章 76: Issuing a Challenge
For the next three days, Sana's fever and Sebastian's intensive image training continued.
'I have to make sure they can't take her until we return.'
Once they return, the ones who are targeting Sana will have to give up. Whoever is trying to target them, they wouldn't be foolish enough to fight against two major houses. Even if it is the royal family of Tidas, they would need to rein in their moves.
And because of that, Sebastian increased the time he did image training by the day. First it was six, then seven, and now it was nine.
"Fox."
"What is it?"
Amy was taking care of Sana, the yard was devoid of any other person than Sebastian and the one who just spoke.
"Wisteria wanted to pass on another message. The people targeting the child you've adopted and the one trying to frame you for the misdeeds in the forest are the same person. Not just that, there's also a spy watching your every move. Even Hound isn't able to detect them."
"..."
A spy that could even elude Hound?
Sebastian was confident in his ability to detect anyone watching him but when it comes down to it, he wouldn't be able to hold a candle to Hound's detection skills.
"How long has the spy been watching me?"
"Likely, ever since the duel with Gilbert Walt."
"..."
If so, then the spy was even greater of a foe than he thought. But, no matter how great that spy is, would they be able to elude Balanos? Markus and Jonathan?
'They must only be watching me if I make any moves out of the norm. It doesn't look like the spy would follow me into the forest either.'
Sebastian's expression turned grim. If a spy really had followed him all the way here, then they would definitely know about Pine and the others.
Would the spy also be able to avoid Lightning Spear? It was very unlikely.
"Ask Wisteria to protect my acquaintances while I'm gone."
"She has already taken measures."
She really knew him well.
"The child will also be taken care of once she's back in Aurora. Even we find value in a child of the previous royal family."
"Good. Is that all?"
"One last thing, she sent you a present."
The man behind the tree threw a package at Sebastian.
"The instructions are inside."
Without saying anything else, the man left the yard.
Sebastian quickly opened it and found a small ring and a note.
"The ring is enchanted. It gives the user increased speed for five minutes once every day. The timer resets at midnight."
Sebastian was surprised. She was giving him something so valuable? This ring definitely costs over millions in Aur.
An enchanted item is rare. Though some houses can create them, most of them are useless in battle. Some of ones used in households can summon a small gust of wind for a few minutes while one of the useful ones had a storage hidden inside the item.
Sebastian removed his glove and wore the ring on his index finger. It wasn't very eye-catching. It was a normal silver ring with a small blue-green stone embedded on top.
The condition for activation was to think.
'Ring of Haste.'
Sebastian thought of the name written on the paper. At the same time, he felt it. His entire body became lighter and he could see everything move slower.
The world around him seemed to slow in a crawl as Sebastian ran from his spot to the end of the yard in a flash.
"This is crazy... It increased my speed by half at the least."
He was 1.5 times faster and it looked like it stacked with his energy. He could use his stigma to run faster and the ring would boost his already augmented state.
"With this, I might just be able to defeat him."
The assassin who could force others to kneel without moving. With this speed, Sebastian believed that he could reach him.
For the leftover duration of the ring, Sebastian tried to absorb in every little bit of detail the ring could provide him and used it in his image training.
"Kuh—!"
Sebastian plopped down on the floor. His breath was rough and he couldn't even hold on to his spear with his trembling hands. But, contrary to his exhaustion, his face was one of extreme joy.
"I did it! Hahaha! I finally did it!"
For a while, only his laughter and cheers could be yelled from the yard. Amy had chosen to watch him by the window instead of taking him inside until he finished. There was a wry smile on her face.
...
As if riding on Sebastian's good luck, Sana's fever had disappeared as if it was never there. Sana ran around the house with even more energy than before.
"Let's take her to class with us today."
"We can do that?"
"I'll get permission for her."
Amy and Sebastian took the carriage with Sana. She was wearing clothes fit for a noble's child.
"School?"
"Yes, school."
"It's where teachers teach us math!"
"Yes, among other things."
Sebastian continued to tell Sana all about school on the way there.
"When you hold her like that, you look just like her father."
Sana was sitting on Sebastian's lap. She wanted a view through the window
"I technically am."
Sebastian chuckled and pulled on Amy.
"A father needs a mother, correct?"
"Sheesh."
Amy shyly hit his shoulder but didn't retort.
"We've arrived, Lord, Lady."
Sebastian handed Sana over to Amy and stepped down. Then, he took Sana from her and then helped Amy down.
"Let's go."
"Nn."
Amy was all smiles as the three of them walked through the gates.
Normally, when Amy and Sebastian walked in together, they garnered plenty of gazes. Now that they were past a month into the term, everyone had more or less gotten used to them.
However, they had a child between them.
"Do my eyes deceive me?"
"Then your eyes might've deceived mine too."
"A child?"
Whispers and stares. Well, it was only natural considering their status.
Most of them could tell that the child wasn't actually their own but a few unfortunate people had different views.
"They already have a child together?"
"Wow. That child looks about five or six..."
"How young were they...?"
The ones who had heard them turned to look at them strangely. Even Sebastian's expression turned weird.
"How did they manage to get this far in their studies?"
"Don't be so rude."
Though Amy berated him, her tone hadn't really been one of scolding. She was also wondering that as well.
"I'll go and get permission, you should go to class. Don't you have the final practical today?"
"Yeah. I won't be able to do anything though..."
"It's fine, that just proves how strong you've become."
Amy took Sana and walked toward the teachers' offices.
Sebastian walked into his classroom under everyone's incredulous gazes.
"Hey, I've avoided asking but with what I just saw earlier, I can't help it anymore. What's going on between you and the other transfer student, A-Amira, was it?"
"Hm?"
Sebastian didn't know if it was his imagination or not but it felt like all eyes and ears on the classroom were focused on him.
"She's my fiancee."
"Seriously?!"
Maria stood up with her eyes and mouth wide open. Many in the class had also sported similar expressions.
"And the child?"
"We adopted her because of quite a few reasons."
"Then... you two are her parents?"
"Sort of... We're here legal guardians."
'Nevermind that, why is everyone looking at me?'
Earlier, he could've been mistaken but now he was sure. Everyone in class was staring at him weirdly and whispering amongst themselves.
"Class, follow me."
The professor knocked on the door and called everyone to attention. Today, they were going to use the field to do one last practical test before the end of the term in two weeks.
Though everyone wanted to listen to Sebastian's stories a bit more, they couldn't just forgo going to class.
Sebastian, Elliot, and Maria walked together as usual.
Once they were in the field, Sebastian approached the professor and whispered.
"Eh? Are you sure? Well, I mean..."
After a few exchanges, the professor nodded.
"Class, today is the last day that Sebastian will join us with our practicals and so, he has proposed something interesting."
"?"
Everyone had question marks floating above their heads as the professor continued.
"Because of the results with the previous practicals, he had proposed a one versus all fight. The single participant is, you guessed it, Sebastian over here. Is everyone alright with this?"
Just then, one of the students raised their hand.
"What is it?"
"Do we come at him in groups or one at a time?"
"You can all come at me at once if you want to."
Sebastian cut in and answered. Though he was acting arrogant, everyone knew he had the ability to back it up and, he knew what they wanted.
Nearly everyone here wanted a chance to redeem themselves and this was the perfect opportunity. They were even thankful.
"Let's do this!"
"Yeah!"
The class got excited and began choosing their weapons. Sebastian held onto a spear and latched a sword on his back.
"You're really doing this?"
"Doesn't everyone want to do it?"
"Yeah but..."
"Then it's fine. Everyone will enjoy it anyway."
Elliot gave up on convincing Sebastian and took a sword. He positioned himself near the other front-liners of the class.
Sebastian looked at all of them and took a deep breath. Even for him, it isn't an easy feat to win against this number without getting hit.
He wanted to test his limits, and this was the simplest way he could.
Image training helped him but in the end, practical application is more effective than just theory. He could think about his opponent's moves but having them move for themselves was entirely different.
"Well, are both sides ready?"
"""Yes!"""
"Yes."
Sebastian roused his energy. Once the signal is given, he wouldn't be able to afford stopping for even a second. His opponents weren't exactly pushovers either.
"Start!"
Sebastian stepped forward and thrust his staff.
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