From Disposable Prince to Level 9999: Forbidden Evolution

2. Juan's awakening ceremony

10 YEARS LATER

HUAN

Nine years had passed in what felt like an eternity. I was fourteen now, still smaller than Luan and Juan, still overlooked, still invisible in the eyes of the palace. The world had not changed. My brothers were stronger, faster, and more respected, and I was still the shadow at the edge of their light. Today was Juan's awakening ceremony. The grand hall was packed with nobles, priests, and guards, every eye eager to witness the second prince demonstrate the power he had honed over a decade.

Luan stood beside him, taller and broader than I had remembered in my infancy, a proud smile lighting his sharp features. 

"Well done, little brother." He whispered, his voice tinged with pride and warmth. "You have trained well. You will make father proud."

Father, of course, did not look at me. His gaze was fixed entirely on Juan, the cold, calculating kingly air around him unwavering. He nodded slightly as Juan approached the dais, a rare flicker of pride in his icy eyes. I had learned long ago not to mistake his silence for attention. Juan stepped forward, his presence commanding the hall. At fifteen, he had mastered frost and steel, his magic dancing in perfect harmony as if it were a part of him. 

"Behold the second prince, Juan Bloodstone! At fifteen years of age, he wields ice and steel as one! His precision and strength surpass that of most seasoned warriors, and his mind is as sharp as any general of the empire!"A priest said happily.

Luan clapped lightly, beaming, as the nobles erupted in applause. Even the priest’s voice, booming across the marble hall, could not drown the quiet sting I felt. All eyes were on my brothers, father's pride shining openly, and I remained at the edge of it all, swaddled in the shadow I had occupied my entire life.

"Look at him." Luan said quietly, leaning toward me, a rare flicker of brotherly affection in his eyes. "He is amazing, isn't he?"

I gritted my teeth, fists clenching beneath my cloak. Amazing. To the world, yes, nut to me, he was just another reminder. Another reminder that I was powerless, discarded, invisible. I shifted slightly, my mind racing. 

"They will not always be above me. I will not remain invisible forever."I muttered.

Even now, as Juan's magic flared and the hall cheered, a seed of something dark and unrelenting grew inside me. Nine years had passed, and I had survived their ridicule, their power, their neglect and now I was ready. Ready for the moment that would turn everything upside down.

I  had finally turned fifteen. Fifteen years of being ignored, humiliated, and bruised by the two people who were supposed to be my brothers. Fifteen years of being the shadow in the Bloodstone family, and yet… I was still alive. It was a late afternoon. The courtyard was quiet except for the sound of sparring swords and magic spells from my brothers. Luan and Juan had cornered me near the training wall, laughing like hyenas.

"Move faster, Huan" Luan called, his tone sharp, like a whip. "Or do you even have muscles under those tiny arms of yours?"

I tried to swing my practice sword, but it felt heavy and useless. I missed completely, and Juan snickered.

"Ha! You call that a swing? My four year old self could do better than that." Juan taunted, pushing me lightly so I stumbled back into the stone wall. Pain lanced through my shoulder, but I bit my tongue.

Mother was watching from the side, I couldn't let her see.

"I will do better next time…"I whispered.

"Next time?" Luan laughed, loud and cruel. "You have been saying that for years, little shadow. Maybe you  are just hopeless."

"I, I am not hopeless!" I shot back, my voice shaking more from anger than fear.

Juan's smirk widened. 

"Oh? Then why does father never even glance at you? Even he knows you are worthless."Juan said.

I froze. Even after all these years, hearing it from his mouth cut deep. My father King Xavier Bloodstone was standing a few yards away, tall and imposing, arms crossed, his eyes on Luan and Juan as they sparred. And yes he didn't glance at me. Not once, not even to scold my brothers.

"Father!" I tried to call, desperate. "Father, please-"

"Don’t bother me, Huan." He said coldly without looking at me. His voice was ice. "Watch and learn. Maybe one day you will understand what it means to be strong."

I clenched my fists, trembling with anger. 

"I will be stronger, stronger than all of you…"I whispered.

Mother stepped forward, placing her hand on my arm. "Huan, don't listen to them." She said softly, worry in her eyes. "They don't mean it, you are my prince, my sweet boy. You are perfect…"

I smiled at her and nodded, hiding my bruises and my rage. 

"Yes, Mother. I will do my best."I said softly.

But Luan wasn’t done.

"Look at him, Juan." He said, pointing at me with a grin. "He is trying to act tough. Pitiful, isn't he?"

"Pathetic." Juan agreed. "Even the palace walls are better at defending themselves than he is."

I felt my blood boil. I opened my mouth to defend myself again, but mother gently pressed a hand to my lips.

"Huan… please. Don't give them the satisfaction."She said.

Luan laughed and tossed a small magical spark at my shoulder. It burned lightly. 

"Ouch! That's a nice trick, little shadow. Did you learn that from a candle?"He asked.

"I think he learned nothing. He is useless. I would rather train a goat than waste time with him."Juan sneered. 

Father's gaze remained fixed on them, nodding approvingly.

"Well done, both of you. Continue like this. Focus, control… strength. That is what a prince should embody."He said.

"And Huan?" I dared to look up, hope flickering. "Father? I… I-"

He didn't even glance at me. Not a flicker. His words didn't even acknowledge my presence. 

"I said focus, both of you. Do not waste my time."He said.

Mother's hand squeezed mine, her lips trembling. 

"Huan, you are stronger than you think. Don't let them see you break."She said.

"Yes, Mother. I won't…"I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. 

"You hear that, Juan? He's pretending. The weakling pretends. I almost feel sorry for him, almost."Luan laughed again. 

"Don't." Juan said sharply, stepping closer. "If he hears our pity, he might actually get ideas. We can’t have that."

I flinched but said nothing. I had learned to swallow my voice, hide my pain, and keep it from mother. No one could know how much they had hurt me as I walked back to my quarters later, I pressed my hand to my chest. My bruises burned, my pride stung, but a fire was growing inside me. Fifteen years,  fifteen years of hiding, of surviving, of enduring had not broken me.

"I will rise. I will show them all. Luan. Juan. Father. Mother will see me as I am… and the rest of the world will remember my name."I whispered.

 The shadow prince was still a shadow… but the fire in him had begun to burn.