Chapter 12
[Embercrown 16th (8/16), Year 1356 of the Arcane Calendar]
| 8:00 PM |
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[ Valco city, Castle, Knights' training ground ]
In the training grounds, a buzz of voices filled the air—some from knights who happened to be there, others drawn by curiosity after hearing about a sparring match. People gathered and sat on a wooden, staircase-like setup, similar to bleachers in an indoor basketball court
- "I heard Miss Chloe is going to spar with her siblings!"
- "I bet Mr. Kyzen and Mr. Liam won't stand a chance against her."
- "We know how monstrous a genius our young lady is!" spoke another man, stroking his beard and nodding sagely.
Didn't think there would be an audience watching.
It's only been a few minutes since we got here.
I guess words spread fast in a castle.
"So, who wants to go first?" Chloe asked, catching my attention from the murmurs all around, as she stretched her arms with a grin. She started warming up, as if she were about to wrestle a bear.
I glanced at Liam and saw that he was having the same shivers as I was, as if we could see the future in which we would be destroyed.
"You go first," I asked with a nervous smile, yet still gave a confident thumbs up, before turning around, starting to walk to where the crowd sat waiting in anticipation.
grabbing my shoulder from the back
"Why should I go? You owe me for helping you with YOUR! Job which, in all truth, you blackmailed me into helping," he shot back, crossing his arms.
"Listen, don't forget it's because of me, you only have to spar once—otherwise, she'd make you fight till you broke a bone!" I countered, smirking.
"I already paid that off by helping you! I'm not going first, please!" Liam pleaded, his face shifting from anger to a look of anguish like a puppy caught in the rain.
I felt a twinge of pity for him — he does have it rough, remembering all those times Chloe dragged him into her sparring chaos every time they met.
"Liam, you're right, you've had it rough," I said, resting a hand on his shoulder.
His mood flipped like a coin, a bright smile breaking out as he perked up.
"I guess I should spill some embarrassing secrets to a certain someone—like how you were hugging Dain in your sleep, calling him mom," I teased, winking.
Realizing who I was talking about, Liam's expression turned to one of despair.
Watching him walk, I could tell he was cursing at me like there was no tomorrow.
"I swear to all the gods, when Kyzen gets a proper girlfriend, I'm going to spill every embarrassing thing about him until I faint from exhaustion! "Liam thought, his mind buzzing.
As he reached into his pocket, he pulled out two metallic crimson-green fingernails and black gloves. He slipped them on, the gloves covering his hands while the nails made for the index and middle fingers encased them, designed not to restrict the movements.
The nails are, in one word, an efficient version of a wand for proper spells, unlike the basic ones like making a breeze or sparks of lightning; for a mage, even a single spell can become a turning point in a battle.
The energy comes from within, so instead of using a wand as an external object to concentrate the veyl used for a spell, it's more efficient and takes less focus to maintain a proper flow of veyl at the fingers, neither too fast nor too slow, which I still am fucking up to do properly.
There are 3 steps when it comes to a mage's verbal spell casting, aside from the Veyl energy being a standard requirement:
1)Words in a sentence, forming part of a paragraph-style spell, act like a script for a theatrical play. Each musician in the play must play their instrument accurately to produce a harmonious melody together.
Similarly, each word or sentence in the spell functions as an individual instrument. For a mage, these words must be spoken fluently in a runic language called Lumic, which has 54 unique characters.
2)The spell, spoken aloud into the air in a sound wave, requires a physical medium for sound to travel. Veyl energy, like a conductor's baton, gives meaning to the spell by guiding each muttered word, sentence, or paragraph to create a coherent and meaningful effect.
These words, similar to how we write on paper with a pen, can be thought to be recorded on a boundary wall between existence and nonexistence. The words are therefore seemingly invisible, but still somewhere unknown.
3)The conductor is the most critical part of the musical ensemble. Without their clear instructions, from brain to hands to baton, directing the musicians' actions, the performance fails to produce a satisfying result.
Likewise, a mage's intent is paramount. A focused mind, channeling precise instructions through the brain, is essential for the spell to succeed.
"You ready?" Chloe asked Liam, tilting her head with a grin.
Pursing his lips, Liam replied with a nod.
"The rules are the usual—anything goes," Chloe said, a sly smirk etching onto her face as she turned to me, signaling me to start a countdown.
Liam, with a serious expression, closed his eyes and spoke in a low voice, too soft for the staring crowd to catch, but I could tell what he was doing. Colors of lime-green light shimmered beside him, the air feeling purified as a fresh breeze swept across the grounds. A fairy waved her hand toward me, and I returned the gesture with a smile before starting the countdown.
"3…"
Liam's pupils turned green from within, erasing any trace of ruby, while Chloe cracked her neck, facing her sword toward him. Liam adopted a fluid stance, knees bent, and weight shifted to his back foot, preparing for a defensive maneuver with his wind-enhanced agility.
"2…"
A powerful wave of wind pulsed from Liam's body, rippling outward, as he subtly adjusted his footing to channel the gust into a rotational spin, enhancing his next leap with greater momentum.
"1…"
My palm traced an arc, stopping after completing a quarter circle as I glanced at it. In those few seconds, the only thought racing through my mind wasI'm so dead when it's my turn.
I saw Chloe rushing past me, already covering more than half the distance toward Liam, her sword raised high in both hands. Her left leg anchored her position in front, ready to strike with a downward slash.
Liam's eyes widened before narrowing as he chanted a swift spell, wind spiraling around his feet and thrusting downward. With a graceful leap, he sprang back, twisting mid-air to evade with a controlled somersault, landing with precision.
Chloe's swing paused just above the ground, her blade's edge stirring dirt particles that scattered outward in a dusty wave. The force of the halted downward slash was so intense it nearly broke her wooden sword, leaving it creaking under the strain.
Woosh…
I raised my arm to shield my eyes, guarding against the stinging dust.
Before landing, Liam noticed the dust wave; hence, with a quick chant, he swept his right hand from left to right, summoning a soft breeze that swept away the dust heading his way, while subtly weaving a defensive wind barrier around his torso. Brushing the sweat from his brow, he resumed chanting, readying another speed-enhancing spell, his fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air.
Three shimmering air blades took shape, glowing with a vibrant lime-green hue, as Liam shouted, "Reina!" his eyes locking onto the wind spirit with fierce determination. Support me from behind with long-range attacks and boosting spells, he commanded his bonded wind attribute spirit Reina through their telepathic link, planning a seamless, thrilling assault.
The crowd, gathered for a free spectacle, held their breath in eager anticipation and curiosity, the earlier buzz of murmurs replaced by an electric silence.
As the dust gradually settled, Chloe's figure came into sharp focus, her sword arm tensing for a cunning feint before she lunged forward, her movements a dazzling mix of agility and raw strength.
Cough… cough… "Ugh, this dust!" she growled, casting a basic wind spell to scatter it—its weak breeze paling in comparison to the one Liam had unleashed.
Liam closed the distance to four steps from Chloe, adopting a low, ready stance, his body tilted to evade as an arrow whizzed from behind, fired by Reina with deadly precision.
With a quick sidestep, Chloe deflected the shot, her sword dancing in smooth, precise arcs to counter Liam's relentless air blades, her free hand poised for a swift, powerful palm strike if the chance arose.
Watching this breathtaking clash unfold, I was left gasping for air—this display outshone anything I'd ever dreamed, the blend of magical grace and warrior skill leaving me spellbound by their contrasting yet perfectly timed styles.
Ba… thump… Ba… thump…
My heart thundered like a war drum, my blood surging as I stared at this wild, chaotic fight.
It's insane—I can't handle this! Too wild; I'd collapse in seconds. The fear of what could happen should have frozen me, but—
Clamping my hand over my mouth, I glanced at the ground and whispered, "I shouldn't smile this wildly, but... but this is just so exhilarating!"
At first, I doubted knights could succeed in a magic-filled world. Kyzen's memories hinted at their strength from knowing Chloe, but witnessing it live cleared all my doubts.
This was beyond imagination.
Every mage's spell hinges on three things: mental focus, Veyl energy flow, and precise chanting.
Knights exploit this by disrupting the chant or energy, turning the tide with a surge of strategy.
Boom…
The sudden sound snapped me back, my eyes locking on Liam sprawled on the ground, battered and disheveled, staring at the sky with messy hair.
I shouted with all my might, "Winner: Chloe!"
A surge of applause exploded behind me, the air alive with cheers:
- "Amazing, Miss Chloe!"
- "Mr. Liam, you fought valiantly against our young miss!" clap clap
Chloe marched toward Liam, dropping her sword with a confident look. She went to help Liam.
Reaching him, she started conversing with him, their words lost to the distance between us.
I could see Liam struggling to get up, his strained body failing with each push, showing his exhaustion.
Maybe I should help ?.
Chloe shook her head, murmuring something that plunged Liam into despair, his frantic head-shaking suggesting life-or-death stakes.
What's happening? I muttered, curiosity drawing me forward. Two steps in, I froze, struck by the scene—Liam, face turned away, lifted in a princess-style carry by Chloe.
Something inside me shattered, like a dam unleashing a long pent-up pressure.
Pftt—
Hahahaha! I pointed at Liam, who was facing the other way from me, his hair flowing like a princess's.
It looks like he heard my laughter, I thought, as he turned toward me, now glaring. His embarrassed and furious face looked hilariously absurd.
Chloe's beaming smile amplified the chaos. "Hahaha!" I jabbed my finger at him, clutching my stomach with my other hand.
"Pfft, hahaha!" Losing my balance, I crashed to the ground with a low thud. "Hahaha!"
Bang bang bang...
I hit the ground with my left hand, not being able to control myself.
Wiping my eyes, clouded with tears of wild laughter, I looked at them again—the scene was utterly hilarious. This was the first time I'd laughed wholeheartedly since coming to this world, a truth that broke another dam within me, releasing a surge of long-buried loneliness from deceit and longing for a place only I called home.
New tears rolled down, unlike the laughter, not from joy, but from a gut-wrenching despair. Still, I held onto that smile, against the mess of emotions.
Gradually, the joy and sorrow drained away, leaving me empty. Yet, I kept smiling, a soft acceptance that this raw, chaotic life is mine now.
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splash...
"Ugh…" I groaned, sinking deeper into the medicinal water. "I can't feel anything. How did you even last that long?" I asked Liam, who was opposite me, his head barely visible, burnt out, his body practically melting into the large tub meant for multiple people.
Even though my whole body ached, I kind of liked it. I didn't know whether to be grateful to Kyzen or not.
The water, infused with herbs, boosted the natural healing process. I call it a tub, but honestly, it's more like a low-depth, small-sized swimming pool.
"If our sister had even used a proper sword style, I'd have been toast in under a minute," Liam replied, his voice lazy as he relaxed, eyes half-closed like he was about to nap.
"Thankfully, we didn't get our bones broken."
Letting out a low groan, he continued, "Still, though, you gave me a shock, Kyzen. Since when did you learn to fight like that? I thought you were just fooling around, dodging Chloe like a scared chicken."
I smirked, flicking a bit of water at him. "It's a secret. Gotta keep some tricks up my sleeves."
Liam rolled his eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck.
"Well, I guess we might get a chance to beat her next year," I added in a doubtful tone.
Liam sighed, staring at the steam rising from the water. "Yeah, right. Chloe's a walking gorilla. We're gonna need more than a year to catch up to that."
"True," I admitted, then perked up. "But think about it—fourth year's coming. Practical assignments, actual combat, expeditions, traveling to who-knows-where! We'll be out there slaying beasts, maybe even finding some artifacts to one-up her."
Liam raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his face. "An artifact? Knowing you, you'd trip over it and break it before we could use it."
"For some reason, I don't doubt that," I laughed, kicking a splash of water his way.
annoyed, he started kicking his legs fiercely and used a water spell like a snowball and launched it at my face, its force was enough to jerk my head back.
After a few minutes letting our ego win, we exhausted ourselves once again and just relaxed.
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[ Valco City, Chloe's bedroom ]
"You seem happy today," Sofia remarked, drying Chloe's hair with a hairdryer-like device.
"It's been a while since I mess— I mean, sparred with Liam," Chloe said cheerfully.
"You were about to say 'messed with him,' weren't you, Miss?" Sofia teased confidently.
Chloe chuckled, dodging the bullying allegations. "Oh yeah, did I get any letters?"
"Yes, Miss, they're in the drawer of the table in front of you."
Chloe opened the drawer and pulled out a bundle of letters, sorting them into two piles: one to read and the other to throw away.
"Sofia, throw these away, send dinner to my room, oh, and have servants prepare dinner for Liam and Kyzen," Chloe instructed.
"Yes, Miss," Sofia replied, taking the letters and leaving the room.
Rubbing her temples, Chloe sighed, rising from her chair and flopping onto her bed with a dramatic free fall.
Liam's stepping up his game; his spell-casting control and speed have improved a lot. His bond with Reina is practically inches away from reaching the second stage of spirit sync. If I fought in a different environment, one that suited him, he'd have pushed me to the edge, forcing me to use a sword art.
Chloe's brows furrowed, a grin creeping in. Kyzen? he was surprisingly not because he was strong, but He barely used any verbal casting, instead using Veyl energy, did basic manipulation of the surroundings—the most fundamental form of casting.
I thought I'd crush him with one strike, but then—boom! I got caught off guard when he unleashed his spiritual release.
A person's spiritual release reflects their emotions and life experiences. Spirituality is a second set of memories, like a copy of the information stored in a person's brain, manifested as a foggy presence.
Kyzen's release, even for a split second, roared with the weight of someone who's lived slightly more than twice his years, a soul sphere burning as bright as a warrior in their 40s or 50s!
"Hahaha!" Chloe laughed, her voice echoing with electric excitement. "How's that even possible? The kid hasn't even stepped foot in the spirit realm, and he's already radiating that kind of release?