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Alice was snuggled up and asleep on Spark\'s chest, her tiny fists clinging to his robe. The two made their way down a long hallway, their footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent corridor. The walls were lined with weapons and ornate doors, each one telling a story of battles fought and won.

"Butler Zhao, I see you haven\'t spoken a word the whole time. Is something bothering you?" Spark suddenly asked, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

Caught off guard by Spark\'s question, Zhao Shi shook his head, his eyes widening briefly before he composed himself.

"I\'m fine, young master. I appreciate your concern," Zhao Shi replied, his tone respectful yet distant.

"But I\'ve noticed, Butler Zhao, that you seem quite interested in the Emperor\'s Academy," Spark added, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Do you want to join the academy?"

Jolted by Spark\'s revelation, Zhao Shi turned to see Spark\'s amused face. "Young master noticed."

"How could I not notice my butler suddenly becoming silent?" Spark said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

When Baros brought up the topic of the Emperor\'s Academy earlier in the day, Zhao Shi showed an uncharacteristic reaction on his usually stoic face. Spark\'s keen eyes had not missed this subtle change.

"I suppose I once had an aspiration to learn at the academy, but unfortunately, I\'ve already crossed the age limit," Zhao Shi said, shaking his head in dejection. "And I\'m only an ordinary human. There\'s nothing in me for the academy to take me in."

Zhao Shi knew well about the Emperor\'s Academy and its rules. Among them were two of its strictest regulations: the age limit and the necessity of innate talent. The academy strictly admitted only those under thirty who possessed an innate talent to become powerful ascendants.

"I see," Spark added thoughtfully. "But I\'ve said it before, I\'ll grant you one wish. Tell me, do you want to join the academy?"

Hearing the offer made Zhao Shi pause his steps. His face changed slightly as if in inner conflict. After a moment, he shook his head. "I don\'t want to burden you with it, young master."

From Spark and Baros\'s conversation, Zhao Shi had discerned that the two were students at the academy. It would be unwise for a student to go against the academy\'s rules.

"It\'s only a matter of a few words," Spark said nonchalantly, dismissing the difficulty as if it were nothing. For many, gaining entry to the academy required immense hardship and struggle, but Spark spoke as if it were a trivial matter. Anyone else hearing this might have found it absurd.

Zhao Shi still shook his head. "Thank you, young master, but I\'ll keep that wish for some other time."

To Zhao Shi, this was only his young master trying to comfort him. After all, once one passed the age limit, there would be no exceptions, even for kings and emperors. This strict rule prevented old ascendants from joining the academy. Even if they were strong, their age would restrict their entry.

"I see, that\'s fine," Spark said, not pushing further. They continued walking down the hallway, the silence only broken by their footsteps.

In front of Spark\'s chamber, a figure stood waiting. It was his mother, Sophia, her expression a mix of relief and anger.

"Did you drink?" Spark\'s mother asked, her eyes sharp and probing.

"No." Spark shook his head. "You told me I can\'t drink in front of Alice."

"That\'s good." She sighed with relief, her stern expression softening slightly. Still looking at Spark with a hint of reproach, she added, "Don\'t let your drunkard friend teach her any bad habits."

Of course, there could be only one drunkard friend his mother referred to: Baros.

"Look how sleepy she is," she said, her tone gentler as she caressed Alice\'s sleepy head. "Don\'t let her out this long next time."

"Will you take her to your bed?" Spark asked, a pleading look on his face.

"No, you two will be sleeping together again," she replied firmly.

Alice had been sleeping in his mother\'s chamber while he was in exile. Now that he had returned, his mother suggested Alice should sleep with him. She insisted it would make up for the time they hadn\'t spent together and create a stronger bond between father and daughter. After his mother\'s continuous persuasion, Spark reluctantly agreed.

After a brief scolding from his mother, Spark entered his chamber with Alice in his arms.

Zhao Shi bowed to Spark and then went to his room, which was opposite Spark\'s chamber.

Inside the well-decorated room, Zhao Shi sat on a surface, in a meditative posture, feeling the energy of his surroundings.

The room was sparsely furnished to Zhao Shi\'s liking, with a simple bed and a small table, but it exuded a sense of calm and order. A single candle flickered on the table, casting a soft glow that danced across the walls.

Zhao Shi began practicing his breathing technique, his breaths becoming slow to the point of stopping entirely. The air around him seemed to thicken, charged with a subtle energy.

Suddenly, Zhao Shi opened his eyes, a trickle of blood flowing from his lips. The taste of iron was familiar, a bitter reminder of his limitations.

He raised his hand to wipe the blood away, as if this were a daily occurrence. Staring at his bloody hand, his body shook.

"I still couldn\'t do it. I still cannot become an ascendant," Zhao Shi whispered to himself, his voice filled with frustration and despair.

Why? Zhao Shi wanted to ask someone this question, but deep down he knew the answer himself.

"This curse…" Zhao Shi muttered, coughing up another mouthful of blood. "Have I become the sinner of my family?"

"Yue…" He stared at the flickering candlelight, his gaze distant as he recalled a memory from his past. A vision of a young girl, her smile radiant and her eyes full of hope, filled his mind.

"No, I cannot falter here." Zhao Shi jolted awake, shaking his head. "Because I\'m sure, he, that hero, would\'ve chosen the same path."

"I will overcome this," He whispered to himself, his voice steady.

Zhao Shi clenched his fists, determination flaring in his eyes. He resumed his meditative posture, his breaths becoming rhythmic and controlled once more. Zhao Shi continued his meditation, the room filled with an eerie stillness. The soft glow of the candlelight flickered, casting long shadows on the walls. The night was silent, save for the Zhao Shi\'s quiet breath.