"Because he is lying. Think about it. Why would a king learn a new language just to read a useless booklet? Even better! Why would Lin Yao waste time teaching him when he could have just translated it on the spot?"
He shook his head as Julius’ eyes narrowed, too.
"But I observed him the entire time. His expression, sweat, and tone aligned perfectly with his words."
Confused, he pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled in concern.
"I don’t know why he hid some information. Maybe he has ulterior motives or isn’t comfortable sharing them with us. Anyway, I want you to investigate that king during the tournament. Look into his reputation, his subjects’ opinions, how he rules, and his habits. Once we know more about him, you can decide what to do with his offer."
He patted Julius’ shoulder, trusting his brother’s judgement and ready to intervene if anything happened, even if the chances were low. After all, the boy did great without him, and Leon would soon officialize his alliance with Shepard, making them allies.
Meanwhile, Julius nodded and raised his thumb.
"Always prepare backup plans, right?"
"You know me by heart. Hahaha. Eat something before the evening matches. We’ll speak again in four days."
His chuckles echoed as he noticed Arun waving in the distance.
He returned the gesture with a smile before watching the two boys leave to explore the city and have fun.
While they left, he backtracked to the arcanists’ room and saw Shepard and Marina laughing like long-lost best friends.
’Didn’t you say she scared you the most? And you! Didn’t you say that Shepard was nothing but an amateur?’
He clicked his tongue on his way to their sofa.
However, Aurora intercepted him, glaring intently at his figure as if about to shred him into pieces but containing her rage.
"What? Want to end up like Moira? Or do you want me to rat about the two teachers who ambushed me last year? I’m sure Elisabeth will love to learn about it."
A whisper escaped his provocative grin as he passed her by nonchalantly.
"The next time you leave your academy, you’re dead, brat."
With a hate-filled snort and her voice cracking, she stated her intentions clearly and walked away.
Yet, he just shrugged as a resentful smirk split his face, and he mocked her mentally.
’This fool. You don’t even realise your status is the only thing protecting you. Just come and try. It’ll give me an alibi to kill you without suffering repercussions.’
After the brief face-off, he inquired with his mentor about the gains and if he should continue acting like an arrogant bastard for the next matches or expedite them.
Without surprise, Shepard asked him to continue. Marina nodded too, eager to see more of Elisabeth’s students humiliate themselves and finding Paul’s hope to win hilarious.
He left them a moment later and sat in the academy’s empty waiting room until the burning midday sun descended and his eager friends returned after a fulfilling afternoon.
Then, he proceeded with his second match.
Fortunately, his turn came first, or he would have died of boredom.
’I’m hating this competition more and more.’
He rolled his eyes as he jumped on the arena’s smooth slabs and observed his adversary: an eager red-haired girl who had already drawn her wand and smirked at him as if she would win without sweating.
Meanwhile, Alice’s voice shattered the spectator’s cheers as she presented them.
"Adam, from the College of Alchemy and Transmutation, will fight against Lola from the Institute of Illusions! Good luck, and may the best apprentice win."
As she stepped back and raised her hand, the students roared encouragement for both of them before she shouted.
"Let the duel begin!"
"Humph! You can’t beat me. I’ll trap you in a horrible illusion from the get-go!"
Lola waved her wand, murmuring ancient magical language before her assertive declaration could linger.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips in response as he rolled his eyes.
’I’ll make everyone believe she got me before turning the tables at the last second...’
After thirty torturous seconds, the girl smirked with confidence as her spell engulfed everyone present in an ethereal world filled with running blood and wafting the scent of rotting corpses.
A terrified shriek echoed, and the noise of chattering teeth echoed from the public as their eyes bulged at a towering beast the size of a mountain.
Its ebony fur glinted with otherworldly powers while its limbs, as thick as houses, bent to bring its head closer to the ground. Its many scarlet pupils peered at the sweating crowd before landing on Adam.
The sound of its voice sent a shockwave into everyone’s trembling hearts as the less courageous lost consciousness, the stench of ammonia rising from their wet pants.
Even the arcanists nodded in praise from their room, commending Lola’s masterful use of illusions to create a vivid world.
But she wasn’t done yet.
Spurred by the positive reactions, she waved her wand again and chuckled, adding more horrifying creatures one after another.
Finally, she scrutinised him, scorn sparkling in her eyes.
"I can create more, so jump out before your mind breaks!"
"A-Ahh! So scary! They must be tier-six beasts! I can’t stop my legs from trembling!"
With a panic yell sounding faker than a dog trying to meow, he crouched and covered his head with his trembling hands.
But inwardly? He laughed at her cute show, remembering his encounter with the Kraken and its dangerous tentacles capable of shredding a ship in a second.
’That’s a true terror! She should add it to her manifestations.’
However, he frowned and gritted his teeth in annoyance as Lola’s next words stung his pride mercilessly.
"Hahaha! What a wimp! Let this prodigy show you some mercy and help you down."
As her grating laugh prickled his ears, he channelled his mana and waited for twenty-nine seconds.
’That’s my mercy. I let you have fun until the last second.’
He smirked at the thought as she voiced her spell.
Simultaneously, he rose to his feet and waved his hand.
A gale roared in the arena, whipping his red coat as it charged at Lola’s enlarging eyes.
Without surprise, her weak mage constitution didn’t stand a chance. She flew backwards, battered by the wind’s pressure, and landed on the grass surrounding the battle stage.