The four people standing before them were an orc, a black-haired boy, and two girls, one with curly hair and the other with blue hair.
Elowyn observed them for a few seconds before speaking, maintaining the same calm expression.
"I want you to obey any order I give. So swear an oath."
Serenya narrowed her eyes. An oath of that kind was only made by those who decided to follow someone or when someone became a direct subordinate of the king. By making the oath, their honor and loyalty were put on the line. Serenya had no intention of giving that to someone like Elowyn. Besides, there was something about that princess that deeply bothered her. It was as if, somehow, Elowyn was even worse than she herself had been in the past.
"I'm sorry, Lady Elowyn, but I'll have to refuse. I'll only swear an oath to the king."
Elowyn looked at Serenya calmly.
"That's easy. Since I'll be next in line for succession, let's just say I'm bringing the inevitable forward."
The princess's confidence was enormous. And, considering that she was the eldest daughter and also possessed the greatest potential among her siblings, her words did not seem so absurd. Even so, that did not interest the three standing before her in the slightest. Especially Kai, who continued to feel uncomfortable with Elowyn and her subordinates' presence.
Valença stepped forward after helping the two students who were lying on the ground.
"I just want to ask one question... What will you want if we take this oath? I don't think you came here just for that."
The five looked at Valença. The black-haired boy, who had kicked Kai earlier, opened a smug smile.
"Even though she looks like a commoner, someone intelligent finally appeared."
That comment immediately irritated Valença. Kai did not like it either. In a way, that boy reminded him of Enrico before he began to change, which made his presence even more unpleasant.
Elowyn, however, answered without caring about the comment.
"It's simple. I want you to obey all my orders."
"And what would those orders be?"
Kai asked directly. He would not swear an oath to someone he considered unjust or who did not show even a little empathy.
Elowyn raised one finger.
"My first order is for you to prevent the students below you from evolving. Of course, you'll have to do it without the teachers finding out."
The two injured students behind Kai, Serenya, and Valença trembled upon hearing that. The three exchanged surprised looks.
So that was why.
Now they understood why Lan was Rank 31 and why the Class A students seemed so weak compared to the students who had survived the zombie dungeon.
Kai was the first to respond.
"Then I refuse."
His voice was firm. Now he completely understood the warning Enrico had given about being careful around Elowyn.
Serenya crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not suited to being a subordinate. I prefer to lead."
Besides not liking Elowyn, Serenya also knew that Enrico did not seem comfortable whenever he mentioned this girl. To her, that was reason enough not to accept becoming the princess's subordinate.
Valença was the last to respond.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather dedicate my time to improving my own level."
Her tone carried no provocation. She simply took her rival's words seriously and did not want to waste time on a dispute that could interfere with her growth. At least until Enrico returned.
The two students behind them sighed in relief.
Elowyn placed a hand on her chin, looking bored as she observed the three.
"I understand..."
She did not seem surprised by their refusals.
Only a little bored. Then her eyes slowly moved from Kai to Serenya and finally to Valença.
"That's why people with a light like yours are a little irritating to deal with."
Elowyn had expected Serenya to accept at the very least. Her essence possessed a small amount of corruption, unlike the completely clear light of the others, but even so, the refusal had been a disappointment. Without showing any further interest in the conversation, Elowyn raised her hand.
The four subordinates behind her immediately advanced.
The black-haired boy appeared behind Valença with his arm raised, while dark energy gathered in the palm of his hand.
"I thought you were intelligent, commoner."
Before he could attack, Kai spun around and kicked the boy's arm, deflecting the attack. The boy stepped back in surprise.
"This time will be different."
Kai had been caught off guard before, but now he was determined to pay attention only to that opponent. At least that was what he thought.
An invisible attack came from behind him.
He could not identify what had hit him and was launched forward.
At the same time, the curly-haired girl opened her mouth and spat out a greenish substance that spread through the air toward Kai. Valença reacted immediately, launching a fireball that pushed the poison away before it could reach him. She then spun her staff toward the black-haired boy, but an orc appeared above her with both fists raised.
The blows came down with force.
Serenya noticed the danger and used her control magic to pull Valença to the side. The orc's fists struck the ground, destroying part of it.
Serenya barely had time to breathe before feeling an impact against her ribs.
"Ugh!"
She was thrown against the wall without even being able to see who was responsible for the attack.
Kai drew his sword and advanced toward the orc, realizing that, somehow, those invisible impacts seemed to be coming from him.
Before he could reach him, a bluish mist spread around his body, created by the blue-haired girl, making Kai's vision disappear.
He tried to orient himself by sound, but several blows began striking his body. Fists came from different directions, making his skin crack with some kind of magic and causing his body to stagger.
"Apparently, you're a commoner knight."
The black-haired boy's voice echoed through the mist.
"You should give up. Knights have never reached our level."
Kai clenched his teeth. Even without being able to see, he held the sword firmly and attacked in the direction of the voice.
"Crescent Slash!"
The blade cut through the mist. The boy barely managed to dodge, but a cut still appeared on his forehead.
He touched the wound and glared at Kai in irritation.
"How dare you?"
A sphere of dark energy formed in his hand and was launched directly at Kai's stomach.
He tried to move, but the mist continued to obstruct his vision. The sphere struck his body directly.
"Ugh!"
Kai stumbled backward several steps. When he looked at the spot that had been hit, he realized that his skin was darkening around the wound, as if the flesh itself were being corrupted.
He narrowed his eyes from the pain and gripped the sword more tightly. Then he remembered the hero's magic.
Kai raised the sword.
"Magic Slash!"
The energy traveled through the blade and spread around him. The mist immediately dispersed, restoring his vision.
That meant the magic was at the same level as his or below it.
Kai took a deep breath and looked around. Then he heard a sound of pain.
"Ugh..."
He turned his head and his eyes widened. Elowyn was holding Valença and Serenya by their hair.
'How did they lose?'
Kai tried to get up, but spat out blood and supported himself with one hand on the ground. The three were tired and injured, while Elowyn's four subordinates remained practically unharmed.
Serenya, who was being held by her hair, managed to react despite being injured.
She created an invisible platform beneath her feet and launched it toward Elowyn. The princess noticed the magic moving through the air and raised her arms to protect herself.
The impact pushed her backward.
Valença took advantage of the opening and pointed her staff.
"Fire Hurricane!"
A tornado of flames appeared before her, advancing toward the orc. He raised one hand and managed to stop the attack, although his skin was burned.
Valença took a deep breath.
'Damn... I thought about using my new magic, but...'
She looked at Kai and Serenya.
The two were tired and injured.
Virelle's words came to her mind. She could not use that magic while her companions were in that condition, especially because she still did not have enough control over it.
Elowyn stood up again and observed the three.
They were surrounded by the four subordinates.
"You're stronger than I thought..."
Elowyn placed a hand on her chin, reflecting for a few seconds.
"Now I understand why that trash lost."
She then looked at the four subordinates.
"If you're like this, then, to make sure Rank 31 doesn't do the same, perhaps it would be better to send all four of you against him as well when he returns."
The orc was the only one who showed some discomfort with the idea, while the others simply nodded and prepared to continue the attacks.
Serenya, Valença, and Kai immediately became irritated.
Kai and Serenya stepped forward, prepared to attack again, but Valença extended her arms and stopped them.
"Why...?"
Serenya looked at her, irritated.
Valença simply gave a quick glance at the two Class A students behind them.
The Orc and the Elf shook their heads. Then they approached and stood beside the three.
Serenya and Kai understood, and with some relief, looked at the Elf.
"Thank you."
The Orc smiled and answered simply:
"If friends help, I help back."
Her speech was still a little hesitant, like someone who had only recently begun learning to speak the humans' language. The Elf beside her simply nodded in agreement.
The five remained together, each trying to catch their breath as they prepared to face Elowyn's four subordinates again. Even though they were injured, none of them seemed willing to retreat.
Elowyn observed the formation for a few seconds. The smile on her face grew slightly when she realized they still intended to resist.
"Then let's continue."
Her eyes began to glow golden.
The fight began again.
This time, however, the difference in strength became even more evident. The five tried to remain together, covering each other's blind spots and looking for an opening, but Elowyn moved among them with precision while her subordinates took advantage of every opening. One after another, they lost their strength until, a few minutes later, all of them were lying on the ground, breathing with difficulty and unable to continue.
Elowyn calmly walked over to them and crouched down, observing their exhausted faces.
"This will continue until you swear loyalty."