Jerom lifted his chin slightly.
"That the weak have no place among us. Only the strong get to stand here... as Calderalth."
A subtle pressure rolled off him, thickening the air.
’This... bastard!’
Tobias clenched his fists. Zephyrion clearly stood above Jerom in status. However, in Calderalth, direct confrontations between those of the sa age were usually settled by strength.
Jerom was one of the top ten steel trainees, standing at mark four. He was clearly trying to intimidate his lord.
The gathered trainees picked up on it imdiately, and the area sank into a tense, deathlike silence.
"...I see... so that’s the way of Calderalth..."
Jerom’s smile widened, his chin tilting even higher.
"Yes—"
"That’s enough."
Heads turned at once toward the voice as Kaelion stepped through the crowd and approached them.
"Look, it’s Lord Kaelion."
"If he’s stepping in, it’s over."
"Ark... so we won’t get to see a fight."
Jerom’s expression twisted for a brief mont.
As Kaelion reached them, he gave a short bow to Zephyrion before fixing Jerom with a sharp gaze.
"What are you doing?"
Jerom forced a smile back onto his face.
"Kaelion... the young lord and I were simply talking."
"It’s enough."
A cold glint flickered through Jerom’s eyes. This had been the perfect chance to bait Zephyrion into a spar with the First Steel title on the line.
He couldn’t let it slip away...
A heavy pressure bled from Kaelion, crashing down on Jerom. Jerom swallowed hard as he endured it before giving a stiff nod.
"...alrigh—"
"You’re right."
"...what?"
Jerom turned toward Zephyrion, his brows drawing together. Even Kaelion’s gaze sharpened slightly.
He was right?
Yet the young heir’s expression remained unchanged.
Whoosh.
A crushing wave of bloodlust burst from him, sweeping through the entire space.
"W-what... what is this!?"
Jerom’s eyes widened as he recoiled, his footing slipping as he crashed to the ground.
Even then, his body trembled as he scrambled backward, dragging himself away as if distance alone could save him.
He wasn’t the only one. Kaelion had already pulled back, instinctively creating space. His eyes were narrowed and locked onto Zephyrion in shock.
"W-what is this!?"
"Why does it feel so cold...?"
"Is that... coming from the young lord!?"
The trainees shivered violently as every gaze fixed on Zephyrion, eyes trembling.
"You were right," Zephyrion said as he stepped forward. "Teaching the way of Calderalth... the weak needs to be reminded of its place."
"No... wait—!"
"Gather!"
The instructor’s voice drew their attention to where the instructors stood waiting.
"..."
Zephyrion reined in his bloodlust, and the pressure vanished just as suddenly. The trainees instantly exhaled in relief.
Their gazes clung to him, yet he simply turned to Tobias and gave a small nod.
"Let’s go."
"Y-yes... my lord."
Without sparing Jerom another glance, he turned and walked away.
’What... was that?’
Kaelion watched Zephyrion’s retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly. Even now, a lingering chill clung to his body from that aura.
It had almost felt like standing before his father.
’He’s different.’
He had only stepped in because he didn’t want Zephyrion to be baited into a spar. He couldn’t let him lose to anyone... not until he fought him himself.
Yet the presence Zephyrion carried now was nothing like before.
Clenching his fists, Kaelion gave a small nod.
’Good.’
At least it ant Zephyrion wasn’t weak. Beating him would actually an sothing.
"That was insane..."
"Did that really co from the young lord?"
"I swear I almost pissed myself..."
As the trainees began to disperse, no one spared Jerom a glance. He remained on the ground, teeth clenched so hard his jaw trembled.
...
"Now that everyone has made it to the top, I’ll be announcing the top five trainees."
The Steel and Iron trainees turned their attention to Warren as he addressed them.
"Fifth place—Carl. Fourth—Louise. Third... Kaelion."
"W-what?"
"Third? No way..."
"That has to be wrong."
Whispers spread through the crowd as their gazes shifted toward Kaelion, who wore a faint frown.
"In second place... Lumi."
Another wave of shock rippled through them.
"...the mute?"
"She’s second? How?"
"Wait... then first is—"
As one, their eyes turned toward the tall, purple-eyed boy standing calmly at the back. It couldn’t be...
"First place—Zephyrion."
"T-the young lord?"
"He actually got first...?"
"But he’s only mark three—how does that even make sense?"
The trainees stared at Zephyrion in disbelief, unable to hide the shock in their eyes.
A hand suddenly went up.
"Yes?"
It was none other than Louise, the second strongest among the steel trainees.
"Instructor, when we reached the summit, he wasn’t there. How did the young lord place first?"
"That’s true."
"I didn’t see him either."
"So how did he get first?"
"The young lord reached the summit thirty minutes before anyone else. He left shortly after to take care of sothing. I can personally confirm it."
"T-thirty minutes..."
Kaelion’s brows knit together. Half an hour... how had he managed that at just mark three?
"If there are no further questions, dismissed!"
As Zephyrion turned and began to leave, every gaze followed him, unable to conceal their shock.
...
"That bastard..."
Jerom spat, his teeth grinding.
"I’m going to kill him. I swear I’m going to kill him."
The others walking beside him exchanged uneasy glances.
"...I get that you’re angry, Lord Jerom, but he’s still from the main line. The house wou—"
"I don’t care!"
Jerom’s head snapped toward him, his glare filled with killing intent.
"He humiliated . ! That fucking iron trash!"
Silence fell for a mont before one of them spoke more cautiously.
"...we still can’t go after him directly, Lord—"
"I know that!" Jerom’s fists tightened as he exhaled sharply. "So we go after sothing he cares about."
"Y-you an... his people? But if he finds out—"
"Good. Let him find out."
"...what?"
"It’s killing two birds with one stone. I hurt him by going after his people, and even better if he finds out. The only thing left for him to do will be to challenge us to a spar... and we’ll take back the First Steel title."
The others’ eyes widened in realization.
"...I see."
"That’s... actually smart, Lord Jerom."
"Yeah... you’ve thought this through."
"Tch. Of course I have."
"So... who do we go for?"
A cold glint flickered through Jerom’s gaze as his fists tightened.
"...I already know."
...
Even after Hell’s Steep, the trainees returned to their respective divisions to complete the rest of the day’s training.
The day passed quickly, and by evening, Lumi slipped out of the Steel division and began descending the stony steps toward the Iron division.
It wasn’t long before she ca across a group of boys waiting midway along the staircase. They glanced at her, then quickly looked away.
"..."
Lumi didn’t slow down as she passed the first two. Just as she moved ahead, the other three stepped forward and blocked her path.
A brief glance over her shoulder showed that the earlier two had shifted, cutting off her retreat.
Lumi tilted her head slightly.
"Hey... you’re that trash’s little pet, aren’t you?"
Jerom stepped forward, a faint, mocking smile on his lips.
"...I’ve heard the rumors. The two of you even sleep in the sa bed... bathe together. Disgusting.
His gaze turned cold.
"Your master pissed off the wrong people, so now you’re going to pay for it."
A heavy pressure rolled off him, bearing down on Lumi. The others stepped in closer, their combined presence weighing on her.
"Don’t look at us like that. There’s no one else to bla but him. Maybe in your next life, pick soone better."
Jerom extended a hand toward her, his eyes devoid of warmth.
But before he could reach her...
Thud.
Lumi’s arm drove straight into his throat.
"Ark! Th-th... yo..!"
Jerom’s eyes bulged as he staggered back, clutching his neck, struggling to breathe.
"You—! What the hell do you think you’re doing!?"
"Get her! Don’t just stand there—!"
The others lunged at once, striking from different directions.
But Lumi vanished.
Bam! Thurk! Bam! Bam!
Four heavy blows landed almost at the sa instant, each one slamming into a throat and sending bodies crashing to the ground.
"Yo...u... da...re..."
A sharp hum rang out as Jerom ford a gleaming blade of tal, his trembling arm lifting it toward Lumi.
"..."
"I-I’ll kill you... I swear I’ll kill you!"
Whoosh.
A crushing wave washed over him. Jerom’s entire body shuddered as he staggered back.
Ahead of him, Lumi stood still. The softness that once clung to her was gone. In its place was a cold, suffocating bloodlust that seeped into his bones.
"W-what... what are you...?"
His blade quivered in his grip, his body refusing to move.
Then, just as suddenly, the pressure vanished.
Without sparing him another glance, Lumi walked past and continued down the steps.
As she crossed a certain point, the air rippled. Zephyrion stepped out of it. He fixed his cold gaze on Jerom, who still stood there, visibly shaken.
"..."
He had watched everything from the beginning. Not once had he thought Lumi would be in danger. Anyone forged in the Order’s training was a weapon.
However...
Zephyrion’s fists tightened.
Lumi was just a tool... one he intended to use to complete his objective.
Yet... why was his blood boiling?
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