The magical glow of the teleportation spell faded, and Alex and Elizabeth found themselves in a room he had never seen before. It was enormous — no smaller than the arena where he had once fought Kael, and perhaps even larger. High beneath the ceiling, magical lamps stretched in an even row, flooding the space with soft white light. The ground beneath their feet was solid stone, smooth yet covered with countless small scratches and cracks, as though powerful opponents had clashed here more than once. And there was nothing else. No furniture, pillars, or obstacles. Only empty space and silence.
Alex looked around once more, his gaze lingering on the distant walls.
"Where are we?"
Elizabeth, standing several steps away, smiled faintly.
"You've never been here?"
Almost immediately, she answered her own question.
"This is one of the Directors' training rooms. From time to time, we use it for sparring among ourselves… or when we want to test something without unnecessary eyes around. It's empty right now — everyone is busy with their own affairs. So you couldn't ask for a better place for our fight. We don't have to hold back here. And no one will interrupt us."
As she spoke, Elizabeth opened her inventory and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a blue potion. She uncorked it with a single motion, took several gulps, and emptied the vial completely.
Alex looked at her.
"You could've just asked me to teleport us to the Academy. You wouldn't have had to waste your mana."
Elizabeth merely waved her hand dismissively and returned the empty vial to her inventory.
"I have only slightly less mana than you do, Alex. So don't underestimate me."
The young man raised his hands with a faint smile, as though surrendering.
"As you say."
Elizabeth didn't answer. She simply took a step back and extended one hand forward.
At once, her blood began flowing toward her palm. Dark-red streams twisted around her wrist, growing denser and denser until, within a second, they took the shape of a long, elegant sword made entirely of blood. The blade gleamed beneath the light of the magical lamps.
Alex didn't hesitate either.
Darkness mixed with blood rose from his magic circle, rapidly spiraling around his arm. A moment later, a sword formed in his palm — dark, almost black, with thin dark-red veins running along the entire length of the blade.
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other across the distance between them.
Elizabeth was the first to break the silence.
"Ready?"
She lowered her body slightly, settling into a fighting stance. The sword in her hand came to rest at an angle, while a familiar battle gleam appeared in her eyes.
Alex slowly exhaled and tightened his grip around the hilt of his blade.
"Always ready."
His body had already tensed instinctively, preparing to meet her first move. A smile appeared on Elizabeth's lips. Excitement flashed in her eyes.
And in the very next moment, Elizabeth launched herself forward so abruptly that her silhouette seemed to disappear into thin air for an instant. Alex barely managed to raise his sword in front of him before their blades collided with a deafening crack. The shockwave spread throughout the entire hall, kicking up dust and tiny fragments of stone from the floor. The force of their first clash was so great that Alex was thrown several meters backward. His boots scraped across the stone, leaving long marks behind them. Before he could fully regain his balance, Elizabeth was already in front of him.
Her blood sword moved with incredible speed, almost flawlessly — one strike flowing into the next without the slightest pause, forcing Alex to focus entirely on defense. She attacked from every direction, changing the angle of her strikes at the very last moment and constantly trying to provoke a mistake. Her style was beautiful, elegant… and at the same time deadly precise. Every movement had been refined through decades of experience.
Alex deflected one strike after another, feeling the force of every block travel through his arms. The metallic crack of their blades never ceased for even a second. He shifted his body to the side, letting the blade pass inches from his shoulder, then immediately attempted a short downward slash in return. Elizabeth blocked it flawlessly, sliding her blade along Alex's, while her free hand instantly shot forward. Blood spears formed around it almost immediately — long, thin, and razor-sharp, almost indistinguishable from real weapons. The next moment, they shot toward him.
Alex thrust out his palm, and his new magic circle flared with dark-red light. A dense barrier of darkness and blood rose in front of him. The first spears slammed into it with a thunderous impact, covering its surface with cracks. One pierced through the barrier and flew past his shoulder, another Alex sliced apart with his sword in midair, while he caught the third with his bare hand, squeezing it until it crumbled into mana dust between his fingers.
But Elizabeth had already closed the distance. Her sword came crashing down with tremendous force, and Alex barely managed to bring his blade up in time. New cracks spread across the stone beneath their feet. She pressed forward, putting not only technique but raw strength behind every strike, and for the first time during the fight, Alex truly understood just how dangerous she was.
Not an Academy Director. Not the woman who had been holding a glass of wine only a few minutes ago.
A monster who had spent decades perfecting her strength.
Alex abruptly shifted the direction of the pressure and knocked her sword aside, throwing off her balance. It was only an instant, but it was enough. His dark blade surged forward, forcing Elizabeth to retreat for the first time since the beginning of the fight.
Now he went on the offensive.
His new mana exploded with every movement. Darkness intertwined with blood around the blade, making it heavier, denser, and far more dangerous. Alex advanced without pause, forcing Elizabeth to block a rapid series of strikes.
One after another. From below. From above. From a turn.
He changed the pace of the battle so abruptly that now it was Elizabeth who was forced to retreat. The stone floor beneath them shattered under the force of their blows. They moved across the hall so quickly that only their blades remained visible, leaving dark and red arcs hanging in the air.
And that was when Alex sensed the trap.
Blood chains burst from the cracked stone directly beside his feet, instantly wrapping around his ankles. Elizabeth smiled — briefly, triumphantly — and immediately moved in for the decisive strike.
But Alex reacted in time.
His magic circle flared, and the new mana exploded around him in a shockwave. The chains were torn apart instantly. Stone fragments and streams of blood scattered across the floor, while Elizabeth was forced to shield her eyes with one hand for a second.
That was enough.
Alex lunged forward.
Their swords collided again, this time at almost point-blank range. The exchange became so fast that it merged into a continuous roar of steel.
Attack. Block. Counterattack. Dodge.
Blade slid against blade, sending dark-red sparks flying through the air. Elizabeth struck with her knee, Alex leaned back and answered with an elbow. Her blade passed dangerously close to his neck, while his sword swept past her shoulder. Neither was willing to give an inch.
Both were already breathing heavily. Cuts had appeared in their clothes, while the stone around them was covered in cracks and deep gouges.
And then Alex saw it.
Only for a moment. Almost imperceptibly.
Her grip on the sword had loosened slightly after the latest block.
That was enough.
He changed the trajectory of his strike at the very last second. His sword slid along Elizabeth's blade, twisted, and struck hard against the guard.
The blow was precise and brutal.
The blood sword was knocked from her hand.
It flew to the side, spinning several times through the air before striking the stone floor several meters away with a loud clang.
Silence fell.
Alex was already standing directly in front of her. The tip of his dark blade hovered beside her neck.
Elizabeth was breathing heavily. Several strands of hair had fallen loose across her face. Her chest rose and fell with each rapid breath. For several seconds, she silently stared at the blade before her, then lifted her gaze to Alex.
And smiled.
Wide. Sincere. Completely satisfied.
Slowly raising both hands, she spoke quietly.
"All right… I surrender."
Alex lowered his sword. The darkness and blood immediately scattered around his arm and returned to the magic circle.
Elizabeth braced her hands against her knees, trying to catch her breath, then straightened and looked at him much more calmly.
"Well…" she breathed, still smiling. "Now I really do feel much more at ease letting you go to the Jester."
Alex smiled faintly, catching his breath as well.
"I think you would have won if you had fought at full strength."
"What makes you think I was holding back?"
"I've seen you on the battlefield during the war and in dungeons more than once. You moved several times faster there, and your strikes were sharper and more powerful. Besides, you were skilled at combining close-range and long-range combat, while here you only attacked me with spears from a distance once."
Elizabeth gave a short laugh, glancing at the ruined arena around them.
"It's difficult to give it your all against your own nephew," she replied, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Even though I've seen your true strength, there was still a part of me afraid I might accidentally hurt you. And yes, I know you could patch yourself up quickly with magic or potions, but…"
"I understand. Thank you for the fight."
"You're welcome. Well, let's head home."
"What about the arena?" Alex asked, looking around somewhat bewilderedly at the stone floor covered in cracks.
"You don't need to worry about that," Elizabeth said, waving her hand dismissively. "There are magical artifacts beneath it that will repair everything."
"Well, if that's the case…" A bright magic ring appeared on Alex's palm. "Then there's nothing left for us to do here."
A moment later, they vanished in a flash of teleportation magic.
The Jester sat behind a wide, dark desk in his office, intently studying an old book bound in dark leather. The only sound in the room was the faint rustling of pages beneath his fingers. The light of several wall lamps fell softly across shelves filled with books, scrolls, and various objects, most of which Alex probably wouldn't even have been able to identify.
The Jester himself sat motionless, slightly hunched over the text, as though the entire world around him had ceased to exist.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," he said calmly, without even lifting his gaze from the book.
The door opened quietly, and a young woman entered the office. She was the same woman whom Alex and the Jester had once rescued together in Lorenzo's dungeon. She wore a simple light linen blouse with loose sleeves and a long dark-blue skirt that fell gracefully to her ankles.
Once inside, she gave a slight bow.
"My Lord."
Only then did the Jester set the book down on the edge of the desk and look up at her.
"Has my guest arrived?"
The woman blinked in slight confusion.
"You… already know?"
A faint smile appeared on the Jester's lips.
"I sensed his magical aura about five minutes ago. He appeared near the estate just moments ago."
A brief look of understanding crossed her face.
"I see… Shall I bring him to you?"
"Yes, please."
The woman bowed politely once more and left the office without another word, quietly closing the door behind her.
Once the room fell silent again, the Jester glanced over the desk. Its entire surface was covered with open books, notes, sheets filled with writing, and several scrolls. After a moment, he let out a heavy sigh, rose from his chair, and quickly began gathering everything into a neat stack. The books were returned to the shelves one by one. The scrolls went into a separate drawer. Within seconds, only one book remained on the desk — the same one he had been reading moments ago.
The Jester returned to it, glanced once more at the open page, and lingered there for a moment before slowly closing the cover and placing the book inside a small cabinet beneath the desk.
At that very moment, there was another knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Alex stood in the doorway.
"Hello," he said calmly as he stepped inside. "It's been a while."
He immediately extended his hand.
The Jester stepped out from behind the desk and shook it without hesitation.
"Our meeting would have happened much sooner… if you had made progress faster."
Alex had already opened his mouth to respond, but the Jester suddenly let out a quiet laugh.
"I'm joking." He released Alex's hand and rolled one shoulder slightly. "In my line of work, I rarely get the chance to tease someone. So I decided not to let the opportunity pass."
Alex smiled faintly. It was a strange feeling.
No matter how intimidating and mysterious the Jester appeared from the outside… no matter how much of a monster he had seemed during their first encounter… the person standing before Alex now wasn't a symbol of chaos and fear.
He was simply an ordinary angel.
An angel with his own habits. A sense of humor. And a love for books.
The Jester gestured for him to come farther inside.
"Have a seat."
He returned to the desk and sat in his chair, while Alex took the seat opposite him.
"Would you like something to drink?" the Jester asked calmly.
"No, thank you."
"As you wish." He shrugged indifferently.
Then Alex noticed something.
Behind the openings of the Jester's mask, his eyes suddenly glimmered with a faint light. The Jester leaned forward slightly. His voice carried an entirely different tone now.
Undisguised interest.
"Show me the results of your training."
Without another word, Alex extended his hand. Darkness and blood immediately rose from the magic circle, intertwining with each other in their familiar motion. Within a few seconds, a sword formed in his palm — dark, with thin, deep-red veins running along the entire length of the blade.
He silently held it out to the Jester.
The Jester took the sword carefully. Almost too carefully, as though he were holding an ancient artifact that might crumble from even the slightest careless movement.
For a while, the Jester simply remained silent. He slowly turned the blade in his hands, examining it from different angles. Light slid across the dark surface, while the red veins within the mana pulsed faintly.
He ran his fingers over the surface of the blade without touching it. Then he turned the sword over once more, pausing at the guard.
Only after several long seconds did he finally speak, without taking his eyes off the weapon.
"Alex… would you mind leaving this sword with me?"
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing. The Jester noticed and immediately added:
"One of my close friends would never forgive me if I didn't show him something created from the union of blood and darkness magic."
For a moment, he shifted his gaze toward Alex.
"Don't worry. No one else will ever see this sword. You have my word… if that means anything to you."
A brief silence settled over the office. Alex stared at him for several seconds, considering the request.
Then he calmly nodded.
"You can keep it. After all… I still haven't repaid you for that potion. The one that helped Luna. So I think this is fair."
"Oh… so it actually helped?"
"It did."
Something almost warm appeared in the Jester's voice for a moment.
"I'm glad to hear that."
After that, he spent several more seconds silently examining the blade in his hands. Then he carefully placed it on the desk in front of him and turned his gaze toward Alex. Slowly leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well then… as promised, I'll personally take care of your training from now on."
His voice was even and calm, but the air between them seemed to slowly grow tense.
"But I need to warn you right away. This won't be anything like the training you're used to at the Academy. I'm not going to go easy on you. I'll push you to your absolute limit, and I won't be afraid of seriously injuring you. I have no intention of holding back… if you truly want to achieve results."
The Jester paused briefly, looking at the young man from beneath his mask.
"So I'm giving you the chance to change your mind now. While there's still time."
"I'm not changing my mind," Alex replied instantly.
There wasn't a trace of doubt in his voice.
"And honestly… I never expected this to be easy from the beginning."
A satisfied smile appeared on the Jester's lips.
"Well… that was your choice."
The very next moment, dozens of bright magic circles flared to life around Alex from every direction. They appeared without warning, and a fraction of a second later, bolts of light burst from each one. Blinding beams shot toward the young man simultaneously, attempting to strike him from every possible angle.
But Alex was faster.
His body vanished from the chair so abruptly that it was as though no one had ever been sitting there. The next instant, the bolts of light slammed into the spot where he had been only a second before.
The chair was blown apart.
Wood, fabric, and fragments of metal scattered throughout the office amid a series of thunderous explosions.
Alex himself was already behind the Jester.
A sword of blood and darkness instantly formed in his hand. He had no intention of wasting the advantage of a surprise attack and had already begun bringing the blade down toward his opponent.
But at that very moment, a bright magic circle flared beneath his feet.
A sense of danger shot through Alex's body.
He instinctively pushed himself away from the ground just as a powerful beam of light erupted vertically from the circle. The attack passed so close that Alex felt the heat against his skin. The right sleeve of his shirt vanished instantly, reduced to ash.
His arm was burned as well. The skin was scorched, leaving long red wounds behind.
Landing several meters away from the Jester, Alex quickly glanced at his injured arm. The pain was noticeable, but nowhere near enough to affect the fight.
A faint smile appeared on Alex's lips.
He already understood that continuing the fight inside the office would be a foolish idea, so he abruptly turned and leapt through the open balcony.
The cool air immediately struck his face.
Alex landed in the estate's backyard and was just about to assess the new battlefield when he felt a powerful magical aura above him.
His instincts reacted before his thoughts could catch up. He abruptly leaped to the side.
Barely a second later, a massive figure crashed into the spot where he had been standing. The ground trembled beneath the impact. The lawn exploded in every direction, chunks of earth flying through the air as a shockwave swept across the entire courtyard.
The Jester stood in the middle of a small crater. In his hands was an enormous two-handed hammer, completely formed from light. Even from a distance, Alex could feel the incredible amount of mana the man had poured into the spell.
Without giving the boy even a second to recover, the Jester lunged forward. The distance between them vanished in an instant. The hammer swept through a wide arc, roaring as it tore through the air straight toward Alex.
This time, the boy didn't even think about dodging. He tightened his grip on his sword and stepped toward the attack. The hammer of light and the blade forged from blood and darkness collided.
For one brief moment, the world seemed to freeze.
Then it exploded.
A shockwave burst outward, flattening the grass against the ground. Cracks spread across the courtyard, while the air filled with a turbulent mixture of light, blood, and darkness mana. Both of them remained standing, staring into each other's eyes through their clashing spells.
That was when the Jester's gaze shifted to Alex's right arm. The wound he had inflicted less than a minute ago was already beginning to disappear. The burned skin slowly regenerated right before his eyes.
"Still not fully recovered," he said with unmistakable disappointment. "We'll have to work on your regeneration speed." His grip tightened around the hammer's handle. "And your speed in general."
Alex felt the weight of the blow in every cell of his body. Even after all his training, after months spent mastering his new power, after clearing hundreds of dungeons, the Jester's physical strength remained something entirely different. There was nothing flashy or chaotic about it. Quite the opposite. Every movement the man made looked so natural that it seemed as though he had been born with a weapon in his hands.
Alex hadn't even managed to pull his sword back from their first clash when the Jester had already swung the hammer in another arc, forcing the boy to retreat. The next strike came from below, another from the side, then from above. Alex dodged, blocked, and counterattacked, but not once did he manage to impose his own rhythm on the battle. The initiative remained in the Jester's hands the entire time.
Soon, magic joined the hammer's relentless assault. Bright magic circles began appearing continuously above the battlefield. Some fired spears of light, others unleashed narrow beams, while others created entire walls of energy, forcing Alex to constantly change direction. The Jester wasn't using magic to land a decisive blow. He was controlling the battlefield itself—driving the boy wherever he wanted, restricting his room to maneuver, and forcing him into awkward positions.
And it was here that Alex truly realized just how much he had changed over the past few months. Not long ago, he simply wouldn't have been able to react to such a barrage of attacks. Now, his body moved almost instinctively. The unified mana of blood and darkness enhanced every muscle, every nerve, every reflex. He sensed danger before his mind could fully comprehend it. That was the only thing allowing him to remain in the fight.
At one point, Alex even managed to go on the offensive. Taking advantage of a brief pause between attacks, he closed the distance and appeared directly in front of the Jester, unleashing a barrage of strikes. The dark-red sword moved with incredible speed, leaving blurred trails of blood and darkness in its wake. One strike became a second, the second became a third, then a fourth. Alex attacked so quickly that continuous explosions of mana rang out around them every time their weapons collided.
For the first time since the battle had begun, the Jester was forced into full defense. He was still deflecting the attacks, but no longer with the same ease as before. And for the first time throughout the entire fight, a flicker of hope appeared in the boy's heart.
He might actually win this battle.
However, that hope did not last long.
The Jester suddenly changed the rhythm of the battle. So abruptly that Alex didn't even understand what had happened at first. Just a moment ago, the man had been defending himself, and in the next second, he had gone on the offensive. The hammer swept through a wide arc, forcing the boy to block the attack. The shockwave sent Alex flying backward. Without giving him time to regain his balance, the Jester created a magic circle beneath his feet, from which a beam of light burst forth. Alex dodged it. Immediately afterward, three spears appeared from the right. Then another five from above. Then another strike from the hammer. Everything happened so quickly that the boy gradually began to lose control of the situation. He was still reacting. Still defending himself. Still finding opportunities for counterattacks. But now he was no longer fighting the Jester. He was surviving under his assault.
A new wound appeared on his shoulder. Then on his side. Then a spear of light grazed his thigh. Each time, his regeneration immediately began restoring the damage, but Alex understood perfectly well what price he was paying for it. His mana reserves were slowly dwindling. Part of it went toward maintaining his new power. Part toward strengthening his body. Part toward regeneration. Part toward his continuous defensive spells. Balancing all of it was becoming increasingly difficult. And it was then that an unpleasant thought first appeared in his mind.
"Even now?.."
"After all these months?.."
"I'm still not even on his level?"
The answer was obvious. And the Jester made no attempt to hide it. He wasn't playing around. He wasn't holding back. He wasn't treating Alex like a child. Quite the opposite. He was fighting him seriously. Delivering blows that could break bones. Giving the boy not a single second to rest. He was showing him the true difference between them.
And at the same time, he was showing him just how much he had already grown. Because despite all the pressure, despite the pain, exhaustion, and wounds, Alex continued to fight. He didn't fall. He didn't retreat. He didn't beg for the fight to stop. He was still keeping up with the Jester. Still managing to react. Still finding opportunities to attack. And somewhere deep inside, beneath the endless stream of blows, a strange feeling was beginning to emerge.
Alex wasn't the Jester's equal. Not yet. But for the first time, he could at least see the peak he was striving to reach.
That strange feeling quickly disappeared when another hammer strike forced the boy to leap sharply backward. The place where he had been standing only a moment ago literally exploded with stone fragments and chunks of earth. Without giving himself even a second to look around, the boy was already moving again. Over the past few minutes, he had learned one simple truth—if he stopped for even a second, the Jester would immediately take advantage of it.
The man continued showering Alex with a barrage of attacks. The moment he avoided one, another was already following. As soon as Alex blocked a hammer strike, dozens of bright magic circles flared above him. The moment he focused on defending against the magic, the Jester was already closing the distance for close-quarters combat. It felt less like sparring, or even a duel, and more like a true storm, with Alex caught at its center.
Suddenly, the Jester's attacks became even faster. So abruptly that Alex barely had time to register the danger. Just a second ago, the man had been deflecting his spears of blood and darkness, and in the next moment, he was already beside him.
Alex instantly raised his sword to defend himself. He barely made it in time. The Jester's hammer crashed into the blade with such force that the boy felt as though he were trying to stop an entire building from falling. The shockwave tore through his entire body. His feet left the ground. The world before his eyes shook.
At the last second, Alex managed to create a thick layer of blood behind his back, hoping it would at least partially absorb the impact. Then he crashed into the wall of the estate. The stonework exploded into fragments. Deep cracks immediately spread across the facade. The boy's body was literally driven into the stone, leaving a large indentation behind.
For several seconds, everything around him was shrouded in dust. Alex coughed heavily, feeling the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. A sharp pain pulsed in his chest. Several ribs were broken. His left collarbone was fractured. Somewhere inside, minor internal bleeding had begun. His regeneration immediately went to work, consuming a tremendous amount of mana to repair his damaged body, but even for a vampire, injuries like these did not disappear instantly.
The boy slowly raised his head. Through the settling dust, he saw the Jester. The man stood calmly in place. For a moment, Alex simply stared at him, then exhaled heavily, braced one hand against the ruined wall, and slowly rose to his feet. The pain hadn't disappeared. Neither had the exhaustion. Blood ran down his body, and his regeneration was working at the limits of its capabilities. But he was still standing.
Which meant the battle wasn't over yet. A dark-red magic circle flared in his palm. A moment later, blood and darkness formed a new sword in his hand. Alex tightened his grip around the hilt, then took a step forward. Then another. And another. And then he suddenly launched himself forward.
The ground beneath his feet cracked. The air howled from his speed. He rushed straight toward the Jester, putting everything he had left into that burst of movement. All his concentration. All his strength. All his will to keep moving forward.
The distance between them rapidly closed. Alex raised his sword for the strike.
And at that very moment, the Jester calmly raised his hand.
"Enough."
The man's voice was even and calm. The sword froze. The blade stopped just a few millimeters from his right shoulder. Silence descended over the backyard. Alex was breathing heavily, never taking his eyes off the Jester's mask. Drops of blood slowly ran down his arm. His chest rose and fell heavily after the exhausting battle.
The Jester stared back at him. Then, slowly, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
"Not bad. For a first time."
Alex remained motionless for a few more seconds before slowly lowering his sword. Darkness and blood scattered into tiny sparks of mana and disappeared into the air. His gaze swept over the devastated courtyard. Over the craters in the ground. Over the ruined section of the estate wall. Over the traces of their battle that covered the entire backyard.
The Jester followed the direction of his gaze and immediately understood what Alex was looking at.
"You don't need to worry about the damage," the man said calmly, also surveying the ruined courtyard. "A little work with magical artifacts, and everything here will look as though nothing ever happened."
He shrugged lightly, as if they were talking about something insignificant, then continued with a hint of amusement in his voice:
"Besides, we won't be training here from now on. I've prepared another place for our sparring. I think you'll like it. We can really let loose there without having to worry about rebuilding half the estate after every battle."
A faint smile appeared on Alex's lips. He said nothing, instead focusing on his own body. His regeneration was working, but the injuries left behind by the Jester's final strike were far too severe to disappear within a few seconds. His broken bones were gradually knitting back together, and the internal bleeding was slowly stopping, but the process still required time.
Without saying a word, the Jester raised a hand toward the boy. A green magic circle flared in his palm. A moment later, soft light enveloped Alex's body.
The boy immediately felt the difference. His regeneration literally accelerated several times over. The pain began disappearing before his eyes. His bones fused back together. Damaged blood vessels were restored. The internal bleeding stopped almost instantly. Within a few seconds, Alex was standing completely healthy once again. The only reminders of the battle were his shirt, torn in several places, and the traces of blood staining the fabric.
The Jester lowered his hand and said in an indifferent tone:
"I'd really rather my first student didn't die on the very first day of our training together."
The sarcasm in his voice was so obvious that Alex couldn't suppress a faint smile.
"Thank you for your concern," he replied, a hint of reproach in his voice.
"You're always welcome," the Jester nodded completely seriously, though his tone made it clear that he was still joking.
A moment later, the two-handed hammer made of light scattered into golden sparks and disappeared. The Jester briefly surveyed the courtyard once more before turning his gaze back to Alex.
"You're free for today. I'll expect you here at the same time tomorrow."
After saying that, he extended his hand toward the boy.
"And thank you for an interesting fight."
Alex shook it without hesitation.
"Likewise."
A satisfied smile appeared on the Jester's lips. The very next moment, a teleportation magic circle flared beneath Alex's feet. The world around him dissolved into a stream of mana for an instant. And a second later, the backyard of the Jester's estate stood empty, leaving the man alone among the remnants of their first training session.
Night had long since fallen over the Bledhart estate. Most of the windows were already dark. The corridors had fallen silent, and the inhabitants of the house had long since retired to their rooms. Only occasionally could the distant song of nocturnal birds or the quiet whisper of the wind through the trees be heard outside the window.
Sleep refused to come to Alex. The boy sat in a soft armchair by the window, quietly gazing at the starry sky. Moments like these had long since become his personal way of resting. Rare moments when he allowed himself to think about nothing. Make no plans. Analyze none of his mistakes. Worry about nothing in the future. Even Sirena had long since learned not to disturb this silence unless he addressed her first.
Eight days had already passed since his training with the Jester began. Each session left behind a strange feeling. On the one hand, Alex hadn't experienced such pressure during battle in a long time. If the Jester hadn't healed him before sending him home, he would have returned to the estate every day covered in bruises, burns, and broken bones. On the other hand, these training sessions brought him a certain amount of enjoyment.
Their routine always began the same way. First, the Jester analyzed their previous battle. He pointed out Alex's strengths, but devoted the most attention to his weaknesses. Then he briefly explained the theory, telling him exactly how he could correct one mistake or another. Only after that did the next battle begin.
The worst part was that the Jester gave him absolutely no time to think. He didn't allow Alex to calmly process his new knowledge or gradually get used to it. Everything had to be applied immediately. Right in the middle of battle. Under constant pressure and a hail of attacks.
Alex had to think, analyze, move, defend, attack, and search for new solutions all at the same time. And although it was radically different from the way Elizabeth had once trained him or the way he was used to training on his own, the boy couldn't deny the obvious.
He liked it. He liked finding solutions at the very limits of his abilities. He liked seeing his own progress. He liked the thrill that arose every time he faced the Jester on the battlefield. Even serious injuries couldn't change that. The faint smile and desire to become stronger never disappeared.
Alex continued staring at the stars when the door to his room opened ever so slightly. A familiar head appeared through the narrow gap.
Mireya. After making sure the boy wasn't asleep, the girl quietly slipped inside and carefully closed the door behind her. She then began creeping forward, doing her best not to make a sound.
Fortunately for her, Alex was sitting with his back to the door. Unfortunately for her, she was completely incapable of concealing her magical aura. The boy had sensed her before she had even entered the room, so now he was merely holding back a smile, pretending not to notice anything.
Mireya slowly made her way around the armchair. She stopped beside him. Then, suddenly, she jumped in front of him.
"Boo!"
Alex flinched so convincingly that it looked as though he had genuinely been frightened. Then he grabbed his chest and let out a theatrical sigh.
"Mireya, you can't just scare people in the middle of the night like that. My heart nearly stopped."
The girl practically lit up with happiness.
"Ha! Big brother got scared of little Mireya!"
She proudly planted her hands on her hips.
"Now I'm definitely going to tell Sister Eliria about this!"
Alex simply chuckled. Then he leaned forward, gently patted her on the head, and easily lifted her onto his lap.
"Better tell me why you're not sleeping."
Mireya immediately lost some of her fighting spirit.
"I was sleeping..." she answered honestly. "Then I woke up. And I couldn't fall asleep again." The girl was quiet for a moment before looking up at him. "When is Sister Eliria coming to visit us?"
A warm smile appeared on Alex's lips.
"Just a little longer, and she'll come visit us. I only spoke to her yesterday. She promised she'd come soon."
"When exactly?"
"I'm not telling."
"Why?"
"Because then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore."
Mireya immediately puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
"Fine..."
After that, silence settled between them. They sat together, gazing at the starry sky outside the window. Several minutes passed before the girl spoke again.
"Big brother?"
"Hm?"
"Why do you like looking at the stars so much?"
Alex turned his gaze toward her in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
Mireya tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Mom recently told me that people can do the same thing for different reasons." She began counting on her fingers. "Some people read books to become smarter. Some do it to develop their imagination. And some just do it to pass the time."
The girl looked out the window again.
"It's the same with the sky. I like it because it's beautiful. Especially at night. It's much prettier than during the day. But I only look at it for a few minutes. Then I get bored." She turned slightly toward Alex. "But you can sit like this for a very long time. I've seen you do it more than once." Mireya stared into his eyes for several seconds. "What do you see in the stars? And what do you feel when you look at them?"
Alex did not answer immediately. For a while, he simply stared at the starry sky outside the window, as though searching for an answer among the distant lights above. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips, carrying both joy and pain at the same time. Once, he had thought exactly the same way Mireya did. He had seen nothing but beauty in the night sky. He would raise his head for a few seconds, admire the stars, and then return to whatever he had been doing. To him, they had been nothing more than beautiful specks of light scattered across a dark canvas.
Everything changed much later. During the war. That was when he began noticing something strange. Almost every evening, before going to sleep, Eliria would go outside and simply stare at the sky. Not for a minute or two. Sometimes she could sit there for an entire hour, silently gazing at the stars. At first, Alex paid little attention to it. Then he became curious. And one day, he finally couldn't hold back and asked her about it.
They had been preparing for another battle at the time. A difficult day lay ahead, and he genuinely couldn't understand why, instead of resting, she was spending precious time on something like this. So he simply approached her and asked the question that had been circling in his mind for a long time. That was when he heard an answer he would remember for the rest of his life.
Alex turned his gaze to Mireya and spoke quietly:
"Once, a spirit told me that the starry sky helped her rest. Not her body, but her mind. When you look at it, you begin to remember how vast this world really is. How small our problems can sometimes be. Tomorrow's battles, work, worries, fears... none of it disappears. But at least for a few minutes, you can allow yourself to set them aside."
His gaze returned to the starry sky.
"In moments like these, you don't have to think about what tomorrow will bring. You don't have to hurry. You don't have to prove anything to anyone or run somewhere. You can simply sit and enjoy the fact that, right now, everything is all right. Enjoy the silence. The cool air. The stars above your head. The moment itself."
The boy fell silent for a moment, then continued in an even quieter voice:
"The stars are in no hurry. They were here before us, and they will remain after us. And when you look at them for long enough, you begin to feel a strange sense of peace. As though all the noise around you is gradually fading away. As though the world is allowing you to rest for a little while. I suppose that's why I like looking at them. In moments like these, I allow myself to simply rest."
Mireya thoughtfully gazed at the sky for a few more seconds before turning her eyes toward the boy.
"It sounds like this really is an important moment for you."
A warm smile appeared on Alex's face.
"Very important."
After that, silence settled between them once again. Mireya turned her gaze toward the stars, as though trying to look at them the same way Alex did. Only a few seconds passed before the girl yawned widely. Then again. Her eyes slowly began to close, and her head grew heavier as it tilted to the side.
Another minute passed, and Alex felt the small body relax in his lap. Mireya quietly nestled against his chest and began breathing softly. She had fallen asleep.
An even warmer smile appeared on the boy's lips. Carefully, so as not to wake the girl, he rose from the armchair with her in his arms, then slowly walked over to his bed. He gently laid Mireya down on the pillow, brushed the strands of hair that had fallen across her face aside, and covered her with the blanket. The girl merely mumbled something incoherent in her sleep and settled more comfortably onto her side.
Alex stood beside her for a few more seconds, looking at her peaceful face. Then he quietly walked toward the door and, after taking one last look at the sleeping Mireya, slipped out of the room without a sound, carefully closing the door behind him.
Lianel was in a spacious training room located in one of the wings of Raphael's estate. The room was so large that several dozen people could train here at the same time without any problems. Parts of the walls were covered with magical barriers, while training dummies and special structures for practicing strikes stood in various corners.
Raphael himself was not here yet. Lianel was making good use of the time. First, he went through his usual warm-up, carefully stretching his muscles. Then a magic circle flared in his hand, and a spear of light formed a moment later. The boy began practicing a series of thrusts, swift turns, and complex combinations that had become almost instinctive to him over the past few months.
After that, he switched to the training dummies. Several powerful strikes in a row left deep cracks in one of them. Then Lianel stepped back and sent several projectiles of light toward the target, which crashed into the wooden structure with loud explosions.
It was at that moment that the door to the room opened. Raphael entered. He was wearing simple light-colored trousers and a white shirt. He looked much less formal than he did within the Academy walls. Even now, however, his usual confidence could be felt in his posture. Only the slight fatigue on his face revealed the effects of another long day.
The moment Lianel noticed his mentor, he immediately sprang into motion. One burst of movement, and he was already standing a meter away from Raphael.
"Good afternoon, Master."
"Good afternoon to you too, Lianel."
The boy looked at him carefully.
"You look a little tired. Rough day at work?"
Raphael let out a heavy sigh.
"You could say that. Lately, we Directors have had more than enough work."
"Something serious?"
"Quite serious." A faint smile appeared on Raphael's lips. "We're currently in the middle of preparing for a certain project. It's taking an incredible amount of time, energy, and nerves."
"And what kind of project is it?"
"Now that is still a secret."
Lianel visibly frowned. Raphael, however, only gave him a sly smile.
"The only thing I can tell you... is that your raid group will play one of the key roles in it."
Interest immediately flared in the boy's eyes. Raphael noticed it and continued:
"So, if you don't want all our hard work to go to waste, you'll need to train even harder."
And only after finishing the sentence did he realize what exactly he had said. The director's expression instantly changed.
"Wait... no. No, no, no, that's not what I meant." He hurriedly waved his hands in front of him. "Actually, this doesn't concern you. I mean, it does, but not like that. You're already training more than enough and..."
"Work even harder." A wide smile spread across Lianel's face. "I understand, Master."
"You don't understand."
"From now on, I'll stay even longer during training."
"Lianel..."
"We can't let all the Directors' hard work go to waste."
Raphael froze. Genuine horror could be seen in his eyes.
"What have I done..."
That was the only thought running through his mind. Meanwhile, Lianel had already crossed his arms over his chest.
"So, what's on the schedule today?"
Raphael blinked several times, returning to reality. Then he lightly shook his head, pushing away the unnecessary thoughts. Suddenly, a smug smile appeared on his lips.
"I've prepared something special for today's training."
Lianel immediately became alert. Or rather, interested. Raphael knew that look very well. That was why a slight hint of excitement entered his voice.
"What's more, you have a gift waiting for you today."
"A gift?"
"That's right."
"And what is it?"
Raphael merely smiled mysteriously. Then he turned his head slightly toward the door and called out loudly:
"You can come in."
Lianel immediately leaned slightly to the side, trying to see the newcomers before they entered the room. A few seconds later, two silhouettes appeared in the doorway. And the moment the boy recognized them, his eyes immediately lit up, and such a wide smile spread across his face that Raphael was already beginning to suspect the next hour was going to be very noisy.
Alex and Mireya entered the room. The boy calmly held the girl's hand while she looked around with undisguised curiosity, taking in the enormous training hall. Everything here was new to her: the high ceilings, the magical barriers along the walls, the training dummies, and the very atmosphere of a place where intense training was constantly taking place.
Alex himself paid almost no attention to his surroundings. His gaze was fixed entirely on Lianel. It had been quite some time since their last meeting. Long enough for both of them to have changed noticeably.
When they came closer, Raphael was the first to speak.
"Today's training will be fairly simple. I asked Alex to spar with you, and he agreed. This way, you'll both have a chance to see how much the other has changed during this time." A faint smile appeared on his lips. "And at least for one day, some of the workload will be taken off my shoulders. So, if you think about it, everyone wins today."
Lianel, who was practically glowing with excitement, shifted his gaze from Alex to Mireya. A familiar, teasing smile immediately appeared on his face.
"That's not fair."
Mireya narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What's not fair?"
"Bringing a support squad with you." Lianel spread his arms theatrically. "If everyone is going to cheer only for Alex, then I'll have to let him win. I can't possibly make our hero big brother lose in front of a young lady."
He delivered the last words with light, friendly teasing. Mireya immediately frowned.
"Big brother never loses!" Her voice was so confident that even Alex barely managed to suppress a smile. "Even though he said you're the strongest person he's ever had to fight at the Academy, he'll still win!"
Lianel froze for a moment. It was obvious that the compliment had caught him pleasantly off guard. Then his smile grew even wider. His gaze immediately shifted to Alex, where he saw a familiar fire in his eyes. The excitement of someone who was genuinely looking forward to the fight.
Lianel's signature, slightly arrogant smile returned to his face.
"Then I propose a deal."
Mireya immediately became interested.
"What kind?"
"If Alex wins, I'll treat you to three servings of ice cream."
The girl's eyes instantly lit up.
"And if you win?"
"Then he'll treat you to ice cream. Either way, you're the one who comes out ahead, but it gives Alex and me some extra motivation to try our best during the fight." Lianel solemnly extended his hand toward her. "Deal?"
Mireya didn't even hesitate. She immediately shook his hand.
"Deal!"
"Excellent." Lianel laughed. "Then you'd better stay beside this man for now." He pointed toward Raphael. "And watch the fight from a safe distance."
Mireya nodded seriously. Then she quickly ran over to Raphael. Once she was standing beside him, she turned toward the boys and enthusiastically waved her hands.
"Good luck!"
After a brief pause, she added:
"I'm cheering for both of you!"
"Works for me," Lianel laughed.
After that, he finally turned back to Alex.
"And you?"
"Absolutely."
Raphael took Mireya by the hand, and the two of them leisurely made their way toward the bench by the wall. Within a few seconds, they had already started some lively conversation. Alex and Lianel paid them no more attention. For a while, the two boys simply looked at each other.
Lianel was the first to break the silence.
"You look much better. I hope this fight will be much more interesting than our last one at the Academy."
Alex chuckled briefly.
"That's exactly why I agreed to come. To repay my debt."
Lianel's smile grew even wider.
"Good to hear."
"Besides," Alex continued, "I'm curious myself to see what you've managed to achieve during this time."
"Ooooh..."
Lianel drew out the long vowel with satisfaction.
"Trust me, I'll surprise you."
"I hope so."
"And I'm expecting the same from you."
"I'll try."
"I'll hold you to that."
As if on command, their magical weapons began forming in both boys' hands. Lianel's spear of light. Alex's sword of blood.
The angel pointed the tip of his spear at his opponent.
"If you lose, you'll owe me quite a few servings of ice cream as well."
Alex smiled and answered in kind, pointing the blade of his sword at his friend.
"And if you lose, you'll spend all your savings on ice cream down to the very last coin."
"We'll see about that."
The boys simultaneously assumed their battle stances. The enormous training room seemed to freeze. Even Mireya instinctively fell silent. One second. A second more. Inhale. Exhale.
Then both of them launched themselves forward at the same time. With wide smiles. With the fire of excitement burning in their eyes. And they charged straight toward each other.