Chapter 28: Ellen (3)
z0IWhen Aiselin entered the magical duel arena in the noble district, a large crowd had already gathered.bTGxUR
pwKyvMagical duels between nobles were, essentially, an old pastime—a means to assess each other’s magical progress, hone skills, and engage in social activity.5Vb
yrk4GkaHowever, once word spread that descendants of influential families would be dueling, many rushed to witness it, split into two distinct groups.s9h
u7V1AjThe first were those genuinely interested in magic itself, and the second, those with hidden motives, hoping to curry favor with the nobility.Wx7afg1
RY3CwThe first group often included members of magical societies from the southwest or royal guests, while the second was typically made up of wealthy merchants or children from influential families.JLhcA2
9i7lvVUAs people gathered, knights and soldiers were mobilized to ensure safety, and commanding officers mingled among them, which inevitably caused congestion.uV1I
klmi25Being a descendant of an influential family always meant drawing public attention. Though Aiselin was aware of this, scenes like this often overwhelmed her.NmKc6h
aOh‘This is a duel between the Duplain and Belmierd families, so of course, more people will gather…’1Iu
OOofiPBut it was only a practice duel.YRwEuPT
FI4ZThe result of such a duel could easily be reversed over time. Even so, the spectators would talk about the outcome of this trivial magical duel.F5rX
RdBCAiselin disliked the pettiness of such people, but she never showed it.6tO9Z
s5GDaBShe was gracious to everyone.cFdLo
qpG0Wf2***ogbljHz
gTFxJ“Hello, Lady Aiselin. It seems the cold has eased a little.”Vl45BQ
cpxYI“Yes, Lady Taniem, please take care of your health, especially in times like these.”qAENp
lyX“I took a look at the book you mentioned at the last tea party, Lady Aiselin. As you said, it’s filled with touching expressions and descriptions.”pYOZjcO
0T0“Oh, you really read it? I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lady Lakail.”PEW4Nad
dtfBrnCAs Aiselin greeted her followers with a radiant smile, her steps did not pause. She wanted to quickly prepare for the duel, warm up, and finish the magical match with Ellen.qWkyf
wOJkeThe lower-ranked noblewomen accompanying her flinched at her busy demeanor, but they knew they wouldn’t get another chance to speak with her.B2RyL
KLUjGJLAmong those eager to exchange words with her, crossing the old corridor was a rather exhausting struggle.gDTa9vR
kz4sAs she walked toward the center of the duel arena, a boy absorbed in reading a small book in a corner of the corridor caught her attention.rz79
tP9Pc“…!”Vui
JfzFgWhen Aiselin quickly turned her head, her followers and attendants halted their steps.HpU37i
MuDNfHj“Excuse me a moment.”wiMfK
g4NAiselin excused herself from the chattering girls behind her and moved quickly, walking with grace.gF9zv5Q
1deShe approached the boy, nestled among the crowd in a corner of the duel arena corridor, reading a book on the history of magic.ehiC10
rT8KSHis white hair and red eyes, his face that at first seemed soft but upon closer look revealed a firm temperament, were just as she remembered.bXo
KFjYJU“Mr. Dereck!”r46
AtyfWhen Aiselin called out enthusiastically, the boy’s pupils trembled slightly.JxLsD
EWblf6NSurrounded by such a crowd, he turned his head in surprise, as if unaware of her presence until that moment.xhzE
ITEFPThere stood Aiselin, as always, elegantly dressed in a beautiful gown, speaking in a lively tone.j8T4l4
AtVJMBehind them, several minor nobles, followers, and maids watched intently. The boy had to quickly assess the situation.dxKN
iqTazgu“It’s been a long time, Lady Aiselin.”B1IFtGR
1GUPM2A polite bow seemed the appropriate response.e0f
ADhYuc6From their farewell in late spring to now, in late winter… quite some time had passed since he last saw Lady Aiselin.L2PxB
K8BnwIH“Did you come to see the duel, Mr. Dereck? It’s been so long, but you haven’t changed at all.”KCFW
QLci“Yes. Lady Aiselin, you are as beautiful as ever. You’ve become even more elegant.”sxqe
yygH8“Oh, you flatter me. Mr. Dereck, you’ve become skilled at charming ladies. Is it because you’ve been working in the noble district? Hehe.”f6DEyn
vJWRYB7It wasn’t surprising that Aiselin seemed so pleased.BPU4DG6
LADJDereck was the one who had resolved a deeply troubling issue Aiselin had kept for years, and he was also extremely talented in magic.pexaf
D1GhfJoHe was a courteous individual, though he retained the roughness typical of a mercenary. Lady Aiselin saw Dereck’s ruggedness not as rudeness, but as a sign of his free spirit.W5Gn2GW
LGHmwHowever, the gazes from the surrounding followers and attendants were telling.4KDl2
L3eVThey were eager to gain Aiselin’s favor, so it wasn’t surprising that they looked at someone suddenly so close to her with envy and caution.F7H2
tdA7Z“…”vdoE9w
48ZvXqoAt first glance, Dereck appeared ordinary. A tunic and well-fitted trousers, leather boots, a cloak used in place of a mantle, a dagger at his right hip, and a longsword on the other side. Though he still bore traces of youthful innocence, he had clearly entered early adulthood.kqo
uWYj4rThe reason Aiselin greeted a commoner so warmly wasn’t hard to guess from their conversation.1S8w
pDY2VT“It’s winter, and here I am, inviting you to enjoy some good tea at the mansion.”KvlP
kjN“I’m honored. Your kindness is greatly appreciated, but life has been quite busy.”G5ci2
BZdAerV“I heard you’ve been managing Lady Ellen’s magical training.”rufAu
3ErKSw“You’re well-informed. We crossed paths by chance, and I offered a few pointers.”EgkM
02RV9Those nearby finally realized that the man before them was the roaming magic instructor Aiselin had spoken about.lur
9G5NIRiHe was the mercenary who had reformed the black sheep of the Duplain family and whom Lady Ellen fully trusted for her magical duel lessons.fCrFTh
rPdLeYet Aiselin seemed concerned.llDtI
cLp9r“You haven’t been too harsh, have you…?”9AOKKY
dQN“…?”Z8Z
fhep9h“Lady Ellen has seemed very tired lately… I’m a little worried.”GQk3v
n4SmB5dAiselin knew well, from her sister Diella’s testimony, that Dereck’s magic lessons weren’t something an ordinary noblewoman could endure.E8lAmx
adUShe wasn’t undergoing knightly training; where else would you find someone who put a refined and beautiful lady through training that even seasoned soldiers would struggle with?165
JUwCBut Dereck was someone who didn’t hesitate to use whatever means necessary to achieve a client’s goal.teK0
gbL1Seeing the concern on Aiselin’s face, Dereck finally said:eIAZ7
Jrn“Don’t worry, Lady Aiselin. In fact, it’s not good to worry too much about others.”mEGCnv
iFd9“Is that so…?”i4p
SB3YGI“Don’t be too soft.”ilKX
SWY1KMDereck said this and gave a polite bow.wO3
HPeYAiselin, too, was busy with her schedule, and the gazes of the people around them were a heavy burden.Omv
b7eRealizing too late that the current situation might be overwhelming for Dereck, Aiselin said with an awkward smile:NbfLk
mr8Eum“Next time, please visit the mansion to chat, Mr. Dereck. I have another engagement, so I must go.”I4yL
RegC“Yes, of course.”2YB
xQWanWith that, Dereck pulled up the hood of his cloak and walked away, his steps firm and steady, in the opposite direction of Aiselin.WsmcTG
jlpsThough he was still a boy with one year left before his coming-of-age ceremony, he often seemed like an old man who had experienced all of life’s hardships. He was truly a mysterious boy.B4e
zle***DpTs
Qby0GbAiselin was also somewhat aware of the inferiority complex Ellen harbored toward her. In fact, it would have been strange if she hadn’t noticed it.gsNS
4oz0But she didn’t give it much importance. It was because she had a generous heart.ecMa9r
HXt22xgFor those who had reached the top, feelings like envy and jealousy were simply part of life. Ellen wasn’t the only one who envied her.AnJBP9
R6wjP5pAlthough Ellen’s jealousy was particularly intense and persistent, there were many others aside from her who tried to defame Aiselin.ZPeu0i
R9DoOjDespite all checks and balances, only those who could remain firm truly deserved to be called the lady of House Duplain.jw8K
vkyNXpThat’s why the emotion Aiselin felt toward those who envied her was sympathy.1RVS0
UBWoXyShe wished that those consumed by negative, corrosive emotions could free themselves from that useless cycle as soon as possible. It was good neither for Aiselin nor for them.j05GA1e
PviThe same applied to Ellen.5tmM6
f0wUseless envy only consumed them. She wanted them to break free from those shackles, share conversations, cultivate culture, and become worthy rivals. However, she knew well that it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.xlDhyII
aDV2***sQ56
x4vJrQ“Hello, Lady Aiselin.”6WBjVo
pGOl6Td“Are you well, Lady Ellen? You’ve missed many parlor gatherings lately, haven’t you? I heard you’ve been busy preparing for the duel… I suppose I should be nervous.”lQ2dI
JHUYZp“…”vXhxcZd
iXPhyIn Lady Ellen’s eyes, as she stepped onto the dueling field, there was a venomous intent.vyHb
L9oe3eOn the grand stage of the duel, various influential figures and noble ladies had gathered in the stands, engaging in discussions about magic.sJS7Xiw
8BQbAt the center of it all, Ellen and Aiselin were the stars competing in today’s event.kUI
x8O7As the two beautiful roses adjusted their dresses on stage, warm applause echoed from the podium.sqYavQv
NyaBca9Protective spells had been cast around the luxurious dueling arena.YsI2j
atgThe rules of the duel were the usual: a 10-minute time limit, and the first to activate the protective spell embedded in her accessories would lose.9Tsek
4Xgbk“Then, I hope for a good match.”Dr5BJ
oojFHVAiselin gathered her magical energy and bowed her head to Ellen.jPd0
QmYyEllen silently raised her head in response, repeating the same words. The coldness in her eyes was a familiar sensation.trsHm
niNFNHP“…”U3og3w
StzL5An indescribable discomfort grew.bVt
IttAs always, Ellen remained composed, her beautiful red hair flowing freely.LHc
8r0iHowever, the gleam in her eyes as she stared at Aiselin was tinged with an unusual unease.HuY
omPeBZgAiselin, lost in thought, silently observed Lady Ellen’s demeanor.BhB40ZQ
N3iIt didn’t take her long to understand the nature of this unease.QDMrdni
yBXEvery time she spoke with Aiselin, subtle emotional turmoil lingered in Ellen’s eyes.YsAOOAH
kj1pBut now, as she coldly observed Aiselin, focused solely on her magic, there was no such feeling in Ellen.piCEK
YWR5Ellen’s eyes, which once burned like fire, had somehow cooled into ice. She was focused on the duel.2JcQi
rJpYgHad Ellen finally been freed from the envy that tormented her for so long?S2Ra
ZbJxHad Dereck, skilled as a mentor, released Ellen from the chains of those dark, gloomy days?RfzWzx
057It was a moment filled with hope. But it didn’t take long for Aiselin to realize that wasn’t the case.Vyrse
nHT4VWhen she opened her eyes after blinking, her entire field of vision was dyed red.BXubCG
mYuThat was when Aiselin finally realized that Ellen’s blazing fire arrows had swept across the battlefield.gUu6TIV
OAGtAmid the flames, Ellen, with her fiery gaze, rose like a phoenix.5cetGc
D4ft***sadin
Ee6mje‘You really can’t win by relying on pure magical power alone. Shift the battlefield somewhere else.’uupsC
F24NTeo‘…Shift it elsewhere? In a magical duel, if not through magical skill, what else determines victory?’nfmajy
rW0k4niNoble ladies usually practiced magic with elegance in luxurious training halls under renowned instructors.pz4Lk
OabAQEBut Ellen had asked Dereck, seated on the ground in the middle of a labyrinth reeking of blood and rotting mucus.1MSO
9u5bHer body was completely exhausted, and after a day of watching monsters be torn apart, she felt dizzy. Her face was pale, resigned to the fact that this truly was the hell Dereck spoke of.rsuHbb
4DJbThough she looked disheveled, Dereck continued teaching. He was someone who always fulfilled his duty.wDK2Et
VTWNV‘It’s mental strength.’5AwMq
pEG9After hearing this, Ellen could only show a skeptical expression.UnuldD8
sx1c3Who in the world didn’t know the benefits of mental strength? If one could win a magical duel with mental strength alone, why would differences in magical levels and superiority even exist?c8Me
aLgZHowever, Dereck wasn’t someone who spoke nonsense. Over the past few weeks of lessons, Ellen was sure—there must be a deeper meaning to his words.3JuOL
JXoJ‘Haven’t you been pushing your magical energy to the limit in every session?’HTS
79wO‘I thought that was just your twisted taste.’qdB2CsH
j12‘I have no such hobbies. When both sides’ magical energy is fully depleted, it’s often a person’s mental strength, not their magical prowess, that determines the outcome.’5BytR
lsoy0Z0Dereck’s voice became more serious.0dYtQU
kI9k‘Unleash your magic as grandly and magnificently as you can—drag her into a battle of attrition. In the end… the one who somehow manages to cast a spell they seemed no longer able to will be the winner.’z72
Mnr‘…What if Aiselin has more magical power than I do?’eC0q
fmvKBP0‘Then you lose.’8Ocxfx
BYN4‘…’uTU
17vJCF‘Of course, a person’s magical capacity is largely innate, but Lady Ellen of House Belmierd is no slouch. So… believe in yourself.’qYGwC
QYyaoDereck was covered in demon blood. He had just sliced apart a spider larger than a man with his sword and burned it with magic.zWD
dj3CWatching him kill demons made him seem like an entirely different person. Every moment following him through the labyrinth, Ellen couldn’t help but think—if there were such a thing as a real demon, it would surely be this boy.QyN
NnCCThis wasn’t a safe magical duel arena, but a demon’s den where a moment’s carelessness could cost your life.iqdvvE
WEoSomeone who had lived in a place like this all their life would see a staged duel as child’s play.cERJ
nYzhVdOnly in life-and-death battles can one reach their full potential.ziM
LNFOnly on the thin ice where one misstep could cost everything do humans unlock all the power buried in their subconscious. That sensation can’t be learned easily, not even with all the money in the world.Tdz
eNT3bgThat’s why Dereck pushed Ellen into the labyrinth.E9pE
j1f6rHe made her use magic all day.PHfx
J6VnMade her dodge axes among attacking goblins and scorch trolls’ noses.AAj9L0H
pZ7YVFLife and death. Scenes in between.BcP7
vY0D4The pressure of not knowing when the multi-layered protective spell would break.c3KY
AZh1djThe cold sweat running even while still. Trembling legs. Blurry vision.utwz9v
L76iIAOnly in such an environment could one feel, even just a little, the sensation of drawing out all the remaining power from within.DL1Mt
oykdW3wThere’s a realm one can never reach while sitting in an ancient mansion playing with decorum.iTV
d6L7wFlowers in a greenhouse never know, until they wither with age, the feeling of clawing everything up from below and rising.zojH
kknLJAs a teacher, Dereck was someone who knew how to awaken such things.ICTe
mDd0–Whoosh!9y1kI1
02dkEnJ–Boom!t6Fy5
OvPThe spectators watching the magical duel near the stage were stunned.A49y
QFaNo matter how extraordinary one’s magical skill or how vast their magical power, the one-star limit still existed.kXGEY
vEt0Yet even so, Ellen’s fire magic, which lit up the stage with a dazzling glow, was impressive to behold.XPMRr52
eDk9–Swoosh!u00
l3dAAiselin quickly wrapped herself in magic to protect herself and tracked Ellen’s position.156j
QEJOn the flame-covered stage, amid the scorching heat, Ellen, cloaked in fire like a mage, stared directly at Aiselin.fEIl
xAM66cXIn her eyes was envy, no doubt. A massive envy directed at the perfect Aiselin, mixed with a bit of self-loathing.uh4hg
S7vReading those eyes, Aiselin understood.f4URUV
rBCNxU3Too emotional on one hand, but relentless in logic during a duel—those were the same eyes her sister Diella had when she faced Leigh.V4BMG
5rI0DrDereck’s students harbored a burning passion in their hearts and an icy gaze.HM5I
qVRTheir teacher taught them to combine the fiery desire for victory with the cold rationality of competition.J5E
jAHSIt was a display where heat and cold clashed fiercely, exuding an aura that made opponents swallow hard.fGkYb
8rSJOnly then did Aiselin understand why Leigh had to fight so hard against Diella that day.0zoK
bk7sPdRDereck’s students, unlike ordinary noble ladies, had a different hunger for competition.Gop
trpFu5KWhen faced for the first time with their near-obsessive determination, anyone would falter.ISexk
3tj2However, standing before her was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain.5qw
ymu“Even so… I will win.”TLIky
obSglShe wasn’t one to boast about her achievements, but her confidence in her abilities was immense.X6EQxIR
YrfSNo matter how skilled Dereck’s students were, Aiselin was on the verge of becoming a two-star. Even against a one-star mage like Ellen, the difference in class was significant.LILzsA
TBrShe was sure she wouldn’t lose if it came down to pure skill.PCcadc
muo3nAnd so, icy magic began to surge from Aiselin’s body.ZG3Xc
0tSAt the same time, Ellen’s eyes widened. A storm of fire arrows began erupting from the opposite side.ZPD
9ID“…”UJf
mrZQyEllen had spent the past few weeks observing Dereck’s world.2t5ngkU
Do3GdyThe traces of that world briefly reflected in her pupils. Most of it was blood. The rest was equally horrific.ajkXTnS
QezSticky fluids, pungent smells, severed monster limbs, poisonous spider eggs, scattered corpses, the cold of the stone floor, remnants of massacres, seas of blood, the screams of monsters.JLsy
PLNcUEmerging from all that, standing firm in her original place, everything now seemed peaceful and warm—like a meadow.RSjv
GfOWwEven this duel field, bombarded with countless spells, felt that way. The girl calmly assessed every situation amid this grand magical display.wUjB
LTxigqeWhen magic clashed with magic, a radiant glow began to envelop the duel arena.zsq7I
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