Ignoring the offered hand, Jurgen forced himself upright, muscles taut with restrained frustration.
He sat up slowly, every movement deliberate, before slapping Nemesio's hand away with a sharp flick.
"Save your pity… I don't need it," he sneered, his jaw tight, eyes flashing with defiance and simmering annoyance.
Nemesio's eyes widened slightly, a subtle flicker of surprise crossing his otherwise composed features.
"Hahaha…" he chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, carrying both amusement and quiet authority.
"Your name?" His voice, calm yet probing, cut through the tension like a gentle current beneath a storm.
Jurgen's teeth ground together, the shadows around his eyes deepening as his expression tightened.
His irritation was palpable, yet he said nothing.
A timid voice rose from behind, barely above a whisper.
"Um… Jurgen… Jurgen Einzelberht," Hana answered, stepping slightly forward, her hands clasped tightly before her.
Her eyes flicked nervously between Jurgen and Nemesio, steady despite the fear dancing in her gaze.
Nemesio lifted his gaze, letting his piercing yet gentle eyes sweep past Jurgen to meet Hana's.
"Ah, young woman. How do you do?" His tone was soft, warm, and inviting, as if weighing her courage without intimidation.
"I-I'm fine… Y-Your Highness, sir," Hana stammered, her cheeks faintly pink, the tremor in her voice betraying both respect and anxiety.
A gentle smile curved Nemesio's lips, softening his sharp features, yet his aura of authority remained undeniable.
"You may simply call me Lord Nemesio… or Sir Nemesio. Whichever suits you. 'Highness' is reserved for the Prime Ministers."
His voice remained calm, measured, each word deliberate,an elegance of power that did not need to shout to be felt.
"And what may I call you, young woman?"
"Hana… Namihara," she replied, soft but steady.
"Hana…" he repeated, low and deliberate, almost reverent, letting the name linger.
"As in a wave field?"
Jurgen rose slowly, every movement labored. One hand clutched his chest, the other trembled as he tried to steady himself.
Each shift sent pain shooting through his body, and his leg scraped against the floor with effort.
"Jurgen…" Hana's voice followed, soft and full of worry.
"Hahaha… amazing. Truly amazing." Nemesio's laughter floated lightly, almost musical, yet sharp, savoring every detail before him.
"Young man," he continued, calm yet deliberate,
"come participate in the Truemann Trials… gain more training… more experience… more power."
He let the last words linger, enunciated deliberately, as if tasting Jurgen's desire for it.
Yes… i can witness that power i saw earlier up close… so what will you answer, Einzelberht?
"It's in two days, if you're wondering!" Nemesio added, voice carrying across the vast area, punctuating the temptation.
Jurgen paused, the silence pressing down like a tangible weight.
Then, dragging his feet, he continued.
A faint, knowing smile tugged at Nemesio's lips.
Hana hurried after Jurgen, slipping under his arm to support him, fingers gripping tightly.
As Jurgen moved away, Nemesio's voice rose slightly, cutting through the space between them,sharp enough for Jurgen to hear.
"Einzelberht! For my commanders' actions… it seems I did not set the proper example"he called, the words carrying a rare edge of frustration, meant solely for Jurgen's ears.
"The requirement to join the Defense Corps is at least-" Kimura began, lifting his bowed head slightly, curiosity and hesitation warring in his gaze.
"Kimura…" Nemesio interrupted, his voice calm, deliberate, carrying an undercurrent of quiet authority.
"When a boy returns from the storm carrying its silence," he continued, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the retreating figure of Jurgen,
"you do not ask his age… you ask what the storm saw in him."
A brief pause followed, the weight of his words sinking into the air.
Then his voice rose slightly, firm and carrying, deliberate enough for those nearby to hear.
"From this moment onward, young prodigies from all corners shall be permitted to participate in the Truemann Trials, regardless of age."
Instinctively, they rose. Shock carved deep lines across the faces of Kimura and Blut.
"Haaaaa…" Kimura dragged a hand down his face, exhaling in disbelief.
"Lord Nemesio… you cannot simply change the rules of the Dominion Trials on a whim," he said, voice tight with tension.
"The council will lose their minds."
"My lord… sometimes I truly wonder how your decisions make any sense at all," Blut added, exhaling sharply.
Nemesio let out a low, deliberate chuckle, calm yet carrying the weight of authority.
"Well… ah, anyway—"
Suddenly, Nemesio's attention snapped toward them.
"Hm?" His brow lifted slightly, eyes narrowing as he tilted his head.
"Why are you two standing?"
A moment of hesitation.
"I was under the impression you were kneeling."
Kimura and Blut stiffened, caught off guard, before quickly dropping to their knees once more.
Nemesio's lips curved in a faint, almost amused smile.
"Good. I thought I was imagining things."