Kelmania's welcoming party reached Tolistine's border two days later, with Dean Osman handling reception. Anrietta's smart pick: among Tolistine's three quarter-rank mages, Duchess Vallière, Gale's Karina, and Kelmania's Duke Yanlong clashed often over borderlands. Zerbst clan tangled generations-deep loves; Marshal Gramon and Duke Yanlong battlefield-clashed repeatedly before Kelmania acknowledged Tolistine strength, alliance sealed.
Duke Yanlong towered tall, short fiery-red hair, dark-skinned.
"You—Osman," Duke Yanlong calm-said welcomer-sighted.
Osman chuckled: "Tolistine settled fresh—idler like me frees up."
"Hmph—idler? Third-rank match?" Duke Yanlong Osman-aggressive eyed.
Osman deep-spring still-faced: "Heh—maybe. Gramon, Karina itch to spar you."
Duke Yanlong eyes-ticked: "Fearless—bring 'em."
"Youth—cool fire. Tolistine banquet prepped—night rest, dawn go." Osman unhurried.
"No leisure—trials now, watch us shine." Duke Yanlong pressed.
"Can't rush—other nations witness. Albion, Gallia, Romania too." Osman reasoned.
Duke Yanlong pondered nodded: "Fine—city in. Osman."
"Yes—please." Osman gestured, Yanlong side-stride city-ward.
Tolistine-Kelmania teams trailed, eyes hostile, blades-shadowed tension. Tolistine: Gramon's yellow-armored 1000 waist-sworded elites. Kelmania: Yanlong's red-armored spear-wielders. Commander guards—frontline-spared prior wars, unbloodied mutual. Arrogant pairs, breath-held strength-proof.
Mid-troops: two mage squads. Tolistine: Sora-led Griffins low-altitude rear-trailed—Sora, William, nine total waist-wand-sworded heroic, unsheathed blades-like. New Griffin Tabasa Yunlong-backed book-down-gazed. Kelmania: ten red-cloaked mages faces-hid, air warped hot-distorted faint.
City east-west camped, local lord hosted.
Evening feast: Osman Yanlong warmly welcomed. Post-meal, Sora roomed. Tabasa adjacent—William-Griffins ringed. Sora no-shame sneaks.
Bed cross-legged, Sora Louise-method magic-tempered, self-slow-boosted. Water spirit, wind spirit aids: half-year [triangle-rank], 4 magic points. Next [square-rank] 8 points—time grind.
"Who!?" Delphlink alerted intruder-near.
Sora eyes-snapped, Delphlink gripped.
Window burly: daytime Duke Yanlong.
"Well—Sora, evening."
Yanlong-rear Kirche awkward-stood.
"Kirche? Here why?" Sora puzzled.
"Invite first? Kid." Yanlong deep-voiced.
"Enter." Sora left-wand waved, magic-window opened.
Yanlong-Kirche roomed. Six-seven meter red fire dragon roof-circled perched.
"You-Yanlong?" Sora Kirche-eyed.
Kirche ugly-faced: "Forgot surname?"
"Surname? Kirche enough. Louise? Vallière only—middles blank."
"Huh? Hopeless you. Kirche Augustus Felicia von Anhalt Zerbst." Kirche.
"Zerbst? Yanlong's?" Sora unlinked.
Kirche red-hair flared: "Father—he."
"Huh?!" Sora jaw-dropped.
Yanlong Sora-squinted, gaze fire-burn pained.
Sora faint-frowned, Delphlink tight-clenched unconscious.
Kirche duo-tensed air felt, flustered silent.
"Well—Sora?" Yanlong broke first.
"Yes—Sora." Sora.
"Kirche close?"
"Yes—Kirche great, fire magic taught."
"Huh?" Yanlong browsed Kirche deep-voiced.
Kirche: "Spells, use—Louise magic-train gave."
"Vallière method?" Yanlong frowned. "[Triangle-rank]—years?"
"What?!" Kirche exclaimed shocked.
"Problem?" Yanlong.
"Sora—magic last semester!!"
"What!!" Yanlong side-eyed sharp.
Half-year [triangle-rank] 4 points? Year [square-rank] 8? Two-year great-mage 15 limit. Impossible human. Adventure sure—talent no underestimate.
"So—you Kirche innocence-ruiner?" Yanlong darkened, air warped, heat crushed astonishing.
"Father!!" Kirche shame-raged.
Yanlong-aura resisted, Sora Kirche-eyed slight.
Kirche blushed, Yanlong-defied silent, Sora-expectant eyed.
"Right—me. Kirche my woman." Sora Delphlink swung, light-radianced Yanlong fire-element aura dispersed, straight-stood.
"Sora..." Kirche eyes-misted moved.
Yanlong cumulonimbus-dark, cold: "One daughter. Kelmania nobles marriage-rushed. Kirche blind-date dodged Tolistine magic-studied. You—ruined."
"Kirche blind-dates hated—Tolistine came. Us? No regret." Sora.
"Good—good. No regret? Lesson." Yanlong anger-laughed, hand-four head-sized crimson fireballs Sora-shot silent-cast. [Square-rank] first-tier instant-near.
Sora eyes-locked, Delphlink waved air-smashed sequential.
Delphlink maxed, four fireballs blade-sucked.
Yanlong unchanged: "Yiya Feier 3 Albrook." [Flame Burst]
Four-five meter scorching arc-dancing fireball Yanlong-front fired.
Sora drastic-changed—window Yanlong-rear, room-trap dodge-hard.
Recent [triangle-rank] break: heat-sensed, Sora full-magic third-tier water: "Imo Walter 3 Huye." [Depth Charge]
Three-four meter dark-blue water ball sword-shot flame burst-met.
Water-fire clashed, steam-exploded "Boom boom——"
[Flame Burst] depth charge-water instant-evaporated, high-heat steam room-filled. Blast center-trio hurled.
Sora sword-face-shielded, impact-wall-smashed ten-meters out.
Yanlong front person-high fire wall, Kirche-dragged window-bolted.
Impact fire wall shoved, duo window-ten-meters flew.
Dragon-roar: roof fire dragon arc-swept father-daughter sky-caught.
Blast four-five rooms rippled. Tabasa-others mages self-shielded. William-Tabasa ruins-eyed, Sora sword-up saw soon.
"Captain." "Sora." Duo ran near.
Sora clothes steam-corroded, limbs burn-red.
William-Tabasa gathered-Griffins wry-smiled.
Fire dragon wings-up rose; Yanlong back Sora-cold eyed.
"Fire Dragon Duke? Captain—hold?"
William wand-tight gripped, Yanlong hostile-eyed.
Griffins wands-drew, Yanlong hostility-locked.
Yanlong unconcerned.
"Not done—boy."
Yanlong cold, under fire dragon fireworks-spat, west Kelmania-camp turned flew. Rear Kirche bleak-faced.
Griffins stirred, some familiars-summoned.
"No chase—me-him matter." Sora scolded.
"Doctor—fast." Sora added.
"Yes captain—doctor tie!" William team-shouted.
One griffin-flew, doctor soon-back fetched.
Sora cleared-room doctored: burn-potion bandaged—no major.
Osman rushed, others cleared, Sora fight-tale heard.
Yanlong daughter-thief lesson. Osman beard-stroked sighed dumbstruck.
"Youth—"
"No gloat Dean—Yanmar Kirchef force-back fear. Help hold." Sora Osman begged.
Osman chuckled: "Natural—Kirche student mine."
Osman gone, Sora room-laid slept.
Small figure window-entered, rear-hugged.
"Charlotte?" Familiar scent, Sora still.
"Mm." Tabasa tight-pressed, body slight-trembled.
"Worried?"
"Yes."
Sora eyes-softened, waist-Tabasa small-hand covered.
"Fine—[Gundaruff]. Yanlong no-kill."
Tabasa choked slight: "Water spirit accept—him stopped."
"No you-fault. Kirche-me anger—no kill."
"Huh?" Tabasa startled. "Kirche."
"You-Kirche what?" Tabasa light-firm asked.
Sora froze wry-smiled, Kirche-relation low-voiced spilled.
Tabasa ruthless waist-soft-flesh pinched twisted.
Sora pain-grinned.
"Kirche keep sure." Tabasa final.
"Yes—natural." Sora.
Duo silent, eyes-closed cuddle-slept.