Scene

"Maybe I shouldn't have accepted."

That thought a gnawed at me the instant I stepped into the training area. Why was it that every time I agreed to something, regret followed like a shadow, magnified by my own anticipation? I honestly despised myself in moments like this.

Crack, crack—

The sound of my joints stretching echoed through the air, sharp and satisfying. I could feel the tension in my muscles unwind with each motion. The Second Elder's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed me, his expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Why did you tell me to accept this duel?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"This old man didn't tell you, Davis. You accepted yourself," he replied, voice calm, teasing even.

"You suggested it in the first place," I countered, "and it's partly your fault that you didn't stop me—rather, you seemed to enjoy this whole mess."

A faint laugh escaped the Second Elder at my retort. "Right! This old man bears some of the blame, I suppose."

"So why exactly did you push me toward a duel with him?"

"Because of the First Elder."

The telepathic voice resonated in my mind, firm yet distant. It had been a while since I'd felt someone speak to me directly through the mind, and the sensation caused a slight ache at the base of my skull.

"What does that mean?" I asked aloud, unable to respond mentally in kind.

"Uh… can't you at least be a little careful about your response when I speak to you telepathically?"

"Doesn't really matter, does it?" I muttered, half-sighing.

The Second Elder exhaled lightly, a sound weighted with concern.

"The First Elder's ambition is immense. You know this already. A little ambition is natural, but using your own blood to further such ambition… it doesn't reflect well on the clan."

As he said, this duel wasn't mere sport—it determined rank, influence, and perception within the Fireheart clan. If I fell here, Ben Fireheart's reputation would skyrocket. But if I emerged victorious… the backlash would be far more dangerous.

The First Elder had sent Ben here thinking that Davis would never lose. It spoke to a mixture of arrogance and desperation.

I shook my head, uncertain why Ken was acting with such haste.

"…Hmm. How about a little favor from you since I'm doing all this tedious work?" I asked the Second Elder, trying to turn the situation to my advantage.

"Huh…?"

"If I win against that kid, please do me a favor."

"Why should I do you a favor if you win against him…?"

"I'll just roll on the ground and lose if you don't want to," I shrugged.

"How foolish. If you lose here, then the chance of you becoming the Lord in the future—"

"Lord Second Elder, you keep assuming I have any desire to become the Lord."

I finished stretching and stepped toward Ben Fireheart, feeling the weight of the moment pressing against my chest.

"But I have no intention of becoming the Lord."

"…!"

The Second Elder's gasp was audible, sharp enough to unsettle even the calmest. Did everyone truly assume my heart hungered for power?

'I abandoned all that greed in my previous life,' I thought. Desire for lordship was meaningless, a hollow ambition I had no need for.

I had seen what came with power, the burdens, the endless schemes, the lives one could never fully control. It was a path I had long rejected.

"Done stretching?" Ben asked, eyes narrowed, his grip firm around the wooden sword he wielded.

"Almost," I replied, tension coiling like a spring inside me.

Standing across from him, the truth became undeniable: he was far stronger than Mio Fireheart had been. I could sense it in the way Mana pulsed around him, in the precision of his stance, in the quiet confidence that came without arrogance.

Ben's voice broke the momentary silence.

"I feel sorry for the Young Master."

"What are you talking about?"

"Last year, the duel we had… I went too far."

"We dueled before?"

"Yes, and you were bedridden for a month because of it."

'A month…? How do I not remember that?'

"The Young Master is too weak."

"Now you're just insulting me," I muttered.

"I heard you defeated the Second Young Lady, but even that… was likely a coincidence."

"Yes, I can agree with that," I said flatly.

"But the problem is that my grandfather doesn't see it that way."

"Right, right. I understand."

Ben's gaze lingered on me, sharp and evaluating. Did he notice that my mind wasn't fully engaged? He shook his head, frustrated, but continued.

"I do not wish to bully the weak, but the thought of such weakness becoming the Lord… that is even worse."

"You realize you're saying this to the direct descendant of the clan, right?" I replied, dryly. His words skirted dangerous territory.

Swoosh!

Heat brushed past my cheek, sharp and precise. Ben's swift flame art—different from the destructive, explosive lineage of the Fireheart clan—focused entirely on speed and precision, each flicker of flame a testament to his control.

'Is he… third realm?' I thought, sensing the intensity of the Mana he produced. The heat alone confirmed it. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't too late to forfeit.

"What was said earlier."

The Second Elder's voice rang in my mind again, patient and expectant.

"If you win this duel, then I swear by my name I'll fulfill your request."

'I can't forfeit now,' I thought, frustration rising.

…Always stuck in these damned situations.

I began to circulate my fire Mana, the energy radiating outward, pressing against Ben's Qi, subtly forcing him to adjust his stance.

Ben's eyes narrowed, sensing the intrusion.

"Lord Second Elder," he called, seeking permission.

"What do you wish to request?" the Second Elder replied.

"I would also like something from you if I win this duel," Ben said smoothly, eyes sharp as he glanced at me.

This bastard had been eavesdropping.

What a rat… I thought, teeth gritting.

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.