Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun over the training ground, Felix approached me with a proud smile.
"Within a month your aura is more refined. I'm impressed." He says impressed with my hardwork.
I returned his smile, a sense of accomplishment swelling within me.
" I couldn't have done it without everyone's guidance and support."
He shook his head modestly. "The strength was always within you. We just helped bring it out."
Curiosity tugged at me. "Where have you been, Prince Felix?" I asked.
"Ah, did one of the boys spill the beans?" he chuckled softly.
"No, Ivy mentioned it," I replied, sensing a hint of betrayal in his expression.
"That woman," he sighed. "the king, assigned me to train with the official dragon knights."
"Your father... is he strong?" I inquired.
"Very," Felix nodded. "I doubt I'll ever match him."
"You're strong too" I said sincerely, admiration in my eyes.
"You flatter me too much, Vesper," Felix replied bashfully.
In that moment, I glimpsed the vulnerability behind his strength, the human side of the prince. It reminded me that even those who seem invincible have their doubts and fears.
"Attention Knights." Commander Cole orders.
"Tonight we will have a friendly match, using the skills you've acquired this month. These are only for Weapon dwellers knight with this event you may learn your shortcomings and improve them. We will begin in two hours, prepare yourself. Names will be called in the ripper arena. The others are free to join, General will be there to witness your performance." He announced.
Some of us gasped, worried they might not able to perform well, everyone began talking among themselves discussing how to utilize their skills.
A cold sweat trickled down my spine. Practice matches were one thing, but this… I'd never fought anyone at night, I don't know what's my true strengths yet.
I remembered traveling to Golden Blade Castle, moving only under the cover of darkness, feeling my strength rise as the sun began to set. Which still made me wonder how was that even a possible. During those night journeys, it felt like a brisk walk. I only needed water for sustenance, and when the morning sun rose, I would find a place to rest.
"Vesper… you good? Let's get ready," Ivy said, and Henry pulled me away from Felix, sticking his tongue out to tease him. Felix smirked and made his way to the Dragon Horn Hall, likely to welcome the general.
We walked toward the Ripper Arena. I could feel the magic restraints fading as we stepped inside. All units were seated according to their abilities. The arena had no roof; it was an open battlefield. I could see the starry night brightening the sky, with torches lit by mages around the arena. I couldn't help but feel amazed—this was my first time seeing a place like this. In the middle stood a cobblestone stage, big enough to move around on. I guessed that's where we'd be pitted against each other.
"I can't wait to watch you fight, Henry," I said, smiling at him.
"I'll win in mere seconds," he boasted.
"Ew," Ivy muttered.
"Ha! Watch me!" Henry continued. I chuckled, listening to their playful banter.
We were instructed to sit close to the ring to better understand our opponents. I didn't carry any special items, except for the shifting gem given to me when I was first classified as a weapon master.
A mage named Flemi approached us, her magical feather pen floating beside her as it wrote names on a piece of paper.
"Name!" she demanded, looking at me.
"Vesper Nine," I replied.
"Class?" she continued. She had a gentle aura, almost similar to Ivy's but even softer, though her appearance didn't reveal that gentleness—only fierceness was evident.
"Weapon master," I answered. Her attention shifted fully to me, and she studied my face intently. "Weapon master, huh? Now that's a match you don't see every day. I'll be waiting for your fight, Vesper." With that, she moved on to the next knight.
"Flemi Zuri, Knight-Mage Class 2. Specializes in restraining magic chains. Very skilled in magic, I'd say," Henry observed, his eyes following her.
"Honestly, if she came from a noble house like the Phoenix House or mine, her power would be exceptional. Too bad she's from a common merchant family," he added.
"You really know how to rub people the wrong way. If she's that 'common,' then I'd be worthless in comparison," I retorted.
"And that's why I call you peasant, my friend." Henry elbowed my shoulder in a joking manner.
"Ah—I hate you, Henry," I replied.
Once the checklist was complete, the matches began.
The first match: Ivy Goldfit versus Gunther Evergreen.
Gunther is a duel wielder; he could use earth magic and imbue it into his weapons. Ivy, on the other hand, had magic but hadn't acquired any specialized skills yet. Still, her combat abilities were not to be underestimated. Ivy might not have the talent to become a weapon master, but with her eagerness to learn and her discipline, she might catch up to me sooner than expected.
I felt nerves wreaking havoc within me as I watched Ivy stretching, ready to take down Gunther. It will be the first time I will watch everyone true prowess.
"Teach her a lesson, Gun!" Abel and his friends cheered from the opposite side of the ring.
Then a healer named Bailee stepped between them, giving instructions. She was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, her red hair and fair skin matches her green dress perfectly for second there I was drooling over her.
"The first rule: you may inflict enough damage to halt your opponent, but no killing is allowed. Second, you may surrender if you're unable to continue your match, though this will greatly affect your chances of obtaining the Dragon Knight title. Third, any assistance to your teammate—for example, boosting mana or healing—will result in disqualification, and your title as a knight will be stripped. Finally, you must finish the match within 30 minutes; if it goes longer, it will automatically be considered a tie."
As Bailee stepped back, the crowd quieted, anticipation thick in the air.
Ivy and Gunther faced each other, their eyes locked, each measuring the other's strength. Ivy's usual calm was replaced by a fierce determination, her stance steady and unwavering. Gunther grinned.
"Ready?" Bailee called out, raising her hand between them. "Begin!"
In an instant, Ivy surged forward with her saber, her speed almost startling. She closed the distance between them with a few swift strides, her red aura covering her body glinting under the night sky .
Gunther met her head-on, swinging his huge hammer made from earth magic with controlled precision, sparks flying as the weapon clashed against her defensive wards. The crowd roared as the battle unfolded.
Ivy dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding a powerful swing, then struck out with a kick aimed at his shoulder. Gunther stumbled back, his expression shifting to one of surprise, and then refocused, his gaze sharpening.
"Not bad, Goldfit," he muttered, pushing off his back foot to regain his balance. He manifested another hammer made from earth magic and tightened his grip on his weapons, then unleashed a wave of magic that rippled through the air, charging his hammer with a deadly aura.
Ivy's face remained calm, her eyes narrowing as she prepared her next move. She shifted her stance, then raised her hands, channeling energy into a protective shield around her. Gunther lunged forward, his charged hammering the shield down toward her, Ivy's shield was destroyed immediately from the impact, sending a shockwave across the arena floor.
The crowd gasped, and I leaned forward, watching every detail. Ivy might not possess a weapon master's title, but her combat instincts were honed and fierce. She wasn't giving Gunther an inch, matching his every move with swift counters and quick footwork.
"She's holding her own, Gunther magic control is too precise, he turn the cobblestone into sand like making it really difficult for Ivy to move but she's moving effortlessly." Henry murmured beside me, his gaze intent.
"She's more than holding her own," I replied, a smile forming as Ivy launched into another round of attacks using Gunther magic against him.