· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

The training yard was half-full when Arios arrived that afternoon. The sky was clear, and the sun shone strongly enough that most students preferred to stay in the shaded sections. Some groups were sparring with wooden swords while others practiced footwork or simple forms. The clacking of wood against wood echoed throughout the space, accompanied by the occasional grunt or shout.

Arios came for his own practice, not expecting much else. He carried a wooden sword at his side and scanned the yard for an open space. Lucy and Liza had said they would join him later, but for now, he was alone.

As he stepped into the yard, his eyes immediately caught sight of Regulus. The boy stood near the center with two other students, laughing loudly about something. His posture was arrogant, his arms crossed while the others nodded along to his words. Arios didn't care what they were talking about and walked past without stopping.

But Regulus's voice carried.

"There he is," Regulus said. "Some Class D trash."

A few heads turned, though most students didn't want to get involved. Arios kept walking, not even acknowledging the words. He found a space near the far end of the yard and began stretching his shoulders.

Regulus didn't let it go. He broke away from his group and walked straight toward Arios, wooden sword in hand. The sound of his boots hitting the dirt grew louder until he stopped a few paces away.

"Hey," Regulus said. "You think you can just ignore me?"

Arios looked at him briefly, then looked away. "I came here to train. Not talk."

"That's perfect," Regulus said with a grin. "Then fight me."

The nearby students paused their practice, sensing something was about to happen. A circle began to form, bodies subtly shifting to watch.

Arios didn't answer right away. He rotated his wrist, adjusting his grip on the wooden sword. "If I refuse, you'll just keep bothering me."

Regulus smirked. "Exactly. So pick it up and face me."

Arios sighed, then stepped into the circle. The other students backed up to give them space.

"First to three hits," Arios said simply.

"First to make the other bleed," Regulus corrected.

"It's a wooden sword," Arios replied.

"You'll bleed," Regulus said, gripping his weapon tightly.

Arios didn't argue. He only raised his sword into a ready stance.

The fight began without ceremony. Regulus lunged forward, swinging his weapon with brute strength. The blow was heavy, but sloppy. Arios sidestepped and let the strike pass harmlessly through the air.

Regulus quickly swung again, this time aiming for Arios's shoulder. Arios blocked with ease, the sound of wood clashing echoing out. He immediately twisted his wrist, redirecting the force, and pushed Regulus off balance.

The first clean strike landed against Regulus's side before he could recover.

"One," Arios said calmly.

The crowd murmured. Regulus's smirk faded, replaced by irritation. He stepped back, then rushed in again, this time trying to overwhelm Arios with a flurry of strikes.

Each blow was fast and hard, but none precise. Arios parried each one, his expression unchanged, his movements efficient. He didn't waste energy. He didn't show emotion.

When the gap appeared, he slipped past Regulus's guard and tapped his wooden sword against Regulus's chest.

"Two," Arios said.

The circle of students grew louder, whispers running through them. Regulus's face turned red.

"You think this is funny?" Regulus shouted. "You're mocking me!"

Arios shook his head. "You're fighting like a child throwing tantrums."

That only enraged Regulus further. He raised his sword overhead and charged, screaming as he swung downward with all his strength.

Arios didn't block this time. He stepped to the side, his foot hooking around Regulus's ankle, and let the boy stumble forward from his own momentum. Before Regulus could even catch himself, Arios struck the back of his leg with the wooden sword, forcing him down to one knee.

Then, with quiet precision, Arios tapped the side of his neck.

"Three."

The fight was over.

Regulus froze, his chest heaving, sweat dripping down his face. The realization of defeat washed over him slowly, but the crowd saw it instantly. A ripple of murmurs spread around the circle, some students shaking their heads, others smirking.

"Pathetic," someone whispered.

Regulus's ears burned. He slammed his wooden sword into the dirt and stood, glaring at Arios. "This isn't over."

"It's already over," Arios replied calmly. "You challenged. You lost. That's all."

The humiliation was clear on Regulus's face. His pride, already fragile, cracked further under the weight of the crowd's stares. Yet even in defeat, his loyalty to Chase held firm.

"You think you've won," Regulus spat. "But you're nothing compared to Chase. Remember that. You're just delaying your own end."

Arios didn't respond. He lowered his sword and turned his back, walking away without another word.

As he did, a faint chime echoed in his ears, different from the sounds of the training yard.

[Sub-Quest Generated: Humiliate Regulus Torvin.]

[Objective Complete: Defeat Regulus in combat.]

[Reward: +25 Agility. Skill stat Progression Boost.]

The system's interface faded as quickly as it appeared. Arios kept his expression neutral, not letting anyone see the notification's effect on him. He had already grown used to the system's unexpected quests. They came without warning, and most seemed tailored to push him into situations that advanced his influence, his skills, or his relationships.

But this one was different. It felt personal, like the system itself recognized the ongoing conflict with Regulus and Chase.

Behind him, Regulus seethed, still standing in the dirt circle, fists clenched. His so-called friends didn't approach him this time. They stayed back, clearly not wanting to share in his humiliation.

Arios left the yard, his steps steady, his grip on the wooden sword relaxed. The fight hadn't been difficult. It hadn't even been close. But the ripples of it would spread.

He knew Chase would hear about this before the day ended.

And that was exactly what he wanted.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.