“Professor Karlos' classes follow a clear set of rules. It is very simple, really. Speak during one of his lessons and he'll break one finger. Make any sort of sound when he's talking, and he'll snap two fingers. Come one minute late to the lesson and he'll hammer five fingers. More than one minute late and he'll dislocate a shoulder. Miss a lesson and next time he'll dislocate two shoulders, and force you to train with both arms dangling. The rest of the body is reserved for pedagogic spars. Very simple.

-anonymous scribble found in the infirmary”

* * *

Azcheron

As he exited Anton's office, he went to find Erin.

The reason he hadn't been watching from the training area itself was, as usual, simple yet convoluted. Erin's training was gathering a small crowd of curious onlookers. In the biggest lack of modesty ever, he assumed that standing here would divide the attention between the two of them, and so it would be rude to steal a part of the spotlight. Erin fighting Karlos was a very elegant sight, and he wanted her to be seen by as many people as possible.

He would not tolerate imbeciles treating his heroine as a failed knight. She had to show what she was capable of, to shut some babbling mouthes.

Well of course, the two of us training together would attract half the capital ! But we better keep it to ourselves. We wouldn't want to reveal our secrets and teamwork to everyone, now, would we ?

Of course, all this involved something they didn't bother to talk about, because it had been made obvious for the both of them – if it came to it, they'd make up a pretext, like always – which was that they intended to stick together.

What do the people love more than a hero rising to glory ? Of course, a DUO of heroes rising to glory ! Everything goes twofold ! Lone heroes and tormented wanderers are in the past ! Double is the new cool ! We'll take on challenges twice as dangerous, and get twice the glory ! Such a perfect plan.

That was Azcheron's perspective anyway. Erin probably though something respectable like 'Azcheron will summon an ancient abomination or start a war or whatever else if I'm not here to stop him.' It doesn't matter, the Saint replied in his mind, chuckling. She didn't realize it yet, but her being with him would push them toward more insane undertakings. He was convinced of it.

He arrived at the training area, now empty, save for a few remaining student talking among each other. Erin was sitting on the ground, massaging her bruised and swollen limbs. She perked up as she spotted him. Azcheron did a bit of healing magic, because Karlos could get rough – always did, in fact – and even Erin sometimes saw her bones snapping or her muscles tearing. Groping her calf, he took the necessary time to repair the fractured fibula.

I don't enjoy that much seeing that bald guy whacking his weapon against my partner, but she insisted I was not to behead him even if she was grievously wounded, so... Tell yourself it's for the greater good. No beheading. Tell yourself it's one of these necessities and obligations. No beheading.

“Oh, by the way, we're being summoned by the Emperor,” he finally bothered to mention.

“I see,” Erin replied. Then the realization seemed to hit her. “...Eh ? Ugh...”

“What's wrong ?” Azcheron inquired with an innocent smile.

She squinted her eyes. “Absolutely nothing. Oh, sorry, I meant everything.”

“Hah, don't act like Anton. It'll be fine. I have planned for this.”

“Yeah, that's the issue... Strange, why would both Anton and I react the same way ? Don't you know ?”

The Saint kept his fake frozen smile. “Know what ?” Seeing he wouldn't budge from his act, Erin grimaced and shrugged it off.

“Worry not, dear Erin. I wouldn't do anything that would get us executed. Probably. Even if I did, we'd simply fight our way out of the capital. See ? All is good.”

Erin ignored his taunt as she looked behind him. Azcheron turned, to see Darius approaching.

That's right. It's the proper time and place for things such as spars and obligations. Let's pay that debt, Azcheron decided.

* * *

“Are you sure about it ? Doesn't have to be today.”

Azcheron gave a quizzical look at Darius. “Surely you jest. I'm in the perfect mood for it,” he said, while Erin tossed a wooden sword to the noble. Darius caught it with one hand, but didn't seem any more keen to spar.

Why is it always wooden swords ? Don't we have pikes, maces and shields around here ?

“They really take the word spellblade literally, huh...” Azcheron muttered, gazing at Karlos' training armoury.

Darius raised a brow. “What ?”

Erin threw another sword to Azcheron, who didn't dare to catch it with one hand. Instead, he slowed the flying weapon with magic and planted it in the ground. “It's nothing.”

Why do I need a sword anyway ?

“Still, I feel bad.” Darius glanced at Azcheron's arm. It wasn't a secret for the Saint's entourage. “You're recovering...”

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“I don't really use my arms to fight,” he said, his foot playing with the sword.

“...and you have the audience soon, what if you get injured ?”

Azcheron gave a sideways glare and spoke words that made Darius freeze. “Are you belittling me ?”

He shook his head vigourously. “I would not dare.”

“Good.” The Saint forced back a merry smile on his face. “Then let us begin.”

Darius made a complicated expression, probably thinking he would only last a few seconds, so Azcheron reassured him. “Don't worry, I won't stomp you like Erin did. Not that I'm looking down on you, but I want to try something. Maybe you'll end up winning, who knows.”

The noble nodded as he slipped on some thick leather gloves. Thankfully, you're not the kind of petty guy who'd quibble and babble about honour and pride and whatnot. Right ?

They both looked at Erin for the signal. Once it was given, Darius chanted something and sparks of light randomly spurted from his weapon.

My, my, a lightning enchant already ? Well, it would be more efficient if we were using steel weapons and armours, and if I wasn't a mage, but you've learned new things at least.

Azcheron took out his sword from the ground with mana and took some sort of stance. He was mimicking a martial artist's stance while the sword was flying before him. He was convinced it looked cool but seeing Darius making a confused expression and Erin pinching the bridge of his nose, he thought he might as well just stop it already.

He'd still wield the weapon with mana, though.

Darius stepped forward and tried bypass Azcheron's sword, but failed and had to defend against it. He had no trouble, seeing as the Saint was merely swinging the wooden stick in a random fashion.

As the spellblade student pushed away the flying blade with a heavy blow and rushed toward him, Azcheron rubbed his chin.

Why does it have to be only swords ? It's a bore. Shouldn't we try other things too ?

As he thought that, he made some gravel and sand levitate and gathered it in a flat, round shape, akin to a shield. He hardened the whole thing with treads of mana, just in time to block Darius' strike.

“Huh ?”

“It's not against the rules or anything of the sort, I assume ?” Azcheron inquired just in case.

Darius made a surprised face but a satisfied smile replaced it promptly. “Of course not, you can do whatever you see fit.”

“In that case...”

In a thought, Azcheron gathered sand and made a spear out of it, with a blunt end. He promptly poked at Darius with it, who struggled to dodge and block at first.

Seeing that his opponent was gradually adapting to the rhythm of the pokes, Azcheron used his earthy shield to bash him. He had now the crushing superiority in the fight, but he frowned.

Well this isn't really different from regular magic. I'm just manipulating sand instead of ice or air... Isn't there anything else I could try ? I want to feel like a warrior !

Azcheron glanced around while Darius was dealing with the shield and the spear, and eventually had an idea. He dispelled the mana binding together his weapons, to Darius' utter confusion.

“What are you-...” Darius attempted to say, but his perplexed expression soon became one of panic when he witnessed several dozens of wooden swords flying out of the armoury.

“Now that should be enough to make up for my poor swordsmanship !” The Saint grinned as the myriads of swords were levitating in a circling motion around him, pointing toward Darius.

“Why are you so obsessed with swordsmanship...” Erin muttered, looking away when she noticed Azcheron could hear her.

Feeling generous, he enlightened the two quizzical faces in front of him. “I was thinking about spellblades and Roharl's fighting style. They use both magic and physical force.” He paused. “Where's Roharl, by the way ? I've been wanting to ask him something since we came back, but I can't find him.”

Darius tilted his head. “Ah, you don't know ? He went on a subjugation mission in the south a bit before your return. Rumours about a dragon rampaging or something.”

“What ! Why have I not heard of that ? And why didn't he wait for me !?”

“It's his job, no reason to make a scene about it.” He shrugged. “You wanted to go with him ?”

Of course, imbecile ! Dragon slaying would make me famous in the blink of an eye ! Raaaah !

“Pfah, I was merely curious.” He calmed down. “Nothing to do with me.”

“What were you about to say regarding spellblades ?” Erin pressed him.

“Right. Well, using both magic and already existing weapons seemed pointless to me before, but I was too narrow minded.”

Truly, I should have known. On the island, we basically did this everyday, stirring pots and sewing clothes with magic, but I never even wondered why.

Azcheron carried on. “You have no idea how easier it is to just move objects as they are, rather than creating them, binding their particles with mana, and then moving them.”

“Well it does sound easier,” Erin interjected, sounding somewhat offended. “Doing one thing instead of three. Even I can figure that out.”

“Rather, how come you didn't think of that before ?” Darius added, and Azcheron's eye twitched. Darius didn't get his answer. In place of it, he was attacked by thirty wooden swords at the same time. Needless to say, that question wouldn't be voiced ever again.

“Stay sharp. You never know what happen in a battle, right ?” the Saint eventually said with a smiling mouth and deadly eyes. Darius was rubbing his many bruises everywhere, looking pitiful. “Oh, something else.”

The Farril youth raised his head and focused on Azcheron.

“Never cast that kind of lightning enchant against a mage. I could have just used magic to push your own blade against yourself, and electrocute you. I didn't 'cause I'm nice, but others won't be as considerate and plate armour can't protect you, of course.”

“Not nice enough to refrain from smashing half the armoury on him, though,” Erin mocked.

What's with your venomous tongue today ? Getting beat up by Karlos made you moody ? he joked to himself.

“No, that was very educational,” Darius interposed himself. “Thank you, Azcheron, for the spar.”

“My pleasure.” He stretched his arms in a grandiose manner. Hm, it makes me sounds like I enjoy hitting people. Which is not – or just a bit – true ! I'm not a sadist like Erin. He thought, staring at her. She frowned as she didn't seem to know what to make of the stare.

“Anyway,” he resumed the conversation. “Will you be present at the audience ?” he asked Darius, who nodded. “Good. You wouldn't want to miss that.”

The noble gave him an anxious look while Erin covered her face with her palms. Such things only incited Azcheron to smile more than necessary.

Darius voiced his concerns. “You understand that my father and my house staked a lot on you ? Should I tell them to expect the worst ?”

Azcheron shrugged jovially. “I don't know. We'll see how it'll turn out !”

Obviously, Azcheron knew how everything would probably turn out. That, of course, he would not tell Erin, Anton and Darius, for he valued his theatrics far more than whatever mental preparation they were entitled to. Not like he was obligated to warn them !

And soon, the day of the audience would come.