Inside there are gigantic pillars on both sides. Cold wind touches Karl's body even though there are no windows around.
Ahead, on top of some stairs is a white throne occupied by a bearded man. He is wearing a luxurious cape and a white shirt. The man bears a striking resemblance to Ian. Like his hair colour and his facial structure.
The butler stops and bows. "I have brought him here, my lord." Butler's voice echoing around the empty hall. The man glances at Karl.
WHOOSH! A gust of wind pressures Karl to kneel. He tries to resist but fails and kneels on the ground. Karl grits his teeth and looks up at the man.
"You are Leo, I presume?" The man questions. Karl breathes mana and covers his entire body. Suddenly the pressure on Karl's back vanishes and he stands up.
"Yes, I am Leonard Avaritia. Ian's friend."
The butler looks at Karl with wide open eyes. "You peasant! How could you stand in the presence of a high knight? I-" Just then, the man on throne raises his hand and the butler immediately stops talking.
"I am Ray Desouza Phirsecot, head of the Phirsecot family and one of the remaining high knights in the U-block." Ray opens his eyes.
'Is he blind?' Karl wonders as there is no pupil in Ray's eyes.
"I will be frank with you. I have no interest in recommending you in the knight succession tournament. As you should know, currently the house of Phirsecot is on the brink of losing its knighthood. If I send a student who doesn't even relate to the Phirsecot house into the knight succession tournament other houses and sentinel families will laugh at Phirsecot's new generation."
'Ian huh?'
"That's why I want you to take this and tell Ian that you don't want to fight in the tournament." A knight in full silver armour and spear in hand tosses a wooden box on the ground.
'Where did he come from?' The box is filled with gems and golden ornaments such as necklaces and rings.
'Basically, take this money and lie to my son so my son won't bother me anymore, huh?' Karl thinks as he stares at the box.
"If I accept your deal, will you recommend Ian instead?" The butler who was quiet looks up at Ray.
"Never. Ian is my only son. Due to his disease, he can't even become a low knight. I want him to live quietly and rule the house of Phirsecot as he likes, I can't see him getting hurt."
"Then, I have to refuse your deal." Few more knights appear from the darkness, all ready to attack. Karl also breathes in mana. An intense situation is created where the one who makes the first move dies. Knights are ready to cut the arrogant brat to pieces while Karl is spreading mana throughout his body.
"HAHAHAHA!" The lord of Phirsecots breaks the tension. Everybody looks at Ray.
"Haah! Looks like you don't understand your situation yet." Ray takes his cape off and forces his body to stand with his malnourished hands. Even with the shirt, anyone can see the skeletal structure of his body. 'Is that really human?' The lord is easily towering over 7ft. If not for his clothes any adventurer would mistake him for a monster. Despite this obscure appearance, the lord looks beautiful. Like someone with robust beauty. Like a viking coming home after a brutal war. Like an eagle who lost his wings but not his superiority.
White smoke comes out of Ray's hand as he elegantly moves it. At first it looks like a dance move but Karl immediately disappears from his place.
BOOM! The ground splits in two parts. Karl appears in far-right corner of the hall. The knights make a circle around Karl, cornering him. Currently Karl's legs are visibly shaking. 'What was that? He split the entire hall in two parts with a simple movement of his hand. I barely saw that.'
"You got some nice footwork kid." Ray compliments as he steps down stairs. At the last step he disappears.
Karl's pupils dilate as his mind screams to move.
"Hmm. Looks like you are aware of my presence. But your body isn't reacting fast enough." Ray states as he stands in front of Karl.
Again, the white smoke comes from his hand. Karl pumps all of his mana into his legs. 'MOVE! DAMMIT!' He curses at his body.
Back then Karl was standing away from Ray but now he sees it. The wind is solidifying at the fingertips of Ray. He swipes- Karl foot reaches the ground and he launches in the air. As he was in a hurry, he didn't check his path and hits few knights head on.
BOOM! The ground shakes and an entire wall collapses. The debris falls on the ground where the soldiers were previously standing. Karl swiftly stands up and looks back. This time there are three slashes instead of one. It created a small hole on the ground.
"Oh? You saved my knights?" Karl glances down and sees knights fallen unconscious on the ground. 'The recoil must have been crazy with that armour.'
"I should reward you. How does a painless death sound?" Ray touches his chin as he thinks.
CREAK!
Ray quickly moves his hands and a mist wall appears covering the damage and debris. "Father! I just heard a big sound did something happen?" Ian peaks in and sees his father standing in front of a wall made of mist.
"Oh! My son. Me and your friend were just talking. He is a funny guy." Ray smiles as he tries persuade Ian.
"Oh? Then where is he?" Ray awkwardly looks at the wall. Just then Karl walks out of the mist wall, waving his hand.
Ian notices the excessive sweat on his face. "Where is Hector?" Ian asks.
"He went to get me a coffee." "I ordered him to prepare the lunch"
Both Karl and Ray said it at the same time. Ian's suspicion continues to grow. Ray glares at Karl.
'Don't glare at me old man. I am helping you.'
Ray coughs. "Ahem! I told him to bring some coffee while coming back." Karl smiles in confirmation.
'Ian was right. His father is the kindest person. But only for him.'
"Then, you are going to recommend Leo, right?" Ian asks. Ray is taken back with this question.
"Uh-Well."
Ian glares at his father. "Father. You did not threaten Leonard to run away, did you?"
Ray laughs awkwardly. "O-Of course not. Who do you think I am?"
"Then, recommended him. He defeated Sian on his own. He is something that our family needs."
Ray expression turns serious. "He? Defeated Sian?" Ian nods.
"But son you see-"
"Please?" Karl sees tears forming in Ian's eyes.
Ray quickly looks away and continues. "Other families won't accept-"
Just then Ian starts to sob. "YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME! I HATE YOU!" He turns back and runs away while crying.
"Oh? You made him cry. What a-"
Ray quickly turns back and slams Karl into the ground. His hand easily wraps around Karl's entire chest. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT." Ray yells.
'My back broke. Again. But who knew a high knight would have such vulnerable weakness.' Karl smirks.
"Recommended me and I will convince Ian not to hate you."
Ray tightens his grip. "I don't know what illusion you casted to fool my child but it won't work on me."
"Illusion magic? You seem to be underestimate me." Karl spreads his mana from chest to abdomen and easily slides away.
Baffled, Ray tries to catch Karl but his hands just passes through his body. "Looks like you aren't only bark."
Karl makes an annoyed expression. "Why are you stopping Ian from his potential?"
"Me? Stopping him? No, I am protecting him."
'Bullshit.' Karl hand glows purple and he summons a spear. It is too big for Karl. But that's he got for now. Karl takes his first step. Ray too dashes forward. Both of them are in air now. In such situations normally the one who is faster takes the win which makes Ray clearly the winner. He is moving a notch faster than Karl. He opens both of his arms leaving his head wide open. Karl doesn't change his direction and comes closer to Ray's trap.
'This kid is coming straight into my arms knowing that he would die. What a foolish person.' Ray mocks. Just few inches away, Ray notices Karl's unusual grip on the spear, he is holding the spear in a throwing position. A sudden realization hits Ray and he tries to move his head.
'Too late now.' Karl smiles creepily as Ray struggles move away. At the moment of impact Karl's body sinks into Ray's arms, his clothes don't make it through.
THUMP! Karl skits on the ground and quickly looks back, ready to strike again. Blood is dripping on the floor. The spear is deeply pierced into Ray's shoulder. Karl clicks his tongue as his spear missed the head. Ray grabs the spear and rips it off. Lot of blood is spread on the floor.
"Haah! You got guts kid. I give you that." On the outside Ray is praising Karl's attack on the inside he is starting to see Karl as a threat. 'Who would have thought that he would make his own body a bait just to hit a single attack. I was lucky as I saw his spell earlier, if I didn't saw it earlier my head would have been on the ground right now.'
Ray smiles. 'It's been a while since I saw such frightening tactics. Should I let loose for a bit?' A white magic circle appears on Ray's hand, it looks similar to Ian's magic circle. Blood slowly drips through Karl's nose. Despite this, he breathes in more mana.
"My lord!" Hector comes running out of the mist.
"Young master is trying to commit suicide."
The lord of the Phirsecot's quickly loses his cool. The wall of mist quickly dissipates in the air. The collapsed wall acts as a big window. In a distance Ian is seen standing at the edge of the cliff. Slowly moving forward. Ray grits his teeth, knowing that he can't do anything. If he went and tried convince Ian, things could turn really bad.
Ray makes a complex expression and looks at Karl.
'Caught you.' Karl smiles widely.
"I can talk with him, if you guarantee my recommendation." Ray doesn't say anything.
"MY LORD!" Hector screams as Ian is few steps away from the edge.
"Choose now. Your son? Or your family's reputation?" Karl questions.
He feels the change in the atmosphere, the tension is rising. Ray slowly steps towards Karl. He is now standing directly in front of Karl. Karl looks like mosquito in front of this giant. He lifts his hand.
This time Karl can't do anything, there is no point of taking in more mana. This close, Ray could kill Karl hundred times.
Ray's hand lands on Karl's shoulder, he is patting him. "The honour of the Phirsecots lays on your shoulder."
"Sure. Leave it to me."