"Tz—"
Suddenly, Nox crouched extremely low as a foot wearing a black leather Oxford shoe made contact with the muscular man's torso. Nox heard a faint crack as the man was sent flying across the training grounds, crashing into a weapons rack. Everything went silent as the figure landed a few feet away from Nox.
He adjusted his binoculars while simultaneously pulling out a white handkerchief, the same familiar smile plastered on his face. It was Zayne, in his full butler's uniform.
Nox rose slowly. 'If that kick hadn't landed, I may have broken a few bones trying to block that guy's strike. He is a Xenon Warrior at the Master Level...' As he thought this, he straightened fully while Zayne wiped the tiny beads of sweat from his temple.
The mouths of some of the people in the crowd twitched as they watched the butler fuss over his young master, while the one who actually needed medical attention was laying on a weapons rack, unconscious. The irony was staggering.
Jogging up to the duo was Nevia. Her expression was solemn and veins stood out on her pale forearms. She had on a black vest with dark blue, high-waisted pants and knee-length boots. Her hair was up in a ponytail; her ears stood straight while her fluffy tail twitched from time to time. The look in her eyes could kill as she scanned the crowd. They lowered their heads as she walked past, the air freezing with each step. Yes, freezing. The air around her was bone-chilling.
"... Aura?" Nox murmured as Meimei bounded over.
"'That's right you brat! That's her Aura unleashed. But One will say she's still restraining the range otherwise this entire field would be covered!'"
Nox listened thoughtfully while Zayne retrieved the packaged breakfast from the floor. Nevia continued to stare down the crowd as she walked forward. About two meters away from Nox, she paused, then turned to the young man. Nox looked into her eyes with an indifference that could only be obtained by someone with power. Her gaze softened a bit and she bowed deeply.
The whole place was silent as she spoke solemnly, "I failed to discipline the personnel, and that is why this happened today. I am willing to take punishment on behalf of Bruce Mardok, who offended the Young Master. I hope the Young Master will not hold this error against them."
There was silence as, slowly, the crowd bowed in Nox's direction. Nox cocked an eyebrow at her. "... Yesterday you refused my command, and today you ask for leniency... Why would you assume I would forgive this?"
Nevia took in a deep breath before replying, "The Young Master did not intend to kill Bruce... If you had, the Head Retainer would have presented his head to you on a golden platter. Forgive my presumptuous thoughts."
Nox stared at her for a long minute, then yawned. "Well, whatever. I didn't come here to cause confusion, actually. I walked in and they all looked at me as one would a roach. Then that muscle giant tried to intimidate me. I don't believe no one in this estate knows who I am. It's just they assumed I was an easy target..."
Nevia didn't answer; she couldn't answer.
Nox reached down for Meimei and carried her. "It was good Zayne got here when he did. If he had been even a second late, that man you call Bruce would have met the founding fathers of this country..."
Nevia bowed lower. Nox stretched once again. "I don't mind, though. I came for our training session to begin."
Nevia lifted her head and looked up at the young man before her. Nox, in turn, looked back at her calmly. "... There's a private hall that the Chairman has reserved for the Young Master."
Nox nodded. "Okay, take me there... Oh, and let someone take care of that Bruce guy. He seems to be injured quite severely."
Nevia bowed once again, straightened, then commanded the crowd, "Take Mardok to the infirmary. Training is suspended till tomorrow."
With that, she turned and began walking. Zayne took Meimei from Nox's hands—much to the feline's displeasure—as they followed Nevia out of the training grounds. As they walked, Zayne discreetly handed the damaged food package to a servant while leaving instructions for another one to be made. Meimei got comfortable in Zayne's arms while Nox studied Nevia's back. '... Though she's annoying, I must admit she's a good superior.'
Nevia, on the other hand, was blank. She didn't really feel anything about it all. After all, it was her duty. She glanced back at the young man, then at her father. Zayne caught her gaze and nodded. She looked forward, thoughtful of the gesture.
They reached a door and Nevia stepped aside, gesturing to the display panel. Nox lifted an eyebrow.
"Can you not access it?"
"I can; however, this place is a private hall for the Young Master to train."
Nox huffed, then stepped forward and placed his palm on the display panel. A red light scanned it, then turned green. The door opened. Nevia didn't move, and neither did Zayne. Nox didn't hesitate, walking into the spacious hall.
A kind of cushion in dark blue leather lined the walls, while racks of weapons of all kinds stood neatly to a side. Beside them were training dummies and weights. On the other side of the room were three white, pod-like machines. Nox looked around, impressed. Zayne set Meimei down in the hall, then disappeared to who-knows-where.
Nevia walked to a rack and picked out two wooden spears. She weighed them in her hand for a bit, then walked over to Nox, handing one to him. Nox looked puzzled as she explained, "The Chairman informed me about the training the Young Master went through in your earlier years, so we will start with the spear."
Nox nodded. "Alright. Eve!"
[Authentication needed.]
A square hole in the wall opened as a panel emerged. Nevia walked over, then placed her palm on the screen. It went from red to green.
[Hello Miss Lancaster, what can I do for you?]
"Download the Arur Spear Technique from the Cloud into the simulation pods."
[Request accepted. Downloading Arur Spear Technique... Time till completion: one hour.]
Nevia walked back to Nox. "Link the Young Master's biometrics to every function in this room and enable Voice Command."
[Request accepted. Biometrics updated.Voice Command initiated.]
The display panel receded into the hole and closed. Nox looked thoughtfully at Nevia. The person in question lifted a training dummy with her tail, then walked back to Nox. She set the training dummy right beside him and announced unceremoniously, "When we begin with training, there is no Young Master and Second Deputy Retainer. There is only Mentor and Student."
Nox nodded. Her expression hardened as she spoke, "Now, attack that dummy with all you've got."