Clint tilted his head from the duke's shoulder, staring at him. The silence was dragging too long.
Then finally, the duke spoke. "Clint… you will enter an academy."
Clint blinked. "Huh? Academy? What are you talking about?"
The duke kept his eyes on the water. "The Lionheart Academy. It is where nobles and warriors are taught. But more than that, it is where they train in magic."
Clint's mouth opened a little in shock. "Wait, wait, wait. Magic? You're telling me to study magic?!"
The duke's jaw tightened. "You fought well. But if the enemy had used magic, you would already be dead. Strength alone is not enough."
Clint frowned, puffing his cheeks in irritation. "Tch… so that's why you've been quiet this whole time. You were thinking of dumping me into school."
The duke finally turned his gaze from the pond, his red eyes serious as they met Clint's. "Not dumping. Preparing. If you stay as you are, you will not survive what is coming."
