The truth of the matter was that the sword wasn't as simple as it looked yet the principle behind it was. The wooden sword lethality was limited to it's user,if the user as strong then the sword was able to manifest half of the user's full capabilities though it was adjustable. If the one holding it was weak then it was a regular sword and if the one wielding it was Aldritch,then the sword could cut the very heavens in half,transcend time and other unimaginable feats. A weapon he made himself,why,he thought it would be hilarious if the people he faced would be angered realizing what he used to slay them was a regular sword.
And more often that not,it never failed to disappoint him in his endeavours. 'The spirit of trolling.' He thought as he went on with his muses back then. "It was artifact presented to me by the Troll Devil." He blatantly stated with a face devoid of any emotion before he landed a kick to the prince's chest making him staggering back. Without pausing,he threw the sword right at his leg cutting his knee in half but the prince took this opportunity to grasp the weapon swinging it at Luke who was rapidly approaching. Luke didn't block it rather he launched his own punching right at the prince's face and with the two exchanging blows,the wooden sword failed to cause any flinching from Luke let alone cut him while the prince was sent flying off the arena losing a couple of teeth in the process.
He quickie got up,infuriated with the outcome. "He said that only I could use it. Sorry." Luke sarcastically apologized as he got off the arena. "By the way, you're bleeding blue not red so good luck explaining that." He said as he went back to his seat. The prince knew that he would be disqualified for such an act and since he was already out,he decided to face it head on. Making matters worse, his parents would be here the next day putting him in a terrible position to be in as he would be held accountable for tarnishing the royal family name of Cordon in the event as it would be the Cordon direct family that wouldn't be participating this year.
While he was forced to deal with that,Luke knew that he too had a lot of explaining to do considering his sword. The sword that could easily breach through Ytterbium would definitely place a lot attention on him not only through the competition but also afterwards but he knew that Luke Yashmoore would be dead by then. He planned on ending his little guise as Luke after the test was over with Elspeth advancing as his actual maid as Aldritch. But that was for later,now,he could only avoid the greedy and curious gazes that were cast on his sword.
Logically speaking,even if someone did manage to steal it,they wouldn't even be able to use it as it's output was solely controlled by Luke not to mention there were other features imbedded in it regarding on who wielded it. In other words,should anyone want to truly break the limits of this sword,then they would have to be more powerful than him adm according to his list,the two above him didn't necessarily require such a sword,but they could take it and remaster it completely which seemed unlikely s they could just make their own artifacts with a thought.
As he took his seat,he could hardly contain his disgust he had sensing the gazes he felt from the rest of the teachers present. Just how they would provide a suitable excuse for them to get their hands o it was what remained dancing on his mind and unfailing to his thought,a teacher from the kingdom of Cordon started reprimanding the two about use of external artifacts in the fight. Though it was allowed,there was a limit onto how many one could use in the fight with the limit being two regardless of the rank.
Bald,had a sly smile with a slightly repugnant features went on with his endless chatter before he shifted his attention towards Luke. He had already directed his 'instruction' at the prince for a negligible amount of time before looking at Luke. "And you. Are you not aware of the consequences of your actions? Bringing such a dangerous weapon to a friendly spar would naturally attract consequences but I will overlook this incident with only the prior confiscation of both your weapons." He stated in an authoritative tone. Luke could barely hold in his laughter before he laughed puzzling everyone present.
"You find your errors amusing student Luke." He said coldly looking at him. "No." He said in between his laughter. "You might as well have me fetch you a regular piece of stick to confiscate cause you won't find anything worthy with that sword. It only works under my command and nobody else's. But if you have any doubts, I'll prove it to you." He said before summoning a block of pure Ytterbium equivalent to his height and girth. Such a block would be priceless and seeing it's quantity and quality, it was a shock as to where he got such a mineral. The Ytterbium stood giving off a shiny lustre to all making it slightly hard to see with the sun's reflection.
"Chip it,if you can then you can confiscate it. Failure to which ,not only will you look like a fool but also you will return it back." He said gesturing to strike it. "This isn't a negotiable position for you Luke." He said as he started to walk away with the items in hand. "I hope you have a perculiar artifact to offer Aldritch when he sends his surbodinates to retrieve it." Luke spoke with a big smile plastered to his face making the teacher halt his steps. "To think the destruction of Cordon would be the result of a simple, ignorant teacher. Now that would definitely be remembered in the annals of history."
He further taunted with that smile dancing on his face. The teacher paused for a moment contemplating on what he had said. 'If he says is true,then Cordon could face extinction because of this.' He looked back at Luke. "If they know that you don't have it to begin with,that is." Luke bursting into laughter. "Testing your luck like that huh! Be my guest and rightfully confiscate as you put it and we'll see how that ends for you. The Troll Devil added a security feature that should that sword fail to be in my possession after ten minutes,he would sense it and come storming in for who has it along with their relations. But if you don't believe me,then go ahead teacher."
He said looking at the teacher. He found such a feature absurd but then again,would he gamble the entire kingdom for a sword this priceless. He might but knowing the repercussions,he refrained from doing so forcing him to go back to Luke handing him the sword. "You might as well try it out since you have it,right?" Luke speculated looking at the block of Ytterbium. Curious,the teacher decided to push his luck making a forceful stile on it but similar to regular wood striking reinforced iron,the block stood unscathed while the sword rest in his hands undeterred by his actions without a scratch on it. Luke grabbed it from him before making a graceful diaganol cut slicing the block into two triangles.
Returning the wooden sword back into his inventory,he left the two bewildered by the ease to which the block was cut. To acquire such a pure block was evident that Luke's connections provided him with more than adequate funds and to have a weapon that can easily cut the strongest metal in this world with ease proved that Luke had a good standing with Aldritch. He had a weapon that worked only for him instigating the futility of stealing it not to mention the disastrous repercussions that came with it so the other teachers could only allow such a weapon to slip by. The block was confiscated by the academy since they couldn't have it free to the students to begin with.
After that incident, they waited two days before the next batch of competition arrived hoping to be more formidable than the last. And during those two days, Elspeth and Luke would be bombarded with people who wanted to form special relations with them but they were all brutally turned down. Though for taunting reasons,Luke gave Ciara and Elaine the window if they accepted to serve as his maids and unlike Elspeth who had liberty of her movement,they would be bound to stay at his abode,serving him to whatever request he issued and as expected,they declined but reassuring them,he told them the offer stood till the end of the test but they remained adamant in their choice of refusing which he shrugged off. He wasn't obsessed with them to begin with and if he truly wanted them to do his bidding,then he could always result to more uncanny methods.
King James was given the lion's share of the Ytterbium whilst the rest went to the academy with it's self absorbed endeavours. James was forced to have a talk with Luke on the last day before the students from Elysa got here. Within the courtyard of the king,James along with the rest of the Royal family. A formal bow was expected from him which he erased from their memories before getting the situation underway which similar to the teacher confrontation felt more of an interrogation to put it lightly. Elspeth was out running errands with Velair while Liam was out there doing executing his noble duties,whatever they were.
Immediately delving into the reason why he was summoned here,James took the lead. "You should know why you are here Luke." Luke nonchalantly looked at the family seated infront of him,the atmosphere thick with royalty and a hint of pride in the mix. It was always such instances that fueled him further to see such people witness what he really was. "I'm not exactly sure,your highness. Is it because of my sword,the block of Ytterbium,my skills or my relation with Aldritch along with his surbodinates?" James furrowed his brows. "It's all of them. Now explain it on how you and him met without omitting any detail."
Luke started off his narration from Ciara ending her engagement,making a believable story explaining why he was so strong along with Elspeth. Of course there were instances he couldn't answer as the information was clearly out of his awareness. "Why did you choose Elspeth as your servant? Did Aldritch instruct you to do so?" Elaine inquired diverging a little off topic but with their curiosities peaked,they allowed it."Because Aldritch told me that I could choose one person to whom I would groom to my liking. At first I tried to conciliate matters with Ciara but she proved difficult and unsiated to fill this position,I chose a peasant for the role as I found a lot of familiar traits with her not to mention,I was captivated by her grace."
They further proceeded to question him about the death of his fellow nobles which he claimed that Aldritch would be able to restore them at the end of the test. As for his sword and the Troll Devil,it was an unexpected twist he got but he accepted it willingly and appreciated it greatly. "When you mean students,does that cover everyone who was present that day or specifically the students?" Leonard asked. "Such detailed matters are out of my reach. I beconed Aldritch to help out with this to which he stated that he would intervene, anything more?" He asked looking at the four glaring at him. They were all aware of his sword and the output it had but having someone powerful watching them in the shadows deterred them from enacting any ambitious ideas.
"You are excused."James gestured indicating for Luke to leave which he left. They observed him a skeptical glance before disappearing off of the court. "Does that mean that Bruce will be along that list?" Elaine asked in a worried manner. "Brought back. I doubt that he could accomplish such a feat without losing something precious. That in itself might hinder him from bringing back everyone." Leonard intervened. "Concerning the test itself this year, I'm more curious about Darwarke since Eveyln will be participating, considering that she was personally under Aldritch's guidance,it should give us more insight about him." James spoke as he stood up before leaving.