"How is your new student? Is he to your liking?"
Evelyn glared at Julius, her former—no, current—superior. He visited her quarters weekly, decimating her expensive wine collection in the process.
Pop!
Today again, without fail, another pricey bottle met its end.
She had even resorted to switching labels, yet he always found the good stuff.
"…Commander, do you have no business trips to make? You were rarely in Wintera when I was active."
"You know why I keep pestering you?"
"..."
"It's because tormenting you is my only source of amusement these days."
"..."
"Fine, fine. If you keep glaring at me like that, I'll have holes burned through my face."
Julius savored the freshly opened wine's aroma before returning to his original question.
"So, what's your verdict?"
"He's not what I expected."
"Was he worse than you thought?"
"No. He was far better."
Julius smiled knowingly, as if he'd foreseen this all along.
Evelyn's expression turned serious. "You know I've trained quite a few people in swordsmanship over the years."
"You were always responsible for instructing the new recruits in the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry. Your style was orthodox yet had a unique sharpness. You even trained the Dark Leopard, didn't you?"
Evelyn nodded.
Though most were unaware of it, Axion's rise began under her guidance.
That was why the Camellia Palace was most eager to recruit Evelyn after she lost her arm and retired.
"In terms of dedication and natural talent… Young master Theo is among the top five students I've ever had. It's so remarkable, I feel like even I am improving by the day."
"Just as I suspected. My eyes did not deceive me."
Satisfied, Julius nodded.
A promising talent like Theo deserved the right guidance. And Evelyn, his unfortunate former subordinate, deserved renewed purpose.
This was precisely the outcome he had intended.
Julius could observe Evelyn changing by the day.
Not long ago, she used to drown herself in so much alcohol that her hands were constantly trembling.
Now, a sharp glint had returned to her eyes.
The way she spent sleepless nights agonizing over lesson plans reminded him of her fervent days in the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry.
And though Julius didn't know to what exact degree, he bet her swordsmanship had resharpened. Enough to make quick work of any Trainee Swordsmen.
"But there is something odd, sir."
"Odd? What do you mean?"
"His swordsmanship feels desperate. As if he'll die if he misses this opportunity."
"Is it because the Awakening Ceremony is fast approaching?"
"I considered that, but…" Evelyn trailed off, not finishing her sentence.
Truthfully, Theo was a model student. There was little to be concerned about.
He diligently studied, diligently practiced, and diligently absorbed everything.
But paradoxically, this also became the source of her unease.
'It's like watching someone self-immolate.'
He poured himself into every single moment to a degree that she worried he would burn out completely.
Perhaps that explained his distance from everyone, including Evelyn, Remington, and all the others at Training Ground #4.
On the surface, he interacted normally. He ate with them, spoke with them, but it never went deeper.
Breaking through his barrier was impossible. He seemed too focused on himself to have time for anything else.
'That's why I sent him to the banquet. So he'd cool his head.'
Though Axion could be mischievous, she hoped Axion would look after Theo.
'But if he's still only preoccupied with himself there…' Evelyn sighed.
She felt like a mother watching her child play too close to the water's edge, a flicker of worry in her heart.
"You look like you just finished #2 and realized you're out of toilet paper," Julius commented.
"…Must you always be so crude?"
Contrary to his words, Julius offered a knowing smile, as if he understood her concerns perfectly.
Evelyn sighed again, exasperated. "Fine. I'll tell you…"
She slowly began to voice her concerns about Theo.
***
The Scaled Dragon Society members' taunts about his illegitimacy meant nothing to Theo.
He had heard so much of it in his past life that there was no point getting shaken up about something so petty.
The only thing he was focused on was how to reach the second floor.
But that was when…
"Well, if you think about it, Remmy is also…!"
The moment these bastards mentioned Remington, all reason left Theo's mind.
Theo knew the real reason why Remington, despite having once been friends with them, eventually broke ties with the Scaled Dragon Society and clashed with Ragnar.
It was a secret unknown by the public, a shameful history Narcio wanted to bury at all costs.
And so, without hesitation, Theo threw his glass at them—so that they'd shut the fuck up.
'It was impulsive, but… whatever,' thought Theo.
He didn't regret his actions. Holding back wouldn't diminish their contempt for him or Remington. If anything, it would only make it worse.
'Once you choose ruthlessness, commit to it fully,' Julius's advice echoed in his mind.
In which case, it was better to leave a lasting impression here.
'Still… I didn't expect to get this worked up because of Remington.'
Theo thought he had maintained enough distance.
However, he simply hated seeing Remington disparaged.
Thump-thump-thump!
The Dragon Heart pounded. Blood surged through his veins and magic power flooded his muscles and nerves, forcibly activating them.
Killing intent radiated from Theo.
'What is this presence…!'
'He should still only be a novice who hasn't even Awakened!'
'Aura…? No, definitely not. Then how?'
'I can barely breathe…!'
The four escort swordsmen paled, overwhelmed by the pressure exerted by Theo.
Logically, they, with their awakened aura, should have been stronger. However, a chilling premonition told them they were hopelessly outmatched.
They suddenly grasped the gravity of their mistake.
'We threatened a dragon descendant with death.'
The Ragnars were the Lords of the North, ruling over even the 6 Snow Clans.
Though Theo might be a bastard, he was still a part of the direct line, a scion of the Clan Head—meaning he had 'succession rights' for the throne.
Threatening him with death was a grievous crime that could even be punishable by the eradication of their entire clan.
'We need to apologize now—!'
Before they could say a word…
"Kill them," Theo said with a chilling voice.
Slash—
With a flash of light, four heads flew up into the air.
On the ground, Evelyn stood, wiping the blood from her sword, her eyes cold as a glacier.
Flap flap!
Her cloak billowed, revealing a pristine white uniform. Inscribed on her right shoulder was a single word in blue.
Dragoon.
'Dragoon' signified the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry, Ragnar's most elite unit. The blue lettering indicated she was a senior, high-ranking swordsman.
Her appearance had filled the Camellia Palace with the scent of blood.
"...!"
"...!"
"...!"
"...Evelyn. Why are you…?" Axion's face darkened, looking as if the impossible had just occurred.
* * *
Evelyn walked forward, shielding Theo, and silently mouthed.
「How did you know I was here?」
She was using Sound Telepathy, a technique that focused magic power to relay one's voice only to the desired target.
"I think such matters are best for you to see for yourself, rather than worrying here," Julius had advised her.
That was why she had followed him covertly, but she felt a twinge of embarrassment at being discovered.
However, protecting one's student was the duty of a sword instructor. She had no choice but to interfere, especially after witnessing how supercilious the Scaled Dragon Society was.
'These brats. They're just like the Council…!'
Evelyn gritted her teeth, nausea rising. Ragnar was rotting from within.
She saw Axion staring at her.
It infuriated her, knowing that he was no longer the child she remembered.
He was the same as them. That was why she didn't answer when he asked why she sided with Theo.
In her heart, she had already disowned her former student.
As for Theo, he wore a faint smile as he watched Evelyn radiate killing intent.
'I wonder how she'd react if I told her I knew she was there from the moment I boarded the carriage,' he thought.
The Dragon Heart didn't just create a second Aura Hall. By energizing the nerve cells, it amplified all five senses to the extreme.
This caused a sixth sense called Energy Perception to open wide.
Evelyn would likely be shocked to know that Theo's Energy Perception was far above that of the average Trainee Swordsman.
This heightened sensitivity had allowed him to call upon Evelyn as his sword.
Step, step!
Evelyn advanced, the blood pooling around the corpses rippling with each stride.
"W-wait, Young Master Theo!"
"We didn't mean it like that…!"
"Please, listen to us!"
The teenagers who had called Theo a bastard were now trembling in terror.
"Evelyn."
"Yes, Young Master Theo," Evelyn spoke while also sending a sound telepathy.
「You really won't tell me?」
"They insulted an heir with succession rights. What is the punishment in such a case?" Theo asked.
「…You're just like the Commander in this regard. Are you receiving lessons from him as well?」 Evelyn stifled a sigh as she whispered.
However, her eyes were still sharp.
"Clan law permits summary execution," she answered out loud.
"Since they're children who have yet to participate in the Awakening Ceremony, I will lighten the punishment and only take one arm from each."
"As you command."
Whoosh
Evelyn became a white blur, moving with incredible speed.
"The second son of the Byron Clan."
"W-wait! Gah!"
"The fourth daughter of the Seres Merchant Guild."
"Kyaaaah!"
"The firstborn of the Red & White Mercenary Corps."
"N-no… Kgh!"
The blur became a sharp gale, slicing through the room.
"Ax! Please, save me! Please!"
Some clung to Axion's legs, begging for mercy.
"Why should I?"
"Wh-what…?"
"This is just a greeting. A welcome greeting."
"What are you—Aaaaagh!"
Axion kicked them away.
He couldn't intervene. They were criminals who had dared to insult an heir with succession rights.
Defending them here would be an insult to himself, another heir.
'He's only targeting those who insulted his bloodline. Had he mistakenly targeted anyone else, I could have stepped in,' Axion observed.
He recognized that despite Theo's outward fury, his actions were cold and calculated. Just like himself.
'Theo Ragnar. The Imbecile of the Rose Palace truly has changed,' thought Axion.
What had caused this transformation? And how had he won over Evelyn, someone the Camellia Palace failed to recruit despite countless attempts?
'He really is interesting…'
What he said to Theo at the start was not a lie.
Slash!
"I have severed the right arms of all fourteen individuals, as commanded," Evelyn sheathed her sword and bowed to Theo.
The floor was awash in blood, littered with screaming, one-armed young nobles.
"What about medical treatment?"
"If they reach a priest quickly, reattaching their arms should be possible."
But their futures as swordsmen were uncertain.
Evelyn omitted that crucial detail. Without knowing, she was also picking up a similar habit as Theo and Julius.
"You heard her. Take them away." Theo gestured with his chin, and the Camellia Palace swordsmen and the escorts of the injured nobles sprang into action.
They had to act fast to prevent tissue necrosis.
"…This won't end quietly. Even citing clan law, you went too far."
Even those who hadn't mentioned Theo's bloodline were busy fleeing the Camellia Palace.
Yet one person remained, glaring at him.
Orien Ragnar. He was the same age as Theo and bore the Ragnar surname, but belonging to a collateral line, he held no succession rights.
'In my past life, he was Axion's right-hand man,' Theo remembered.
"That's a concern for me to deal with," Theo told Orien.
"Don't be so flippant…! Hmph. Fine. Yeah. It's your responsibility, but I wonder if the Rose Palace can weather this storm. Be careful you aren't uprooted."
Orien was warning Theo, saying that should watch out since he had made enemies of not just numerous vassal clans, but also now stood directly against Troivan.
But Theo remained impassive.
Evelyn, however, glared at Orien, as if asking if he wanted to meet the same fate as others.
Orien, unable to continue, finally fled.
"Why don't we head out as well," said Theo.
But while walking past Axion, Theo smacked Axion hard on the shoulder twice, mirroring Axion's earlier gesture.
Thwack, thwack—
"Seems like there are no more welcome greetings prepared. I had fun thanks to you."
Not waiting for a reply, Theo led the way, followed by Evelyn and Remington.
"..."
"..."
Silence hung between Remington and Axion.
Their friendship was broken.