CLANG! CLANG!
The sharp sound of metal striking metal echoed across the courtyard, each clash ringing in the ears of the onlookers.
Ethan gripped his sword tightly in his right hand, the polished steel of his shield catching the glint of the sun in his left.
His stance was steady with his feet planted firmly as he pushed forward, defending against one strike only to follow it with a swift counterattack.
Three Middle Stage Novice Knights surrounded him. Their blades moved with deadly precision, aiming for gaps in his defense.
Sweat glistened on their brows as they circled, their eyes locked on Ethan, searching for an opening. Their boots scraped against the packed dirt, kicking up small clouds of dust with each step.
There were 6 middle stage Novice Knights.
Three of the knights had accompanied Sophia alongside Randall for protection, the other three with whom Ethan had a spar.
He had already reached the Late stage of Novice Knight and was close to Intermediate Knight but he lacked experience.
"Come.."
CLANG!
A sword slashed at him.
Ethan’s shield absorbed another blow with a loud clang. He grunted and pushed forward, his sword arcing in a quick slash toward the knight on his left. The man twisted away just in time, the blade slicing through the air where his arm had been.
The knight directly ahead took advantage of the moment and lunged forward, his sword aiming low for Ethan’s leg. Ethan reacted instantly, stepping back with his right foot while swinging his shield down to intercept. The steel-on-steel contact sent vibrations up his arm.
Nina stood at the edge of the sparring ring, her eyes following every movement while Oliver watched closely, his arms folded.
Around them, more than a hundred unawakened knights and twenty-five early stage knights observed in silence, their faces tense with focus. The only sounds were the ringing of weapons, the heavy breathing of the fighters, and the occasional grunt of effort.
The knight on Ethan’s right came in fast, his sword cutting through the air in a downward slash. Ethan turned his shield sideways, letting the blow glance off before twisting his body and thrusting his sword forward in a quick counter. The man barely managed to deflect it, the impact making his arm tremble.
The fighters’ movements became faster, more aggressive. Dust swirled around their boots as they stepped in and out, dodging and attacking in a seamless flow.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, as he focused intently.
He shifted his weight, blocking a strike from the left with his shield, then pivoted to parry another from the right.
One knight roared fiercely, his blade coming in from above. Ethan raised his shield high, absorbing the force before pushing it aside and slamming his shoulder into the man’s chest. The knight stumbled back, nearly losing his balance.
The third knight tried to take advantage of the opening, stepping in with a quick thrust toward Ethan’s side. Ethan twisted his body, the sword in his hand cutting upward to knock the attack away. The movement was fluid, instinctive.
For several more minutes, the fight raged on with steel clashing, feet shuffling, and sharp grunts breaking the air. Ethan’s muscles burned with the effort, but his expression stayed calm as his eyes read every move before it came.
Finally, with a sharp pivot, he bashed his shield into the chest of the knight ahead, knocking the wind out of him.
Almost at the same time, he swept his sword across, striking the other two lightly but firmly enough to make them drop their guard. One after another, they fell to their knees, breathing hard and unable to continue.
"My Lord, I give up.."
"Yes,I am too tired.We had been going on for hours."
Ethan stood in the center, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He lowered his shield slowly, his grip on the sword loosening. Sweat rolled down his temple, and his arms felt heavy.
He took a step back, then squatted down, resting the shield on the ground beside him as he tried to catch his breath.
"My Lord,you fought exceptionally well," a voice said calmly from the side.
Ethan looked up, meeting the steady gaze of the speaker. There was no mockery, no exaggeration,just a simple acknowledgment of his effort. He nodded slightly, still breathing heavily, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
As Ethan took a moment to look around, the sound of horses reached his ears. His eyes shifted immediately toward the gate where a familiar carriage was rolling in.
"The lady is here," one of the guards said.
"It has been quite a while," another added.
Ethan set down his weapons and strode quickly toward the carriage. The door swung open, and a familiar voice called out to him.
"Hubby... Hug!"
Before he could reply, a woman leapt out. Ethan reached forward, catching her firmly in his arms. Sophia wrapped herself around him, pressing into his chest and breathing in his familiar scent.
"Hubby, I missed you so much," she said softly, nestling closer.
Ethan held her by the waist before gently setting her down. "Have some restraint. Others are watching."
"Watching? Who is watching?" Sophia shot a glance around. The nearby guards quickly turned away.
"We didn’t see anything."
"We are blind," one muttered under his breath.
Sophia took a small step back and smiled. "Uncle Randall, please bring the boxes inside."
Ethan glanced toward the boxes, curiosity sparking, but before he could ask, Oliver and Nina arrived. They greeted Sophia warmly. Ray, sitting in Nina’s lap, reached out toward her with bright eyes.
Sophia’s face softened as she took him into her arms. "My baby... How are you, boy? Did you miss Mommy?"
Ray laughed happily and clung to her tightly, his small hands holding her clothes as if he didn’t want to let go.
The group rested for a while before gathering for a meeting. Two large boxes were placed in front of Ethan. At Sophia’s request, he opened the first one. The moment the lid came up, his eyes widened at the dazzling sight.
"What the hell...So many gold coins? Did you loot someone on the way?"
"Of course not? Do I look like a thief?" Sophia replied with a snort.
"Then?" Ethan asked in shock.