After breakfast, Luzbel returned to his room, where an angry Ember jumped on his shoulder and began pecking his head while screeching in protest. Luzbel quickly understood that his winged companion was complaining about not waking her up and taking her with him. Tenderly, he tried to soothe her by stroking her soft plumage while whispering soothing words to her.
Meanwhile, someone knocked on the door and Vlad's voice made itself heard from the other side. "The master would like you to accompany him to the barracks," he announced. Luzbel nodded with understanding and looked at Ember, who, despite having disappeared in a cloak of darkness, was still present at his shoulder, as if her ethereal presence was always with him.
With a determined step, Luzbel went to meet Titus. Together, they boarded a carriage that would take them to the barracks. Inside the vehicle, while observing the city from the window, Titus took the floor. "Today I will introduce you to the Initiate Squad. They've been training for several months, but I don't think that will be a problem for you," he reported confidently.
After a silent ride, the carriage arrived at the front of the majestic barracks. The imposing white stone military barracks evoked the grandeur of the ancient Human Empire. Its perfectly carved walls adorned with marble columns and statues of soldiers created an atmosphere of solemnity. The central building, with frescoes narrating glorious battles, stood out as a symbol of leadership. In its courtyards and training grounds, soldiers marched with discipline, preparing to protect the empire. A place where heroes were forged and the legacy of valor and dedication was preserved. Luzbel and Titus walked through the corridors of the barracks, being greeted with reverence by all present. It was evident that Titus was respected and admired in that place.
Finally, they arrived in front of a military barracks. It was an austere but functional building. Its bare wooden walls and concrete floors created a simple and practical atmosphere. Beds lined up in neat rows, individual lockers and work tables formed the interior landscape. The constant sound of voices and camaraderie filled the air as soldiers rested and prepared for their military duties. Titus opened the door to an office and introduced Luzbel to the head of the Initiate Squadron who was seated at a desk.
Opposite him was Olaf, a short but extraordinarily stocky man with braided white hair and a powerful, meticulously manicured gray beard. Titus looked at Luzbel and spoke the words of introduction. "This is Olaf, the instructor of the Initiate Squadron."
Olaf shook Luzbel's hand firmly and gave him a serious look. "Boy, I'm sorry for your loss. Roland was a great friend of mine, one of the few who didn't mind that he was a dwarf," he revealed, surprising Luzbel with the news that he was a dwarf and an old friend of his grandfather.
Luzbel and Olaf's eyes met in a charged silence, but before they could deepen their connection, Titus interrupted their interaction. "I'm going, I'm leaving Luzbel in your care," he announced as he walked away. Olaf, between snorts, couldn't help but comment scathingly, "Fine, get the hell out of here and do some paperwork."
Titus walked away, muttering under his breath, "Rude as ever, you old grouch." Surprised by the exchange, Luzbel couldn't help but feel a certain discomfort and sheepishly asked, "Shouldn't you treat the Commander with more respect?" Olaf, in his characteristic powerful tone of voice, snorted and replied, "I taught him too, as did your grandfather Roland. I have every right to treat the little boy as I please. Okay, Luzbel, let's get on to something more important. You have to introduce yourself to the group." After saying that, the two walked into the courtyard.
With a resonant voice, the dwarf called out and all the members of the Initiate Squadron came out into the courtyard, standing in an orderly line. Olaf raised his voice and proclaimed, "Tadpoles, this is going to be your new companion. His name is Luzbel. Although he expected a more enthusiastic reaction from the young recruits, he found only hesitation and doubt at the sight of a boy younger than them joining the squad. Deciding to address the situation directly, Olaf announced, "Since I see you're not convinced, we'll have a duel. Who volunteers?"
At that moment, a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy stepped forward, showing determination in his gaze. Olaf nodded in approval and declared, "All right, Lancelot and Luzbel, take a wooden sword from the barrel." The two boys obeyed, grabbing a wooden sword each and positioning themselves within a stone circle prepared for the confrontation. At that moment Luzbel notices how Ember on his shoulder steps back to let him battle.
Olaf stood in the middle of the two contestants and spoke with authority: "The rules are simple. The first one to surrender or leave the circle loses. Begin!". At the sound of those words, the battle began.
At Olaf's command, Luzbel and Lancelot began their battle in the stone circle. Wooden swords clashed with energy and determination, filling the air with the metallic sound of their encounters. It was a frenzied dance of agile movements and precise defenses.
Luzbel, despite his inexperience in the use of mana, possessed a great advantage in the art of swordsmanship. His movements were fluid and graceful, as if the sword were a natural extension of his own body. Each strike and parry was carefully calculated, showing an innate ability for close combat.
However, his disadvantage in mana control was evident. Although he attempted to hurl fireballs towards Lancelot, inaccuracy and lack of control prevented him from reaching his target with precision. Still, the threat of his uncontrolled magic added a layer of danger to the battle.
The tension intensified as the two young combatants clashed with strength and determination. Lancelot was making use of his own clumsiness in wielding magic, hurling particles of sharp stones towards Luzbel, seeking to exploit his weakness in that regard.
The exchange of blows became more and more frantic. Luzbel dodged Lancelot's attacks with quick and precise movements, while he himself was looking for an opening in his opponent's defense. Both fought with all their might, each wishing to win the duel and gain the respect and acceptance of the squadron.
The battle reached its climax at a crucial moment. Luzbel, with a flash of genius, launched a fireball that exploded right in front of Lancelot's face. Taking advantage of his opponent's momentary bewilderment, he took a quick step forward and executed a precise thrust that pushed Lancelot out of the stone circle.
Surprise and admiration filled the faces of the other members of the squadron as they witnessed Luzbel's victory. Olaf, though initially skeptical, could not help but recognize the talent and skill of his new recruit. "Well done, Luzbel!" he exclaimed, breaking the momentary silence.
The squadron erupted in applause and cheers as Lancelot, though defeated, joined in the congratulations towards his adversary. Luzbel, breathing heavily, accepted the praise humbly, his heart filled with satisfaction and pride. He knew he had passed an important test and had won the recognition of his peers.
The duel had not only demonstrated his skills in swordsmanship, but also his ability to overcome his limitations in mana control. It was a crucial step on his way to becoming a true squad member and one step closer to the top.