Luciferis stared at Eric; it looked like the man had just seen a ghost after touching him. Apart from that, Luciferis also noticed one of his Vitin blockages clearing up. His whole right leg had just gotten noticeably more comfortable.
"Vitin blockages occur when you don't train enough; your body is a resource-hoarding beast. Keeping up Vitin pathways is expensive as hell since it requires constant monitoring and nutrients."
Luciferis chuckled sheepishly; he didn't know that. In the 3 years he was an awakened individual back then, he was constantly fighting. So that's why his Vitin pathways never closed.
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind, but... I want a favor from you, Sir."
Eric sighed softly, a drop of blood dripping down from his left eye as he quickly wiped it away.
"Sure, I already know you want to be trained by someone who has practical Mastery over the Cold Elements. Since you're in the Headmaster's guild, ask her to make Gelidus train you. Since he's the most efficient in Cold Elements."
William and Luciferis both noticed the drop of blood dripping down Eric's eye; Luciferis already figured out what it was.
'That werewolf. He's still here, huh? If he's protecting me, then that means he's taken an interest in me. Great. But why'd he harm Eric and not that Vampire girl?'
"Hey, Sir, are you alright?" William asked, a bit concerned, but Eric just gave him a grin in response.
"All good. Just a little too happy to be teaching you kids."
"Sure..."
William narrowed his eyes just a bit. If Eric wasn't telling him than it wasn't his business.
"Anyways. Leonidas. You better run off to that Gelidus dude, because Sir Eric's gonna make me strong enough to beat your ass."
William flicked Luciferis' forehead, the boy still deep in thought.
"Oh... Let's see about that. How about this? For 1 month, you and I don't talk or even interact with each other? We'll see whose the real talent."
"Wow... Such an amazing training arc of yours. I'm sure it'll go by quickly." Eric taunted Luciferis slightly; the training hadn't even begun the rivalry was set in place.
(...)
Luciferis stood in front of a white, rocky mountain with caves in it, the fragrance of flowers and vines emanated from each and every one of them, coating the air thickly, almost making the hair in Luciferis' nose stand up.
'So this is the dormitory of the Headmaster's personal Guild, I can sense a lot of strong people here... A few are too similar, even. Was Cecillia training the soldiers of the future.'
Just then, he felt the air's weight increase. Was it bloodlust? If so, who held that much resentment towards Leonidas? Since Luciferis had partially experienced the Mind's Vision, his senses and perception were stronger than those of any other of his age.
"Ah. If it isn't Leonidas... The miracle boy who revived Frost."
"Who the hell are you?" Luciferis asked, already prepared to use Risean and the new sword Mime had bought; he hadn't brought them for just cosmetics.
"Oh, don't you remember your best friend? I'm Turner Van Biven. We used to play a lot."
Was it bad that Leonidas' memories didn't have anything to do with Turner? Oh well. Luciferis just had to knock him out, and boom. Problem solved.
But before Luciferis could do that. He noticed a few more people coming from behind. All of them bear hostility toward Luciferis.
'Bearing your fangs at me... Wow. Pretty bold. They're all decently strong, but they don't seem experienced at all.'
"Forget it, Turner. Fame gets to everyone."
Luciferis raised an eyebrow at the girl who had stopped Turner from lunging at Luciferis; her dirty black hair and yellow eyes reminded him of someone.
"Rose?"
"Oh? The mighty Frost User remembers me?" She said sarcastically as she noticed Luciferis bite the inside of his cheek.
'God, I need to control myself. That's Rose. A famous wandering swordsman, she was 7 years my senior back then... I also admired her heavily. But to see her so dirty and tired. God, that makes me feel bad.'
"Anyways. I'm too old for this shit."
"Aren't you only 21, Rose?" A man teased her; he was tall, lanky, and almost seemed to be underfed. But his Vitin Aura, it was the highest of the group. His hair was an electric pink like his eyes, a pair of white wings tattooed in the middle of his forehead.
"Shut the hell up. Icarus."
Luciferis sheathed Risean, Icarus? The fastest man who died fighting Mikael's 1st Commander? That Icarus? He was friends with Rose? That made sense. The strong always attract the strong.
'I still remember I couldn't be faster than him without my wings. I miss racing with him. Even right now, I'm sure that he's probably as fast as Adamas if not more.'
"Yeah, yeah. Let's not blame little Leonidas, right? He's basically a god among men." Icarus had a bit of disdain in his eyes. But he tried to remain as neutral as possible.
Rose scoffed; she wanted to cut down Leonidas immediately, and she almost did so if it wasn't for Icarus.
"Great! A worthy battle!" Someone jumped over the three, axe in hand as they tried swinging at Luciferis, who was too shocked to react in time.
But before they could land a hit, they were quickly swatted away by one of Rosette's vines.
"All of you. I think I told you to keep personal problems out of the conversation when Leonidas came?" Rosette descended from the top of the mountain, standing on a vine, her expression showing her displeasure with all of them.
Icarus rushed forward and caught the person who had tried to attack Luciferis before they hit the ground.
"Oh... Sorry Headmaster. I forgot that you straight-up told us not insult or fight a snobby rich brat." Rose tried to be sarcastic, but she noticed Luciferis pointing both of his swords straight at her neck. And that enraged her.
"Really? Last time I heard, snobby rich brats couldn't fight. I can." Luciferis smirked. He knew Rose's stubborn, yet practical personality. As Luciferis, he had also proved himself through a fight, now as Leonidas. He would do it again. This time, even earlier than before.
"Oh..." Turner's eyes narrowed. This wasn't the Leonidas he knew. The Leonidas he knew would've never gotten into this situation. And of course, he arrived to one singular outcome.
"He's arrogant enough to fight against a Rank X?"
Luciferis eyes widened just a bit. Wasn't Rose Rank VIII at 21? But before he could properly process that. Rose swung her sword at his neck, Luciferis weaved through the first slash, but boy was it fast.
'I keep getting myself into these situations.'
Rosette watched in silence. Maybe it was okay to let them both fight. If Luciferis manages to actually impress Rose? Her job will get a lot easier. But that's impossible.
'I'll only step in if it gets deadly...'
Her eyes flickered to the person who had attacked Luciferis, a girl who bore a striking resemblance to Icarus. His sister. The battle-freak Nyx.
"Nyx. Apologies for attacking you, it was a bit too harsh-"
"Don't headmaster! This fight! It makes up for the broken rib! Rose has been training extra hard to surpass Inneya anyway!"
Rose grunted her teeth as her sword turned a deep black, as a dark and wild lightning covered it, the sound making Luciferis' ears bleed from discomfort.
He sighed, his own swords turning a complete blue, the air around Luciferis becoming still and almost silent. Like he was absorbing the sound.
"Let's settle this."