[Leon's POV]
The Solaris Mystic Arts course ended up draining all of my energy. Both mentally and physically. After Theffania Solaris showcased her abilities, she showed me the gap between a Solaris Knight and myself. I finally understood why Sir Arthur and my father were adamant about returning me to the Solaris House.
The Solaris Mystic Arts were, for lack of a better word, mystical. They weren't sword art; if one had to classify them, they were closer to magic than combat art. They utilised the full potential of the Solaris Bloodline and the abundance of Solar mana found in each Solaris descendant. Yet, simultaneously, the Solaris Mystic Arts wasn't magic.
It was as if it were the manifestation of nature itself.
To possess that much power and versatility… It was no wonder the Solaris House survived since the Great Dragon War.
But great power came at a great cost.
"Argh, my entire body is sore…"
A distressed voice beckoned out to me and prompted my neck to turn. Since I was already lying on the ground, it was easy to meet the eyes of the young man sprawled out on all fours next to me. He was a massive fellow, probably one or one and a half heads taller than myself. When I first met him, I'd thought I would never get to be on the same eye level as that man. But who would have thought that my opportunity would have come so quickly?
"Gale… Is the training always this tough?"
"No… It seems like Lord Theffania doubled the intensity."
One of my first friends in the Knight's Academy smiled wryly and locked eyes with me. There was a bit of resentment in his look, but it was more of an exasperated look:
"I think she's trying to send a message to you. Or maybe she has some personal vendetta against you. But shit, to pull us all into the mud… Don't you think she's abusing her power?"
I ignored Gale's coy comment about the instructor and zeroed in on a curious phrase he used.
"Personal vendetta? Why would she have a vendetta against me?"
"You didn't grow up in the Solaris House, so you probably won't know about her. Lord Theffania is fiercely loyal to the Solaris House. Before she retired and became an instructor, she was part of the Judiciary, an enforcer that protects the laws of the Solaris House. And well, in her eyes, your father is a deserter and a lawbreaker."
Gale explained everything in detail. Unlike myself, the man grew up in the Solaris House. His prominent jet-black hair and golden eyes were a dead giveaway to his identity. Sitting upright, Gale massaged his sore muscles as he basked in the light of the setting Sun.
"But, even if she does double the intensity of our training, there's nothing we can do. Talent alone isn't enough for us to use Solaris Mystic Arts. We must have sturdy bodies, bottomless mana pools and steadfast willpower. All of these must be achieved through rigorous training."
"..."
I couldn't breathe a word.
I was naive. I'd thought that learning the Solaris Mystic Arts would be easy, and I could showcase my talent to prove the doubters wrong. But ever since enrolling in the Knight's Academy, it has been one humbling experience after another.
"Haha, why the long face?"
"I just… didn't think it would have been this difficult."
"HA! HA! HA! Don't worry, you're doing just fine!" Gale gave me a thumbs-up with a bright smile on his face. With the light from the dusk, it looked like a sanctified halo illuminated his crown.
"You've been in the Knight's Academy for what? Three weeks? And you're already attending the Solaris Mystic Arts course. It took me years, YEARS, before I could enrol in this course. And you kept up with Lord Theffania's training just as well as the rest of us. When Adelia and I first entered, we couldn't complete one set, let alone the whole exercise!"
There were specific requirements before anyone could join the Solaris Mystic Arts course.
Firstly, one had to be from the Solaris Bloodline. This wasn't discrimination against the other talented Knights cadets but a physical restriction. For a Knight to use the Solaris Mystic Arts, they had to have the Dragon Blessed bodies of the Solaris Bloodline plus Solar mana flowing in their veins.
Secondly, they had to have condensed Two Suns with the Nine Suns Heart Mantra. Anything less would drain them completely of their mana, which could lead to dangerous side effects.
And finally, they had to pass a series of physical tests. Endurance running, strength measurement, flexibility tests and even the ability to handle a weapon. It would be swordsmanship for most, but the Knight's Academy didn't restrict them from finding their own weapon. Some Knights used hammers, maces and even ranged weapons.
There were no age restrictions. Anyone fulfilling those requirements can enrol in the Solaris Mystic Arts course, regardless of when they join the Knight's Academy.
Fortunately, when I transferred, I already had all those requirements in his back pocket. Hence, my commencement of the course was faster than anticipated.
"I still remember vividly the day when Adelia vomited her guts out. I'll never forget the sparkles of the waterfall that twinkled with the setting Sun. How could so much liquid come out from one girl-..."
"HIYAA!!!"
Before Gale could finish his question, a karate chop came flying onto his head, silencing the teen as he bit down on his tongue. I glanced at the source of my good friend's pain and saw a tall, fit young woman clenching her fist with a red face.
The youth had shoulder-length black hair, and her golden eyes were glistening in the same manner as the Sun setting beyond the horizon. Her lips were trembling, and her face was completely abashed. Looking at her posture, I could tell she was taking great restraint not to unleash a flurry of attacks at Gale's head.
"Adelia! What was that for?!"
"You heartless bastard! I told you not to tell anyone that!"
"Oh, come on, it has been two years since that incident! Don't tell me you can't get over it!"
"That doesn't mean you get to spread the word to everyone! Do you have jelly for brain matter?!"
Gale protested while Adelia continued her insults. I watched the pair argue with no way of cutting in. Not that I had any intention. Once the pair began their antics, no one could stop them. That was the power of childhood friends.
"Ignore him, Leon. Gale is just delirious from all the running. You make sure to forget everything he said."
"S-Sure…"
The way Adelia's eyes glistened with rage reminded him of how his beloved Ella would jump into anger whenever he did something stupid. The two were practically peas in a pod from the way they behaved.
I wouldn't poke an enraged tiger, so I opted to sit out their argument. Looking around the facility, I could see all his classmates collapsed on the floor or barely keeping their wits as they fought to catch their breath. Drenched fully in sweat, one could only imagine what kind of hellish training they had gone through to reduce some of the Solaris House's most talented Apprentice Knights into a pile of melted goo.
And that's when I caught sight of a stunningly beautiful young woman who could barely stay awake. Her rapier was pierced into the ground, giving her some support as she attempted to get on her feet. However, there was barely any strength in her body left, and she was about to fall back to her knees before their instructor gently grabbed onto her waist.
Unlike before, Theffania's face was tender and kind as she helped the young woman to her feet. The pair had a cordial conversation with smiles, causing me to raise my eyebrow.
"Who is that? Why is the instructor treating her so nicely?"
Gale followed my line of sight and let out a knowing gasp. Seeing an opportunity to escape from Adelia's wrath, he explained:
"That's Arya Solaris. One of the Flowers of the Knight's Academy."
"Flowers of the Knight's Academy?"
"Yeah, just a nickname given to our school's most beautiful and talented girls. Just a juvenile title." Adelia cut in, her voice betraying a slight tinge of envy. "Though, they say the most beautiful roses have the sharpest thorns. None of the flowers have ordinary backgrounds. In fact, one of them is your older cousin. Lydia Solaris."
"Oh? Sister Lydia is one of them?"
Sister Lydia was my father's sister's eldest daughter, meaning she was my cousin. When I first returned to the Solaris House, I was introduced to all my direct family members, and Sister Lydia was one of them. She had always been kind to me, introducing me to the places to visit in Solfea, navigating how to live in the Knight's Academy and an assortment of help.
Older than me by two years, she was about to graduate from the Knight's Academy and was currently undergoing her squire training. She would be a fully-fledged Solaris Knight by the time it was over.
Talented, beautiful, kind and the granddaughter of the current Solaris Lord, I could understand why she was called a Flower of the Knight's Academy.
"Does she have a background like Sister Lydia?"
I was curious about the belle with the same title as my talented cousin. But the answer Gale gave wasn't what I'd expected.
"Not really; her parents aren't anything extraordinary. Her father is a regular Guardian Knight, while her mother married into the family. Talent-wise, she's above average but not anything too crazy. Besides her popularity and good looks, she's not that remarkable."
"Hmmm? Then why is she considered a Flower?"
"Haha, like I said, it's a vain title. People think she's pretty; that's why she's given that title." Adelia continued to frown with a bit of contempt. However, her next words were more sombre and respectful.
"But there is one thing about her, or more precisely, her family, that stands out… Her brother is Amon Solaris."
My jaw almost dropped at that revelation. I hurriedly snapped my neck back and watched with greater interest as the instructor helped Arya onto her shoulders and carried her away with slow steps.
"Amon Solaris… You mean, that one-half of the Fantasy Couple?"
"Oh, you heard of the Fantasy Couple?"
"Vaguely…"
"Ah, the pair are famous, so it makes sense that you know about them."
Gale and Adelia nodded their heads in agreement. Clearly, they knew that the Fantasy Couple had gained a reputation outside of the Solaris House and weren't surprised at my words.
"When people think of the Fantasy Couple, they usually think of Yue Elune, the heir of the Elune House. But in my opinion, the one they should be focusing on is Amon Solaris."
Gale spoke grimly with Adelia's agreement. The girl's eyes became more profound as she whispered solemnly.
"That guy… he's a monster."
"What?"
"I'm sure you know that Amon Solaris graduated from the Knight's Academy in three years."
"... that I've heard."
I heard that he matched my father's record. Perhaps that's why I felt a rivalry with this man I'd never met.
"But that's just the tip of the iceberg… It's how he blasted through those three years to graduate at the top of his class. Amon is the same age as Gale and me, but he is far more talented that it's not even funny. It's as if he's in another dimension."
"Most cadets of the Knight's Academy join at eight years old and typically graduate at twenty. It takes an average person twelve years to graduate, and Amon did it in three. Joining at ten and graduating at thirteen, that monster fought against fully grown men who all had twelve years of training, with Solar mana, Knight training, and most importantly, the Solaris Mystic Arts… and won."
The pair started speaking from the bottom of their heart. Among the lengthy recollections was their deep-rooted respect for the man Amon Solaris.
"We watched him challenge people almost twice his age from afar. His exploits were the stuff of legend, man." Gale's face began to blush with excitement as he spoke.
"Beating dozens of bullies who looked down on him because of his size. Snatching the rank one position from the top cadet of the school. Setting a record during the annual hunt by killing the most Demonic Beasts. And that was before he even turned thirteen!"
Gale spoke about Amon with blind fascination.
"Five years have passed since then… I can't even fathom how much stronger he is now."
After hearing more about the man's feats, my anticipation grew. My heart was pumping as I watched his sister's back fade farther away.
I can't wait to meet this guy.