Both trainees raised their weapons, staring at each other cautiously. Several seconds passed, and neither moved.
"The hell are you waiting for? A written invitation? Move!" Garrick barked.
Instantly, the opponent kicked off the floor, driving his blade forward in a sharp thrust.
Fiona t it with a clean parry, guiding the strike to the side. The boy’s eyes widened as his balance gave out and he pitched forward, leaving his back exposed.
"Shit!"
However, Fiona didn’t move. She simply held her sword before her, making no attempt to follow through.
Garrick stared at the scene in utter disbelief.
"You... did you co here to embarrass your ancestors? Why the hell didn’t you finish him?"
Fiona flinched, her head lowering.
"I-I... I..."
"Don’t stutter at . Fight him, and finish it!"
"Y-yes..."
But nothing changed.
Her form was refined, and it was obvious she was the better fighter. Yet all she did was evade and parry, never once taking the initiative.
At so point, Garrick’s gaze turned murderous, as though he might step in and tear her apart himself.
"Just hit him already!"
"Is she waiting for permission?"
"At this rate, we’ll grow old here."
Curses and complaints rose from the trainees.
However, eventually, the change ca when they suddenly clashed fiercely, and the opponent’s sword broke. Fiona’s blade now rested on his throat.
"Winner! Get the hell out of my arena!"
’Hmm.’
Zephyrion’s gaze lingered on her, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.
A sharp clap cut through the air as Garrick turned back to the trainees.
"I didn’t think it was possible, but you’ve all managed to prove wrong. You’re even worse than I thought."
The faint smiles on so faces imdiately vanished.
"You bow, you hesitate, you show rcy, you even introduce yourselves before a fight? What the hell is that?"
"What are you going to do when it’s war and a Pyrian is charging at you covered in flas!? This is Calderalth! You don’t bow; you look your enemy in the eye and crush them! You dominate! You do not hesitate! Do you understand ?"
"Y-yes, instructor..."
"Oh, so I am talking to a bunch of pussies. What was that?"
The trainees clenched their fists, straightening instinctively as they raised their heads.
"Yes, instructor!"
"Hmph. Good. Dismissed."
As the trainees began to disperse, Garrick clicked his tongue.
"...You’re forgetting sothing. Put the weights back on."
"B-but instructor... w-we’re going ho."
"Even better. Let your families see how weak you are."
The trainees’ eyes widened, but Garrick’s heavy gaze pinned them in place. Without another word, they hurried back to strap the weights on.
Soon, they began dragging themselves out of the training grounds.
Garrick, however, turned and made his way toward Zephyrion.
"Hey. You did good today. Think you can keep it up without breaks?"
His tone had noticeably softened.
"I will."
Garrick let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
"Heh... yeah. I figured."
The burly man clicked his tongue, muttering about raising a damn monster, before turning and walking off.
As the training grounds gradually emptied, Zephyrion rose to his feet.
A sudden wave of disorientation hit him, forcing him to stagger slightly. He steadied himself a mont later, his brows drawing together.
’I see.’
Even that simple motion had caused the pressure to spike. The influx of information from his surroundings had crashed into his mind all at once.
’This is good.’
The more he moved, the greater the strain on his mind, and the faster the fog would clear.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
...
Monts later, Zephyrion stepped out of the training grounds, to et a boy waiting at the base of the stony staircase.
He was broad shouldered, with a toned, well built fra. His short black hair frad an aloof face, his ocean-blue eyes distant.
’Kaelion.’
Kaelion was the second son of Grand Marshal Garaxe, and Zephyrion’s uncle.
From what he rembered, the boy was regarded as one of the house’s great prodigies. He should be a Steel trainee.
’Is he here... for ?’
The boy blinked the mont he saw Zephyrion, then began walking toward him.
’He is.’
"..."
"..."
They held each other’s gaze for several seconds, neither speaking.
Eventually, a slight frown ford on Kaelion’s face.
"I ca to see for myself. Is it true? You’ve only advanced twice in nine years."
"That’s how you greet your cousin after seven years, Kaelion?"
"Answer the question."
"Or?"
Kaelion’s fists slowly clenched, staring at Zephyrion intensely.
"I hope you haven’t forgotten the promise I made to you nine years ago."
"A lot’s changed since then. You’ll have to remind ."
"I will defeat you."
Zephyrion tilted his head slightly, gaze cold.
"But beating you like this wouldn’t an anything."
Kaelion let out a slow breath, then turned and began walking away. He spoke without looking back.
"...I’ll wait. Climb back up... then I’ll crush you properly."
A faint smile ford on Zephyrion’s lips as Kaelion left.
’Hmm.’
It had been a while since sothing worthwhile had presented itself so easily. To think he didn’t even have to act...
At the sa ti, Lumi and Tobias made their way down the staircase.
Tobias stared at Kaelion with wide eyes, while Lumi completely ignored him, running toward Zephyrion with a bright smile. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug the next mont.
"Lumi... what did I tell you about hugging in public?"
Lumi stiffened. Then, she slowly released him and stepped back, her head lowering as her expression turned sulky.
Zephyrion sighed and ruffled her hair. Her expression brightened instantly as she lifted her head.
"A towel, my lord."
He turned to Tobias, who was already holding one out. Noticing the dampness on his face, Zephyrion took it and wiped himself down.
A mont later, his brows furrowed as Tobias kept sneaking glances at him.
"What?"
Tobias cleared his throat.
"It’s just... I didn’t know you were that close to Lord Kaelion."
"You know him?"
"Of course! He’s the top trainee in the Steel division, my lord. No one can match him, everyone respects him. He’s usually quiet during training, so... I was surprised he spoke to you."
’So he’s the top trainee.’
Even better.
"..."
When Zephyrion didn’t respond, Tobias pulled out a water tank from his bag and held it out to him.
"Water, my lord."
Zephyrion gave him a silent glance before taking it.
"So... if he ca all the way here to see you, then you must be pretty close, right?"
When Zephyrion remained silent, Tobias reached into his bag once more.
"An apple, my lord."
"..."
Was this Ward... trying to bribe him...?
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