Finn sighed upon seeing Aurora like this. Even he didn't like the way Rowan treated his daughter. It was far too brutal. But what could he do? Rowan was his master, and his words were law. He had no choice but to listen.
"Young miss, Master Rowan requests your presence," he spoke.
Aurora didn't answer; she just kept holding onto Atticus's sleeves, shivering slightly. Atticus didn't speak either, not uttering a word.
Finn, not getting his answer, spoke again, "You know what will happ—" but was interrupted as Atticus suddenly started walking away.
His gaze was forward, absolutely ignoring Finn's existence. He dragged Aurora with him as he walked.
When Finn had blocked their way, he didn't even acknowledge his presence. He completely disregarded him and only spoke to Aurora. So why then should he bother to acknowledge Finn's presence?
Finn blinked, completely bewildered. 'Was I just ignored?' A subtle chuckle escaped his lips.
He, a master rank, a rank achieved by only a select few in the human domain, a rank earned through blood and sweat, was being ignored by a 10-year-old child?
'Ah, it's unfortunate, but this is the world you live in, Finn,' he thought.
What gave Atticus the audacity to do such a thing to someone who could crush him like an ant?
It was power.
And Finn knew this. Sure, he was under a mana contract and couldn't harm Atticus in anyway, but there were many ways to make life hell for Atticus in the camp.
However, would he dare to do such a thing?
No! Not even Rowan, his master, could, so who was he to challenge the main family's power?
The power of the main family was absolute. Without a Paragon rank, Rowan knew what he was doing was all a waste of time, which was why he was thrilled when Aurora awakened her transcendent talent.
Finn couldn't help but shake his head with a chuckle, while gazing at Atticus and Aurora's backs as they left. 'You've suffered, Finn,' he thought to himself as he turned to leave.
…
In an office, Finn stood bowing in front of Rowan. He had just reported what happened when he went to fetch Aurora.
Rowan frowned. Aurora dared to disobey him? His aura radiated outwards, showcasing his grandmaster aura. The aura pressed down on Finn, making him kneel.
The disparity between a master and a grandmaster rank was just too much; he couldn't even fight against the aura.
"I'll get her myself," Rowan said coldly, his voice chilling. "Let's see if she dares defy me." And as he was about to stand, something suddenly clicked in his head.
He sat back down, trying to piece together the information.
What was it that they really needed? Yes, a paragon. But what else? It was something every person fighting a war needed: information about their enemies.
And how could they get it? It was by planting a spy.
He desperately needed a spy in the main family. Every single servant working for the main family was under strict mana contract. He had tried countless times, but it was impossible to sneak someone in.
From the information he had gotten from Finn, he knew that it was Atticus who helped Aurora. And from the way Finn reported that she was acting, it was obvious that Atticus was protecting her. He must have promised to protect her, that was why she gained the courage to defy his orders!
Sure, he couldn't do anything to them in the camp as they were trainees, but what about after camp? What was his plan then? How would he protect her? There was only one way: take her back to the main family estate, a perfect position for a spy.
Rowan knew his daughter more than anyone else, even herself. Regardless of whatever courage she must have gained, no matter how much she had grown, in his presence, she didn't dare defy his words.
The plan was simple: leave her and let her gain their trust, and then turn her into a spy.
Rowan's mouth seemed to curl up a little bit as he came to this conclusion; he immediately retracted his aura and instructed Finn, "From now on, don't do anything to them. Just leave leave them be," he said.
Finn was surprised for a moment and was about to ask why, but he decided against it; his master's words were law. Finn nodded, bowed, and left the office.
…
Atticus and Aurora were currently facing each other in his training room, unaware of Rowan's plans.
"Are you sure about this?" Atticus asked. Aurora nodded confidently; she needed to see the disparity between their strength. Atticus had defeated her swiftly during the combat challenge. She was sure he wasn't even taking the fight seriously.
"Are you sure you don't mind me using my bloodline?" Aurora asked. Atticus had told her that she could go full power and shouldn't worry about harming him, but since there wasn't a rune to protect them if anything happened, she couldn't help but be worried.
"Yeah, I should be fine," Atticus replied calmly.
"Alright," Aurora said and swiftly dashed towards Atticus, donned with her gauntlet in her hands. She decided to start without her bloodline first to gauge him and then increase the intensity over time.
Atticus, with his heightened perception, saw everything in slow motion. He saw her shifting her center of balance to her left leg, her tensing of the muscles in the same leg, and deduced, 'Spinning kick with her right leg' immediately.
Closing the distance with astonishing swiftness, Aurora sent a spinning kick with her right leg at fast speed towards Atticus's head.
He was already expecting this and simply took a large step forward at a speed Aurora couldn't comprehend, giving her left leg a simple kick that made her lose her balance and fall on her butt with an undignified thud.
Aurora sat on the floor, not having gathered herself yet, thinking, 'What just happened?' She turned her gaze and saw Atticus standing in the same position as before with a nonchalant look on his face.
Her face turned beet red in embarrassment as she quickly stood up. "Again!" she said, and utilizing her bloodline powers, her body was immediately set ablaze, flames flickering with intensity.
She dashed towards Atticus at flaming speed, throwing another kick with thrice the speed as before. Her leg cut through the air at a fast speed, and just as she was about to hit, Atticus's body shifted backward. It wasn't as if his leg moved; it was like he simply slid back, easily evading Aurora's strike.
Undeterred, Aurora kept releasing punches upon punches, kicks upon kicks, and Atticus simply evaded everything easily, his movements simple and graceful.
After a while of intense battle, Aurora fell down due to exhaustion, her chest rising and falling as she lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
Atticus quickly retrieved water from his space ring and offered it to her. She grabbed it and started drinking the water quickly.
He chuckled, watching her, and remarked, "You couldn't even hit me once. How are you so tired?" he teased, making Aurora choke on the water.
She coughed a few times, stood up, and gave a pathetic attempt at justification, "It's because I haven't gotten serious yet!"
"Hahaha," Atticus laughed at her reaction, making Aurora stomp her feet in playful anger, "Stop laughing!" she said, dashing towards Atticus, who simply evaded her, not planning on stopping laughing. He couldn't help but notice the warm smile that appeared on Aurora's face.