Ian stared at the captain blankly.

"H-huh?"

He stuttered in surprise. Him against knights under his future masters' mother?

Drew cackled deeply at Ian's amusing expression.

"To prove and find your talent you need to challenge yourself."

Amanda gracefully walked in front of the captain with her back straight. She elegantly bowed as she spoke.

"I shall take the two to the garden far from the incoming violence, Sir Drew."

Drew widened his eyes threateningly but put the twins back down as he stood, staring at the composed lady in front of him.

"As expected of the next butler!"

He placed his hands on his sides, laughing aloud.

Edwin stared at the two with an apathetic look. Linda couldn't help but be disgusted at the knights' looks in their eyes. They are probably thinking something weird again.

Rebekah is currently close to Drew, but he isn't the only friend she has. Nadia, her aide, has been her friend from childhood 'till academy 'till now. Amanda just happens to be the granddaughter of Rebekah's caretaker. Also Drew's niece.

Not many knew that, so you can see what misunderstandings are stirring around them.

"Mandy, how have you and your parents been doing?"

Drew softly looked at her as he patted her shoulder. She quietly nodded with a rare smile plastered across her face.

"We're fine, thank you for asking."

Drew clicked his tongue at her polite attitude. He remembered back then, that Young Amanda would always follow him wherever he went.

'Sigh. Where did all those days go...'

"Fine, fine. You can take them."

Drew waved his hand in dismissal as he looked at the twins.

"I will take care of the young boy, Ian, right?"

Ian nodded immediately, being under the sight of the intimidating man. He smiled at the strong will and was impressed.

'Maybe he is worth being the children's knight.'

Edwin stared at the two who decided what to do with him and his sister with dull eyes.

"But we want to see Ian's mock duel and skills as well..."

Hearing their younger master's words, the place stayed silent. Edwin muttered some words and then shut his mouth at Linda's look.

"Hah... It's fine, but please stay far from the platform. At least behind the railing of the balcony on the second floor."

Amanda gazed at them with a concerned voice and the same unreadable expression plastered on her face again.

'She is just in her late twenties and she acts as if she is more experienced in things like dealing with children...'

Juliet couldn't help but look at her with admiration and envy mixed in her eyes.

Juliet and Mira entered the mansion a few years back when they were 17 years old. At the age of 16, you can start working and make money for yourself. But you can also become an adventurer at the age of 13 if you have the right skills to pass the guild's test.

She silently swallowed her compliments and followed them to the second floor's terrace. Linda glanced at her once then turned back to her front.

———

"Please be careful, young master."

Edwin's half-body was tilted outwards against the balcony's railing.

"I'm fine... I won't fall, after all, I want to see the mock duel more closely!"

Edwin grinned as he tilted his body, even more, his legs holding the bar-like component of the railing.

Linda giggled at her brother's behavior. Edwin's corner of his lips raised into a bigger grin at his sister's reaction. Amanda silently sighed, rubbing her temple with her fingers. She silently gazed down at Drew.

'Uncle seems to be too excited...'

She was right. He knew how hard it was to find a talent like Ian. No. To be exact at what his talent was, he had both the talents of aura and mana harmoniously circling within his body.

She inwardly prayed for the boy's safety in his possible eventful future. But she didn't want him to back down easily as she wanted a talent like him to protect the young twins.

Amanda silently gazed at the young boy who was standing on the field with a sword in his hands.

Ian nervously held the wooden training sword with sweaty hands. He slowly looked up at the tall and built knight in front of him. He glared at the intense aura that the knight let go of.

"Felix will be the referee for this mock duel, anything that goes against our rules with our knights shall be disqualified for a month."

Drew announced loudly so everyone could hear clearly.

Felix is the vice-captain and someone who assists him, something Drew lacks like politics. Unlike Drew's massive build and muscles, he was on the slimmer side.

His hair reached to his shoulders with cyan-colored eyes and calmly scanned the two parties who were in a stance.

The knights behind the field of the duel couldn't help but raise their fighting spirits. Their lord won't take someone in lightly to be their escort knight. This convinced them after seeing Lukas and Cassion's skills, who are under Maverick.

They waited in anticipation for the spare between their junior knight and the new sword wielder. The junior knight hesitatingly looked at Felix. Felix gestured to him slowly and calmly spoke,

"Arthur, you don't need to hesitate so much. This boy is more monstrous in talent than you see."

Ian blankly looked at Felix after hearing his words. It seems being recognized by the duke is more pressuring than he thought. Arthur nodded after pondering deeply.

He bowed toward Ian and softly raised his wooden sword. Ian gulped in fear, locking his eyes into Arthur's deadpan eyes.

'Why do they seem so serious after hearing me have talent?'

He confusedly looked around and took his stance.

His stance was pretty clumsy but he was an orderly one. Although Ian hadn't done much training ever since his father fell, he still tried to train in his free time from his needs with his younger sister and taking care of his father.

One of the senior knights couldn't help but whistle impressively. He was an acquaintance of his father. Seeing Roy hiding such a talented son, he felt quite envious.

Felix looked at Drew for a signal. He looked at his assistant and gave a small nod in approval. Felix, catching his action, shouted out loudly, unfit of his gentle appearance.

"Start!"

Arthur stood in place as he watched Ian. Ian blinked his eyes twice then moved his legs towards Arthur's side.

Swoosh

Arthur quickly moved his sword to his left and felt an impact. He slightly widened his eyes as his long blonde hair swayed in the air. Ian was there standing by his side with solid eyes staring at him.

Ian backed away and tried to attack again. Looking at the young boy's bland actions, he couldn't help but give a small smile. He returned to his blank expression as he started to engage seriously once again with the boy in front of him.

Arthur hadn't moved from his spot but you can see his aura swaying chaotically waiting for their ongoing and foretaste spars in the future after this.

 

 

AKS