When Lerana stepped out from behind the shelf, my heart sank.
Ah… shit.
Every possible outcome flashed through my mind.
Would she apologize?
No… that didn't feel like her.
She walked forward, stopping a few steps away from me. Her eyes locked onto mine—sharp, unwavering.
"You helped me open my eyes," she said.
Her voice was calm.
"For that… I thank you."
A pause.
Then—
"You also humiliated me. In front of my teacher. In front of my father."
There it was.
"I won't let that stand."
Von remained silent. Ranile watched from the back, expression unreadable.
Lerana took another step forward.
"Six years from now," she declared, "we will duel again."
The room fell completely silent.
"When I turn fifthneen… we fight."
Her gaze burned.
"If you win, I will grant you one wish."
My breath caught.
"If you lose…"
A slight pause.
"You will become my servant."
She said it as if it were already decided.
I didn't respond.
I couldn't.
"This could ruin my life…" in my head I thought
I looked toward Von, silently asking—What am I supposed to say?
Refusing a noble?
Dangerous.
Accepting?
Even worse.
Six years… would I even remember?
Would I even be alive?
But her eyes—
They weren't a child's eyes anymore.
They burned with purpose.
Clap.
Von broke the silence.
"Oh, come now," he said lightly. "Why jump straight to servant?"
He leaned back slightly.
"If he loses… he becomes a guard."
A faint smile.
"If he proves himself, perhaps even a knight."
His tone softened the words—but the weight remained.
"So," he looked at me, "do you accept?"
I hesitated.
For a moment… just a moment… I felt it.
Fear.
Not of her.
Not of the duel.
But of what stood behind this decision.
A noble's promise.
A noble's memory.
And a noble's revenge.
"…Alright," I said finally.
"I accept."
Lerana's expression didn't change.
"Good."
She turned and walked away without another word.
Von watched her leave, then looked back at me.
"She's stubborn," he said calmly.
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"Do not forget this promise."
A pause.
"If you do… I will come for you myself."
Not a threat.
Not exactly.
But it carried weight.
The meeting ended.
I left the room in silence.
Later, I picked up my weapons again.
For the first time in days… they felt right in my hands.
Like something missing had finally returned.
I trained until noon.
Then rested.
Then read.
"Mana is the foundation of all things…"
My head throbbed.
Still didn't understand.
Didn't matter.
I kept reading.
By evening, the sun dipped low.
The door burst open.
"Oi, rookie!"
Ron.
Behind him—
The entire Winged Sword team.
Before I knew it, I was on my feet, rushing toward them.
We collided in a rough embrace.
"You alive?" Ron asked, grinning.
"Yeah."
He ruffled my hair.
"Good."
We sat together.
For a moment… it felt normal.
Then Ron's expression shifted.
"These bandits…" he said slowly, "they're not normal."
"They're organized."
"Formations. Coordinated attacks."
Niles leaned forward.
"Don't spread this," he muttered.
Then lowered his voice.
"It seems… the Holy Empire—Chogauth—is backing them."
Silence.
I frowned.
"…Why?"
Sam answered.
"This Duke is planning a major deal."
"With demons."
My eyes narrowed.
"Demons?"
He nodded.
"From the Northern Mountains."
"Trade routes. Continuous exchange."
"Not just goods… influence."
Paul added,
"If this works, it won't stay here."
"It'll spread across territories."
"Even demons setting up shops."
"No borders."
No rules.
I understood now.
This wasn't just a battle.
It was a message.
Crush one Duke—
—and others will hesitate.
"And the war?" I asked.
Paul exhaled.
"Bad."
Then—
"An Aura Knight showed up."
Everyone went quiet.
Ron spoke again.
"I get it now," he said. "Why they say one Aura Knight is worth a hundred."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"His whole body… covered in aura."
"Thick."
"Burning."
"Fire attribute."
"When he moved…"
"…it was like watching fire come alive."
Niles added quietly,
"Even water mages couldn't put it out."
A living flame.
On a battlefield.
Killing men.
We talked until night.
Stories. Fights. Close calls.
But my mind stayed somewhere else.
Six years.
A duel.
And a world that was growing far more dangerous than I thought.