Instructor Thors watched Lucian's training with a pleased smile: "Good job, Master Lucian. You’ve worked hard again today."

Fred, however, spoke impatiently with a mocking grin: "I'm still waiting for our second match. Don’t forget to fight me after your duel with Arslan!"

Lucian laughed joyfully: "Hahaha, thank you, all of you. Thanks to you, I feel even more confident about tomorrow’s duel."

One of the soldiers, cheerfully addressing the crowd, said: "In the end, you are a Wintergate, sir!" Then another added, "Training with the Dragon Slayer must be boring for you, hahaha!"

Lucian looked around at the people laughing and chatting, feeling deep gratitude inside: "These people have helped me so much. Instructor Thors, Fred, and all the soldiers… I must repay the favor. I must win tomorrow’s duel because they are my people, and I cannot let them down. I’m no longer Akira. I am now Lucian Wintergate!"

With more determination in his voice, he said, "Well then, I’m going to my room to rest. I’ll see you all at tomorrow’s duel."

Fred boldly called out: "Of course, we’ll all be there to watch!"

As Lucian walked to his room, his thoughts began to swirl. "The Dragon Siege and all this training... Even though I fought countless times in my old world, I was never in mortal danger or had to fight to kill someone. Even in my battles with Sensei, I always believed he would heal me with his magic. But in this world... it’s kill or be killed, that’s the real truth here."

When he entered his room, he noticed some food and a note on his desk. He was a bit surprised and touched. He read the note: "Master Lucian, I see how hard you’ve been working. I left this food for you, make sure to eat it all. I wish you success in tomorrow’s duel. -Cynthia"

Lucian smiled slightly: "Thank you, Cynthia," he muttered.

Just as he was about to start eating the food, there was a knock at the door.

Lucian, a bit tired but maintaining his composure, said: "Come in."

A servant entered the room, bowing politely: "Master Lucian, Marquis Arthur is waiting for you in his room."

Lucian sighed softly: "Alright, you may go," he said.

After the servant left, he muttered to himself sarcastically: "What do you want now, old man…"

He tossed a cookie into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully as he made his way to Marquis Arthur’s room.

...

When Lucian arrived at the door, the two guards standing there saluted him respectfully. One of them said in a serious tone, "Marquis Arthur is expecting you, sir."

Lucian muttered to himself as he opened the door: "Alright, let’s see what this is about…"

The atmosphere in the room immediately caught his attention. It was an old, heavy space, surrounded by large bookshelves. The shelves were filled with dusty tomes, and every corner carried the scent of history. The room was organized around a large, dark wooden desk. On the desk were several old maps and handwritten manuscripts. Despite the oppressive air of the room, Lucian tried to gather himself. Marquis Arthur sat in a large leather chair behind the desk; his eyes, despite his age, were sharp and attentive.

Marquis Arthur, in a cold tone, said: "Sit."

Lucian sat silently. There was a sense of unease within him, but he tried not to show it.

Marquis Arthur: "I’ve heard about tomorrow’s duel. You’ve been working hard with our troops."

Lucian replied in a controlled voice: "Yes, sir. Talented soldiers like Instructor Thors and Fred have been helping me."

Marquis Arthur: "I’ve heard you can use silent magic," he said, his eyes fixed on Lucian.

Lucian, feeling a bit uneasy but smiling sarcastically, responded: "Rumors spread quickly, huh…"

Sensing his discomfort, Marquis Arthur smiled slightly: "No need to worry, I didn’t call you here to say something bad."

Lucian, trying to relax, said: "Yes, sir."

Marquis Arthur: "The affairs with the branch families and everything else must be quite difficult, huh? You’re already having to fight a six-star warrior."

Lucian suppressed his anger, thinking to himself: "I wonder who caused all of this, if only you hadn’t spread that dragon nonsense!" But outwardly, he maintained a calm response: "It doesn’t matter. If I need to prove my strength, I’ll do it. Eventually, there will be others who want to face me. If I beat a six-star warrior, they’ll leave me alone for a while."

Marquis Arthur raised his eyebrows slightly: "You seem quite confident that you’ll win."

Lucian, with inner conviction, replied: "After all, I’m a Wintergate, sir. And besides, I’m your son."

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Marquis Arthur suddenly burst into loud laughter, and then the atmosphere shifted. The room filled with a suffocating aura; Lucian began to struggle to breathe. His heart raced as he gasped for air.

Marquis Arthur spoke in an authoritative voice: "Alright, Lucian, you seem to be aware of everything. There’s no need for me to treat you like a child. You know I see you as my heir. Setting aside what you accomplished at a young age, your talent is undeniable. But talent alone is not enough. If you want to be my heir, you must be stronger than everyone. Defeat those who challenge you, crush your enemies, and prove to me that you deserve to be my heir!"

Lucian, struggling to breathe, thought, "Damn it, I can’t breathe…"

When Marquis Arthur retracted his aura, Lucian took a deep breath, feeling slightly relieved.

Marquis Arthur’s voice was now calmer and more composed: "Still, it would be wise to be cautious. There’s another candidate I consider as my heir. You haven’t met him yet, but I’m sure you’ve seen him at the party. The seven-star young talent, Noah Wintergate."

Lucian narrowed his eyes: "Noah Wintergate… He concealed his aura so well that I couldn’t gauge his level, but I noticed him watching me. He’s more cautious than the others. Instead of showing off his power, he prefers to stand back and observe."

Marquis Arthur broke the silence: "If you want to be my heir, you’ll definitely have to defeat him. But for now, focus on tomorrow’s duel."

Lucian, with an inner sense of sarcasm, thought, "I have no intention of being your heir, I want to escape this damned place at the first chance..." But outwardly, he simply said: "Thank you."

Marquis Arthur, with a serious expression, asked: "Have you ever heard of Rutherford Academy?"

Lucian replied: "Of course, sir. It’s a place where the most talented teachers from all over the world gather, and the most talented students from across the globe receive education. It’s the kind of academy everyone dreams of attending."

Marquis Arthur fixed his serious gaze on Lucian. "You have to be at least 16 to enter," he said confidently. "But exceptions can be made for the exceptionally talented. I want you to take the entrance exam next year and go to the academy. I’m sure it will contribute to your development."

A shadow of hesitation briefly crossed Lucian's face. "Rutherford Academy... There's no doubt it’s an amazing school," he thought. "But am I good enough to enter? I only know certain things and my combat experience is limited. It might be tough to get accepted into such a prestigious school. And why does he want this from me?"

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Lucian asked, "May I ask why you want me to go, sir?" He locked eyes with Marquis Arthur.

Arthur smiled slightly, "You’ll understand once you get there," he said mysteriously.

Lucian inwardly thought, "Thanks for nothing, old man!" But outwardly, he only murmured, "Alright, sir."

Arthur's smile widened. "Good luck with tomorrow's duel. I’ll be there to watch. The soldiers have been filing requests for leave just to watch your duel. It seems you’ve already become a good leader," he said mockingly. "You may go now."

Lucian quietly bowed his head and left the room. Once alone behind the door, he began talking to himself. "So they want to watch me, huh? I wouldn’t mind just escaping from here... But living with people who care for me, like the soldiers, Fred, Instructor Thors, Serenna, and Cynthia, isn’t too bad either." Then, after a brief pause, with a determined expression, he continued, "Anyway, the only thing I need to focus on right now is tomorrow's duel!" he said and headed to his room.

His room was dimly lit, but the aroma of the food Cynthia had left filled the air. As he filled his stomach, his mind kept drifting between the duel, Marquis Arthur’s expectations, and Noah Wintergate. The comfort of the food helped him relax a bit, and he took a deep breath. After finishing his meal, he lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "I need a clear mind," he muttered and began practicing the breathing techniques he had learned from the Great Mage Sagar. With each breath, the chaos in his mind slowly dissipated.

...

The next morning, Lucian woke up early. Only a few hours remained until the duel. He quickly got ready and did a few light warm-up exercises. Just then, there was a knock on the door. When he opened it, he found Cynthia standing there.

“Good morning, Master Lucian. I brought your breakfast,” said Cynthia, looking down shyly.

Lucian smiled as he took the tray. “Thank you, Cynthia. Also, thanks for the food yesterday; it really helped me.”

Cynthia replied bashfully, “I’m glad I could help you. I wish you success in today’s duel; I’m sure you will win.”

Lucian felt that Cynthia’s words gave him strength. “Thanks to you, I feel stronger,” he said.

As the time for the duel approached, Lucian set off toward the arena. At the entrance to the arena, Fred and Instructor Thors were waiting for him.

Fred grinned excitedly. “The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived! Are you ready, Master Lucian?”

Instructor Thors supported Fred from behind. “Everyone is here to cheer for you; we have full faith that you will win!”

With the support of his friends, Lucian found courage. “Thanks, guys,” he said, stepping into the arena.

As he entered, he saw the stands packed with spectators. Soldiers from the Wintergate family, noble families, and a large audience were eagerly waiting. In the center of the arena stood Arslan, waiting in his shining armor. The large sword in his hand heightened the seriousness of the battle.

Lucian approached Arslan. They greeted each other, and when their eyes met, both held the same determination in their gazes.

Arslan spoke with a mocking smile. “I never thought you would show up. I figured you would make a show and then somehow run away.”

Lucian replied without blinking. “Did you think I would be afraid of a little lizard as the Dragon Slayer?”

Arslan retorted mockingly, “Your words are quite sharp, Master Lucian.”

At that moment, the referee stepped into the center of the arena and spoke loudly. “The duel will continue until one side surrenders. Any attack made after a surrender will be punished by death.” He then stepped back, signaling the start of the duel.

The noise from the crowd shifted to an excited anticipation. Marquis Arthur’s eyes were fixed on Lucian.

Lucian scanned the crowd. “The Marquis, the branch families, curious nobles, Serenna, Lily… Everyone is here. If I win this match, they won’t leave me alone for a while,” he thought.

Hugo’s voice rose from the crowd. “You can do it, Master Lucian!”

Lucian turned to Hugo in surprise. “Hugo? Did you come too?”

Hugo nodded seriously. “I was supposed to return long ago, but Alice insisted. She said we needed to watch you.”

When Lucian looked to his right, he saw Alice standing there. She shyly bowed her head. “D-Dad!” she whispered.

Lucian smiled at her. “Thank you for coming!” he said sincerely.

Alice blushed and shouted, “You idiot, you better win!”

Lucian fixed his gaze on Arslan. “Oh yes, I will win!”

Suddenly, Arslan lunged forward, swinging his massive sword. It was so powerful that the wind from the sword cut through the air. Just as the sword was about to hit Lucian, Arslan felt a moment of emptiness. Lucian was no longer there.

Lucian spoke calmly. “I guess you haven’t learned not to interrupt the words of your elders.”

When Arslan turned around in shock, he realized Lucian was standing tall behind him.

“Oh, you’re speaking big words for a little child,” Arslan said, fury igniting in his eyes.

Both of their gazes sharpened. The duel had officially begun.