With the start of the fight, the atmosphere became grim once again. Silence took over as the spectators focused on the duo inside the ring. A few murmurs could be heard, but nothing loud enough to break the tension.
The first to make a move was Willa Martinez. He moved at lightning speed, drew his daggers, and made a swift swing at Edniot's neck.
The noble youngster was indeed slower than his opponent, but he was not one to be easily defeated.
~Kath
A strange, dull sound echoed, not the sound of slicing flesh or breaking bone. The dagger struck the neck but failed to cut through. Willa's eyes widened as he realized what had
happened.
Reacting quickly, he retreated.
Edniot Quintess's neck was covered in ice.
Willa moved again, running fast as he dived low to slash at Edniot's ankle.
~Kath
The same thing happened. He spun and attempted to stab Edniot in the liver, but again, the ice appeared.
Willa Martinez attacked from every angle, but the ice provided perfect protection. Perhaps that was the reason why Edniot didn't wear armor.
"Your blessing is quite troublesome," said Willa.
Edniot's expression remained unchanged as he responded.
"Learn the difference. Your kind should stay where they belong." His tone was not mocking; it felt as if he genuinely believed it.
The silver spoon he was born with had been thrust into his throat by his family. Edniot was not raised with care but trained like a war hound.
Fighting within his own household,
worrying about the future, and surviving assassination attempts. His life had never been easy.
He believed that only nobles, those nourished with special experiences and born with superior blessings, should stand at the top of the hierarchy.
Yet, to his distaste, the order of the past king had given commoners and lower nobles the right to send their children to academies.
This decision had caused outrage among the nobles. Some considered it disrespectful, while others called it a waste of resources.
For Edniot, it was both.
"What is the rank of your blessing? Is it Warrior?" asked Edniot sarcastically.
Willa didn't answer.
Instead, he posed a question of his own.
"And you must have received a Champion's blessing?"
A slight smile formed on Edniot's cold face as he replied.
"I am an Ascender." His pride was unmistakable.
Willa Martinez furrowed his brows.
The blessings received by an aspirant at the age of eighteen were divided into four ranks:
Warrior's Blessing. The lowest, received mostly by commoners.
Champion's Blessing. Held by most nobles, though some rare and powerful commoners possessed it as well.
Ascender's Blessing. Reserved for royal bloodlines or powerful nobles with ancient ancestry.
God's Blessing. A gift for the chosen few, the only rank not bound by social hierarchy.
The ranks were determined by the potential of one's blessing.
Edniot touched the hilt of his sword and gave Willa a piece of advice, momentarily suppressing his disdain.
"Surrender. Don't waste my time."
A bead of sweat rolled down Willa's temple. He had been overwhelmed. He had not known that Edniot possessed an Ascender's Blessing. The name alone carried a deadly weight.
"If not, I will kill you."
A threat followed the advice. In the academy's competition, killing was prohibited, but what if it happened by accident?
Every year, countless talented commoners died in so-called friendly spars and contests, their deaths hidden beneath the unjust phrase: It was unintentional. A mistake.
And no one would question it. Who would dare go against the nobles?
In these peaceful times, the greatest dangers were not wildlings but angry nobles.
After a few deep breaths, Willa made his decision.
"Kill me... if you can." He lunged toward the noble in blue.
His eyes gleamed with hope and confidence. Hope for victory and confidence in survival.
He grabbed his eyepatch and tore the knot loose with a swift motion.
Willa Martinez's eye was completely black.
Edniot stared into the dark eye and felt a sudden dizziness. That brief moment was all Willa needed.
~Swish
Blood sprayed as a deep gash appeared on Edniot's cheek, extending all the way to his
eyebrow.
Thane, the spectators, and Edniot himself were left in shock.
The untouchable Edniot was now bleeding.
"That's what cockiness gets you," commented the middle-aged man beside Thane. "This is war, not a talk show. Failing to act accordingly will cost you your life or- an
eye."
Thane turned his head toward the man. "Hey, pervert uncle, did you predict that?" he asked.
The man simply nodded.
"How? Tell me."
The man sized up Thane from head to toe and replied, "I am an experienced spectator. Nothing more. Don't disturb me, muscle-head."
Among the spectators sat two old men, one dressed in a blue robe and the other in white.
Their faces were veiled.
"Oh… that was unfortunate. Not only did he lose an eye but that scar… will ruin his handsome face." commented the man in white.
The man in blue chuckled.
"War is near. Worse things will happen. A scarred face is the least of this kingdom's concerns."
"Yeah? Tell him that." retorted the man in white.
The man in blue shook his head. "He is not a child. He knows how to handle it. Leave that aside and tell me about the blessing of your aspirant." He paused for a moment before adding "A strange black eye. Was that his blessing's first gift?"
The man in white stretched his arms and replied.
"Take a guess."
The man in blue hummed as he gazed at Willa Martinez.