Chapter 208 - Nathan vs Sebastian Blake

Sebastian Blake:

"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 opponent is one of the heirs to the eight ducal families, the elite of nobility. These families represent the pinnacle of magical lineage and prestige, bearing titles and wealth beyond what most noble families could ever dream of. Few soldiers, or even lesser noble lineages, would ever have the chance to occupy the same space as someone of his rank.

If not for the academy, we’d probably never have exchanged a single word. They’re distant figures, untouchable, living in their vast castles, surrounded by lands 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, can easily counter his. I can manipulate earth and water. As a Transmitter and Emitter, if I create a thin layer of stone reinforced with mana, I can nullify the effects of any shock that might come my way.

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

"I’d say the same."

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

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

"No, I need to evaluate your magical performance. Come at me with your best magic, as if you really intend to kill me."

He let out a small laugh.

"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 second Commanding Knight of a new army unit. We’re recruiting knights, and those who perform well over the years up to graduation might have the chance to become a Sky Knight. Are you interested?"

"No."

What?! Did he just refuse?

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

"I understand."

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

"I’m not interested."

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 invitation, right? 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 magic from the basics until you become a true knight."

"I’m really not interested."

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 can tell you that hardly anyone receives such an invitation. As a noble with 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 become someone… important. You’ll get to learn how to fight from real warriors.”

He seemed to consider it.

I can’t believe I had to explain myself again just for this idiot to understand 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 command. Viktor and Edmund come from military families, so they’ll have their own squads, but this guy comes from an agricultural family, which would place him under me.

“I’m looking for a simple life, so I’ll decline,” he replied with unsettling calmness.

"Fine, that's your right," I said, keeping my smile steady. But inside, I couldn’t believe it.

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

He’s probably just someone who wants to live off the wealth of his lands while real men strive to become 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 honored to be taught by a Sky Knight,” he replied, and something in his tone made me wonder if he was being ironic.

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

"We’re beginning."

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

I drew my blade and took my combat stance, watching his movements. But before I could fully process what was happening, I felt something—a wave of pure killing intent 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 one that evoked a visceral, almost primal fear. She was a woman whose presence stirred this very same unsettling feeling, a dread that seemed to crawl beneath the skin and settle deep within the soul. But it couldn’t be her... There was no way she could be here.

Who on earth projected that?!

"Is something wrong?" asked Elara, approaching with Professor Beatrix.

I struggled to regain my composure.

That feeling…

It was like my whole body wanted to flee from a suffocating presence.

"Nothing, just… demonstrating a retreat technique," I lied, trying to mask my reaction.

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

A transparent layer of mana rose around us, forming a square that isolated us from the outside world. The barrier looked almost invisible, with a glass-like shimmer, but its energy presence was tangible, locking our arena within a magical cage.

"Your battle spirit is sharp," he remarked, with a piercing 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 clash when, in the last instant, his eyes widened, and in a swift move, he sidestepped my blade and leapt, knocking me to the ground with a clean hit.

The impact knocked 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 commanded.

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

What is this guy…?

Something massive swooped past us, barely missing us. The creature had come 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 ignored the farm boy and walked toward the creature that had just landed.

“Prince? You almost hit me back there.”

He wasn’t supposed to show up now; we were planning to impress the newcomers later.

Nathan Evenhart:

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

"Prince? You nearly injured me there,” the instructor complained, trying 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, Cylla ran over to 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 larger and distinct in several ways. Instead of the slim body and horse-like face, it was white, muscular, 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 Duncan Asalon, the future king of the Human Kingdom,” he announced confidently. “This creature here is an Asalon Manticore, the only one of its kind. His name is Emperor, the largest and most powerful of all Asalons. Only kings are allowed to ride him,” he declared, patting the creature’s flank.

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,” Duncan replied with a satisfied smile.

Cylla, beside me, started laughing uncontrollably, her feline eyes gleaming with amusement.

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

I had to stifle a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.

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

Cylla continued rolling on the ground, her purrs turning into mental laughs 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.

Elara approached Duncan, frowning slightly. “Brother, that was dangerous.”

Duncan shrugged, as if the incident was insignificant. “Blame Emperor. I just wanted to make a grand entrance, but he suddenly got spooked,” he said, climbing back onto the Asalon Manticore’s back.

Did he get spooked by my killing intent?

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

Duncan looked at Elara with a playful grin. “Was that a good recruiting speech?” he asked, and Emperor took off, beating his wings as everyone watched in awe. The prince and 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 exclaimed, captivated.

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

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

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

I stepped back from the crowd, trying to regain my composure, when Cylla followed, a mischievous feline smile lingering on her face.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to find Professor Beatrix watching me with a sharp, enigmatic gaze.

Beatrix:

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

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

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

His words caught me off guard.

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

He regarded me with a more penetrating 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 sword again. But if you truly want a duel... when the time is right, one God of Battle will face another," 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 turned to check on the other students, and a thought crossed my mind:

Maybe it's time I return to intense training...