Chapter 28 : Training ground

"So, what's next?"

"I don't know; I still have to go talk to Sylvester. All this investigation thing will make me go crazy!"

As I spoke, I plunged my spoon into my iced cake, topped with fresh strawberries. It was a mini cake with ribbons made of sweets, beautifully made.

It tasted like a warm winter passed in the mountains, between thick blankets and marvelous scenery.

"And do you know where he is?"

"I don't know. Maybe on the knights training grounds? Don't you have a major exam coming soon?"

"Yes, maybe. But Sylvester barely ever goes to the common practice ground. So probably not."

"Why?"

Mainu, who was sitting opposed to me while facing the crowd, shrugged his shoulders, having no answer to my question.

"They say it's because he has his own private training grounds inside the school. Nobody knows why."

"Huh? Isn't the school advocating for equal chances...It's quite the contrary. Isn't it?"

"Well, no world is completely perfect," Aaron said before turning his face toward me—showing his profile. "Well, you are a mage, no? Call him. He will respond."

"Doesn't work like that. And I try not to use my magic a lot."

"Oh! That's going to be difficult knowing your major. Why didn't you become a scholar or an alchemist then?"

"It's...Complicated."

That was all thanks to my "awesome," who taught it would be smart to apply me to a magic faction inside the royal academy, where my biggest headaches were.

Yes, I knew he didn't know my circumstances and only meant good, but sometimes I just wanted to strangle him.

But ultimately, I couldn't say anything. I didn't want to sadden him.

"I see... Well, you can still go to the training grounds, you never know."

Aaron stood up and ruffled my hair a second time. "I am going to go now. My next shift is just after. Tell me if you need anything; that's what friends are for." Then he went through the cafeteria crowd, and disappeared from my field of vision.

I could still hear all around me the brouhaha from the students who enjoyed, with their friends, their meal time.

In that atmosphere, I slowly finished my cake, then got up too.

I walked into the Megatop and went into the north wing: where the knight faction took their classes. Just like the south aisle, big and open—having myriads of windows letting the light through.

Behind the windows, we could see the back garden, which led to a mini-forest. It was a green scene full of trees, green leaves, and wild flowers. And in the bright, wide blue sky, the sun was shining triumphantly.

I walked into the long corridor, the sun shining on me. It was warm and pleasant, giving me new vigor. My tight blue dress looked even prettier, and my dry hair was less... tasteless.

'I hope he is here…'

I didn't want to go through the entire academy, having other more important things to do. Like revising for my upcoming history test.

Arriving near the training ground, I could see from afar the knights fighting against each other while a teacher stood at the side, supervising.

He would look at their movements and adjust them if the need arose, shouting this or that.

"Mike, bend your legs a little more. And try to keep your hands horizontally. Yes, just like that. Well done."

"Perry, no, Perry. It's the fourth time I am telling you, don't slash mindlessly. And use more force. More force!"

The teacher was a man, a relatively young man—barely thirty—who had joined the academy as a teacher a year ago. He was said to be a strict but a profoundly just man. He was merciless in his teaching, but he knew how to bring out the best in every one of his students.

He was called "Dragoon."

He came from the south, where people were raised to be strong, growing under the sun.

He was a former knight in the blue moon circle, the army of Gefya, but had to retire after an accident. Rumors said that he had an important post and was directly recommended by the king.

Now that I saw him, I could say that his reputation didn't fault him. He was big, tall, and visually strong. He looked like an honorable man, uptight and understanding. A true leader.

"I wonder if Aaron will look like him later?"

I walked to the bench, sat, and observed.

I looked around to spot a head full of black, wavy, shinny hair. And I did.

In the inner corner, towards the end of the training ground, stood Sylvester, who was giving pointers to a group of younger students. Probably juniors.

He looked just as cold as usual, a distant expression on his face. A true icy prince. Only, he was a grand duke and not a prince. No, to be exact, he was the future heir.

I waited for him to finish, patiently sitting on the bench. Having nothing to do, I listened to the professor's advices and pointers.

"Helvis, come here."

The teacher was talking to a smaller-stature boy with green hair and the same eye color. As he advanced toward the professor, he had an insure look, timid. He looked visibly stressed.

"Yes?"

"Redo the position you just did; I'll help you master it."

"Yes!" The boy shouted loudly.

The boy took position, his hand posted horizontally to the ground, straight and firm. His right leg was in front and the left leg in the back; his bust was slightly inclined.

"That's it. You should never do that. The distance between your legs is too wide. Are you asking to fall?"

"N-no."

Professor Dragoon adjusted his legs' positions, forcing them to close the distance using his hands. Then he gripped his shoulders and straightened them, making the green-head stand more adequately.

"Like that. Go now, and you better not make the same mistake again. Don't forget, on a battlefield, you must stay firm on the ground or you die. Got it?"

"Yes, teacher!"

'Wow, so fierce... Fighting one-on-one with him would be interesting…'

I wondered, if we fought without using magic or battle auras, who would win?

Even though I did have a less practiced way of fighting, different from the more standard and uptight way of the knights, I was still quite talented.

For my age, I could even be called a genius.

In terms of pure and raw strength, he may win. But when it came to the art of killing, I had more chances of winning. After all, I had learned an ancestral art that trained my body to be a soulless killing machine.

I licked my lips, curious.

When I redirected my attention to Sylvester, he wasn't there any more. I turned my head and saw that he was just next to me, his gaze directed toward the same place as me .

My heart skipped a beat, unready.

"Professor Dragoon is a man befitting his reputation, right?"

"Yes...He is. And good morning, Sylvester."

"Good morning, Georgia. How did your trip go?"

"How did you know? You spy on me?" I asked the stern man, in a mood to joke.

"No, but we had an appointment, remember? When I didn't find you, I asked the administration, and they told me, "

'Oh, so now you remember that we were supposed to meet? That's rich from the guy who never came.'

My mouth twitched, my smile twisting in a horrible grimace. The more I learned about Sylvester, the more I found him funny without meaning to.

"You are the one who stood me up. You said you would come back during the afternoon. I waited the entire time, but I didn't see you."

"Really? Sorry, I must have forgotten then. I thought I had said the next day; it was my mistake."

"It's okay. Where were you then?"

"I had to go to the bureau and talk with the committee; it was one of our periodic meetings."

"Okay. And any news about the investigation?"