Gallion found himself… a little surprised.
Was killing intent supposed to be this easy to produce? Because right now, his entire body was practically leaking it like a busted kettle.
'That bastard…!'
His jaw clenched, teeth grinding as his eyes scanned around with veins popping red.
Deep down—the noble, rational part of Gallion—understood what was going on. If the other guy could toy with him this much, then yes, his skill was superior. Simple math.
Gallion knew he should probably apologize for his outburst.
"…"
But then, the thought of Marquis Riverback popped into his head. The one who vouched for his admission, his family's benefactor. That man had expectations—high ones.
Gallion could already imagine Riverback's disappointed face if he saw this pathetic scene. And that thought alone made him let out a bitter smile.
He was supposed to be the one with enough talent to rival—even surpass—the so-called hero candidate, Elize.
And now he was running around like a headless chicken? Yeah, Riverback would not be pleased.
…Still, even if the sensible choice was to back down, Gallion wasn't the type to just swallow twenty-five rounds of nonstop provocation without swinging back.
That's when it happened.
"Gallion?"
A soft voice cut through his spiraling thoughts.
"…Elize?"
Gallion froze, blinking in confusion as the smiling girl approached him like the sunniest stormcloud imaginable.
Why was she here of all places?
"Long time no see. It's been a while since the last monster subjugation, hasn't it?"
Elize's smile was calm, almost casual, but it made Gallion hesitate.
That memory… of course.
Back then, both of them had been mere apprentices, thrown into the Marquis Kendride's subjugation unit.
'She remembered?'
Gallion's heart gave a strange tug. He honestly thought she wouldn't recall something so trivial. After all, he was the one who'd been crushed back then.
But she did.
And that recognition alone made him smile inside, even if it was bitter.
'It's been so long, I thought she wouldn't remember… much less remember me as the guy who lost miserably.'
As peers of similar age and talent, sparring had been inevitable. And of course, Elize had destroyed him utterly.
People liked to say she was only a "little" better than him. But Gallion knew the truth—
that little difference was actually an unscalable wall.
Even so, being acknowledged by someone like her… felt like an honor.
"Indeed, Elize. It's been a while."
"What were you doing here?"
"…Oh, nothing. I was just looking for someone."
Gallion coughed, awkwardly brushing the question aside.
From their very first meeting, Elize had become his driving force. His rival, his goal, the shining figure he swore he'd surpass one day.
He naturally wouldn't want her to know he was just chasing someone out of sheer childish rage.
"Is that so? Who were you looking for?"
"Uh… just some annoying guy."
"And what were you planning to do once you found him?"
"…"
It was at this point that Gallion felt something was seriously off.
Elize was still smiling—at least, her mouth was—but every word came out colder than winter steel.
'Wait… was she always like this?'
No. Definitely not. The Elize he remembered had a sharp edge, sure, but she still fit the role of the noble, perfect hero candidate. What stood before him now… this was something else entirely.
And yet—it wasn't insidious. It was worse.
"Tell me," she pressed. "Were you planning on attacking him?"
"…"
Her footsteps echoed closer. The smile on her face widened—but her eyes were hollow of warmth, filled instead with the kind of hostility that made his skin crawl.
Gallion flinched back. His instincts screamed danger, like a beast was about to devour him whole.
Her giggle rang out, light and cheerful, but her tone coiled tight around his lungs.
It felt less like talking to a person and more like being cornered by a starving predator.
"Were you planning on hurting Mister?"
She stepped forward. Gallion stepped back.
"Ah, no, Elize. Wait—hold on a second—"
But before he could even finish, she slid her hand to the hilt of her sword. A subtle motion, but the shhhk of steel loosening in its scabbard was enough to set the air ablaze.
"…!"
And then—
Gallion's body betrayed him. His spear thrust forward on instinct, the tip lunging at her like lightning.
It was a true strike, lethal and undeniable, and only then did Gallion realize what he'd done.
'This is bad—!'
But by the time he blinked—
-!
-!!
His spear exploded into fragments, scattering like brittle glass across the floor.
'What…!'
His jaw practically unhinged—he could've swallowed an egg whole with how wide his mouth was gaping. The spear he trusted, the one weapon meant to carry his will, now lay in worthless shards at his feet.
And the worst part?
He didn't see a damn thing.
Not a swing. Not a blur. Nothing.
Yet the result was clear: only multiple, precise sword strikes could've done this. Anyone trained at Gallion's level would know what that meant.
He was moves—no, leagues—behind his opponent.
He was the one who attacked first, and still, he couldn't even see the counter.
'She's even stronger now…!'
The last time, he could at least cling to the fight, hold her off for a few breaths. Since then, he had trained relentlessly, sharpening himself into someone praised even within the prestigious Caldwell Academy.
But this gap… this abyss…
Even if there were three Gallions, she'd dice them apart in seconds—like slicing vegetables for stew.
In less than a year, she had gone from 'ahead' to untouchable.
'That's impossible. It can't be real.'
Talent.
A talent so suffocating it made every drop of his sweat feel like a joke.
She wasn't just a hero candidate—she was talent itself, standing on a peak he couldn't even see.
'I didn't think the gap would be this monstrous…!'
"You know…"
Elize's expression didn't waver, not even after effortlessly humiliating him. She slid her sword back into its scabbard with a click that sounded more like mockery than steel.
"Who are you to care about who I'm friends with? What right do you think you have, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?"
"…"
"Nosy know-it-alls are irritating. And honestly, I've never once seen someone like that with pure intentions…"
She paused. Her eyes shifted slightly, as though remembering something, and her tone softened just enough to twist the knife.
"…Well, fine. I've seen one. The rest? Just selfish parasites wrapped in polite excuses. Wouldn't you agree?"
"E-Elize, I—uh, I…"
Gallion tried to form words, but Elize cut him off with a lazy snap of her fingers.
The sound was light, almost playful—yet the already splintered remains of his spear disintegrated further, scattering into nothing but dust.
This time, Gallion couldn't even begin to comprehend what the hell had just happened.
"I don't want to hear excuses. Got it?"
Gallion swallowed hard, throat clicking like a dry hinge.
Yup. He was the fool here.
If he didn't want to get flattened like a pancake, then there was one golden rule:
Don't touch Adrian Merrick. Hell, don't even breathe in his direction.
"Good. You seem to understand. Just don't repeat it."
"… Wait."
"Oh? Still alive and already asking questions?"
Elize's smile was cool—too cool. The kind of smile that made Gallion's stomach clench. Still, curiosity was eating him alive.
"Who exactly is that guy… Adrian Merrick?"
Why would someone as monstrously talented as Elize twist her personality for his sake? Just who the hell was this man?
Elize smirked, like she was remembering something delicious.
"He's the one who knocked me out. A man with skills far above mine."
"…You're kidding. That had to be a trick."
"Mr. Merrick doesn't need tricks. Keep thinking that, and you might accidentally trip into an early grave."
"…"
Her words were casual, almost playful—yet Gallion's blood ran cold.
So it was true? The hero candidate herself was felled in one blow?
'…What kind of monster is he?'
Elize's overwhelming talent was something Gallion could at least wrap his head around, but Adrian Merrick? He was beyond the map. Off the charts.
And if he was that strong—why wasn't his name shouted from every rooftop in the kingdom?
"…So the only reason I'm still breathing right now is pure luck?"
"Exactly. You're catching on fast. You should thank me—I basically saved your life."
Elize shook her head as if she were disappointed in him, and the casualness of it all made Gallion's knees feel weak.
Did he really just pick a fight with someone who tamed her?
"What's your relationship with him then? How do you know each other?"
This time, Elize didn't answer immediately. Her expression turned thoughtful—uncharacteristically so.
Then, after a long pause, she said softly:
"No, we're just… good friends. Probably. Yeah, that's the most accurate way to put it."
"…What?"
"I mean, for now. That's about it, I guess? Nothing too dramatic—at least, not for me personally."
"…Come again?"
"Argh, forget it! We're friends, okay? Friends, for now!"
Her face turned slightly red as she snapped back, looking more like the Elize Gallion once knew than the predator from moments ago.
Maybe she hadn't changed completely, after all.
'…But what the hell does she mean by friends 'for now'?'
His question was swallowed whole, never answered.