Eyes can't lie

My brief vacation was quickly over. And now I'm returning to the training camp. I've spent the last days training, assisting my mother, and even teaching Tania some basic self-defense because she said it might come in handy.

I've been also thinking about my uncle. Why hadn't I predicted this? Of course, as the King's vassal, he'll be there to watch the tournament.

"Nicholas? Is there something that bothers you? You've been zoning out since yesterday." My mother asks with concern.

She has no idea what I have in mind. She is unaware that I already know our true identities. She won't like everything, therefore I've hidden it all from her. She kept her family information to herself. I put on a front that I was not interested in any of them, but when I was 17, I started to wonder why it was just my mother and me. Who are my relatives, where did we really come from, and, most importantly, who my father is?

"I'm fine Mom. I'm just thinking about the tournament." I reassure her with a smile.

"Please, Nicholas, don't overwork yourself. If you don't succeed, then you can try again later, okay? There are some things that we cannot easily obtain, no matter how hard we try." She said warmly, "I will always be proud of you no matter what."

"Don't worry about me. Your little Nicholas will do his best to make you even more proud of me."

"Be careful, my son. Remember to write every week okay?"

"I will Mom. I will head out now. Take good care of yourself." I kissed her forehead and went to the carriage waiting outside our house.

I saw Thria before getting into the carriage. I noticed her as she spoke to her younger sister. Tania noticed me staring at them and waved her hand to me.

"See you again soon, Nicholas! I wish you luck in your matches!" She yells. I smiled at her and waved my hand in appreciation. Thria, on the other hand, gave me no attention at all. I shook my head and boarded the carriage.

As soon as I put my things in my quarter, I immediately looked for Imelda. I'd like to spar with her, so I can assess myself. I'm hoping she can teach me something new to help me get past my weaknesses.

"Kady have you seen Ms. Imelda?" I asked my fellow trainee under Imelda's supervision.

"She's in the combat area, she's teaching the newcomer."

"I see. Thanks, Kady," I sprint to the area where we practice without weapons. I noticed a large crowd of trainees surrounding the ring. There seemed to be a commotion, so I tried to check it out.

Imelda is inside the ring with a young woman who is nearly my height and has a toned body. She seems to be giving Imelda a hard time. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Imelda, the former Northern Army commander, is the most impressive woman I've ever encountered. Even the camp's commander is terrified of her. It makes sense why almost all trainees come here.

I watch the woman closely as she assaults Imelda. She seems courageous and has guts. Imelda dodged the hit the woman had just delivered, but she swiftly recovered her composure and continued to punch Imelda hard. She moves with remarkable speed, and her blow has some force. With only the energy you have, it's difficult to improve your punches. It restricts what your body is capable of, but the woman appears to be utilizing energy from another source rather than her own.

Imelda finally landed a hard blow on the lady. Even while squatting on the ring, the woman made an attempt to stand up.

"That's all for today, Milla. Even though I recognize your strength, power isn't everything. I hope by now you've noticed it." The Lady nodded and came out of the ring and the crowd parted as she walked out of the combat area. Suddenly the crowd began to form opinions about her.

"The show's over! Why are you still idling around?!" Imelda yells, making the trainees jump in terror. They leave the area instantly, leaving only Imelda and me.

"How's your vacation, Nicholas?" She asked while wiping her hands.

"My mother's doing well so it's fine," I said then sat on the ring. "You put on a good show. How did a lady outperform you? " I asked out of curiosity.

"She's not ordinary. First of all, she is from the Empire of Rendlyn."

"Rendlyn? The empire that uses magic?" I ask.

"Indeed. She's not just using her energy, she's also using her mana."

Reiss had previously informed me of it. There are Rendlyn delegates who attempted but failed to train some academy students. It's because we're accustomed to using our energy rather than those who are naturally born with a trickle of mana on their being.

"If that's the case, what is she doing here?"

Imelda sat on the other end of the ring and heaved a deep sigh. "How about you Nicholas, why did you decide to enter this training camp knowing how unprepared you are?" She looks me in the eye as if trying to read what's on my mind.

"To simply gain strength." I may have been as weak as a paper in the past, but everything went well for the past year."

"And where do you intend to put your newly acquired strength?" She asks raising her brow, not satisfied by my answer.

"At the absolute least, I want to enroll in the academy or find employment at the palace. The life that my mother deserves is what I want to offer her. And if I don't take a chance here, I won't be able to offer her that life."

"You really cherish your mother. I must say she's lucky to have you as her son."

"She's the only family that I have so I will do everything to make her happy and to protect her."

Imelda stood up dusting off her trousers. "Spar with me, I know you came here for that matter."

"As expected, you seem to know everything." I chuckled as I rose to my feet.

"Of course, it's easy to know someone's true intention through their eyes, Nicholas. Eyes can't lie." She said as if trying to imply that she knew something about me.

"You simply have to remember your purpose, Nicholas," Imelda says as I compose myself. "Now take your seat. The program will begin shortly."

This is the day that I've been waiting for, the day of the annual Sataraia training camp tournament. It is obvious that everyone exerted so much effort on this because of the decoration around the whole camp, especially this mini-arena where the competition will take place

On the first row in the arena's southern section, I sat next to Liam. The 3300 seats in this mini-arena were nearly full. The majority are noblemen and students. There aren't many females from high society, and some of them aren't interested in this type of gathering. It's all about tea parties and embroidery for them.

"Do you think Hugo will win the tournament this time? This is his third time participating." Liam asked while beaming at Hugo Fortden, son of a Baron from the west.

"I'm not sure, maybe. Anyone who knows about his weakness will have the upper hand against him."

"He's a nobleman, and there are plenty of opportunities for him outside of this camp, so I don't understand why he's so determined to win." I agree and nod. It is true that if you are born into a noble family, even if you are only from a Barony, opportunities will appear in front of you.

"So, how about you? Why did you decide to train here rather than attend the Royal Academy? You're the son of a Marquis." I said asking out of curiosity.

"Nah, I would never in a million years think of attending the academy. I would rather work on our farm." He spoke as though attending the academy disgusted him.

"Well then, good luck on your match," I said as I tapped his shoulder.

"We'll still face each other in the last round," he assured me, making me chuckle a little.

The first round of the competition will soon start. I've been preparing for this the entire time I've been in the camp. And this is my chance to show off what I've been working so hard for.

"The great sun of the Kingdom of Sataraia, King Frederrin Eran XVI."

When the King entered the arena, he was followed by several guards who helped him as he made his way to the center where the Director and trainers had gathered to welcome him. My blood starts to boil when I see the recognizable Alexander Lidime II, a man with jet-black hair, walking behind the King with such confidence as if he has no remorse for his previous actions.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to organize this annual tournament, which will determine who will be the deserving trainee to have the opportunity to work in the Palace or be one of the outstanding students at the Royal Academy. I expect every participant in today's event always to glorify the entire Kingdom and bring only honor and victory in all aspects. I wish you good luck, and may the force of the universe be with you. Let the competition begin!" I was amazed at how the King used his energy to amplify his voice and draw everyone's attention to him. I can only imagine how much energy he is using right now.

The king stomped his staf on the ground which made the arena tremble. That indicates that the competition should begin.

My brief vacation was quickly over. And now I'm returning to the training camp. I've spent the last days training, assisting my mother, and even teaching Tania some basic self-defense because she said it might come in handy.

I've been also thinking about my uncle. Why hadn't I predicted this? Of course, as the King's vassal, he'll be there to watch the tournament.

"Nicholas? Is there something that bothers you? You've been zoning out since yesterday." My mother asks with concern.

She has no idea what I have in mind, she is unaware that I already know our true identities. She won't like everything, therefore I've hidden it all from her. She kept her family information to herself. I put on a front that I was not interested in any of them, but when I was 17, I started to wonder why it was just my mother and me. Who are my relatives, where did we really come from, and, most importantly, who my father is?

"I'm fine Mom. I'm just thinking about the tournament." I reassure her with a smile.

"Please, Nicholas, don't overwork yourself. If you don't succeed, then you can try again later, okay? There are some things that we cannot easily obtain, no matter how hard we try." She said warmly, "I will always be proud of you no matter what."

"Don't worry about me. Your little Nicholas will do his best to make you even more proud of me."

"Be careful, my son. Remember to write every week okay?"

"I will Mom. I will head out now. Take good care of yourself." I kissed her forehead and went to the carriage waiting outside our house.

I saw Thria before getting into the carriage. I noticed her as she spoke to her younger sister. Tania noticed me staring at them and waved her hand to me.

"See you again soon, Nicholas! I wish you luck in your matches!" She yells. I smiled at her and waved my hand in appreciation. Thria, on the other hand, gave me no attention at all. I shook my head and boarded the carriage.

As soon as I arrived, I put my things in my quarter, and I immediately looked for Imelda. I'd like to spar with her, so I can assess myself. I'm hoping she can teach me something new to help me get past my weaknesses.

"Kady, have you seen Ms. Imelda?" I asked my fellow trainee under Imelda's supervision.

"She's in the combat area, she's teaching the newcomer."

Newcomer huh?

"I see. Thanks, Kady," I sprint to the area where we practice without weapons. I noticed a large crowd of trainees surrounding the ring. There seemed to be a commotion, so I tried to check it out.

Imelda is inside the ring with a young woman who is nearly my height and has a toned body. She seems to be giving Imelda a hard time. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Imelda, the former Northern Army commander, is the most impressive woman I've ever encountered. Even the camp's commander is terrified of her. It makes sense why almost all trainees come here.

I watch the woman closely as she assaults Imelda. She seems courageous and has guts. Imelda dodged the hit the woman had just delivered, but she swiftly recovered her composure and continued to punch Imelda hard. She moves with remarkable speed, and her blow has some force. With only the energy you have, it's difficult to improve your punches. It restricts what your body is capable of, but the woman appears to be utilizing energy from another source rather than her own.

Imelda finally landed a hard blow on the lady. Even while squatting on the ring, the woman made an attempt to stand up.

"That's all for today, Milla. Even though I recognize your strength, power isn't everything. I hope you've noticed it by now."

The Lady nodded and came out of the ring and the crowd parted as she walked out of the combat area. Suddenly the crowd began to form opinions about her.

"The show's over! Why are you still idling around?!" Imelda yells, making the trainees jump in terror. They leave the area instantly, leaving only Imelda and me.

"How's your vacation, Nicholas?" She asked while wiping her hands.

"My mother's doing well so it's fine," I said then sat on the ring. "You put on a good show. How did a lady outperform you? " I asked out of curiosity.

"She's not ordinary. First of all, she is from the Empire of Rendyl."

"Rendyl? The empire that uses magic?" I asked, confused

"Indeed. She's not just using her energy, she's also using her mana."

Reiss had previously informed me of it. There were Rendy delegates who attempted but failed to train some academy students. It's because we're accustomed to using our energy rather than those who are naturally born with a trickle of mana on their being.

"If that's the case, what is she doing here?"

Imelda sat on the other end of the ring and heaved a deep sigh. "How about you Nicholas, why did you decide to enter this training camp knowing how unprepared you are?" She looks me in the eye as if trying to read what's on my mind.

"To simply gain strength." I may have been as weak as a paper in the past, but everything went well for the past year."

"And where do you intend to put your newly acquired strength?" She asks raising her brow, not satisfied by my answer.

"At the absolute least, I want to enroll in the academy or find employment at the palace, like being a royal knight. The life that my mother deserves is what I want to offer her. And if I don't take a chance here, I won't be able to offer her that life."