Hooooooonnnng—
A rather warm breeze swept in at just the right moment.
Though it wasn’t quite sweltering season yet, the O’Neil Kingdom, being farther south than the Crescent Empire, welcomed the summer heat a bit earlier.
Hooonnnng—
As the wind brushed through, a knight with cascading golden locks gracefully leaped forward. The flowing golden tresses caught the wind effortlessly, almost like an advertisement for hair products—or at least that’s what would’ve sounded right in a comedic universe.
At the same time, a massive wall of ice materialized right in front of the golden-haired knight, creating what could only be described as a very photogenic obstacle.
The icy barrier shimmered under the sun, practically screaming refreshing to anyone nearby.
Hoooooooong—
Just as the golden knight landed beside the ice wall, another breeze swept in.
This second breeze carried not only the scent of pine but also a palpable tension that hung between the two combatants like an unspoken agreement.
‘Emily is fast…’
Cynthia stood watching, nervously swallowing her saliva as this unexpected duel unfolded.
Elaine versus Emily.
Now, why Elaine had suddenly decided to engage in this duel was entirely Elaine’s doing. Elaine had arrived at the O’Neil Knights Order with more enthusiasm than usual, and for good reason—it was a rare opportunity after all. Who wouldn’t be pumped up if you were visiting the O’Neil Knights Order, especially when it belonged to another kingdom instead of their own Crescent one? For Elaine, this wasn’t just an ordinary field trip; this was life-changing, career-inspiring material!
Elaine gleefully observed everything—every practice, every drill—her eyes sparkling at the prospect of witnessing knights in their finest moments. Among all of it, one specific drill caught her fiery spirit: the knights’ exercises against wizards.
The O’Neil Knights practiced keeping their distance while sparring with wizards, training in the art of dealing with magic-wielding foes from afar. Watching this, Elaine turned to Emily with an almost predatory, determined glint in her eye, and before anyone could fully process it, the sudden—and seemingly random—duel had begun.
Of course, such a duel couldn’t have started without the blessing of Professor Amillion and their tour guide, Eli. Even Ryu chimed in, pondering aloud about who would win in a showdown between the great Six Families.
‘This is why they’re both from elite families,’ Cynthia thought, watching the display with wide eyes as she alternated between Emily and Elaine.
A match between members of the Six Families wasn’t something you’d see anywhere outside of the Academy—and maybe never again.
“Emily is doing well for someone who doesn’t like the spotlight, huh?”
“Yeah, she’s effectively keeping Elaine at bay. Smart moves.”
For now, it was clear how disadvantageous the situation was for a knight fighting at a distance against a wizard. Elaine struggled to breach Emily’s defenses, even though in close combat, Elaine would have had the upper hand.
“Emily’s been practicing; she’s gotten stronger lately,” Ryu added.
In what seemed like a bold departure from her usual reserved self, Emily initiated the attack. The quiet girl who rarely moved first now charged straight toward Elaine, her calm demeanor shifting into focus.
A swirl of mana surrounded Emily, a frosty chill spreading in waves from her presence.
“Whoa…!”
Cynthia was thoroughly impressed, her jaw hanging slightly agape. She always knew Emily was smart, but seeing her wield magic with such speed and precision left her awestruck.
Elaine noticed the frost creeping toward her and reacted swiftly, leaping high into the air to escape. In midair, she aimed her sword downward, slashing powerfully as she descended, dispersing the frost temporarily with a gust of wind.
It was a good strategy given her circumstances—but only temporary. The lingering frost soon reformed and crept back toward Elaine, forcing her to reconsider her next move.
And just as Elaine readied herself to leap again…
“Think it’s time to wrap up this round?” Ryu spoke up.
As soon as his voice floated across the field, the cold aura dissipated from Emily’s hands, and Elaine, already tensed to attack, relaxed her stance—though her frown remained in place.
“Long-range wizards really are the bane of short-range fighters, huh…”
Elaine gave Emily a stiff nod in acknowledgment. Although only half-heartedly acknowledging Ryu’s interjection, Elaine bowed to Emily with proper respect. Emily returned the bow in her own awkward manner and stepped closer, her quiet demeanor unchanged.
‘They’re both incredible.’
Cynthia took in the scene, her respect growing as she realized why Emily came from St. Claire and Elaine from Prisis. Emily’s ability to completely shut down Elaine’s rapid attacks showcased the former’s talent, while Elaine’s clever maneuvers under disadvantageous conditions highlighted her own skill.
If she had been in their shoes…
Cynthia considered the scenario. What would she have done if she were Emily, facing Elaine? Or vice versa?
“Alright, let’s move along now. The professor’s joining the tour.”
“Huh? A tour?”
“Yeah, we’re going on an afternoon tour with our guide knight. Y’all didn’t hear?”
“…I guess not. Anyway, we’re off to visit the area where the knights frequently come for training.”
Professor Amillion finally joined the conversation, elaborating on the day’s plans as they prepared to move.
“Ryu-sama.”
“Hmm?”
“About the situation earlier…”
Elaine had sidled close to Ryu, deep in thought about the previous confrontation with Emily.
She assumed, perhaps naively, that breaking through Emily’s defense would be the natural next step, but reality had proven something else entirely. Not only had breaking Emily’s defense proved elusive, but countering her attacks at long range had presented its own set of challenges—especially when attacks lacked a defined shape.
“You mean when Emily was projecting cold?”
“Exactly! When she released that icy frost.”
“Ahh, yeah, that was quite the game-changer. Seemed like a unique attack. Cool, pun intended,” Ryu chuckled.
“That’s actually something I thought up while studying,” Emily chimed in from behind, her voice slightly proud yet subdued.
Elaine glanced at Emily for a moment before continuing her inquiry.
“If faced with such an attack without a clear form, how would Ryu-sama have responded?”
“Er…”
Ryu hesitated, clearly caught off-guard by the question. The query seemed to intrigue not only Elaine but also Emily, who now looked at Ryu expectantly.
“But wouldn’t it have been dangerous if it had hit you?”
“Yes! It was based on a method I used when studying food preservation! If someone had stood in the cold for even three seconds, they probably would’ve started to freeze solid.”
“Ah…”
The gravity of Emily’s explanation left Elaine’s frown deepening. This wasn’t just any ice magic—it was far more challenging to counter compared to traditional spells that simply froze targets.
“Well, in my case…”
Elaine believed her only real option would’ve been to jump upward, taking advantage of the fact Emily’s frost crept forward slowly enough for her to react. Faster-moving cold, however, might’ve rendered even that option impossible.
“Reverse it with the wind? Like Elaine did with her sword before?”
“Hmm, that makes sense…”
Elaine nodded in agreement. A well-executed wind-based counter could very well disperse the frost. With that cleared, the plan would be to rush toward Emily—a sound strategy in theory.
“Though, realistically, how often would that scenario actually occur? Emily’s attack was rather unconventional.”
“Well, yes! Besides the frost, most elemental attacks like that lose efficiency when dispersed as gas. Think about it—flames spread farther but become less potent. Similarly…”
“Ah, we’re here.”
Before Emily could elaborate further, Ryu interrupted, much to Elaine’s silent gratitude.
“And if such a situation happens in real combat, Elaine, just come to me. I’ll handle it.”
“Uh…”
This was definitely not the response Elaine had expected. Before she could figure out how to reply, Ryu had already slipped away.
‘Come to me, huh?’
Elaine couldn’t help but feel an odd stirring. Ryu-sama’s suggestion, however casual it might have been, still sent an inexplicable flutter through her chest.
‘Why does such a practical statement feel so… meaningful?’
Lost in thought on this peculiar sensation, Elaine was startled out of her daze by a nearby voice.
“This is where our knights often train.”
Ryu stood a few paces ahead, his step slightly heavier than usual as he addressed the group.
Elaine took a quick look around, noting the remnants of training battles scattered across the open area. Scattered patches of bl**d and other combat relics spoke to the intensity of these sessions.
‘Even training sessions here are brutal.’
“Ryu-sama, wait for us!”
Elaine jogged to catch up with Ryu, eager to discuss more strategy insights. There were so many questions—how Ryu might respond to Emily’s attacks, or tricks for effectively closing distance against a mage, among others.
‘Would Ryu-sama have used teleportation magic?’
As she speculated on Ryu’s possible maneuvers, Elaine paused.
‘What was that?’
A sudden chill ran down her spine, accompanied by the unmistakable sensation of being watched. She scanned the surroundings carefully, but found no one lurking nearby.
The ground was open and bare, leaving no hiding spots or cover.
‘Must’ve been my imagination…’
Shaking off the feeling, Elaine quickened her pace to follow Ryu once more, unaware that someone was watching her every step with a sly, calculating grin from some unseen corner.
