The hills behind Mist Palace cast long golden rays across the dew-drenched training grounds. The afternoon sun hung low over Mist Palace.
Eris stood alone, his shirt half-unbuttoned, sweat trailing down his collarbone. His breathing was steady, his eyes sharp.
From the side, Maria stood watching, her hands folded in front of her apron, eyes alert but calm.
"I challenge you to a duel, Eris Vale!" a commanding voice rang out like a firecracker.
Eris didn't stop. Stepping across the threshold of the training grounds was Ariel von Solareign, beside her standing her knight-attendant, Charlotte.
Without missing a beat, Eris responded flatly, "I refuse."
A beat of silence passed. Maria blinked. Charlotte froze mid-step. Ariel's lips parted as if the wind had been knocked out of her.
"If you've got nothing more to say," Eris added, brushing sweat off his brow with the back of his glove, "then leave. You're disturbing my training."
Ariel's jaw dropped. "W-What—are you walking away from a sacred duel like a coward?! And how dare you speak so informally to me?! I am an Imperial princess!"
At her words, Eris stopped mid-motion. He turned, lifting one eyebrow, and offered a lopsided, arrogant smirk.
"Princess, you say, huh?"
His voice was casual, but sharp beneath the calm. "Even if I'm the tenth-born child, I'm still a direct descendant of the Vale Clan. And in case you've forgotten your political history, Vale Duchy is a feudal sovereign state. We have never pledged our allegiance to the Empire, and what we have now is nothing more than a temporary alliance."
He stepped toward her, each word deliberate. "Even the Emperor himself must show respect to the Patriarch of the Vale Clan. And you—you're not even the crown princess. So tell me: what exactly makes your status any higher than mine?"
Ariel opened her mouth—then hesitated. The usual fire in her eyes faltered. Her posture stiffened. She hadn't expected him to cut so deep, so fast.
Behind her, Charlotte's expression shifted. Her fingers twitched near the hilt of her sword.
So, I suppose Spring, as he says, is genuine… she thought. People have forgotten due to a long-term relationship. But what we have with the Vale Clan isn't anything more than an alliance. They could tear the western front apart if they wanted to. And this boy… he understands that well.
He may be young, but he's no fool. After all, A Vale is a Vale.
Eris turned his back on them again, lifting his blade lazily. "As for the duel? The reason I refuse is simple."
He took a stance, his eyes focused ahead. "Because I gain nothing from fighting you. To put it simply, it has no meaning. A duel without purpose is nothing but a waste of time."
"You—What did you say—!"
Ariel tried to step forward, but Eris cut her off mid-sentence, not even turning around.
"Even talking to you gains me nothing," he said. "Which means this conversation… is also a waste of time."
He lowered his sword. "Every second I spend here, humoring a spoiled noble like you, is a second lost that I could be using to train. So if you understand that much, please leave. I can't afford to keep entertaining someone who only knows how to shout."
The silence that followed was brutal.
Even the birds had stopped singing.
Ariel's hand clenched at her side. Her lips quivered—not in fear, but frustration. She wasn't used to being dismissed. Not like this. Not so thoroughly. Yet she had no words to fight back.
Then, with a narrowed gaze, she spoke again—quiet, but sharp.
"You said a duel would only matter if I wagered something. Something meaningful."
Eris paused, sword half-raised.
"…Exactly," he said coolly. "How many times do I have to say it?"
Did she catch the bait? He thought.
Ariel's eyes narrowed, her voice regaining its fire. "Then what if I make it meaningful?"
Yes, Eris smirked inwardly. She caught the bait.
He turned, his interest finally piqued. "And how exactly are you going to do that?"
A pause. Then, with shocking clarity, Ariel replied:
"I'll wager myself."
Maria blinked, startled. Charlotte gasped.
"If I lose," Ariel continued, cheeks flushed with pride and fury, "I'll become your slave. Personal servant or whatever it is?"
Charlotte stepped forward, her voice trembling with worry as she reached out instinctively, "Your Highness… what are you saying?! You can't just wager yourself—this isn't a game!"
Ariel didn't even glance at her. Her eyes were locked on Eris, burning with stubborn resolve. "Don't worry," she said with a cold, confident smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Ariel's voice rang out, sharp and defiant, as she turned to Charlotte with a flick of her golden hair.
"I'll just have to win, won't I? Or are you seriously suggesting… that I'd lose to a mere Grade-1 user?
Charlotte's breath hitched. "B-But this could affect your Engagement."
Ariel cut her off with a sharp glare. "If I can't bring myself to risk my status, then I don't deserve any of it to begin with."
Maria's eyes narrowed as silence settled like a blade between them.
Eris, still standing in the center of the field, remained motionless. But the air around him shifted ever so slightly.
The corner of Eris's mouth twitched. He almost laughed.
"That's pretty bold of you, Your Highness." His tone was mocking, amused."And you are talking as you are assured of your Victory."
"But… even that's not enough."
Ariel stiffened. "What do you mean not enough?! What more could you possibly want?!"
Eris tapped his chin with his finger like he was pondering a riddle. "That's for you to figure out."
A tense silence followed. Ariel bit her lip. Her pride wouldn't let her walk away, not after that. Not after being publicly dismissed, then challenged to prove her worth. A sharp breath escaped her lips.
"Fine," she said through gritted teeth.
She turned to Charlotte. "Bring it."
"Your Highness, that—"
"Now."
Reluctantly, Charlotte opened the black lacquered case she had been carrying. Inside, nestled on a velvet cloth, was a glowing mana crystal—a vibrant, pulsing gem that shimmered with a light too pure to be touched.
Eris's eyes sharpened.
Mana Crystals are treasures pulsating with raw magical essence—each one a natural reservoir of mana, the very lifeblood of spellcraft and arcane might. These rare gems form only in regions where mana is not just abundant, but pure, untainted, ancient, and undisturbed by mortal interference. Even low-grade mana crystals are considered priceless, often fought over by kingdoms and covens alike.
Their power lies not just in storage, but in amplification. When wielded, a mana crystal can greatly expand a mage's capacity to channel magic, prolonging spellcasting, empowering incantations, and allowing feats of sorcery far beyond natural limits. However, crafting or discovering such a crystal is no simple task; they can only be found in areas steeped in concentrated magical energy—places touched by ley lines, sealed ruins, or ancient battlegrounds of gods and dragons.
The Imperial Family, wielding absolute authority, has long monopolized nearly every known mana crystal mine across the West Region. Their control is so complete that even the rarest high-grade crystals—glistening cores of arcane purity—are hoarded within imperial vaults. It is said that only those of royal blood or favor are ever granted the privilege of using them. In the hands of the Empire, these crystals become more than tools—they are weapons of supremacy, artifacts of power, and symbols of untouchable dominion.
Eris's lips curved.
"…Alright," he said. "Now that's a deal."
Ariel let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Charlotte stared between them, pale.
Maria sighed softly, adjusting her gloves. "Looks like today's training will take a different turn."
Eris sheathed his blade and stepped forward, stretching his arms as if limbering up.
"What are we waiting for? Let's head to the dueling grounds."
The mist had thinned, but tension thickened the air.
The duel that wasn't meant to be… was about to begin.
End Of The Chapter...