Forcing draconic energy out of my Dragon Seed just isn't working."

"There's a reason I'm having you do it this way," Alcmena replied, his tone even. "You're terrible at extracting ethereal energy. And, well... you don't even have an ethereal core, which makes things ten times harder."

Xavier scowled. "It's not my fault I was born like this!"

Alcmena pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. "Look, every being is born with an ethereal core—a boundless well of energy. But just because one's ethereal core possesses an unlimited amount of energy doesn't mean one can tap into it fully and access it. There are limits"

"And since you don't have an ethereal core, but an endless formless pool of ethereal energy flooding around like a heavy stormy sea in your being. It's incredibly hard for you to extract energy from it like how other people with a core do".

Xavier frowned. "So that's why I can't use RealmHeart properly?"

Alcmena nodded. "Exactly. I figured if I made you force energy from your Dragon Seed, you'd eventually get the hang of drawing from your own energy the same way. But..." He sighed, scratching his head.

Struggling to admit his mistake due to his dragon pride, Alcmena added with an annoyed expression, "But I must admit, it was a very bad idea on my part".

"So don't blame yourself for failing—blame me," he continued.

With a little giggle, Xavier smirked and jokingly said to Alcmena, "Wow! This is the very first time I've seen you put your pride away. Ark, is that really you?".

"It's the first time you've actually explained things in a way that makes sense using that all-knowing mind of yours. Maybe I really did break your pride."

Alcmena flushed. "Don't mess with me, brat! I just thought it was the best option at the time! Plus, I'm not even nigh-omniscient anymore!"

A bit confused, Xavier asked, "What do you mean by that, Master?".

Alcmena answered, "What I meant is that, though I possess the great wisdom since I've lived for so many years, I do not possess the nigh-omniscient level of intelligence I did before".

Xavier questioned, "Oh! So did you become dumb?".

"No, I didn't, you annoying brat!", Alcmena retorted utterly flustered. "What I meant, was that though I possess all of the abilities of my original body. I am actually at the same level of power and ethereal core stage as you".