A small hand moved, Evans extended his left hand, and a beast boy with dark blue hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin growled at him despite being covered in wounds and bruises.
"He is a very brave being"
-Do you want to die? -Evans asked calmly.
The boy shrank his cat ears, shook his head, and died a few seconds later.
"I hope you will have a better life in your next life."
Evans walked away from the mound, but even after walking a few yards, he could still smell blood.
Evans inhaled and exhaled, after which he walked back towards the camp.
"the award ceremony is about to begin"
"Did you bet?
"I heard that the duke's son is talented"
"Nonsense, this tournament will be won by Meled Ervand"
There were many murmurs and diverse opinions. Noble gambling fans did not miss the opportunity to bet.
Evans stopped and observed the surroundings, people in hunting clothes with sumptuous styles, some servants with gloomy faces, slaves in poor conditions, in conclusion a variety of personalities ranging from the lowest to the highest, from the most sordid to the least sordid.
"If a monster appeared here, how many of them would survive?"
Evans walked again and soon after the horns were heard blowing.
The skinny man on stage announced:
Everyone pay honor to the Imperial family!
Everyone bowed. When they entered and sat on their thrones, the audience was able to look up again.
It's time to announce the winners of the annual hunting tournament!
Third place goes to Asert Feriac, who belongs to and honors the Marquisate Feriac, who has hunted an Imperial boar.
The handsome Asert, who now stood 1.64 meters tall and looked obviously stronger than before, went up on stage and received his award.
"Second place goes to Evans Qualty, who belongs to and honors the Qualty dukedom.
Evans receives a certificate valued at three thousand gold coins and a trophy. After receiving the awards, Evans bows to the Emperor, then bows to the Empress, and finally leaves the stage.
The champion of the hunting tournament is Meled Ervand...
Evans returned to the private section of the tent and lay down.
Fire! Fire!
The ravenous flames of an orange fire rising, burning what was once a person.
-Young sir. -Ana calls Evans.
Evans wakes up sweating again, but in his mind he has already forgotten what he dreamed.
-Wait. I'll change my clothes and then go out.
Evans uses a spell to purify his body, now putting on a light brown hunting outfit.
When he leaves, Ana, Lizet and Stan are waiting for him, Aria is asleep in Ana's arms.
-Let's go. -Evans said.
everyone headed to the carriage area; But Princess Amelia and the Emperor were waiting for him there, along with a dozen imperial guards.
-Young man, I hope you do not hurt my daughter, I will accept this commitment because you fulfilled my demands, now I must keep my word, but never forget that your fiancée is my daughter, the daughter of the Emperor.
-It is an honor your majesty. I won't let you down.
The Emperor steps away only long enough to give Amelia a chance to say goodbye.
-Thank you Evans; I know it was difficult, thank you. -The princess said with a calm tone but with a little warmth.
-It's the least I could do. We have written so many letters to each other, it would have been rude not to live up to it. -Evans responded.
Amelia approaches Evans and kisses him on the cheek and then says:
-We'll see you at the Academy.
As Amelia walked away; Evans began to hear the crackling of fire in his ears, his heart felt empty.
"It seems I've lost something."
Evans, feeling an intense gaze, looked towards the carriage but the gaze disappeared, however he thought he saw Lizet looking away.
"How strange!"
Evans was about to get into the carriage when he heard a whisper.
-I knew it, it's you.
Evans tried to locate the origin of those words, but his attempts were unsuccessful.
While the carriage moved steadily forward, Evans looked at the external landscape over which a chiaroscuro sky stretched.
"This was a complicated day. It was beyond my expectations."
The silence extends for a few seconds.
"Whose voice was that? Do you know who I am? That would be a problem."
Evans squeezed his right hand to check that there were no problems with the circulation of mana.
"I must become stronger. This world mercilessly devours the weak without caring about their nature or origin."
The carriage continued on its way, the wheels rolling on the solid dirt roads, as the earth had been compacted using magic. The return trip was peaceful for some, but it began to plunge others into despair.
In a carriage whose interior looked like a small palace; white padded seats, beige colored walls; magic stones that produced light or regulated the internal temperature of the carriage.
-Is it possible or not to kill that vermin? -Asked the duchess, who now did not hide her contempt for Evans.
-It is possible; but we need the duke to be away. The White Sun organization is willing to send Eclipse, he is our most powerful assassin; but the duke will not allow him to approach.
-I'll find a solution. Have everything ready. -Indicated the duchess.
"He must not make it to the Academy alive, or all my efforts will have been in vain."