"Don't be cocky! If I put on my gauntlets, you'll be the one on the ground instead!" Lucas howled. But from the differences in their position, his action is no different from a loser screaming at unfairness.
"Heh... What a sore loser. You're the one that is incapable of defeating me when you have the advantages. Didn't I let you have your way at first?" Hespar replied after he chucked twice. He's not a stranger to the shamelessness amongst those his age, but he had no idea that Lucas was a part of them.
"Get back to your seats. As for the two of you, come in front." before Lucas could reply to what Hespar said, the voice belonged to a middle-aged man who came into the classroom. There's an assertive tone in his voice and a hint of pressure and confidence in each word.
As someone who used to be around his father, Hespar knew that only those with strength on par with his father could exert such an impression from words alone.
"Sir!" without further ado, Hespar and Lucas stepped forward and stood side by side before the middle-aged man. Both of them might have no recollection of this individual's identity. Still, they knew the person that came in after him.
He was the headmaster of the soldier's training center and the advisor assigned by the Sauro Kingdom to be based in Lavos Village. In both position and power, the headmaster was on par with Hector.
"Good morning, Headmaster Torres!" the two quickly greet the headmaster. It was then followed by the other students inside the classroom.
"Let me introduce this guest to all of you. He's a titled Baron appointed by the Sauro Kingdom to oversee all of you this time." the headmaster started his speech by introducing the individual, starting with his background first.
"Titled Baron? Doesn't that make him a noble? What are the differences between a titled Baron and a Baron?" the students with less awareness and worries started to discuss themselves softly. The impression that they could offend this so-called noble doesn't seem to come into their minds.
They were lucky that this noble baron wasn't as vague and selfish as the rumored nobles everyone was talking about.
"Ahem! I'm not finished yet. Save your small talks after the class." the headmaster coughed and stopped the trainees from bickering amongst themselves. With the class now quieter, the headmaster nodded at the titled baron as an indication to speak.
"I'm Baron Arc-Heart. Some of you might know me as the Beheader of the East." the baron introduced himself.
Everyone in the class had a shiver all over their body when they heard his nickname. It was customary for a noble to have a title. Still, nobody expected that such a celebrity would be made his way so far to this Lavos Village for a mere trainee examination.
The Beheader of the East.
This name was a source of fear to the Fennis soldiers posted on their western territories. Whenever the phrase "beheader" was mentioned, there was no soldier from Fennis willing to stay on the battlefield. To make it worst, his name was even used while disciplining a child to teach them to be more obedient to their parents.
It seems the class was not entirely silenced after the self-introduction. The students don't even dare to breathe loudly due to a self-induced fear.
"Relax. I don't come here to exert dominance over the people in Lavos Village. Instead, I come here with an opportunity." the baron smiled while he continued with his speech.
"Some of you might or might not know, but the situation in the eastern front is getting critical over the years. We have credible information that the Fennis Empire plans to attack our eastern front. And right now, it is up to us to defend it."
"My reason here was simple. I am assembling an elite battalion on the Royal Highness's command to go against Fennis Empire when they attacks. For this reason alone, I will be taking 100 of you with me after this examination to join the newly assembled eastern front battalion."
"Those performing excellently will be granted an officer's position right away upon joining, and the top of the class will be given additional military rights. We'll assemble a battalion with 1,000 men strong, which means there will only be 10 officers post up for grab."
"I hope everyone here is ready and fired up for the challenge." the baron added before ending his speech. True to his position as a baron, his words were chosen carefully. It was simple but still capable of rousing the spirit of those within the classroom.
"As for the two of you... I believe you both know where you should put your energy now, correct?" the baron smiled at Hespar and Lucas.
"Yes, Sir!" both of them quickly replied. Even a fool would be intimidated by the baron's smile.
The class went on as usual following the announcement. And with the baron around, the trainees seem to be concentrating better. And when the sparring segment finally comes, something unexpected happens.
"Hespar and Lucas, correct? I'll be your opponent. Both of you will spar with me." the baron said. His words sound like a noble granting the peasant their wish but, at the same time, sound like an eagle picking on two weak sparrows.
If there's a choice, Hespar would rather not spar with this noble.
Unfortunate for them, this is an order they couldn't reject. And since there's no way out for them, Hespar could only grab the best wooden sword that suits his grip. Lucas was doing the same by arming himself with the most comfortable gauntlets.
"Come at me whenever you're ready." said the baron. His battle posture was one of a kind. The back of his right palm was facing the two youths, and his left was sticking behind his waist. His standing posture is similar to a horse stance but moves a step forward.
From an observer's point of view, he's no different from a martial artist.
"Hespar, tell me what is in your mind," Lucas asked. There seemed to be a hint of worry in his words.
"What's in my mind? Not losing right away, I guess?" Hespar replied and licked his lips. Even without using his Aura or whatever, the terrifying impression given out by the baron is as sharp as a dozen of daggers pointing at them.
"Who's better, you think? Your father or the baron?" Lucas continued. The sound of bone cracking can be heard as he tightens his fist. His posture is gradually changing as he fortified his stance before attacking.
This time, both of them were taking it seriously. Sweat was already forming around their forehead even before making a move.
"Are you joking? My father's attack is still filled with some compassion. But the baron? I can only feel more knives coming out the longer I met his eyes." Hespar said.
"I hit. You backup." Lucas charged upfront the moment he finished his sentence. That momentum alone was triple the power used in his fight against Hespar before this.
Hespar does not lose out too much either. Moving just half a second slower than Lucas, he's ready to connect his attack with Lucas by attacking the baron on his right.
"Are they crazy? Why both of them are attacking the baron's right side?" all the trainees were dumbfounded by their coordination.