I took a moment to breathe. The lack of mana in my body made me lightheaded, so I needed to rest.
On the other hand, August sat in awe, inspecting the relic we obtained.
The jade plating of the vambrace was tightly knitted on August's forearm by sharp silver thorns. Although it looked painful to wear, August was unphased.
Finally, achieving something he'd worked so hard towards. A relieved yet determined look spread across his face.
"Doesn't that hurt?"
I asked.
August nonchalantly replied with a laugh, "Haha, thankfully not. But I can't say it'll stay that way."
He formed a grimacing smile. And I knew exactly why.
I learned it early on in our fourth loop. These vambraces were a double-edged sword. It was in their name.
While it does boost your five senses, that also includes pain. Resulting in extreme discomfort for even the lightest of scratches.
I couldn't even imagine what it'd feel like to die with that equipped.
Now that we've obtained two boosts to our strength, it is time to set a proper plan.
Our battle plans up till this point were obviously all failures. However, they've given us enough knowledge to survive.
Now we just needed to keep Aurelia alive. And thankfully, I think I've figured out a means.
There was only one problem with it though. A variable still existed that I couldn't account for yet.
That remaining variable was August, rather August's heroic nature. Even though Aurelia is ranked second amongst all of the first years, August still has a habit of putting her life above his.
Leading to his death in almost every single loop so far.
It wouldn't be a problem if he could fend for himself. However, his swordsmanship was... subpar to say the least.
Even an inexperienced person like me can tell how sloppy it is. It's almost as if he's never held a sword until now.
Well, although I can't say that's certain, knowing a person is inhabiting August. I don't know their past. But I do know August Vale.
And he was never a swordsman. Instead, August Vale was registered to become a mage here at the academy.
His paper-thin body is even weaker than my own. It was clear one swing of that maul was all August could muster.
Could he compete against Lysander with just a boost to his five senses?
No. Having August alone as a frontline wasn't enough.
I needed someone else to fight against Lysander with him. Unfortunately, I dug myself into a corner with that one.
And at this point, I'd be no better than a coward if I didn't stand up and handle it myself.
So it was time to try.
On the afternoon of the seventh and final day, he arrived. Quietly, opening the library door, Lysander's scarred face shone against the setting sun.
He searched around, finally catching his target within view.
Aurelia Everblade. A beautiful woman with long scarlet hair and innocent sky-blue eyes. He remembered her hair quite well, as it was the object of his mistress's hatred.
However, as he got closer, he couldn't help but feel something was off.
She hadn't noticed him, still reading silently. But his senses were sharp. And they noticed something different about Aurelia.
It was difficult to pinpoint it. Like a single piece missing from a puzzle, he was unaware he had to solve.
The elegance in her beauty wasn't there. It was as if the nobility in her blood had been muddied.
Lysander didn't say anything. It only took seconds for him to conclude this fact, but he was still wasting time.
Not many knights could match his blade. In assassination, he was Thalia's best. But that didn't mean he couldn't be careful.
Nobody could find out about this.
No witnesses could be kept alive. It was the reason he prepared the barrier beforehand.
Lysander prepared three spells for today.
One of which was the barrier spell, Empty Shell.
All three were runes. Inscribed on different parts of his gear, they held limited use. Once per rune, he could cast the spell inscribed.
Using magic was not his forte. Though he'd developed his own original spell, Shadow Tag to assist in assassinations. He could only use it once.
Everything had to be calculated.
So, Lysnader readied himself. Dashing forward, he pulled his dagger from its sheath and aimed toward her throat.
"Shadow Tag..."
The shadows the setting sun set upon the floor gripped Aurelia's feet. It was a difficult spell to break from. Now he wouldn't have to fear her running away.
But the moment he was about to reach striking range, a strange smile sent a shiver down his spine. Aurelia's reaction made the atmosphere around her even stranger.
Shadow Tag was a spell that weighed down the target with fear. The natural response often made the target an easy kill.
It is why the devil's smile only amplified his worries.
This had to be a trap. Those were his immediate thoughts.
However, Aurelia's voice gripped his heart with an even greater worry.
"Shadow Tag."
Lysander tried to escape, but the shadows reeled him in. With a strong grip, it kept his feet firmly in place.
Panic.
Fear.
These were feelings foreign to Lysander. He had bottled them away years ago.
But yet. Now they brought him into a state of panic.
It was the worst state of mind for any assassin. As such, he quickly tried removing those thoughts.
However, as the silver shine of a sword came into view, he quickly devoted his attention to it. Dodging by a hair, the wielder of said blade came into view.
'August Vale?'
The blonde noble looked ready to kill. His eyes held content on Lysander alone.
His noble status as a son of Ignatius Vale, showed a steady decline as he's become nothing but a rich brat. However, such a brat was intent on cutting his throat.
It was strange.
But the identity of the individual didn't matter to Lysander. Any witnesses would be finished here and now.
As it was, the boy's sloppy strikes and poor physique were already slowing him down. It would be a clean kill, but the individual in front of him was still a threat
Lysander wasn't sure how or why they were able to use his magic. Shadow Tag was his original spell, something he alone came up with.
Yet it was being used against him. Dragging him down.
It frustrated him. But he kept his head cool.
At the very least, he knew the fake Aurelia in front of him had an elemental attribute of nocturne. Otherwise, the mana would have never formed as such.
They also seemed to be sitting still. Not making any action or movement from their seat. Most likely due to Shadow Tag.
These two were not much of a problem to him, as much as Aurelia's disappearance was. He needed to kill her at the request of his mistress.
Lysander quickly thought.
He was wasting time and he needed to find Aurelia. So he went to finish August Vale.
His incessant strikes so far were useless. Lysander could easily block them. However, his feet were finally breaking free from their shackles, he needed to move.
To finish August, he swiped his knife against his neck. It was a clean strike, meant to kill.
However, the moment he felt his feet freed from the shadows, August dodged his blade.
Lysander's blade was fast, too fast for an amateur to dodge without knowing it was coming.
Surprise appeared on Lysander for a moment.
'How did he?'
A slight tug was felt at his boot. But Shadow Tag's duration was over. There should be nothing there.
"Glide."
But the feeling at his boots was followed by a voice. The red-haired girl was suddenly a man. Her long scarlet hair shortened as her jawline sharpened.
He wasn't familiar with the boy. Nor did he care who the boy was. However, the features resembled someone Lysander was well aware of.
'His Majesty?'
Lysander didn't give it a second thought, preparing to dash back. But his footing was lost as the friction at his feet felt as though it had suddenly disappeared.
Glide was it? The spell had taken away Lysander's greatest strength.
His speed.
Lysander needed to regain his footing. So he used the last spell he had.
"Umbral- ARH!"
Or at least he was going to. But a sharp hit to his side caused immeasurable pain.
Lysander choked.
What hit him was a punch. The force of it causing immense damage to his liver.
But who could throw a punch with such force?
Lysander turned, finding the source of his worries. His target.
Aurelia Everblade.
She stood right next to him, her fist, powered by her blessing, digging into his side.
As he looked into her eyes, he saw what he feared more than anything
Defeat.