Chapter 63 - General Commander's Return III

The moment Gabriel's uniform changed from the regular grey officer uniform with purple details and black lines to his official one, the atmosphere on the training grounds changed. Some of the officers still couldn't understand what it meant instantly, but those of higher rankings recognized the color pallet of the one in front of them and the emblem on his chest.

The major who had just asked Cael dropped his jaw as he looked back to his commander.

"Everyone, I would like to present everyone's opponent for today's exercise: one of our General Commanders, Sir Gabriel. We aim to land a single hit on him or for him to put on his armor," Cael said as he allowed his mana to flow outside his body.

Gabriel stayed silent, awaiting the officers to sinch back to reality and for them to start.

While Cael took control of the situation in the barracks, a person ran over to the palace's halls. A man wearing a silk uniform as well. His were mainly white and blue, with black lining. He opened a door twice his height and was immediately stopped upon entering.

"Halt! Who dares enter the throne room without announcing themselves?" A guard inquired. One hand is on the person's chest, and the other holds a long spear. He was purple in armor with silver details. Next to him, another guard stood perfectly still with the same uniform.

"Commander Verchiel, here to speak with his majesty." said the white and blue silk man.

"Commander, you should know that this entrance can only be used in emergencies."

"Stand down. What is it, Verchiel?" a voice echoes through the empty room.

As the voice echoed, Verchiel lowered his head instantly. He didn't kneel, but his body instantly formed a salute, and his eyes aimed at the floor. Recognizing the voice, he spoke without looking up. "General Commander Raphael, it's the barracks, sir."

"Elaborate."

"It is General Commander Gabriel, sir."

"Is it the barracks or General Commander Gabriel?... Speak Verchiel."

Verchiel still closed, but two blue eyes surged inside his mind as if looking into his soul. He corrected his posture, straightened it, and looked forward. The owner of the eyes that opened inside his mind was before him, biting an apple and waiting for his answer.

"It is both, sir. General Commander Gabriel is currently employing a training event on the capital's barracks."

"You may leave." as Raphael said it, he waved his hand, ignoring the commander's presence, and walked toward the throne in the back of the room.

I'm a Commander, and I still have chills on my spine every time I face one of them. Verchiel thought as he looked at Raphael's back. Behind the man was a purple and golden throne facing a transparent wall that overlooked the city. Raphael leaned toward the side of the throne, but before Verchiel could confirm the message had been delivered, a hand touched his shoulder.

"Commander, you were told to leave," said the same guard. His eyes showed no emotion, and despite Verchiel's strength, the hand on his shoulder felt like an immovable mountain.

Having informed the king through General Commander Raphael, Verchiel decided to go to the barracks and try to participate in the exercise Gabriel was coordinating. Arriving, he found all officers exhausted and looking at the sandpit in the barracks.

"Don't they get tired?" An officer wearing his army's standard battle armor.

"The Major held his own for about five minutes, much more than the rest…" answered another.

Verchiel looked around, and all of them seemed to be without injury. How can they fight a General Commander and leave so ok?

Looking forward, a scene unfolding before his eyes could also not be explained with reason. Cael was going all out. His armor shone, especially the gemstones embedded in it. His spear danced as spells were launched to create an opening, and its blade pursued his opponent.

As Verchiel watched their battle, Gabriel smiled at him, using his hand to call the commander inside the training grounds. He did it while backstepping; his footwork felt more like a dance than anything else. The core offering of turning and bending speed is even higher than the spear rotational force. Every time the spear swang around Cael's wrists and launched an attack, Gabriel would leave about a centimeter of space between him and the blade, explaining the sign that allowed him to see through the trajectory of the incoming blow. He would also use mana pulses to create images of how he could have exploited the movement to his advantage.

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Cael noticed the smile and the hand movement. Trying to capitalize on the situation, the commander twisted the spear around his neck, placing both hands at the very end of the weapon as his body turned, adding momentum to a committed attack. He timed it instantly with Gabriel's eyes looking at something on the side. The blade had a perfect trajectory, and the General Commander wasn't wearing his armor yet, so he felt no fear of connecting the blow; on the contrary, he used a surge of mana to gain even more momentum and power behind the attack.

No coming back, you are mine!! Cael thought as his spear was about to hit its target.

"Very perceptive, but not enough," Gabriel said as his eyes turned and glared at Cael's. For an instant, the entire training ground resembled the night sky. In front of him was still Gabriel, looking at him in the eyes. But behind him, Cael saw it. A version of Gabriel that few had seen. He wore his full battle armor, his double-handed sword was lodged on the floor, and his hands held its hilt. The mirage opened its eyes, taking the sword from its resting position and using it at a speed and angle that would be impossible to block. Cael blinked when the mirage was about to hit his right shoulder pallet.

"Cael, Commander Cael, are you alright?"

"What happened?" Opening his eyes, Verchiel was before him.

"You missed your swing and took the general's palm straight in your face."

"You didn't see him in battle armor? Didn't the sky change for an instant?"

"How hard did the General Commander hit you, Cael?"

"I must be seeing things. Where is General Commander Gabriel?"

"With the king, I imagine, but how should I know? He said a few words and simply disappeared from the training ground."

What was that? I thought I had the upper hand at the end, Cael thought before rising to his feet and returning to his commander uniform. "You should help me out, Verchiel. Are you still responsible for assigning the Royal Academy Cadets? Let's go to my office."

As both men walked toward the inside of the barracks, Gabriel appeared in the corridor before the throne room.

Gabriel looked at the main entrance of the king's office and breathed heavily. As his lungs filled his uniform, the door opened before he could knock.

"The king wishes to speak, Gabriel."

Gabriel smiled coldly as he heard the voice echoing through the hall. Facing the king sitting on the throne of Luminaris, Gabriel kneeled and ultimately lowered his head.

“My king.”

"Rise. What brought you to the capital?" The king didn’t bother looking at his general commander.

Gabriel could perceive the annoyance and bitter tone of the king.

“Thank you, your majesty. I’ve come bearing good news for the royal family.”

Hearing his tone, the king’s right eyebrow rose an inch before coming back down.

“My king, I found…” Gabriel started to speak, rising to his feet. Instantly, a mass of mana crunched him down to the floor once again. Beside the king, Raphael, wearing his full battle armor, looked at Gabriel with his eyes shining green.

“The last two years haven’t gone unnoticed. How dare you rise before your king.”

With a wave of the king's hand, Raphael released the pressure he exerted over Gabriel.

“Speak, Gabriel.”

“As I was saying, my king. I found a technique for a magical body to absorb nearly ninety percent of the mana offered from the core.”

The king remained seated, but his eyes opened a bit wider. He had dark brown eyes with tints of golden honey. Gabriel didn't hold their gaze for long, again lowering his head.

Behind the two, Raphael's eyes shone even stronger than before, but this time, he didn't channel any pressure toward Gabriel or anyone, simply looking at Gabriel with fire in his soul.

"My king, despite the recent past, my loyalty never wavered. I used the principle of the technique myself, and it works. I wish for you and the royal family to have it."

While he talked, Raphael circled the two, taking his sword and slowly placing it on Gabriel's neck. A thin line of blood surged when it touched as Raphael said, "Your new vow, General Commander Gabriel. Explain."

Gabriel allowed mana to coat his body, healing the cut instantly as he turned his eyes toward Raphael.

"The price I had to pay for the technique. In no way will it harm the crown."

"Enough!" The king rose from his throne, making both men lower their gaze and kneel.

"Gabriel, I'll gather the royal family for you to share the technique tonight. Raphael, get his vow's details and ensure it is completed without issue."

The king turned his back to them, raising his left hand as a purple aura expanded from his body, encompassing the entire hall. It was thick enough that the light from the outside was blocked. Inside the sudden darkness with purple traces, two purple suns called the attention of both generals. "Remember your role. Do not disappoint me, Gabriel." the king said as the darkness dissipated, and standing in the hall remained only Raphael and Gabriel.

"What was the real price?" Raphael said, standing up and extending his hand toward Gabriel. He pushed the hand away from him, standing up as well and facing his companion head-on.

"As I said, it will not harm the king," Gabriel said, walking out of the hall without looking back.

Gabriel used the rest of the day to finish the administrative work that had accumulated while he was away. Some of his soldiers had caused problems, some became adventurers, and others changed ranks inside the army. As he read through their stories in front of the fire, his stomach turned wherever one of his men suffered.

A sudden knock on the door woke him from his melancholy. The sunlight hit his face as the door opened, and his palm blocked his eyes, trying to adjust.

“I found your cadet commander,” Carl said, opening the windows completely.

“Take me to him,” Gabriel said, changing his official uniform.

Both walked through the capital toward the academy.

A structure with eight towers soared to the skies at the city's edge. From afar, it blocked the stars on the horizon. Over the outer wall, another building with four inside towers and a central structure overlooking it all. The three-layered complex stood out at a hill over the entire city.

When Gabriel crossed the entrance wall, a fireball shot toward the sky. The spell broke in the morning sky, which was black in essence. Cadets looked at the picture formed by the spell and ran toward the academy's entrance.

Thousands reached the center area of the academy, looking at the black marks in the sky. The dark mark started to form a design that made everyone tremble. The dark lines in the sky formed a winged shield with a roaring lion backed by crossing swords. The rumor around the academy started to murmur as people ran toward the entrance. In a moment, all cadets and veterans reached a window at the edge of the main entrance and watched as the black and white robe with golden details entered the outside wall. Gabriel heard screams and clapping; the closer he got, the louder it was.

He looked at Cael, who opened his shoulders and hands, looking at his general commander.