Chapter 45: The Knight of Ashfall

The next morning...

The rain had washed the streets of Ashfall clean.

Sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the bustling city below.

Merchants reopened their stalls.

Blacksmiths returned to their forges.

Children chased each other through the market square as if yesterday's storm had never happened.

Inside the governor's mansion...

Kael had already been awake for over an hour.

He stood in the courtyard, practicing his sword.

SWOOSH!

The black blade sliced cleanly through the air.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

His movements were smooth.

Disciplined.

But...

Not perfect.

Darius stood several meters away with his arms crossed.

"Again."

Kael nodded.

He reset his stance.

His breathing slowed.

Then—

WHOOSH!

A downward slash.

A side cut.

A thrust.

A reverse grip.

A spinning cut.

The old general shook his head.

"No."

Kael lowered his sword.

"My footwork."

Darius smiled.

"You noticed."

"The sword follows your feet."

"If your feet are wrong..."

"So is your blade."

Before Kael could answer...

A voice interrupted.

"May I?"

Everyone turned.

Standing near the entrance to the courtyard...

Was Lord Cedric Ashford.

Beside him...

A man wearing polished silver armor.

He looked to be around fifty.

His face was weathered by decades of battle.

His gray hair was tied neatly behind his head.

Across his back rested a massive longsword.

Even standing still...

He radiated the pressure of an experienced warrior.

Cedric smiled.

"Allow me to introduce..."

"Sir Aldren Voss."

"The Knight Commander of Ashfall."

The Black Dragons immediately recognized the name.

Walter's eyes widened.

"...The Silver Wolf?"

Leon looked equally surprised.

"The one who defeated the Red Mountain Bandits?"

Damien added,

"And survived the Battle of Hollow Ridge?"

Sir Aldren gave a small bow.

"Those stories have become exaggerated."

Walter whispered,

"They haven't."

Cedric looked toward Kael.

"I heard you were practicing."

"I thought perhaps..."

"...you'd enjoy crossing swords with one of my finest knights."

Darius immediately objected.

"Kael isn't ready."

Sir Aldren smiled.

"I know."

"I'm not here to defeat him."

"I'm here to see his potential."

Kael stepped forward.

"I accept."

The Duel Begins

The servants quickly cleared the courtyard.

Word spread through the mansion.

Soon...

Knights.

Servants.

Merchants.

Even townspeople gathered around the training grounds.

No one wanted to miss a duel between an imperial prince...

And the Knight of Ashfall.

Sir Aldren slowly drew his sword.

The steel shimmered.

Then...

A faint silver aura surrounded the blade.

Leon whispered,

"Knight Aura..."

Damien nodded.

"He has already reached Aura Manifestation."

Kael looked at Darius.

"You never told me."

Darius shrugged.

"You never asked."

Sir Aldren pointed his blade toward Kael.

"Come."

Kael inhaled deeply.

Then charged.

CLANG!

The first strike echoed across the courtyard.

Sir Aldren blocked effortlessly.

Kael immediately stepped to the side.

Second strike.

CLANG!

Blocked again.

Third.

Fourth.

Fifth.

Each attack flowed smoothly.

Each was stopped.

The spectators watched in amazement.

Not because Kael was winning.

But because he wasn't intimidated.

Most young nobles froze before experienced knights.

Kael...

Kept attacking.

Learning.

Adjusting.

Sir Aldren smiled.

"Good."

"He's watching my shoulders."

"He's reading my feet."

"He's adapting."

Suddenly...

The knight moved.

Faster than anyone expected.

WHOOSH!

His sword appeared beside Kael's neck.

Kael barely managed to dodge.

The blade sliced through a few strands of his black hair.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

Walter clenched his fists.

"Too close..."

Instead of retreating...

Kael smiled.

"So..."

"That's your real speed."

Sir Aldren laughed.

"And you're still standing."

Blood and Light

Kael tightened his grip.

The familiar warmth spread through his body.

The system responded instantly.

Skill Activated

Imperial Blood Arts

Level: 1

Thin crimson lines appeared beneath Kael's skin.

His muscles strengthened.

His heartbeat accelerated.

At the same time...

Golden light began gathering around his left hand.

The two powers...

Merged.

The spectators stared.

"What is that?"

"I've never seen magic like that."

Sir Aldren's smile disappeared.

"So..."

"The rumors were true."

Kael vanished.

BOOM!

The stone beneath his feet shattered.

In an instant...

He appeared behind Aldren.

The knight barely reacted in time.

CLANG!!

The impact echoed throughout the courtyard.

For the first time...

Sir Aldren had taken a step backward.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Walter's jaw dropped.

"He..."

"...moved the Commander?"

Darius smiled proudly.

"Not bad."

Sir Aldren slowly lowered his sword.

Then...

He began laughing.

Loudly.

Heartily.

"I haven't enjoyed myself like this in years!"

His silver aura exploded.

The pressure instantly multiplied.

The spectators struggled to breathe.

Several young knights dropped to one knee.

Kael remained standing.

Though barely.

The system appeared.

Warning

Enemy power exceeds current capabilities.

Probability of victory:

0.7%

Recommendation:

Do not continue.

Kael ignored it.

He raised his sword again.

Sir Aldren nodded approvingly.

"Good."

"A knight who fears losing..."

"...will never become strong."

Just as both prepared to clash again.

"Enough."

The single word echoed across the courtyard.

Everyone froze.

Cedric had spoken.

The governor stepped between them.

"The purpose of this duel..."

"...was evaluation."

"Not injury."

Sir Aldren immediately sheathed his sword.

He walked toward Kael.

Then...

To everyone's surprise...

The veteran knight bowed.

A deep one.

One warrior to another.

"Your Highness."

"I've trained princes."

"I've trained nobles."

"I've trained generals."

He smiled.

"But..."

"...I've never met one willing to learn while losing."

He reached into his cloak.

From within...

He removed a small silver emblem shaped like a wolf's head.

"I earned this..."

"...thirty years ago."

"It reminds me never to stop growing."

He placed it in Kael's hand.

"I'm not giving you my badge."

"I'm giving you a reason to earn one greater."

Kael looked at the emblem.

"I'll return it."

Sir Aldren chuckled.

"No."

"You'll surpass it."

A Message from the Capital

Before anyone could continue...

A hawk descended from the sky.

It landed directly on Cedric's arm.

Another sealed letter.

He opened it.

His expression immediately darkened.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

Cedric folded the letter slowly.

"The Emperor has changed the schedule."

Everyone looked at him.

"You are no longer expected in three days."

A brief pause.

"You are expected..."

"...tomorrow."

The courtyard fell silent.

Even Darius's expression hardened.

That meant only one thing.

The Imperial Court didn't just want Kael to appear.

They wanted him there...

Before anyone else could influence the situation.

Somebody in the capital had accelerated their plans.

And whatever awaited the Tenth Prince...

Could no longer be delayed.