Chapter 208 - Nathan vs Sebastian Bke

  Sebastian Bke:

  "Nathan Evenhart!" I called out the boy’s name.

  The boy from the agricultural duchy. He had the fortune of being born with the thunder element.

  My oppo is one of the heirs to the eight ducal families, the elite of nobility. These families represent the pinnaagical lineage and prestige, bearing titles ah beyond what most noble families could ever dream of. Few soldiers, or even lesser noble lineages, would ever have the ce to occupy the same space as someone of his rank.

  If not for the academy, we’d probably never have exged a single word. They’re distant figures, untouchable, living in their vast castles, surrounded by nds and loyal guards, keeping themselves apart from the rest of society.

  "But now, I stand on equal footing with them," I murmured proudly to myself.

  I watched as he approached.

  I possess two elements that, if used correctly, easily ter his. I manipute earth and water. As a Transmitter aer, if I create a thin yer of stone reinforced with mana, I ullify the effects of any shock that might y way.

  "For safety reasons, I won’t use any offensive spells," I announced.

  "I’d say the same."

  Is he… worried about me? I e from a military family in service to the royal household; he’s the one who should be ed about not getting hurt.

  "Let’s stick to pure swordpy," he suggested.

  "No, I o evaluate yical performance. e at me with your best magic, as if you really io kill me."

  He let out a small ugh.

  "Are you sure?"

  "Absolutely."

  He might be a high noble, but his family oversees an agricultural duchy. It’s time he learns a bit about how real soldiers fight in the capital.

  His free hand crackled with blue sparks.

  "I’m the sed anding Knight of a new army unit. We’re recruiting knights, and those who perform well over the years up to graduation might have the ce to bee a Sky Knight. Are you ied?"

  "No."

  What?! Did he just refuse?

  "Hahaha, maybe you didn’t hear me. I’m talking about being a Knight who rides an Asalon Horse."

  "I uand."

  "We train every day. I’ll make sure they send you the schedule."

  "I’m not ied."

  I forced my expression to stay in a polite smile, hiding my anger.

  Is he an idiot? Usually, people practically beg me for this offer.

  "You do realize this is a real invitatiht? I’m not joking. I’m genuinely inviting you. Don’t worry if you’re afraid you’re not good enough; we train swordsmanship and magi the basitil you bee a true knight."

  "I’m really not ied."

  For a moment, I froze again, hardly able to believe what I’d just heard.

  “If it's about the position of your duchy, don’t worry. We’re flexible, and I know you’re not the main heir. As a Sky Knight, I tell you that hardly anyone receives su invitation. As a h political privileges, you have the right to retire whenever you choose; many noble heirs only join the army to gain experience for a few years. You have the opportunity to build a career in the army and bee someone… important. You’ll get to learn how to fight from real warriors.”

  He seemed to sider it.

  I ’t believe I had to expin myself again just for this idiot to uand the honor of receiving an invitation from an official member, a Winged Knight. I know he wouldn’t be able to keep up with our training regime, but at the very least, we could make him a Recruit Knight. I’d even go easy on him in the army; after all, I’d gain more prestige by having a high-ranking noble under my and. Viktor and Edmund e from military families, so they’ll have their own squads, but this guy es from an agricultural family, which would pce him under me.

  “I’m looking for a simple life, so I’ll dee,” he replied with uling ess.

  "Fihat's yht," I said, keeping my smile steady. But inside, I couldn’t believe it.

  I watched him, analyzing every detail. He seemed genuinely serious, whily fueled my frustration. Who would refuse an opportunity like this?

  He’s probably just someone who wants to live off the wealth of his nds while real men strive to bee good soldiers.

  "I’ll go easy on you," I said, struggling to keep my irritation in check.

  “Please, I ask that you fight seriously. I’d be hoo be taught by a Sky Knight,” he replied, and something in his tone made me wonder if he was being ironic.

  I took a deep breath, sensing a hint of provocation in the air.

  "We’re beginning."

  “Uood,” he replied calmly, raising his sword.

  I drew my bde and took my bat stance, watg his movements. But before I could fully process what was happening, I felt something—a wave of pure killing i washed over me. My heart raced, and without thinking, I leapt backward, rolling to get away.

  WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!

  I got up, still in an attack stance, eyes fixed on him. He hadn’t moved, still standing there with his sword in hand, his expression serene.

  Lady Sindra!

  A single name surfaced in my mind, the only ohat evoked a visceral, almost primal fear. She was a woman whose preseirred this very same uling feeling, a dread that seemed to crawl beh the skin ale deep within the soul. But it couldn’t be her... There was no way she could be here.

  Who oh projected that?!

  "Is something wrong?" asked Era, approag with Professor Beatrix.

  I struggled tain my posure.

  That feeling…

  It was like my whole body wao flee from a suffog presence.

  "Nothing, just… demonstrating a retreat teique," I lied, trying to mask my rea.

  Beatrix nodded. "I’ll raise a magic barrier around yht. Whatever spells you cast will remain tained within it… as long as you don’t go overboard, of course. Good luck," she said, stepping back.

  A transparent yer of mana rose around us, f a square that isoted us from the outside world. The barrier looked almost invisible, with a gss-like shimmer, but its energy presence was tangible, log our arena within a magical cage.

  "Your battle spirit is sharp," he remarked, with a pierg gaze. "Let’s see if it’s worth anything."

  What did he mean by that?

  "Bring it," I challenged, steady.

  He advanced, and I charged to meet him. Our swords were about to csh when, i instant, his eyes widened, and in a swift move, he sidestepped my bde a, knog me to the ground with a hit.

  The impaocked the wind out of me, and I stared at the ceiling of the magic barrier above, stunned by his speed and precision.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I asked.

  “Stay down!” he anded.

  A surge of energy coursed through me, delivering a shock that froze me in pce.

  What is this guy…?

  Something massive swooped past us, barely missing us. The creature had e dangerously close to where we were.

  “Of course, it had to be him…” I muttered, pushing myself up and shoving the boy aside, already knowing who it was.

  I ighe farm boy and walked toward the creature that had just nded.

  “Prince? You almost hit me back there.”

  He wasn’t supposed to show up noere pnning to impress the newers ter.

  Nathan Evenhart:

  A winged creature nded close to us, desding with impressive speed. I had to pull the instructor aside to avoid being hit by the impact. A young man dismouhe creature.

  "Prince? You nearly injured me there,” the instructor pirying to hide his surprise.

  "Ah, I was just trying to give you all a little scare, haha!" the blond boy responded with a carefree grin.

  Prince?

  I looked at him more carefully, trying to recall.

  Could he be that guy from the party where I met the drunken king?

  As students gathered around to admire the impressive winged creature, Cyl rao my side, positioning herself protectively as if ready to attack.

  “If you had been hit… I would’ve devoured that thing,” she grumbled, clearly irritated.

  I smiled, giving her a reassuring pat on the back to calm her down.

  She’s still mad about the assassins…

  The creature resembled an Asalon, but it was rger and distin several ways. Instead of the slim body and horse-like face, it was white, muscur, with a head that looked more like a white lion. Its majestic appearance drew everyone’s gaze, and quickly a crowd formed around it, admiring it.

  The blond boy stepped forward, addressing the group of students who stood there, mouths agape.

  "For those who don’t know me, I’m Dun Asalon, the future king of the Human Kingdom,” he announced fidently. “This creature here is an Asalon Manticore, the only one of its kind. His name is Emperor, the rgest and most powerful of all Asalons. Only kings are allowed to ride him,” he decred, patting the creature’s fnk.

  The students murmured in awe, moving a little closer, only to pull back when the creature growled at them.

  “That’s amazing!” one of them said, starstruck.

  “Of course it is,” Dun replied with a satisfied smile.

  Cyl, beside me, started ughing untrolbly, her feline eyes gleaming with amusement.

  “Incredible? That big bird would be my lunch! Hahaha!” she muttered, falling to the ground as she ughed.

  I had to stifle a ugh, c my mouth with my hand.

  “Stop…” I whispered, trying to pull myself together. “I o stay serious…”

  Cyl tinued rolling on the ground, her purrs turning into mental ughs that echoed in my head, making it even harder for me to keep a straight face. I decided to step back a bit from the crowd to avoid drawing attention with my amused expression.

  Era approached Dun, frowning slightly. “Brother, that was dangerous.”

  Dun shrugged, as if the i was insignifit. “Bme Emperor. I just wao make a grarance, but he suddenly got spooked,” he said, climbing bato the Asalon Manticore’s back.

  Did he get spooked by my killing i?

  “To all of you humans,” he tinued with a anding voice, “I extend an invitation to join our ranks. If you enlist, you’ll get to train with us and eve our wieeds up close. You might evehe honor of sword training with me or stand alongside Emperor!” With a dramatic gesture, he spped the creature’s back, causing it to spread its massive wings.

  Dun looked at Era with a pyful grin. “Was that a good recruiting speech?” he asked, and Emperor took off, beating his wings as everyoched ihe prind his mount soon disappeared toward the forest.

  The students were mesmerized, their eyes shining as they followed his flight.

  “That was incredible!” one of them excimed, captivated.

  “Seeing an Asalon up close feels magical,” a girl said, breathless.

  “Didn’t you hear? That ecial Asalon,” another corrected, with an air of importance.

  Era murmured, shaking her head with a mixture of relief and pride. “At least he mao inspire some…”

  I stepped back from the crowd, trying tain my posure, when Cyl followed, a mischievous feline smile lingering on her face.

  Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turo find Professor Beatrix watg me with a sharp, enigmatic gaze.

  Beatrix:

  "You have a lesson to finish," I said, direg myself toward him. "I still want to see if you're really good in a fight."

  He sheathed his sword into his bracelet a my gaze, and I felt a sharp, assessing look as though he were deg whether my presence even warranted his attention.

  "Professor, if you think I'm skilled in bat… there's only one way to find out," Nathan Evenhart replied. "When Thyra mao defeat you, then I’ll fight you seriously."

  His words caught me off guard.

  "Why would you o wait for Thyra to defeat me?"

  He regarded me with a more peing look. "She has a lot to learn from you, and I don’t want to interfere with her growth."

  I couldn’t follow his reasoning. "How would fighting me first interfere with her progress?"

  He stepped closer, his tone unyielding. "If I fight seriously, I’ll crush your will to ever pick up a swain. But if you truly want a duel... wheime is right, one God of Battle will faother," the boy replied, turning and walking away.

  As a warrior, I could tell his words weren’t spoken lightly; there was a gravity to them that sent a chill down my spine for a moment.

  Why did my body just shiver?

  I watched Nathan's retreating figure and, for a fleeting moment, felt a strange regret.

  "Hey, you there!" Sebastian called out, running after him.

  I turo che the other students, and a thought crossed my mind:

  Maybe it's time I return to interaining...