"I don't believe this," one of the novice knights muttered to his comrade, watching as Caelan stepped onto the field. "That frail thing is supposed to fight Commander Veyon?"
A low chuckle followed. "The boy's not even fit to carry a sword. You think he's going to land a hit? He'll be lucky to survive the first blow."
"The Commander could split boulders with his bare hands," another knight chimed in. "This kid? He's just dead weight. Waste of time."
The civilians in the crowd snickered, their eyes glinting with doubt. "Is he really from House Dorne? He doesn't look like he's worth a copper coin."
"They say his brother's the real heir," a woman whispered, her voice laced with mockery. "And this one? He's just a disappointment."
"I'll bet he doesn't last a minute. You'll see."
Whispers and jeers flew through the crowd as they eyed Caelan's slight frame, his steps slow and measured. They couldn't imagine the boy, whose body still looked like that of a child, could stand against the force of Commander Veyon. His reputation as a failure had already been set in stone for many. His own bloodline had dismissed him as nothing more than a burden, an afterthought.
But as Caelan moved into the training ground, the mocking voices began to fade. The crowd's jeers slowly turned into curious glances. His back straightened as he walked, his eyes narrowing. The weight of their insults hung heavy on his shoulders, but a spark of resolve burned inside.
The whole training ground felt like it was holding its breath.
Caelan's gaze swept over the audience, and there, among the knights, he spotted his master, Aldric. The man's sharp, calculating eyes never left Caelan, silently observing, always assessing. A sense of reassurance washed over him, but the pressure still weighed heavily on his chest.
Across from him, Commander Veyon stood, his presence an overwhelming force. The older man was a living legend, his body a perfect vessel of power. He wore his full battle gear, his massive sword hanging at his side like a terrifying extension of his own being. Veyon's eyes were cold, like the sharp edge of his blade.
The rules were simple: Veyon was allowed to use only swordsmanship and mana, but not his most devastating technique, the aura blade. A rare mercy, but it made little difference against an opponent who had already mastered the art of swordsmanship and mana.
Caelan stood firm, taking in a deep breath. His heart pounded in his chest, but he held his ground. The moment was here.
Veyon spoke first, his voice a low rumble that carried across the field. "You seek to stand where swords decide fate, boy. Let your resolve speak through your blade."
Caelan smiled, a small sharp thing.
"Wasn't planning to just stand here, Commander."
The horn blasted.
The duel was on.
Veyon moved first, of course.
A blur of steel and muscle.
"Shit—he's faster than before."
Caelan barely got a Barrier Pulse up before Veyon's sword slammed into it, the shield cracking like thin ice.
Veyon didn't stop.
"Piercing Fang!"
A thrust, so precise it aimed straight for Caelan's heart. He threw himself sideways, feeling the tip graze his training coat.
"Can't go defensive forever. Gotta hit back."
Caelan planted his foot and summoned Arcane Chain — chains of light snapping toward Veyon's legs.
But Veyon just spun, "Whirling Cleave!", his blade cutting through the magic like it was mist.
"Tch, that won't work. Gotta be faster."
Veyon dashed forward, sword humming with energy.
"Blazing Wing Slash!"
A wide arc of heat and force tore across the field.
Caelan skidded back, hands weaving —
"Stone Bastion!"
A wall of earth shot up. The flaming arc slammed into it, sending chunks flying like shrapnel.
"His attacks are faster now... more precise. Gotta keep up."
Caelan clenched his fists, drawing mana from deep inside. His chest burned, each breath a little shallower than the last. His mana core, once steady, felt like a half-empty well, the water receding faster than he could draw it. Sweat stung his eyes, and his fingers trembled as he wove the next spell.
"Azure Tempest!"
A tornado of blue lightning spun out from his palm, roaring toward Veyon.
For the first time, Veyon actually moved seriously—slicing clean through it with a glowing sword technique:
"Sky Sever!"
The blast split apart, the leftover winds howling uselessly into the crowd.
Caelan's chest heaved. The drain was starting to show. He could feel it—his mana slipping away, like blood leaking from a wound. His vision wavered, black spots dancing at the edges of his sight.
"One clean hit. Just one."
Veyon blurred forward again, sword low.
"Void Step."
In an instant, he was right in Caelan's face.
"Phantom Break!"
A strike so fast it looked like five swords at once.
Caelan yelled and fired Mirror Burst, a magic clone of himself exploding outward to take the blow.
It gave him a moment.
Not much, but enough.
He weaved a last combo. A gamble.
Earth Bind around Veyon's feet.
Blinding Flash in front of his eyes.
Water Spear to the side.
"Move, body. MOVE!"
Caelan gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of mana he had left into one final attack:
"Starfall Lance!"
A condensed bolt of white-blue energy shaped like a spear shot straight at Veyon's chest.
Veyon roared, sweeping his sword up —
And blocked almost everything.
Almost.
The tip of Caelan's magic-lance grazed across Veyon's shoulder plate, leaving a thin, shining scratch.
The field went dead silent.
Caelan stood there, swaying on his feet, vision blurring at the edges. Every part of him burned—lungs, muscles, mana core. His mind was a haze of dizziness and exhaustion, and his legs threatened to give way beneath him. But the feeling of his mana running dry—the empty ache deep inside him—was almost worse than the physical fatigue.
Veyon lowered his sword slowly, staring at the scratch.
A long breath escaped the man's mouth, almost like a laugh.
"You have heart, Caelan of Dorne. Swordship shall be yours to claim."
Caelan smiled—a tired, broken thing—just before he stumbled backward, barely catching himself.
On the sidelines, Seren leaned against a fencepost, arms crossed.
His golden eyes narrowed slightly, studying his older brother.
"Hmph. He's still reckless... but he's tougher than before."
"Maybe he really can climb up here someday."
He turned away before anyone could see the small smirk playing on his lips.
For reference
(Magic attack: 1st Circle Magic -Barrier Pulse, 1st Circle - Arcane Chain, 2nd Circle Magic-Stone Bastion, 2nd Circle Magic -Water Spear, 3rd Circle Magic Mirror Burst,3rd Circle Magic - Earth Bind,3rd Circle Magic - Blinding Flash,4th Circle Magic - Azure lighting, 4th Circle Magic -Starfall Lance)
(Sword attack: Piercing Fang, Whirling Cleave, Blazing Wing Slash, Sky Sever, Void Step, Phantom Break)