Episode 79
Zeke and his companions boarded the train from Pansthas, where the Graham family resided, and returned to Atlas.
Lady Catherine decided to gather more information about the martial arts tournament by meeting with the central region’s nobility before rejoining them in Atlas.
As they disembarked at the central station, Pharrell looked around Atlas and remarked, “It’s been a while since I’ve been here, not since graduating from Valhalla.”
“So, Sir Pharrell, you’re a Valhalla alumnus as well?”
“Yes. It’s rare for nobles from the central region to attend Valhalla, but I was determined to enroll because I admired Lord Flaubert.”
Flaubert, hailing from Thebea in the central region, was a knight respected even among the central nobility, so Pharrell’s admiration was understandable.
The group headed to Zeke’s mansion in Atlas. Upon arrival, a familiar face was there to greet him.
“My lord!”
It was Liam Stone, who was about to graduate from the academy.
“Liam, it’s been a while.”
Liam had grown more muscular since they last met, and his face had matured significantly, making him look almost as old as Pharrell, who was in his thirties.
Zeke told Pharrell and Felix to rest and took Liam out to the garden.
“So, how have you been, Liam?”
“Thanks to you, my lord, I was able to complete my academy graduation exams without any issues.”
“I heard you were promoted to a Purple Knight before graduation. That’s impressive.”
Liam had been recognized for his promotion to Purple Knight and was set to graduate from the academy. Among his peers, only Reina, a pureblooded awakener, had achieved the same.
Zeke asked Liam, “I heard you and Reina were recommended for Valhalla but you declined. Why?”
Liam thumped his chest and replied, “I want to be of service to you as soon as possible, my lord.”
Zeke pondered Liam’s words. ‘In my past life, Liam didn’t go to Valhalla and became a Red Knight through field experience. Maybe he’ll grow faster by staying by my side.’
Seeing the fiery determination in Liam’s eyes, Zeke felt a slight pressure. ‘Well, having one more squire isn’t a bad thing.’
Zeke accepted Liam’s decision. “Very well.”
“Thank you, my lord!”
As they sipped tea, Zeke inquired about the other cousins.
“Leon Conrad has taken an indefinite leave from the academy, Owen Siemens advanced a grade but failed the graduation exam, Reina Draker is set to graduate and enter Valhalla, and Jaken Valdek failed to advance and is now acting like a king among his peers.”
Zeke nodded at Liam’s report. “Seems Leon’s spirit has finally broken.”
Leon, who had tormented Liam, had suffered the humiliation of losing an ear to Zeke. Unable to accept his new role as a victim, Leon chose indefinite leave, unable to overcome the shock.
“He got what he deserved,” Liam said, and Zeke, who had suffered at Leon’s hands in a past life, agreed.
Just then, Decker approached from the garden.
“Young master, I’ve brought what you requested.”
“Thank you, Decker. Please set it here.”
Decker placed a sizable box in front of Liam at Zeke’s gesture.
Zeke looked at Liam and said, “Liam, this is your promotion gift.”
Liam was taken aback. “A gift, my lord? You’ve already given me so much.”
“Just take it.”
With trembling hands, Liam opened the box and was astonished.
“My lord, this is…?”
Inside was a new sword and light armor set, specially ordered from Gelion for Liam.
Zeke grinned. “I hope it fits well.”
Liam was so moved he could hardly speak. He took out the gauntlets, boots, and breastplate, fitting them to his body.
“They fit perfectly!”
The armor was modeled after the one Liam used during his mercenary king days, so it was no surprise he was pleased.
Liam slowly drew the sword from its sheath.
Ziiing!
It was a blade meticulously crafted by Gelion, a master of soul forging.
Liam was captivated by the sword, staring at his reflection in the blade for a long time.
“Do you like it, Liam?”
Snapping back to reality, Liam knelt before Zeke.
“Thank you for your generosity. I will strive to uphold your honor.”
Seeing Liam on the verge of tears, Zeke chuckled. “I look forward to it.”
Feeling the reunion was complete, Zeke called Felix over to establish the hierarchy between the two.
“Liam is the first to pledge loyalty to me. Felix, you’re my squire. You should treat Liam as your senior.”
Felix was taken aback. “What? Master, why am I below him?”
Zeke looked at Felix. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, I was just asking.”
Zeke grinned at Felix. “Alright, Felix. I’ll give you a chance.”
“What kind of chance?”
“If you can defeat Liam, I’ll change the hierarchy.”
Felix’s face lit up. “Really, Master? No take-backs?”
And so, the duel between the two was set. Soon, Felix and Liam stood facing each other.
Felix, thinking he could easily defeat a fresh academy graduate, took his stance with confidence.
Liam also readied himself, but something felt off.
‘A fresh graduate…?’
Wooong!
Liam’s sword emitted a clear hum.
Whoosh!
Liam’s powerful strike, characteristic of his long reach, came at Felix.
“Ugh!”
Felix barely managed to block Liam’s sword and regain his balance.
He quickly reassessed the situation. ‘Damn, he’s no rookie!’
Pride aside, Felix immediately employed the Paladin’s traditional swordsmanship.
Whoosh!
Felix’s heavy strike forced Liam to retreat, searching for an opening with unorthodox attacks.
Watching their contrasting styles, Zeke chuckled. ‘It’s ironic. Felix, who looks light, uses traditional swordsmanship, while Liam, who seems heavy, uses unorthodox techniques.’
As expected, their skills were nearly equal. Their opposing styles would serve as excellent stimuli for each other.
“Eek!”
Felix, making a comical noise, executed formal strikes from the Paladin’s legacy and Agamemnon’s royal swordsmanship.
Liam, who had underestimated Felix’s light demeanor, was equally surprised.
‘His sword is solid.’
It meant his fundamentals were strong. Trained by his grandfather, an Arch Paladin, and having inherited the aura legacy, Felix’s basics were unshakeable.
Clang!
After hundreds of exchanges, both were visibly exhausted.
“Huff, huff.”
“Pant, pant.”
Their auras depleted, they prepared for a final showdown.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Liam, charging at Felix, seemed to swing his sword but suddenly let go and rushed into Felix’s guard.
“Gah!”
Felix, who had never considered dropping his sword in a duel, was caught off guard.
Liam grabbed Felix’s legs and used pankration techniques to bring him down, then locked his arms around Felix’s neck.
“Ugh!”
Unfamiliar with pankration, Felix struggled against the chokehold.
Watching, Zeke shouted, “Enough!”
At Zeke’s command, Liam released the choke.
“Cough, cough!”
Felix, gasping for air, slowly regained his composure.
Zeke looked at Felix and said, “Felix, you’ve lost.”
“Ugh…”
Drained of energy, Felix lay sprawled on the garden ground.
Zeke was confident that Liam and Felix could complement each other’s weaknesses.
Just then, Pharrell approached Zeke.
“Sir Zeke!”
“Sir Pharrell, what is it?”
Pharrell handed Zeke a note. “This is news from a friend in Atlas.”
Zeke unfolded the note and read it, nodding. “So, Reina Draker is also entering the tournament.”
“Anyone above Purple Knight can participate, so it seems the Turn family hastily registered Reina Draker.”
Zeke turned to Liam. “You heard that, Liam. Reina is entering the tournament.”
He told Liam, “Liam, you’re entering the tournament too. Aim to defeat Reina.”
Pharrell was startled. “Sir Zeke! Reina Draker is from the Turn family and a pureblood awakener. She’s young but a strong contender for the championship…”
Zeke grinned at Liam. “You heard him, Liam. Work hard.”
With a determined look, Liam bowed to Zeke. “Understood, my lord!”
Watching Liam, Felix and Pharrell were left speechless, their eyes wide with disbelief.
‘As expected of Sir Zeke. His thinking is on a different level.’
‘Why did I agree to be this man’s squire? I wish I could turn back time.’
Thud, thud, thud!
The day of the preliminary rounds for the Draker Martial Arts Tournament had arrived. The gathering place on the outskirts of Atlas buzzed with young knights and their family’s retainers.
The air was thick with tension as each family tried to outdo the other, flaunting their banners in a bid to assert dominance.
Then it happened.
Thud, thud, thud!
A group of riders approached, mounted on massive warhorses.
Their banner bore the image of a colossal bull.
“It’s the Turen family!”
Known for their fierce nature and formidable strength, the Turen family was the most warlike among the Draker bloodlines.
At the center of the Turen riders was the prodigious pureblood awakener, Reina Draker, commanding her enormous steed as she arrived at the gathering.
Her presence caused the other families’ riders to exchange uneasy glances, their breaths held in check.
The sheer intimidation exuded by the Turen knights, reminiscent of barbarians, was suffocating.
Following the Turen family, more carriages and riders from other families arrived.
Their banner depicted two snakes biting each other’s tails.
“It’s Siemens!”
A carriage bearing the Siemens emblem came to a halt, and a young man with ashen hair and piercing eyes stepped out.
He surveyed the crowd and spoke.
“Hmph, quite the collection of nobodies here.”
His arrogant words hung in the air, and the other families’ riders retreated, unable to muster a response.
Then Edward Siemens spotted Reina and approached her.
“Reina! It’s been a while.”
As Edward drew near, the Turen knights behind Reina tensed, ready to act.
Edward chuckled and said, “Can’t even say hello? Do the Turen lackeys dare glare at a Siemens heir?”
Reina raised a hand, signaling her knights to stand down, and bowed her head in greeting.
“It’s been a long time.”
“I’ve come all this way, but it seems I’ve already won this tournament,” Edward declared with a smirk.
Reina replied, “Edward, you might want to be careful. I’ve heard that he’s participating this time.”
“What? Are you talking to me?”
“Yes.”
Edward’s face twisted with irritation, a muscle twitching in his cheek.
“Who here could possibly stop me? You, Reina, a mere newly minted purple knight? Just because you’re a pureblood awakener?”
“It’s not me. It’s him…”
Thud, thud, thud!
At that moment, a small group of riders entered the gathering, without any family banners or entourage, just four individuals on horseback.
The one leading dismounted first.
“Phew. Just in time.”
Liam, Felix, and Farrell followed suit, dismounting their horses.
Zeke waved at Reina, who stood facing Edward.
“Long time no see, Reina.”
Reina’s expression hardened at the sight of Zeke, whom she hadn’t seen in two years.
Edward, noticing Reina’s reaction, cracked his neck and approached Zeke.
“So, this is the guy I’m supposed to watch out for? Some nobody without a sponsor family?”
Edward stood before Zeke.
“Kid, I’m Edward Siemens.”
He leaned in, sneering, “You, without a family to back you, have no place here. Just quietly disappear.”
Just then, a distant rumble echoed, something massive approaching, shaking the very ground beneath them.