章 57: The Calm Before The Storm
***
"OUCH! Can you at least tone down a bit?! We're just students!" The bob hair girl said, it was Cathy.
"And why would I do that brat? I told you, I don't hold back. When it's war. There's no picking of gender... And there's no waiting in the battlefield for the enemies to take a breather!" Bern said.
The 12 students that were left behind joined forces, that includes Evelyn, Adley, Cathy, and Silvester. All of the new students got bruises and scratches all over their bodies. They didn't expect to become one with the ground because of how many times they fall and thrown like a sack.
It was the worst and hellish sparring that they had in their entire life.
When everyone was cursing their instructor, Bern, inside their heads, Evelyn was laughing inwardly.
It was the same as how Shiek taught him. The style, the moves, how he change his course of action when he cornered. Everything was like the exact copy more like, Shiek was mimicking him. Because Bern had a more stable and more fluidity in his movement that Shiek lacks sometimes.
'This is interesting!' Evelyn thought.
"Sir Bern wait a minute... Do you know Sir Shiek?" Evelyn asked. While she's supporting her exhausted body by giving weight to her sword that was stabbed in the ground.
"Hmmm... Do you know Shiek? That mischievous brat?" Bern scratched his chin, seemingly thinking about the past.
"Ohh! So you know him..."
"What's your relation with the brat?" Bern asked, suspicious at Evelyn.
"He's my teacher...!" She replied merrily.
"Huh? That Shiek has a student now? How come? He was still an ugly duckling when it comes to sword fighting!" Bern immediately counters Evelyn's statement.
"What? But he said he was an elite knight in the Palace."
"Yeah... He's an elite but his still far off to have a student of his own!"
"Wait... What are you to him?"
"I'm his teacher!" He proudly said. He puffs his chest like he won a gold medal in a swimming competition.
Anyway... 'If he's the teacher and Shiek is in his mid-twenty then what the hell is this man's age? And why is it that he looks like he's also on his prime?' She silently commented.
"So you're his first student? Hmmm.."
"Yes...? I think so?" She meekly replied.
"Then let's test it!" Bern started to unsheathed his sword.
Evelyn widely opened her eyes. Her upturned sunset eyes, shake as he announced the sudden duel.
"Ha... Ha... Can I pass? I don't want to die yet...!" She awkwardly laughs, knowing that she will become a punching bag of the bulky man.
"Nope! You just piqued my interest young lady! Now, let's see what you've got that Shiek accepted you as his pupil!"
'Why can this mouth of mine, shut when I needed it the most! I just dug my own grave! F*ck!' she silently weeps inside her head.
"It's your fault, Child. You just need to pique the interest of some brute man." Gil said.
***
Meanwhile at the estate of the Duke's Emsworth...
A month has passed since Evelyn entered the St. Prisch Academy.
The desolate mansion is now colder than ever without the presence of the Lady. And only the stern Duke was left alone with the servants who always on their tiptoes because of the bitter mood swings of Duke Keene.
In the far distance of the wide road of the Emsworth Mansion, the black gate that was high as the ceiling of the first floor is making a sound because of the vassals who were visiting in a hurry.
Ten more carriages went in. With their carriage symbol and the symbol of their Lord, the Emsworth. A golden shield with the face of a lion at the center and two swords crossed.
After Jede, the head butler greeted them and lead them to the meeting room, a 12 seater long table was placed in the middle of the room, with a red-clothed placed vertically on the center.
With the walls painted with a burnt sienna color that contrasted the dark hue of oak wood used for the table. The medieval-themed of the decorations made the room, stiff and cold.
Everyone seated in their respective seat, and the door was plunge wide open. Duke Keene entered the premise with his same usual demeanor. A cold, stoic, and emotionless face.
His white military uniform with a blue sash across his body and was a pin that made to look like the insignia of the Emsworth were placed at the left side was brandish like a weapon. As the symbol represents the head of the Emsworth Dukedom.
"We greet the head of the Duke's Emsworth..."
The vassals salute the Duke upon entering.
"Take a seat... What's the agenda for today?" Duke Keene said.
"Your Grace, the east side of the Estate, Cavati town has a problem with the water. Most of them only have a well to rely on but because of the overused, some of the wells have already dried up." Said Baron Ecquiss. A mid-forty, with a brown mustache and a droopy eyes.
"That's your jurisdiction, Baron. If you have a solution for that problem then put up a plan and give it to the head butler, I'll give you a proper amount to proceed if the plan is plausible. Next!" He replied nonchalantly.
The vassals stated the present situation and talked about how can the estate further strengthen the relationship that everyone can benefit from. Especially the agricultural aspect and the businesses.
But a whispering voice raised his head and started his report. His heart is rapidly beating at a fast rate as his report concerns one of the important members of the Emsworth.
"Ummm... Duke, there's something that the villagers found in the south woods of Behelda forest." The pale face of Sir Carmondy. A newly appointed vassal of the Duke. He's sweating buckets and fidgeting nonstop.
"What is it?" He sternly said, seemingly impatient.
"They found a corpse in the deep woods..." Carmondy continued but another vassal interrupted him.
"So, what if there's a corpses? There's wild beast around the deep woods in every territory inside the Emsworth Dukedom..." Baron Estefan said, a lanky guy. He's smirking, thinking that Sir Carmondy's report is not important.
The Duke placed his head to rest in his palm. He closed his eyes because he knows that the vassals will start arguing with each other again. Same routine every meeting.
"But Baron Estefan, the corpse is dried up, like every blood and essence of life was sucked out dried!" Carmondy started, his voice getting pitch higher with alarm.
Duke Keene then opened his eyes. His red eyes wildly flash and he looked at Carmondy, who is now looking paler than before.
"What did you say? Repeat it!" The voice of Duke Keene was like an icy blaze that can prick all parts of your body.
Carmondy shivered, no, more like. Everyone in the room held their breath as a single sound can make their heads roll on the floor.
Sir Carmondy answered in a quivering voice. He knows the reason why is the duke is sensitive or dangerous when topics such as this were reported.
"W-we found co-corpse inside the Behelda f-forest. The corpse was dried up, and a symbol of an eye was marked within the back of his b-body..."
-BAAM!
Duke Keene, knocked the oak wooden table with great force that a crater was made as to the impact of his fist touch the pitiful wood.
The vassal plopped their head down, they don't want to look at the eyes of the Duke who is emitting a dangerous aura.
It's because the news was also connected to the deceased Duchess.
"Tell me EVERYTHING. I need the full report! How dare they enter my premises!" His eyes glowed like a hunting beast, ready to gnawed a prey.
***
Back to the present. In the headmaster's office.
Allan was summoned by the headmaster.
*knock *knock
"Come in..."
"You called headmaster?" Allan inquired.
The man sitting in front of the desk buried with a stack of documents and only his golden thread hair can be seen, beckon Allan to sit down.
Allan sighs.
"Headmaster, I don't have time to have tea with you. If you just called me for some tea then I'll decline." Allan was about to walk away when the Headmaster called him.
"Allan, just wait a bit..." He said.
The silver-blue head, Allan just sighed again and walk to where the sofa chair is.
"Tell me what do you want, headmaster." He said.
"You really...! Why do you resemble Keene so much! Tsk!" The headmaster replied.
"Because he's my father, isn't that obvious?" Allan replied.
"Yes, that stoic man is your father."
Tsk! He clicked his tongue before he continued to talk to Allan again.
"Anyway, you're the second year representative. So you knew this. It's time to recruit new members for the Elite Force. Four of the Elites will graduate this semester."
"Yes..." Allan replied.
"You'll be in-charge..."
"Is that all? Then I'll get going..."
Allan was at the door while his hand was reaching for the knob, he heard the headmaster's voice.
"By the way... I heard your sister is here. It would be interesting if she joins the tournament... Haha!" The headmaster laughs mischievously.
Allan only clicked his tongue and glared at the golden hair before he exits the office with a bang.
The headmaster looked at the door and mumbled.
"I wonder what that Keene will do... When he learned that his daughter will enter the tournament. Hahaha!!!"
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