Emergance

20 minutes have passed since Koalt announced Ashton would arrive later than expected.

Count Albert and his family weren't in a rush, they were finding the quiet moment relaxing, releasing the built up anxiety from their bones.

But Aaron Raine was not so calm. He found the time spent standing around waiting as an insult. His growing frustration led him to step onto the sparring square and announce, "Where is Whey and his mouse? Have they not kept us waiting long enough?"

"They probably tucked their tails, my lord." Carlos responded. His remark caused the rest of the 5th division burst out in laughter, and even some of the Blood Eagle knights to chuckle.

"Be patient Aaron Raine. Ashton will not turn away from this, but you already know that." Count Albert's admonishment didn't turn Aaron away, it only made him more uneasy.

"Whether he has dodged this duel or not, doesn't excuse his actions. Count Albert, can you say that if it was me and my men holding us hostage here, you would still be this unbothered..."

The question made sense, it was the truth after all. Count Albert favored Ashton, and it was visible in his demeanor, but Aaron's phrasing and the crack in his voice made him seem small.

Nobody spoke out against him. He wasn't being ignored, he had the full attention of everyone. But as his witnessers took in the situation all they could did was silently judge him.

"Insecurity is the hallmark of all small minds, Lord Raine" Finally, Ashton had emerged.

His voice was quiet, as it traveled from the far back of the garden, but the mockery had hit every spectator loud and clear. 

"And impatience is the virtue of failures." He continued.

Nobody welcomed Ashton, his presence spoke for himself. The only reaction from the crowd was Darian's laugh, but Ashton hadn't noticed.

He only directed Titus to side of the square opposite of Carlos while he stepped on to it.

As he stood shoulder to shoulder with Aaron, he didn't even glance his way. He only slightly bowed forward towards Count Albert.

"I apologize for my tardiness uncle Kase, aunt G."

"Huhuhu." Countess Georgia chuckled and welcomed Ashton to the party. "There is nothing to forgive for, little Ash."

Darian and Count Albert didn't respond to Ashton, they only watched as he rose from his bow and walked to his side of the square.

"Remember what I taught you Titus Magnus, and I shall be victorious."

Koalt brought a wooden chair over to Ashton for him to take a seat, then stood behind him as if he belonged to Ashton.

As Aaron stepped off the stage, he grabbed Carlos' arm as he walked past him. "Crush this kid." He demanded. "I want him scrapped off this square with a shovel."

Carlos's mouth rose at its corners in devious welcome, he felt seen by his lord. He thought his lord knew of the perceived injustices he suffered and felt release in his order. "Look forward to it. My lord."

As Carlos took to the stage, his energy was already bubbling inside of body, it was in full enhancement. Count Albert and Ashton at and above the fourth circle, saw the faint mana rising from his shoulders like a fire without cover.

[This will be a challenge unlike anything you have ever faced. But you are ready, Titus Magnus.] Ashton thought as he held out his glass for the butlers.

[Can this child truly stand against such a man?] Count Albert thought as he rose to his feet.

"While it is not my fight, I am burdened with the position of tonight's hosts. As such I only have one question..." The count shifted his sight towards Aaron. "Is this party ready?"

"Hmph." Aaron smirked and replied, "Ready." 

Count Albert eyes shifted towards Ashton, but he simply gestured toward Titus as he sipped his wine.

"And young man... Are you ready?"

Titus stood still, his eyes locked on Carlos. The boy who had been mocked, who had cracked jokes and stumbled through formality, was now silent. His unresponsiveness was taken as cowardice from the opposition, but the many only saw him for the solider he was becoming. 

The world around him faded, he was stimulating a very fine amount of mana throughout his body, and it required every bit of spare focus he had despite him failing to mold it around his muscles. But as he stood, his concentration slipped slightly as he wondered why he wasn't fighting yet.

He assumed he was the hold up and drew his sword to signal that he was ready.

"Good..." Count Albert threw his hand into the air. "On my mark..." And as he dropped his hand "Begin!"

The mana in Calos legs and feet launched him forward closing the gap in an instant. As he pulled his sword from its sheath, his mana radiated from it in a tight flow.

Carlos swung in a clean horizontal arc aimed to take Titus's head off at the neck, but he didn't move a muscle.

He recalled his crash course training with Ashton.

- "Remember, while your opened pathways have opened your latent prowess, you are incomplete." 

"You now have the frame to enhance your weapon with mana like that of a second-class knight, but you can't enhance your body like a first-class." -

Titus blinked as Carlos's sword drew closer to his throat, but as he opened his eyes they were glowing with a blue hue.

He could see the added extension Carlos's mana gave his sword.

And he took a half step backwards. The sword meant to kill, was dodge with no room to spare.

Nobody noticed the pulsing of Titus's eyes, but Ashton could feel it despite staring at his knights back.

[Excellent] He thought, as he looked back on what he said to Titus.

- "Before I show you how to will your mana onto your sword, I will teach you the basics of what it means to be second rate."

"As a third-class knight you only know a finite number of spells, they are your lifeline. But you must forget how you craft spells in between the uncontrollable bursts of mana along your sword."

"You don't have the time to learn how to envelop your entire body, so we will temper your eyes, the most important organ in a sword fight." 

"Feel how I mold your mana around your eyes. Burn the sensation into your mind, for all things magical start with a thought." -

Titus dropped his elbows and thrusted the tip of his sword toward Carlo's heart. The mana along his sword was wild. It was third rate.

While the mana imbued on his sword was uneven, it was calculated.

If first-class envelopment meant 100% of the user's mana was spread evenly across every inch of the sword, third rates could only dump their energy resulting in 150% of their mana in an unpredictable position each burst.

[That is the correct choice for a stab. However, your opponent is too skilled] Ashton thought.

[I did not expect this. Sure, it is a duel, but they both are immediately going for the kill.] Darian thought. He had never been in a life-or-death battle, but something within him started to rise. 

Titus's mana luckily focused into the tip of his sword, but Carlos bent his knees and threw his shoulder into the middle of the sword, the weakest link.

Titus's attack slid against the armor and caused him to lose his footing.

As he fell forward, Carlos focused all of his mana within his legs and threw a kick right into Titus's side.

The impact pushed him off of his feet and left an indent in his armor.

Carlos stood tall and reveled in his subordinates cheers. 

Everybody assumed the fight was over. Titus was a third-class knight, without the protection and power of bodily mana enhancement this attack should have finished him.

He should have been down and unable to rise again.

But Aaron Raine shouted out, "Finish him!"

Titus was rising to his feet, the left side of his ribcage was shattered, and his breath was shallow, but he lifted his sword and planted his feet.

[Good, good, very good] Carlos thought as he dashed at Titus with a vicious smirk.

Carlos assumed the fight was over, his foe was already broken and all he had to was pile on the damage. 

He lifted his sword that was bare of mana and dropped it aiming for Titus's shoulder.

[It is just like you said, Master Ashton] 

- "This fight would not be fair even if you gained two more circles here and now. Your opponent is too hardened, you will suffer damage but that is what will give you opportunity." -

Titus took his chance, he exploded his mana onto his sword and met Carlos's sword from his knees.

The unexpected impact of Titus's resilience caused Carlos's sword to bounce back into the air.

Titus again rose to his feet, and the crowd noticed the change in his sword.

It was no longer uneven in mana distribution, it was shining in a spread of equal and threatening excellence.