Dawn painted the sky with soft hues of orange and pink as Victor lounged idly against his carriage, his eyes fixed on the stately mansion before him. He was waiting for Gwen, the esteemed knight, to emerge.
Moments later, the front door creaked open, and Gwen stepped out, a slender silver sword clasped firmly in her hand. Her intent was clear: it was time for her daily morning training session. As she lifted her gaze, she was met with the sight of Victor's carriage, and for a brief moment, she froze, a look of mild surprise flashing across her face.
Victor, noticing her presence, inclined his head in a polite greeting. Gwen stared back at him, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes. "..." she thought to herself, "Coming this early? That's unexpected."
Feeling that it would be rather impolite to leave him waiting outside, Gwen pondered for a moment and then called out, "Care to join me for a bit of training?"
Victor's eyes flickered to the sword in her hand, and he replied with a nonchalant tone, "I'm a mage, remember."
Gwen felt a flush rise to her cheeks. She averted her gaze and uttered a simple "Oh." Then, she added, "Well, come on in then." With that, she made her way towards the training grounds, leaving Victor to follow at his own pace.
Victor, finding himself with little else to do, decided to stand on the sidelines of the training grounds and watch Gwen train. The rhythmic sound of her sword slicing through the air filled the morning stillness. A knight's training routine was a familiar sight: a series of precise sword swings, powerful slashes, and the repetition of various combat techniques designed to hone both strength and skill.
After a while, Gwen, acutely aware of Victor's watchful eyes, felt a twinge of self - consciousness. "Knights are required to train daily, day in and day out," she explained, her voice carrying a tinge of defensiveness.
"I didn't ask," Victor responded curtly, his tone betraying no emotion.
Gwen's lips pressed into a thin line, and she continued her training in silence, the only sounds being the swish of her sword and the thud of her feet on the ground.
As the morning training session came to an end, Gwen wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She reached for the water bag lying nearby, eager to quench her thirst. Just as she was about to take a sip, a voice drifted over from the side.
"Drinking water immediately after intense exercise isn't advisable for your health," Victor stated matter - of - factly.
Gwen paused, the water bag inches from her lips. She let out a silent sigh and set the bag back down. She knew that if she were to ignore his advice, Victor would likely go on a long - winded explanation, and she wasn't in the mood for that. "What's gotten into him today?" she wondered. "Is he unwell?"
Chapter 2: Breakfast and a New Journey
With the training complete, it was time for breakfast. Gwen cast a sidelong glance at Victor and, after a moment's hesitation, asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet," Victor replied succinctly.
Gwen considered this for a moment and then said, "Well, then. Care to join me?"
Victor didn't need to be asked twice. He immediately strode towards the mansion, his steps confident and purposeful. Gwen watched him go, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on her face.
In the dining room, Victor displayed an air of elegance as he cut his food with a deft hand, using his fork to gracefully convey each bite to his mouth. Gwen, seated across from him, found herself stealing glances at him. Despite her best efforts to remain indifferent, she couldn't deny that there was an undeniable charm to his refined manners. His every movement was a study in grace and poise. If he wasn't a noble, she thought, then who could be?
In contrast, Gwen felt a twinge of self - consciousness about her own eating habits. As a knight, her training had instilled in her a certain ruggedness, and she couldn't help but compare her more straightforward approach to Victor's sophisticated demeanor.
She also found herself puzzling over his actions. How could someone so refined and well - mannered have been involved in the rather scandalous incident of the underage noblewoman's confession to the duke? "Oh, well," she thought, shaking her head, "It's none of my business, anyway. He said he'd handle it."
After breakfast, Gwen donned her knight's armor. The silver - white plates of metal glistened in the morning light, accentuating her statuesque figure and the delicate features of her face. She looked every bit the part of a valiant warrior, a vision of strength and beauty.
Victor, eyeing the magnificent white horse that Gwen was leading, raised an eyebrow. "Do I have to ride a horse too?" he inquired.
Gwen's eyes widened in realization. She had completely forgotten that as a mage, Victor wasn't accustomed to long - distance travel on horseback. "How careless of me," she chided herself. "I should have thought of that."
In her memory, she couldn't recall ever seeing Victor on a horse. For a moment, she was at a loss. Should they ride together? The thought made her cheeks flush slightly.
Before she could make a decision, Victor had already taken matters into his own hands. He summoned one of Gwen's servants and instructed them to fetch a suitable horse from the stables, one that was well - suited for a long journey.
Gwen watched in surprise as Victor, with a practiced ease, swung himself onto the horse's back. "So, you can ride after all," she remarked. "You don't look like a novice."
Victor chose to remain silent. He knew that Gwen had a knack for detecting the truth in words, and he didn't want to risk revealing too much. In truth, he was far from a novice. In the virtual world of the game, he had ridden not just horses but even dragons.
And so, the two set off on their journey, with Gwen leading the way on her white steed and Victor following closely behind. The road stretched out before them, a ribbon of dirt winding through the countryside. The only sounds were the rhythmic clopping of the horses' hooves and the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.
Gwen, acutely aware of Victor's presence behind her, felt a strange sense of unease. She stole a glance over her shoulder, only to find Victor's gaze already fixed on her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Gwen quickly turned her head back, her heart pounding a little faster than usual.
Victor, seeing her reaction, couldn't help but smile faintly. He turned his attention back to the scenery, content to enjoy the peaceful ride.
Chapter 3: The Knight Order and a Shocking Display
As they approached the knight order, the sound of clinking armor and the barking of orders filled the air. The knights, all clad in their finest armor, were assembled in formation, waiting for Gwen's arrival.
Gwen dismounted from her horse and strode towards the front of the formation. Victor followed suit, his eyes scanning the rows of knights. The sight of Gwen standing at the helm, her posture proud and commanding, reminded him of the powerful grand master knight he had encountered in the game. There was an air of authority about her, a presence that demanded respect.
Gwen began by having the knights go through their usual drills. The sound of swords clashing, shields banging, and feet stomping filled the training grounds. When the drills were over, Gwen stepped forward and addressed the knights.
"The accompanying mage we've been seeking has finally joined us. Some of you may already be familiar with him," she announced. Then, she stepped aside and gestured for Victor to come forward.
Victor, with a calm and composed demeanor, made his way to the front. As his identity was revealed, a murmur of recognition and unease rippled through the ranks of the knights.
"Victor Clevener!" The name was whispered among them, and there was no mistaking the fear and loathing in their voices. His reputation as a villain preceded him, and every knight present, sworn to uphold justice, held him in contempt.
But upon seeing him in person, a sense of nervousness replaced their initial bravado. This was a third - order mage they were dealing with, a powerful sorcerer capable of unleashing devastating magic. If he were to turn on them, who could possibly stop him?
Some of the knights cast sidelong glances at Gwen, remembering the rumors of their supposed engagement. They wondered if she would be able to subdue him if it came to that.
Victor, observing the knights' reactions, felt a twinge of disappointment. He had secretly hoped for a more dramatic confrontation, perhaps some knights challenging his authority, giving him an opportunity to show off his powers and establish his dominance. But it seemed that his reputation alone was enough to cow them into submission.
Vega, perched on his shoulder, let out a soft chuckle. "You were really expecting some over - the - top showdown?" he quipped.
"Just thought it would add a bit of excitement. This is getting a bit dull," Victor replied with a sigh.
Just as Gwen was about to give the order to depart, a commotion interrupted them. A young boy, his small frame almost dwarfed by the oversized armor he wore, came running towards them, a large sword clutched in his hands.
"Sister Gwen! You forgot your sword!" he shouted, his voice high - pitched and breathless. The sword was nearly as tall as he was, and the hilt obscured his vision.
In his haste, the boy tripped over a stone and went sprawling. "Ah!" he cried out as the sword flew from his grasp, its sharp tip hurtling straight towards Victor.
The knights gasped in horror. This was no ordinary sword; it was enchanted and could easily pierce through even the thickest armor. Just as they were about to shout a warning, Victor calmly extended his hand.
"What's he doing? Is he going to use magic?" one of the knights whispered.
"Don't!" Gwen shouted. "That sword has strong magic resistance."
But Victor ignored her warning. With a lightning - fast movement, he snatched the sword out of the air. His hand closed around the blade, and with a deft twist of his body, he redirected the sword's momentum, bringing it to a halt.
The entire knight order stood in stunned silence. The movement had been so fluid, so effortless, that it seemed almost supernatural. Victor twirled the sword in his hand, performing a series of intricate sword flourishes that left the knights gaping in awe.
"Is he really a mage?" one knight muttered in disbelief.
Gwen, too, was left speechless. She stared at Victor, her eyes wide with shock. "You can use a sword," she finally managed to say, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and accusation.
Victor shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm a mage," he replied, and in his mind, he added, "A full - time mage."
Vega, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but grin. "You just love showing off, don't you?" he said.
Victor flashed a sly smile. "Well, it's not every day you get to make an impression like this."
Gwen, still reeling from the shock, snatched the sword from Victor's hand and sheathed it. She turned her attention back to the knights and barked out the order, "All knights! Mount your horses! Let's move out!"
Chapter 4: The Item Shop and the Uninvited Guests
Meanwhile, in the bustling city, Leia was eagerly awaiting the opening of her item shop. It was the first day of business, and she had high hopes for its success. She had personally invited several well - known figures in the magical community to help with the promotion, but so far, the results had been disappointing.
She sat behind the counter, her eyes fixed on the passersby outside. Many mages paused to examine the magic potions displayed in the window, but when they saw the prices, they invariably shook their heads and walked away.
"Too expensive," they murmured, one after another.
Leia wasn't deterred. She knew that the value of her potions would eventually be recognized. But for now, she had more pressing matters to deal with.
A group of rough - looking men, their bodies covered in tattoos and their expressions menacing, had gathered outside the shop. "Is this the place?" one of them growled.
Leia looked up from behind the counter and let out a weary sigh. "Here we go again," she muttered. "Trouble always seems to find me."
She reached down and touched the "Mage's Hand" on her wrist, a gift from Victor. In moments like these, she couldn't help but think of how much easier things had been when she was doing business in Victor's territory. There, no one dared to challenge the Clevener family's authority.
A cold voice came from behind her. "Shall I drive them away, Sister Leia?" It was her assistant, a young mage with a fierce loyalty to Leia.
Leia shook her head. "No, don't. They might just be the key to getting our name out there," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye.
The leader of the group outside raised his fist. "Let's go! Smash the place!" he shouted, and the men charged towards the shop, their faces twisted with malice.
Leia took a deep breath and prepared for the coming storm. She knew that this was going to be a test, but she was determined to prove that her shop and its wares were not to be trifled with. And if things got really out of hand, she had a secret weapon: the power of the "Mage's Hand" and, if necessary, the name of Victor Clevener.