As he strode onto the field, the man's presence commanded attention. In his late twenties, he held himself with an air of authority and elegance. A white military uniform adorned with golden embroidery added to his distinguished appearance, and a cane completed his ensemble. It was clear that he was someone of great importance.
Next to him stood the student whom Sirius had requested to bring an instructor, indicating that the man present was the instructor that Sirius had asked for.
"...Lord Hughes." Sirius muttered under his breath as he watched the man stride towards the center of the field.
The name rang a bell in my mind—I couldn't possibly forget this man. He was a figure known to every citizen in the Republic of Acuna, and for good reason.
Hughes Lios.
He was a renowned figure in the republic, known for his mastery in both swordsmanship and magic. Remarkably, he held the position of the head of Lios house at a young age, an impressive feat that earned him even more recognition. It was difficult to find anyone in the republic who wasn't familiar with his name and reputation.
As Hughes strode across the courtyard, people instinctively moved out of his path, their faces reflecting a mixture of dread and reverence. All eyes were on him as he made his way towards Marcus.
"Marcus, what a magnificent display of skill," Hughes said, his voice carrying a hint of awe.
Leon watched from the sidelines, but Hughes didn't even spare him a glance.
"Truly befitting of the Asura house heir, your movements were as graceful as they were precise, and your swordsmanship was nothing short of superb. I have no doubt that within a year's time, you shall have mastered the art of the sword completely. As an esteemed instructor of swordsmanship and a grandmaster of the craft myself, I give you my word." Lord Hughes spoke with genuine admiration in his voice.
"Such achievements are solely attributable to your expert guidance, Master," Marcus proclaimed, offering a respectful bow of his head.
"You need not feign humility, for you are truly great. Hold your head high and continue to astound me, Marcus."
"I will not betray your expectations, Master."
Lord Hughes's tone conveyed his high regard for Marcus, acknowledging his formidable skill and talent. This praise was particularly significant, given Hughes Lios's reputation for uncompromising standards and impatience with incompetence. Marcus was clearly held in high esteem by a man of such discernment.
As Lord Hughes shifted his focus to Leon, his tone underwent a noticeable transformation. His facial expression contorted into one of disgust, as if he found Leon to be a repulsive being.
"Regarding the matter of betraying expectations, I must ask: why is this worm still present here? If I recall correctly, Marcus, you proposed that he leave the school 'immediately' in the event of his defeat. Does he not comprehend the definition of the term 'immediately'?"
"I..." Leon stammered. "I demand a rematch!"
The entire courtyard fell into an awkward silence. Even I felt goosebumps rising on my skin at the weight of his demand. A rematch? How could he even consider such a thing? He had barely managed to keep up with Marcus, if he could even be said to have kept up with him at all. It was clear to everyone that his demand was utterly absurd.
"A rematch?" Lord Hughes raised an eyebrow.
"That's right!" Leon exclaimed, his eyes blazing with determination. "I demand a rematch with him, and I won't stop until he apologizes for what he said about my parents. Even if it's the last thing I do, I won't let him get away with it."
I could see the intensity in Leon's gaze as he looked at Marcus. He was resolute in his desire to make things right and would not back down until he achieved his goal. The conviction in his voice made it clear that he was serious about this rematch and that he would do everything in his power to win it.
However, Sir Hughes wasn't willing to entertain the idea. "How incredibly foolish."
Leon's confusion was evident in his voice as he asked, "What...?"
"I do recall conveying to you previously that I have no inclination to invest my time in an individual devoid of talent. The fact remains that instructing an incompetent such as yourself would be an utter squandering of my valuable time."
Lord Hughes regarded Leon with a cold and disapproving stare, in stark contrast to the firm but not unkind look he reserved for Marcus. Leon couldn't help but flinch under the weight of his disdainful gaze, and he quickly looked away.
With a heavy heart, Leon uttered, "My education no longer matters to me. If I can just defeat Marcus and force him to apologize, then I will leave this school behind for good."
When Leon declared that he was willing to forgo his education in order to compel Marcus to apologize, Sirius visibly reacted with surprise, which was expected given the gravity of Leon's sacrifice.
However, Lord Hughes had a different response. He let out an exasperated sigh, as if he had anticipated Leon's words beforehand.
"It is a foregone conclusion that your departure from this institution has been decided, ever since your defeat. Requesting a rematch would necessitate placing another wager, lest the victor of the initial duel be placed at a disadvantage without the loser proposing an alternative bet. Now, pray tell, what stakes do you propose to risk should you lose once more? Are there any other possessions or privileges that you hold dear and are willing to put on the line?"
When it was pointed out, Leon looked down. Along with attending this school, what other things did he possess? This appeared to be what he was contemplating as he fixed his eyes on the ground.
"If you don't, then get up and leave the premises of this school. As of this moment, you are deemed an outsider and are no longer welcome here."
Lord Hughes placed his hand on his breast pocket and retrieved a piece of paper. He then tossed it towards Leon, and although it fell gently to the ground, the weight of its contents was palpable. It was his withdrawal form, and its words carried a significant impact.
Leon picked up the withdrawal slip and clenched it in his hand, but then he did something unexpected. He crumpled it into a ball and hurled it towards the backs of Lord Hughes and Marcus as they were leaving.
Although it appeared that he was targeting Marcus, fate had a different plan as the crumpled paper struck Hughes instead.
Lord Hughes abruptly halted his stride, his piercing gaze fixed behind him. With a stern expression etched upon his face, he queried, "Disrespectful. Is this the manner in which you were instructed to conduct yourself in the etiquette class?"
"I-I didn't mean to..." Leon attempted to apologize but stumbled over his words. However, before he could finish, Lord Hughes interrupted him with a sharp comment.
"I suppose it's only natural for you to behave that way, considering you're his son."
Upon hearing this, Leon's expression shifted, indicating surprise or confusion.
"What do you mean by that...?"
"Your countenance is strikingly similar to that of your father's at your age. In those days, he was deemed a failure and a disappointment in the Asura household. Alas, now I understand why you too are regarded as a disappointment. You bear an undeniable resemblance to your father in this regard." stated Hughes, with a stern expression.
The flickering flame in Leon's eyes suddenly blazed brighter, and with swift determination, he rose to his feet upon hearing Lord Hughes' remark. "What did you say?! I don't care if you're the Head of the Lios house! Take those words back right this instant!"
"I speak the truth, do I not? Why should I be compelled to retract my statement?"
Leon's fists shook with rage, his vision blurring with tears. "You don't have the right to speak of my father that way. I demand that you retract your words!"
"I assure you, I speak with complete honesty. And if you seek to compel me to retract my statements, what action will you take? Challenge me to a duel, perhaps? How simplistic and feeble-minded. Know your place, Leon. You lack the fortitude and capability to even come close to matching my skill. Do not further shame yourself." Lord Hughes cast a frosty glance upon Leon and spoke, "Merely remaining in this place is an exercise in futility, and I shall not waste my time and words on it any longer. Come, Marcus, we have more pressing matters to attend to."
"Yes."
As Marcus turned his back, he cast a smirk in Leon's direction. But Leon, unable to contain his anger any longer, shouted at both of them.
"Retract those words!"
With sword in hand, he charged towards the two. Sirius, aware that Leon was about to act recklessly, tried once more to intervene. "Leon, what are you doing?! You can't do that!"
But Leon heard nothing as he charged towards their retreating back. As he was just fingers away, he swung his sword and it hit Lord Hughes.
But there was no resistance. When he looked up, he saw Lord Hughes's figure vanishing.
"...An afterimage?!" he exclaimed.
"You really have no manners, Leon."
Suddenly, a frigid voice pierced the silence from behind, causing Leon's body to tremble. As he turned his head slightly, he felt a sharp, icy blade pressed against his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
"It seems you have forgotten the consequences of raising your hand against me. However, I will let it pass this time since you are a member of the Asura house."
In a voice so cold it could freeze the air, Lord Hughes spoke words that implied he would have beheaded Leon without hesitation if he weren't a member of the Asura house. He then calmly sheathed his sword back into his cane and strode towards the school building, not sparing Leon even a glance as he passed him by.
"Be grateful that you belong to such a prestigious lineage, for without that name to bear, you are but a mere nobody."
Leon fell silent and hung his head in shame and defeat. Lord Hughes had spoken the truth. Without the Asura name to support him, he was nothing.
"Come on, Marcus, we're leaving. And as for you, I expect you to be long gone by the time I return. Clear?"
Leon's silence persisted as he kept his gaze fixed on the floor. His lack of response was met with a scowl from Lord Hughes.
"If you have comprehended my message, then I suggest you remove yourself from my presence. Your presence is a disturbance to my eyes."