CHAPTER 60

IGNORANCE IS A CHOICE

  The tension crackled in the air like static electricity as Hans and the newbie, Lux, faced each other down for their spar. Lux, a mage barely initiated into his first circle, was about to fight the scariest person in their class, and he knew it. His confidence was at rock bottom, and he felt like he was about to be thrown to the beasts.

  But just as all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope shone in Lux's eyes. Aredhel, ever the wise and experienced warrior, had given him some advice that might just make the difference. And that's what was troubling Hans - he could see that Lux was starting to believe in himself, and that made the situation dangerous.

  For Hans, this was not a stage where he could afford to mess up. Since his fight with Delimira, he had honed his skills and learned the art of not giving in to provocations. He had learned how to use his opponent's weaknesses against them, and he had grown stronger as a result. But he knew that he was not the only one growing - Lux was a wild card, an unknown entity that he could not afford to underestimate.

  Ingrained into him since his training days with Rudolf was the idea that he should never underestimate an opponent, no matter how easy they might seem. And yet, Lux was just that - an opponent who did not seem to pose much of a threat. But Hans knew better than to let his guard down. He was ready for anything - or so he thought.

Lux stood nervously before Hans, his stammering words betraying his reluctance to be there. "I...I am Lux Jott, thirteen and a Light apprentice mage(0 circle - cannot use conjuring magic)," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please go easy on me."

  Hans responded with the same formalities, but he could feel the tension rising inside him. He had never been one to play defensively, and the idea of standing still and waiting for his opponent to make the first move made him uneasy.

  But he reminded himself of Vanessa's words, words that she had drilled into him during his stay in County. A mage fights with distance, she had said, and he knew he had to keep his cool and maintain a safe distance from Lux.

  Using his ManaVision, Hans stretched the mana path for SeedBullets, ready to strike at his opponent. But to his surprise, Lux seemed to become more relaxed, betraying his expectations. Hans could see the glint of recognition in his opponent's eyes - this was what Aredhel had told him to wait for, but he had not expected to see it so soon.

Lux took a deep breath and channelled his mana, forming the first spell he had been taught, and the spar had officially begun.

~ LuminousBody ~

It was a spell that was neither an attack nor a support spell, but rather a beacon that called for help. His entire body flashed like a mana lantern, blinding everyone around him - including Hans, who had made his eyes more sensitive to mana using ManaVision.

  The sudden flash left Hans disoriented and vulnerable, giving Lux the perfect opportunity to strike. Summoning his orca vines, Hans felt the frustration as they rampaged around the training field, failing to catch anything.

  Lux, however, was quick to exploit the opportunity. He cast the second spell taught to Light mages - a spell taught with the purpose of fleeing.

~ FlashSteps ~

A support spell that increased his speed for a short time. With lightning-fast movements, he swiftly avoided the orca vines and closed the distance between himself and Hans. Before Hans knew it, Lux had placed his wooden knife on his throat, ending the spar in his favour.

  For Hans, losing his eyesight for a moment was not the most detrimental aspect of his loss. It was the fact that his most trusted ability, ManaVision, had turned into a major liability that had impacted the battle. The advantage of being able to see mana clearly and counter the conjuring spells had become a disadvantage,

  The spar had ended as quickly as it began, leaving Lux stunned by his own victory. It was as if he had known Hans's every move beforehand, just as Aredhel had coached him. He couldn't believe he had defeated the scariest person in their class in mere seconds.

Hans, on the other hand, sat dumbfounded on the field, struggling to come to terms with his defeat. "What? How is this possible?" he muttered, his mind racing to understand what had just happened.

  But Lux couldn't revel in his victory for long, as he could feel Hans's battle senses locking onto him. Losing was one thing but it was humiliating to lose in front of Rudolf, someone whom he couldn't show his defeated back. Hans's seriousness was palpable, and Lux knew he was in trouble. But before Hans could react, Rudolf appeared at his side and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him up to his feet.

You lost, beat it. There are no second chances on the battlefield

  Hans remained silent, staring at the ground in defeat. He could accept losing honourably, but not being able to put up a decent fight was unacceptable to him. on the other hand, Delimira knew of Hans's loss in advance, in more simple terms, she realised what was going to happen the moment her mother got involved. While Chris felt a weight lift off his chest as he watched Hans facing the same situation of defeat as him.

Rudolf proclaimed Lux Jott as the victor and imparted a valuable lesson to the young students.

Strength is an advantage in battle, but it does not guarantee victory. I have seen many weaker individuals take down stronger foes in my long life as a knight

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Hans pretended to accept his defeat gracefully and stood up to face Lux, putting him on edge. However, his words were surprisingly cordial.

Thank you for the spar.

  Lux sensed no hostility in Hans's tone, as Hans had come to terms with the true culprit behind his defeat - Aredhel, who had interfered before the spar.

The other students had gathered outside the training field, and Professor Winters posed a question to Hans.

Do you know why you lost, Mr Hans?

Hans responded matter-of-factly,

Having someone who can see into the future is pretty handy, Professor Winters.

Aredhel's disappointment turned into frustration as she looked at Hans. It seemed as if he didn't understand the reason for his loss. She let out a deep sigh and replied,

If I could truly glance into the future whenever I wished, I would not be an exile, Mr Hans.

  The new information would have been shocking for him but her first words etched to him more. He believed that Aredhel's supposed ability to see the future was the sole reason for her family's wealth and success. But now, he realised that he had been mistaken all along.

Seeing him remain silent Aredhel responded,

You lose because of experience and lack of knowledge.

  Still grappling with his defeat, Hans tried to keep his composure as he asked Aredhel to elaborate. She didn't mince words, pointing out that he had missed all the essential Mana theory classes.

  Hans had always thought that the Mana theory classes were a waste of time, but now he realized that they were the reason for his defeat. When he asked Professor Winters for further explanation, Aredhel spoke up with an informative response.

"You have heightened senses not suited for your age, but you rely too much on your prematurely developed ManaVision. Acquiring high-level skills without experience is bound to have flaws," she explained.

Aredhel continued, revealing her own experience as a powerful warlock.

As someone who has reached the ninth circle of magic myself, I know the ins and outs of ManaVision. The more sensitive your visions, the deeper the blinding effect it has on you. If you had acquired it with proper training, you would have understood its flaws.

Hans understood the message. Aredhel was telling him that his lack of experience in using ManaVision was the reason for his defeat. He let her finish without interrupting, realising there was more of what she was conveying.

Aredhel waited for Hans to respond, but as he remained silent, she continued,

"Your ManaVision creates a significant disparity between your eyes and other senses since their levels are vastly different. Therefore, when you lost your sight, you fell into confusion because your other senses couldn't keep up with the level of your eyes. That was your first flaw," she explained.

Hans interrupted,

There are more?

Aredhel chuckled lightly and continued,

The second one is that you missed the mana theory classes, which resulted in you not knowing the beacon spell of help, LuminousBody, and its uses that I taught in the class. It doesn't matter if you could use the mana property or not. Learning about spells is always helpful. You could face them in battle or use them with your allies.

Turning to Hans, she asked,

So, Mr Hans, what did you get from my long explanation?

Hans quickly responded,

I need to hone my other senses to the level of ManaVision.

"No," replied Aredhel, shaking her head.

Hans stood there, still trying to process Aredhel's words. He thought he did not miss anything from her long explanation but what more she could mean was the only thought spinning in his head.

Aredhel said with a playful grin,

Do not miss my classes.

  Laughter filled the classroom as Aredhel's comment hit the mark, causing Hans to feel flustered. It was clear that she was teaching him a lesson for skipping her classes. Hans scratched his head, trying to think of a response when Aredhel spoke up again.

"I also taught Mana discharge in classes that you missed and it is vital," she said. "Let's see, Delimira, you two are friends, right? Teach him what I taught in class. I think Mr Hans is smart enough to catch up with you in no time."

Aredhel turned to Hans and asked, "Is that fine, Mr Hans?"

  Hans nodded in agreement and with that, the class was dismissed, and Griffin's Nest became a new studying spot as Delimira took on the role of Hans's temporary teacher in mana theory.

  Hans agreed and the class was dismissed. From this day forth Delimira became Hans's temporary teacher for his makeup class in mana theory and Griffin’s Nest turned into a studying spot.

AT THE FOOT OF SLEEPING GIANT MOUNTAIN

  In the foothills of a snow-capped mountain range, situated in a narrow valley that was often battered by relentless winds and icy storms. The entrance to the hideout was hidden behind a large boulder that could only be accessed by a treacherous and winding path that was barely visible through the thick blanket of snow that covered the ground.

  A man came running to the solid wall and went inside like it was a curtain. As he entered, he was greeted with a dimly lit cavern that was carved into the rocky walls of the mountain. The air inside was thick with the scent of burning wood, and the sound of voices and footsteps echoed through the vast space. The walls were lined with makeshift shelves that were filled with weapons, ammunition, and supplies, while makeshift tables and chairs made from scavenged materials dotted the room.

  These people had done their best to make the cavern feel like a home, with furs and blankets draped over rocks to create comfortable seating areas. A large fire pit dominated the centre of the room, providing warmth and light in the otherwise dark space. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the walls, giving the room an eerie, almost mystical feel.

  Despite the harsh weather conditions outside, the hideout was bustling with activity as the people prepared for their next mission. Some were sharpening their swords, while others were loading up packs with food and supplies. The atmosphere was tense and focused, as everyone knew that they were risking their lives for the cause.

The man who entered earlier, had his eyes searching for someone but was suddenly stopped by another man, "What is the matter?", he asked.

"Where...where is the commander?" the first man gasped.

"What happened?" the second man inquired.

We found it, the location of the 'Wind Gem'.

Xandor, who was flipping through his half-torn and expensive-looking book, emerged from the shadows and asked urgently,

Where is it?

"Greetings, Commander. It's in Clandor, the royal family has it," the man replied.

The man who had blocked the ranger earlier cursed,

Damn it, we don't have enough firepower to take on the Clandorians.

Xandor spoke in a grave voice,

Then we'll just have to rob someone who has it. Prepare everyone; we are raiding Concordia soon.

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