Kael suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his brow furrowing deeply. It was as though a hidden memory had surfaced, something previously unnoticed that now seemed crucial.
Noticing his distraction, Elysia smoothly took over the conversation. "The issue is, Fritz is dead, and no one survived to tell the story of that night. If Antonio Valdis was really responsible for Landel's destruction, we need substantial proof."
She paused, considering the situation. "Besides, it's strange that Valdis waited so long. Fritz had held onto those secrets for years. What would prompt him to act then?"
"And let's not forget that the remaining forces of the Tyrant didn't possess any divine blessings, so they wouldn't have the power to ignite such a catastrophic fire in the first place."
Vito nodded beside Shun, remembering the ongoing debate that had been interrupted by their arrival. Aside from Antonio Valdis, he couldn't think of anyone his instructor had clashed with significantly.
Vergil interjected casually, "I suspect Antonio must have discovered a new source of power thirty or forty years ago, which explains why he chose that time to act."
Suddenly, Kael's head shot up. "Wait!" His eyes widened as a thought struck him. He opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated, scanning the room before deciding it was best left unsaid. "Never mind. Please continue."
Vergil shook his head with a bitter smile. "If you've realized something, you should share it. It doesn't matter if it's wrong; every mistake brings us closer to the truth."
Kael shook his head, his expression serious. As the principal of the kingdom's most prestigious Haven Royal Academy, he understood that mistakes were integral to success. But this case was different.
He knew that some answers could be correct, yet inappropriate and unsuitable to share. Sometimes, giving a correct response that left everyone unsatisfied was far worse than a wrong one.
Elysia, familiar with Kael's stubbornness, recognized that further persuasion would be futile. Just as she was about to steer the conversation in another direction, Kael spoke again.
"We thought no one survived to tell the tale, but there is one person who knows more than all of us combined."
Vito raised his voice, almost exclaiming. "A survivor?"
Emilia quickly gestured for him to lower his voice. It was nighttime, and she didn't want to disturb the sleeping soldiers nearby. The contrast between their training and what she received as a future commander made her empathize with their need for rest.
Kael shook his head slightly. "Not a survivor, just an old friend of Antonio Valdis."
"Dominic O'Neill?" Vergil guessed, and the seniors nodded. Dominic had been a beacon of light during the grim days of the war, the only source of joy in the otherwise serious and uptight army—even for someone as cold as Antonio Valdis.
"He might not be directly related to the incident, but if Fritz knew Valdis' secret, then Dominic must as well," Kael continued, his emotions swirling. "If he provides the answer I was about to suggest, we'll have to accept it, no matter how painful the truth may be."
Elysia's frustration was palpable, though her tone remained optimistic. "Nah, it won't work. Dominic doesn't just give away information for free; he demands a 'gift.'"
'And nobody here can..." She waved her hand around the room, but as her gaze met Silver's, both her action and words faltered.
"No, Silver can," she said, a smile growing on her face.
Silver, surprised to be mentioned, had been quiet until now.
"Of course, you're the ninth complete ethereal warrior," Elysia continued, her enthusiasm palpable. "To gain Dominic's favour, you'll need to duel him. After the war, he couldn't find a worthy opponent and grew bored with life. He's been seeking emotions he's never felt, and what he wants most is to be completely defeated.
"He craves resignation, an emotion he had never felt before."
"Dominic has experienced sorrow, regret, anger, anxiety, even fear, but never resignation. He's won every battle he's fought, and now he wants someone to shatter his pride in a fight."
Everyone in the room exchanged incredulous glances; it seemed absurd. How could someone long for such a thing? The truth is, not even Dominic O'Neill himself knew the reason.
Silver felt troubled, not by the prospect of defeating Dominic but by something deeper and more profound.
Before she could articulate her thoughts, her gaze met Shun's. His eyes, cold and hollow as always, held a hint of something different in her eyes. Despite her uncertainty, it filled her with determination. No matter the outcome, she felt confident that she could overcome it with Shun at her side.
"Sure, when should we go?" she said, her smile genuine and her voice steady.
Seeing her resolve, Shun nodded, and for once, the smile on his face was real.
...
"Keep going! Dharma Leyndra!"
Meanwhile, far from the Prime Army Base, Dominic O'Neill's claymore clashed with Dharma Leyndra's scythe. The sheer force of the blow almost sent Dharma flying, but he wasn't intimidated. He laughed instead.
"Hehahaha! You old bastard, why do you get stronger every time?"
He swung his scythe with practised ease, using the momentum to spring back and land gracefully.
"Enough of this childish play. We're too old for this nonsense," Dharma said, shrugging as his scythe dissolved into nothingness. Dominic followed suit, though he did the same with a reluctant sigh. The two men exchanged a fist bump—hollow, yet filled with an odd energy—before settling into chairs nearby.
"Kael and Elysia are sniffing around, trying to piece together what really happened at Landel Academy," Dharma remarked, his tone as lazy as his posture. He slouched into his seat, the image of indifference, yet even he couldn't match Dominic's complete disregard for appearances.
Dominic, despite his legendary status as the third complete ethereal warrior, looked more like a vagrant than a hero. His clothes were in tatters, hair wild and unkempt, and his pose was so slouched it was impossible to tell if he was sitting or reclining.
"You already know the truth, don't you?" Dharma grinned, a glint of mischief in his eye.
Dominic didn't even bother sitting up, casting a sideways glance at his old friend. "Please. Who do you think I am?" His voice dripped with mockery.
Dharma leaned in, still grinning. "So, you going to tell them?"
Dominic's laughter exploded, loud and unrestrained, shaking the quiet air around them. It was the kind of laugh that made the ground feel unsteady.
"The only one who could defeat me is you, and I doubt even that's changed after all this time."
He leaned back further, arms stretching lazily overhead. "But no, I'm not telling them. Even if they win, I'm not opening that door. I'm not in the mood for another full-blown riot."
Dominic paused, grinning wryly. "Last one was more trouble than it was worth. Couldn't enjoy a single damn drink with all that racket going on."