Chapter 122: At the Academy (4)
A quiet clearing.
Under the clear sky, a gentle breeze swept across the earth.
There, two people stood facing each other.
On one side was Deiare, and on the other, Allen Amiel.
“……”
Allen held a wooden sword, not a real blade.
Deiare, standing opposite him, also held a wooden sword.
Pointing their swords at each other, the two stood in confrontation without the slightest sign of disorder.
Tension lingered in the air.
And in the next moment, a sudden exchange of sword strikes erupted between them.
“Hup!”
At first, their movements were as light as air.
There was no killing intent, but the spar was by no means lax.
Deiare—she was someone who never underestimated or let her guard down, regardless of who her opponent was.
However, she had to admit that she had subconsciously underestimated Allen.
‘In just a few days…….’
He had grown stronger.
Strictly speaking, his power, speed, and technique hadn’t changed significantly.
But each of his strikes now carried a weight and sharpness that couldn’t even be compared to before.
What could have brought about such a change?
She was able to grasp the reason without much difficulty.
After several exchanges, the two widened the distance between them again.
With a tone of admiration, Deiare muttered.
“……Impressive.”
When he had suddenly come to her and requested a spar, she had expected that there might be some change……
But wasn’t this too drastic a transformation?
“……”
Allen stood silently, holding his sword without the slightest sign of wavering.
His gaze remained sharp.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Deiare suddenly tossed her wooden sword to the edge of the clearing.
Then she began walking toward a stand off to the side.
Clop, clop.
The distinct sound of horse hooves echoed out.
“I wish to see a little more of your growth. And, to properly respond to your reason for coming to me……”
The sound of clashing metal rang out.
In her hand was a massive lance for mounted combat.
“I’ll show a bit more of my true self. Allen Amiel, please select a weapon as well.”
Returning to her original position, she whispered,
“Even if it has a steel core, it’ll shatter in an instant. Wouldn’t that be disappointing for both of us?”
“……As you say.”
Without protest, Allen followed her instructions and drew a weapon from the stand.
It was a longsword with no special features, yet it rivaled a fine blade.
“Here I come.”
With those brief words, she charged straight at Allen.
The charge of a Centauros produced a power no ordinary human could resist.
Moreover, she had reached the realm of the superhuman.
No matter how capable Allen was, he had no choice but to evade her attacks.
She utilized her body to launch attacks that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.
A sudden and powerful charge.
Unpredictable bursts of acceleration and halts.
Using her four legs, her movements were so erratic they couldn’t be read.
And then, the overwhelming difference in reach from the mounted lance…
Allen narrowly, yet calmly, fended off her attacks.
He tried to counterattack several times, but each attempt was blocked by her mobility, rendering his efforts futile.
‘It was the same with Lian……’
Falling behind in footwork made it difficult just to keep up with the opponent’s rhythm.
Even so, Allen did not panic or become flustered as he once had.
Rather, he moved as if drawing the opponent into his own rhythm.
“……”
Noticing this, a peculiar light grew in Deiare’s eyes.
And then……
Clang!
Allen’s sword shattered, bringing their duel to a sudden end.
As Allen was neutralized, Deiare immediately withdrew her lance.
She looked at him once more.
In a way, it was a natural outcome—but to her, it was also an unexpected result.
“I lost.”
Allen admitted defeat without resistance and bowed his head.
Deiare also bowed her head in return.
“……”
Without a word, she planted her lance into the ground.
Then she calmly began to scrutinize Allen, as if examining him thoroughly.
There were no major wounds on Allen’s body.
Only some light bruises and minor cuts.
More than anything, his breathing was as calm as could be.
Of course, neither had gone all out—but even so, to Deiare, this was a striking truth.
“I……”
At last, she opened her mouth.
“Do you know why I asked you to become my disciple?”
Allen shook his head.
“I do not.”
“I’ve had three disciples.”
In a quiet voice, she began to speak.
“There have been many assistants, but only three who could truly be called my disciples. The first one…… I failed to guide properly due to my own shortcomings. That child committed an irreversible mistake and was ultimately expelled.”
“The second and third are Pappleton and Revice, who still assist me to this day. Because of my earlier failure, I raised them with far more care and caution. I was able to guide them successfully.”
Deiare looked at Allen.
“The one I intended to take in as my fourth disciple—was you, Allen Amiel.”
“……”
Allen didn’t say a word.
He only blinked slowly.
Deiare looked away for a moment, then returned her gaze to him.
“I saw fragments of the first disciple in you.”
“And more than anything, I sensed the aura that only those with the talent for the sword—and those enchanted by its allure—emit.”
For a moment, Allen’s gaze wavered.
Deiare continued speaking.
“But the you I saw today had changed. Your sword strikes were far more refined and sharp than before. In truth, you’ve grown incomparably stronger.”
“However…”
“I could also see hesitation and fear within you—something I hadn’t seen before.”
She took a quiet breath and said,
“And if I may be so bold, that is an essential trait, a virtue that every strong individual must possess.”
Deiare looked Allen in the eye.
In his gaze resided something vast and resolute—something that hadn’t been there before.
“To become stronger, you must first confront your own weakness and recognize your fear. Just as you did just now.”
“And yet you still pressed forward. That alone proves that you’ve faced and accepted your fear with courage, and now strive to overcome it.”
She let out a soft sigh.
“That’s why, even knowing I was being hasty, I insisted you become my disciple. But it seems… you were already walking that path on your own.”
“No, I couldn’t have done it alone.”
Allen shook his head.
“It was only possible because of the help I received from many people.”
Deiare offered him a gentle smile.
“To be honest, back then I was gripped by a kind of compulsion—a belief that I had to take you in as my disciple and guide you down the right path. So, I may have said things that were hurtful, even rude.”
“……”
“Please… would you give me another chance to make up for those past mistakes?”
Allen nodded.
With a solemn voice, Deiare said,
“Allen Amiel, you clearly possess talent. And I believe I can help that talent blossom. So… will you become my disciple?”
Allen slowly knelt down.
He bowed his head to her.
“I pray that I can hold onto this realization and resolve.”
And also…
He quietly, as if pledging to himself, said,
“Please guide me so that I can protect those who helped me walk this path.”
“……”
Deiare wordlessly placed her hand on his bowed head.
And Allen silently accepted her touch.
It was a gesture that symbolized the bond between master and disciple.
And thus, she became his teacher.
After Allen had left, Deiare stood alone, staring at the lance embedded in the ground.
“……”
She brushed the dust from the tip of the lance with her fingertips and had to take several deep breaths, as if trying to suppress the emotions rising within her.
Only after quite some time did she finally manage to gently place the lance back onto the stand.
Her touch was unusually delicate, as if not wanting to miss anything.
Rustle.
At that moment, the faint sound of movement reached her ears.
With a detached expression, Deiare turned her head.
As she expected, Jeil Enbarso was standing there.
At the sight of him, Deiare bowed her head respectfully and asked,
“What brings you here, Lord Enbarso?”
Enbarso remained silent for a moment, then spoke as if confessing,
“I know it was impolite, but I watched the two of you from hiding.”
“Yes, I was aware.”
She lightly covered her left eye.
“The eye my master passed down to me still works perfectly.”
“Clairvoyance—ah, yes, I remember. That brings back memories.”
Deiare shifted her gaze slightly.
“You seemed busy… but did you also have business with me?”
“To be precise, I had business with Allen Amiel.”
He added briefly,
“But that reason is no longer valid. As for Cecilia Everglenn, whom I visited today as well…”
“……”
Deiare remained silent.
It was difficult to discern his true intent.
In contrast, Enbarso continued in a calm tone, as if he had nothing to hide.
“Not one, but two. I didn’t expect the fruits to begin forming this soon. …I couldn’t help but feel genuine respect.”
For Lian Gwendil—that boy.
At the name whispered softly, a faint twitch appeared at the corner of Deiare’s eyes.
“Is there a reason for your fixation on that boy?”
“Fixation… that sounds a bit strange. But yes, fixation… perhaps it’s not entirely wrong.”
Enbarso murmured.
“……There are many here with the seeds of talent that could one day bear fruit. But among them, the ones who’ve shown the most outstanding and overwhelming growth are undeniably Allen Amiel and Cecilia Everglenn.”
“And both of them have one thing in common—they are closely connected to Lian Gwendil.”
“To be honest, I wish to form a closer relationship with someone capable of fostering such turning points… So perhaps your use of the word fixation wasn’t entirely off the mark.”
As he finished speaking, he murmured in a low voice.
And yet, it’s still not enough.
He also whispered that he must do better.
“……Why are you doing all this?”
Deiare could no longer suppress her curiosity about what lay in his heart.
But Enbarso avoided giving a direct answer.
“It is a burden I must bear, so I can’t speak of it now.”
“……”
After a moment of silence, Deiare could only respond with a firm voice.
“I don’t believe such a thing would ever happen, but……”
Her gaze had turned cold and still before she realized it.
If she only reached out her hand, she could arm herself with the lance or any number of weapons.
“If your intentions bring harm to my students… I will have no choice but to stand in your way.”
“You need not worry about that.”
Enbarso assured her that such a thing would never happen.
Even so, facing Deiare’s still suspicious gaze, he could only let out a bitter smile without realizing it.
“This academy bears the name of a friend with whom I overcame countless trials.”
He glanced around the area as if lost in nostalgia and murmured,
“How could I ever bring harm to the students who attend this place?”