"If you intended to stay low-key, it seems that's no longer possible," Lucen remarked, meeting every stare head-on as though daring them to look away.
Adyr had already realized the same thing, though it didn't bother him.
Becoming a Practitioner was, in itself, a step onto the stage. Even a newly awakened Rank 1 could not remain hidden unless their kingdom and elders deliberately sheltered them from sight, tucking them away in seclusion.
Besides, Adyr had no intention of staying in the shadows. In this world, growth required connections, and connections required visibility. To build alliances, to make others see his potential, and to recognize him as a reliable, formidable partner, he needed the spotlight—at least to a certain degree.
Of course, standing in the light brought its own disadvantages. Envy and hostility would follow; there would always be those who viewed him as a future obstacle and sought to erase him before he could rise—men like Sevrak.
