Elara and Lalanat stepped back slightly as Alaric and Heidi walked toward the center of the arena, facing each other.
Alaric rolled up his sleeves.
"I have a condition before we begin."
Alaric smirked.
"Go on."
He didn't even look at her as he continued folding his sleeves.
"You can't use both hands. Only your right hand. And you can't use your legs either."
She grinned.
Alaric remained silent and continued adjusting his sleeves.
The crowd began whispering among themselves.
"So you can't accept?" Heidi asked. "Well, I guess that's too difficult, even for someone who claims to be the strongest in the academy."
Alaric finally looked at her.
"First of all, I never said I wouldn't accept."
He picked up his wooden sword and placed his left hand behind his back.
"And I never claimed to be the strongest here. I don't even want to be."
He raised his sword slightly and took his stance.
"If I were the strongest, there wouldn't be any room left to improve."
"Well said, Mr. Alaric."
Heidi stepped into position, placing one foot slightly behind the other as she tightened her grip on her wooden sword.
Up in the stands, Arasa adjusted his position.
"I guess they're starting. Let's see what we've got."
He leaned forward with interest.
"With those conditions, Alaric is already being cornered before the match has even begun."
A smile appeared on his face.
"This is surprisingly interesting for a duel between kids."
"Don't underestimate him."
Caelin shifted slightly to get a better view.
"He adapts quickly during battle. If that girl has a signature move, she's finished."
Below, Alaric and Heidi stared at each other.
"Come."
The moment the word left his mouth, Heidi rushed forward.
She attacked from the left.
Then the right.
Then the left again.
Alaric blocked every strike while slowly stepping backward.
Eventually Heidi stopped and retreated a few steps.
She narrowed her eyes.
"He's not attacking."
A smile appeared on her face.
"He's trying to wear me out and make me lose stamina. You're easy to read."
Alaric remained silent.
Both of them slowly circled each other.
Then suddenly—
Alaric burst forward.
Heidi immediately struck.
Alaric blocked.
He saw an opening.
But instead of attacking, he moved past her.
Both of them quickly turned around.
"Already regretting accepting the condition?" Heidi shouted.
"You could've hit me there if you were allowed to use your legs."
Alaric took a slow breath and remained silent.
"He's hard to provoke."
Heidi frowned.
"Where did that goofy-looking guy from earlier go?"
Both charged at the same time.
Heidi attacked.
Too slow.
Alaric's sword struck first.
Heidi barely managed to block.
But the impact forced her own wooden sword into her chest.
Before she could recover—
Alaric crouched and rolled.
His elbow slammed into her leg.
"Ahhh!"
Heidi stumbled.
"That hurts!"
Before she could regain her footing, Alaric rolled behind her and placed his wooden sword against her neck.
Heidi froze.
One hand rubbed her chest while she crouched and tried to catch her breath.
"If this were a real battle," Alaric said calmly, "you'd already be dead."
The arena exploded with excitement.
"Did you see that?"
"That roll was so fast!"
"No wonder he was last year's champion!"
Elara and Lalanat approached them.
"You win so often that your matches are starting to get boring."
Elara glanced at Heidi from the corner of her eye.
Alaric scratched his cheek.
"I guess I'm just lucky."
"Ahhh... I guess that's another loss for me."
Heidi sat down on the ground.
The three of them looked at her.
"Another?" Alaric asked.
Heidi lowered her head and picked up her wooden sword.
"Well, you weren't completely wrong when you said it's not all about willpower."
She laughed.
"Skill matters too."
She stood up slowly.
"But I think it takes just as much willpower to keep going until you gain those skills."
She looked at Alaric.
"That's why I was so determined to beat you. I even came up with a plan to win."
She shrugged.
"And I still lost."
"I think you fought really well."
Lalanat stepped forward and offered her a hand.
Heidi accepted it.
"Besides, before the duel even started, you already knew you couldn't beat him."
Lalanat smiled softly.
"Just like everyone else here."
"That's why you came up with a strategy."
She helped Heidi to her feet.
"That alone proves you don't blindly believe willpower is everything."
"You understand that skill matters."
She glanced toward Alaric.
"You just haven't caught up to him yet."
Elara nodded.
"Besides, if your plan to provoke Alaric had actually worked, you might've had a chance."
She pointed at him.
"But this knight-loving idiot is surprisingly calm when it comes to fighting."
"Ehh?"
Alaric blinked.
"She was trying to provoke me?"
The three girls stared at him.
"Wait..."
Heidi frowned.
"You seriously didn't realize?"
Alaric scratched his head.
"No?"
Heidi sighed.
Then she shrugged.
"I guess you didn't."
A helpless smile appeared on her face.
"And somehow you still countered everything."
The girls burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Alaric continued complaining about how unfair that sounded.
"I guess that's it. Let's go. We're done here."
Caelin turned and started walking toward the arena exit.
For one last time, Arasa glanced back at Alaric before shrugging and following him.
After a while, Caelin finally spoke.
"What do you think?"
Arasa placed both hands behind his head.
"Honestly? I wasn't expecting him to win that easily."
Caelin nodded.
"Do you think we could beat them?"
Arasa continued walking.
"Hmm. There's still time for Heidi to improve, but she'd be pretty unlucky if she met me before the finals."
He stopped and looked at Caelin.
"Alaric can only help her during the finals anyway."
A moment later, Caelin sighed.
"Damn it. I forgot."
He shook his head.
"Second-years only participate in the finals."
Arasa laughed softly before continuing forward.
"If you really want to fight them, you could always do it through politics."
Caelin suddenly stopped.
"What do you mean?"
Arasa glanced over his shoulder.
"Your father already promised us a place in the finals."
His voice remained casual.
"He could do the same for Heidi."
He paused.
"Though that would only strengthen the chain we talked about last week."
Silence.
Caelin lowered his gaze.
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Eventually, they left the arena grounds.
"Let's grab something to eat at the market," Arasa suggested.
Caelin nodded.
As they walked, he suddenly stopped again.
"Can you go ahead without me?"
Arasa raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you going?"
"The riverside."
"Hmm."
Arasa shrugged.
"Sure. Just don't expect me to be back anytime soon."
A small smile appeared on Caelin's face.
"Just come back before sunset."
"Yeah, yeah."
With a wave of his hand, Arasa headed toward the market.
Caelin watched him disappear into the distance before making his way toward the river.
He sat down on the grass.
The duel between Alaric and Heidi replayed in his mind.
The clash of wooden swords.
The confidence.
The ease with which Alaric adapted.
A gentle breeze brushed against his skin.
The grass swayed softly.
Birds chirped somewhere nearby.
For the first time that day, everything was quiet.
Suddenly, a small pair of hands covered his eyes.
"Who am I?"
A familiar child's voice echoed behind him.
A small smile appeared on Caelin's face.
"Hmm... is it Hazel?"
Hazel immediately let go and ran around in front of him.
"Wow! How did you know it was me?"
His face lit up with excitement.
Caelin chuckled.
"I remember your voice. We've seen each other often enough."
Hazel paused to think about it.
"Hmm... I guess you're right."
Then he laughed loudly.
"Anyway, where are your sisters?" Caelin asked.
"They're coming."
Hazel pointed down the path.
Anna was walking toward them while holding Tiana's hand.
Tiana was chewing on one of her fingers as she walked.
The moment she spotted Caelin, she pointed at him.
"Ooo! It's the weird-hair guy!"
"Tiana!"
Anna immediately scolded her.
"Don't say that."
Caelin laughed.
"Haha, it's okay."
He waved at her.
"Hi, Tiana."
"Hi."
She gave him a small wave in return.
"How was your day?" Caelin asked as they approached.
Anna smiled.
"We sold a lot of flowers today."
"And we bought bread!"
Tiana added proudly.
"It was really delicious."
"Oh?"
Caelin placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"Now I'm jealous. You guys have bread and I don't."
"Do you want some?"
Tiana asked innocently.
Caelin froze for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"No, that's okay."
"I'll eat when I get home."
Tiana nodded as if she had just completed an important negotiation.
Anna sat down nearby.
"Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"Oh..."
Caelin glanced toward the river.
"I'm waiting for a friend."
"A friend?"
Anna blinked.
"You have a friend?"
Caelin stared at her.
"That sounded rude."
Anna quickly shook her head.
"No! That's not what I meant!"
Then she tilted her head.
"Is it Alaric and the others?"
This time Caelin genuinely looked surprised.
"Wait."
"How do you know Alaric?"
Anna and Tiana sat down and excitedly told him about their encounter.
How Alaric had bought all of their flowers.
How they had spent time talking together.
And how the conversation eventually turned to Caelin.
After they finished, silence settled over the group.
Hazel suddenly looked up.
"Big Brother Alaric said you guys are friends."
He tilted his head.
"Are you?"
A faint smile appeared on Caelin's face.
"Yes."
He nodded slowly.
"We were."
Hazel blinked.
"Then why aren't you together?"
Before Caelin could answer, Anna smacked Hazel lightly on the shoulder.
"Hazel."
"Stop asking so many questions."
"That's rude."
Hazel lowered his head.
"Sorry."
Caelin looked down at the grass.
No answer came.
After a while, Hazel and Tiana wandered off to play nearby.
Anna remained seated beside him.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Anna suddenly broke the silence.
"Big Brother Caelin..."
"Hm?"
"I don't really understand everything."
She looked down at her hands.
"But I don't think you're alone."
Caelin turned toward her.
"What do you mean?"
Anna hesitated.
"I'm not sure."
She laughed awkwardly.
"But Big Brother Alaric, Big Sister Elara, and Big Sister Lalanat..."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I think they really care about you."
Caelin lowered his gaze.
Without saying a word, a thought crossed his mind.
I betrayed them for my own selfish dream.
Silence followed.
The sound of the river filled the space between them.
Eventually, Caelin smiled.
"Yeah."
"I guess you're right."
He gently adjusted Anna's crooked collar.
"But you don't need to worry about me."
His voice softened.
"You should worry about yourself and your siblings."
Anna looked toward Hazel and Tiana.
"They only have you."
Caelin followed her gaze.
"Treasure them."
He smiled faintly.
"Sometimes people call others a burden."
His eyes remained fixed on the two children.
"But when enough time passes..."
He paused.
"People end up missing what they once called a burden."
Anna quietly listened.
The sun was already beginning to descend.
Caelin stood up.
"It's getting late."
"You three should head home."
The siblings gathered together.
Before leaving, all three bowed respectfully.
"Goodbye, Big Brother Caelin."
"Goodbye."
Caelin waved as they walked away.
Hazel and Tiana quickly became distracted by something on the road.
But Anna kept looking back.
Again.
And again.
Until eventually the distance swallowed them from view.
A few minutes later.
Arasa was walking down the road, chewing on a loaf of bread while carrying another in his hand.
Suddenly, he heard laughter mixed with screaming.
His head turned toward the noise.
Then a figure rushed past him.
Caelin.
"Yo, Cael-"
Before he could finish, Caelin sprinted ahead.
Arasa followed his gaze.
Two guards were harassing Anna and her siblings.
One of them was holding their basket while the other demanded money.
"Please give it back."
Anna kept reaching for the basket as the guard moved it away from her.
Hazel suddenly kicked one of the guards in the leg.
The guard froze.
Then slowly looked down.
"This little brat just kicked me."
He grabbed Hazel by the ear.
Hazel winced in pain.
"Do you want to go to prison?"
The guard crouched down.
"Or do you want to be sold?"
Hazel's eyes widened.
Thud.
The guard's head snapped to the side.
He stumbled backward.
The second guard looked around in shock.
"What the-"
Then he saw him.
Caelin.
Standing there.
Looking down at the guard he had kicked.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the other guard holding the basket.
Without saying a word, he began walking forward.
The first guard got back up and immediately approached him from behind.
As he raised his fist to strike-
A hand caught his wrist.
The guard turned.
Arasa stood behind him.
"I'm going to stop you right there."
He smiled casually.
"It's not very manly to attack someone from behind."
The guard pulled his hand free and glared at him.
"Who are you?"
His hand moved toward his sword.
"Do you want to die?"
The moment his fingers touched the hilt-
Arasa kicked him.
Directly between the legs.
"AHHHHH!"
The guard dropped to his knees.
A second kick slammed into his stomach and sent him rolling across the dirt.
On the other side, Caelin continued walking toward the remaining guard.
His hands trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
From anger.
"What exactly did they do wrong?"
His voice shook.
"That you have to treat them like this?"
The guard looked down at him.
"I don't answer to children."
He stepped forward and reached for his sword.
Caelin didn't move.
"Go ahead."
The guard frowned.
"What?"
"Strike me."
Caelin's eyes never left his.
Behind him, Arasa took another bite of bread.
"If I were you," he said casually, "I wouldn't lay a hand on a prince."
The guard froze.
Then laughed.
"Liar."
His grip tightened on his sword.
"Our kingdom doesn't even have a prince. We only have two princesses."
Arasa shrugged.
"This idiot thinks there's only one kingdom."
He pointed lazily toward Caelin.
"Go ahead."
"If you want to start a war between Valerith and Bane."
The guard's face changed.
The name alone was enough.
Slowly, his hand left his sword.
Without another word, he grabbed his injured companion.
The two guards retreated.
Arasa watched them leave.
"Hmm."
He rubbed his chin.
"I guess they aren't ready for war."
He took another bite of bread.
"What's the point of becoming a knight then?"
Caelin ignored him.
He immediately turned toward the children.
Anna was holding Tiana tightly.
Hazel stood frozen.
All three were visibly shaken.
"It's okay now."
Caelin picked up their basket and handed it back.
Hazel immediately hugged him.
Tears filled the boy's eyes.
"I thought I was going to be sold."
His voice trembled.
"I was so scared."
Caelin gently placed a hand on his head.
"It's over."
Around them, whispers spread through the crowd.
"A prince?"
"Did he say prince?"
"The Kingdom of Bane?"
Caelin heard every word.
Ignoring them, he helped gather the children's belongings.
Then he knelt beside Anna.
"Anna."
She looked up.
"I need to meet my father."
His voice softened.
"So I need you to go home and rest."
Anna nodded.
"And don't be afraid."
Caelin smiled.
"People like that only show up once in a lifetime."
Anna wasn't entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway.
Holding both of her siblings close, she slowly began walking home.
Hazel carried the basket.
Tiana held Anna's hand tightly.
Before long, they disappeared into the crowd.
The moment they were gone, Caelin turned around and began walking quickly.
Arasa followed beside him.
For a moment, he glanced toward the direction the children had gone.
"Who are they?"
Caelin didn't slow down.
"I'll explain on the way."
His expression hardened.
"I have something I need to do."
Without another word, he increased his pace toward their residence.