He stared intently at his blade as the words left his mouth. He recognized that his mother had also worn the same sort of uniform in the photo with Rita. Safely assuming that she was a knight before everything. The man looked at his earnest eyes with a toothy grin, much alike to Dantes as he gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Show me what you can do over this next semester, and I'll consider it. Not often a weapon user comes along these parts that's proficient with magic."
"Really there aren't that many others?"
"Nah, only a few here and there, even the head captain uses a sword like you."
"He does? He must be really strong…"
"Strong wouldn't even be the right word to describe him…maybe somethin' like…freaking' insane."
"I see, I see. But what about you…I don't see a wand or weapon on you…?"
"Oh, me?"
He suddenly flexed his muscle as he took a deep breath in and out before a large spark of yellow lit from his arm to his hands. His mana was centered through his arm to his hands. Controlling it completely as the power surged through him. This shocked Dante as he'd seen the others have to cast a spell before anything happened. Though with this man, he didn't need a single word to emit his magic.
"You didn't even chant!"
"Pretty sick right? I'm a natural…you seem to be the same."
"M-me?"
"I mean, ya lit your sword up no problem, and I don't see an affinity stone with you. So you must be pretty talented right?"
"Affinity Stone…?"
"Wait…you seriously don't know what that is? You really are from the boonies!"
He suddenly laughed out loud at the idea and Dante couldn't help but feel embarrassed by not realizing what he spoke about. Before the man flashed his own which was attached to his hip. The yellow glow of the stone shined bright as his magic slowly dissipated from his hands.
"Usually sprouts like yourself typically use those and wands to help guide your mana control, but for people like me…we just use it to make sure we don't overload on the mana use. Think of it as sort of…a modifier of sorts."
"A modifier huh…"
He peered at his sword once more before quickly shifting it back to its wand form. The man stretched his back before turning back to Dante, he let off a small grin as a voice called out to him.
"Rory! Where are you? We have to do our final rounds around the vicinity before we can leave. So hurry up and come back here!"
"Uh-oh, the lady calls."
He gave Dante another pat on the shoulder, making sure to firmly grip it before walking off and waving back.
"I'll see you sometime soon, especially if you're going to be at the academy…keep up the good work kid. I won't tell anyone about your secret trainin' sessions."
"Wha–"
"See ya!"
The man slowly walked away and was approached by an elven woman wearing a similar outfit as him. She seemed to be angry with him as he was dragged off by the arm. Dante couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as that interaction gave him a peek of what one of the official knights of Auradelle could do. He looked at own hand and thought back to Rory's showing of his magic. Being able to use it naturally and without chants seemed to be big news. He thought of bringing it up to Terra the next day but his thought was interrupted by the sound of a loud bell chiming in the distance.