The wind moved quietly across the training grounds.
The distant noise of hundreds of students still echoed through the open field.
Laughter.
Arguments.
Weapon practice.
The occasional scream of someone discovering their partner was stronger than expected.
Yet around the stone platform where Kel and Valeryn stood, the atmosphere had become strangely isolated.
The ancient runes beneath their feet glowed faintly.
Golden sunlight painted long shadows across the stone.
Valeryn stood opposite him.
Her crimson hair danced behind her like living flames.
Her crimson eyes remained fixed on him.
Watching.
Observing.
Studying.
The way a swordswoman would study an unfamiliar blade before deciding whether it was useful or dangerous.
Meanwhile Kel stood calmly.
At least outwardly.
Internally he was already regretting several life choices.
Unfortunately—
Valeryn spoke before he could think of an escape route.
"Mister Aedon."
Her voice carried curiosity.
Genuine curiosity.
"Let's return to the original question."
Kel already knew where this was heading.
A terrible sign.
Valeryn folded her arms.
The sunlight reflected across the golden embroidery of her uniform.
"What was the real reason you ran away?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"Was it the rumors?"
"The stories about me?"
"The nonsense people spread around the academy?"
A faint smile appeared.
The dangerous kind.
"The stories saying I strike first and ask questions later."
Nearby students immediately pretended they weren't listening.
Unfortunately—
Nobody was convincing.
Everyone was listening.
Every single person.
Kel sighed.
Deeply.
Then answered honestly.
Or at least honestly enough.
"No."
Valeryn raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
Kel shook his head.
"No."
The noblewoman waited.
Kel continued.
"As I already said earlier, I ran away because I didn't want to become your partner."
The surrounding students immediately became interested again.
Valeryn stared.
Then narrowed her eyes.
"And why not?"
Kel looked toward the sky.
As though searching for divine assistance.
Unfortunately—
The heavens remained silent.
So he answered himself.
"Because a person like me shouldn't be standing beside a person like you."
Silence followed.
Valeryn's eyes narrowed further.
Kel continued.
His tone remained calm.
Natural.
As though discussing weather.
"You are Lady Valeryn Darkhart."
"The descendant of one of the Seven Pillar Houses."
"A noblewoman whose family has protected the empire for centuries."
His gaze returned to her.
"You possess talent."
"Strength."
"Status."
"Beauty."
The surrounding students nodded unconsciously.
Accurate.
Dangerously accurate.
Kel continued.
"A woman of your caliber deserves a partner equally impressive."
His shoulders rose slightly.
"I'm just a commoner."
His voice remained calm.
"I possess no famous family."
"No prestigious background."
"No extraordinary achievements."
The lies flowed smoothly.
Painfully smoothly.
Seiren immediately started laughing inside his head.
"No extraordinary achievements?"
"Kel."
"You have literally negotiated with Leviathan Kings."
Kel ignored her.
The goddess sounded offended.
Valeryn continued staring.
Meanwhile Kel continued his masterpiece of self-deprecation.
"I'm not particularly talented either."
Several students who had witnessed the examination incident looked horrified.
The audacity.
The absolute audacity.
Luna nearly fell off the stone barrier she was sitting on.
Valeryn noticed none of this.
Her eyes remained locked on Kel.
Studying him.
Evaluating him.
Then—
Something flashed within those crimson eyes.
Without warning—
She moved.
WHOOSH!
The sword at her waist left its scabbard.
Like lightning.
Like a flash of crimson steel.
The blade cut toward Kel's shoulder.
Fast.
Incredibly fast.
Several nearby students gasped.
Others jumped.
A few nearly screamed.
Then—
Kel moved.
A single step.
Nothing more.
His body shifted naturally.
The blade passed through empty air.
The movement appeared effortless.
Minimal.
Efficient.
Perfect.
Valeryn's eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
She attacked again.
This time faster.
The sword swept toward his waist.
Kel stepped backward.
The blade missed.
Third attack.
Fourth.
Fifth.
Each one faster than the last.
Each one more precise.
Yet every strike missed.
Barely.
Dangerously barely.
The surrounding students had stopped breathing.
This wasn't sparring.
This was investigation.
Valeryn was testing him.
Meanwhile—
Kel continued retreating.
Dodge.
Step.
Pivot.
Lean.
Move.
To ordinary eyes he appeared overwhelmed.
Barely surviving.
Constantly forced backward.
Yet the truly skilled students noticed something unusual.
The distance never changed.
The timing never broke.
The sword never touched him.
Not once.
Among the watching crowd, several talented students frowned.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Valeryn noticed it too.
Which was why her attacks continued increasing in speed.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
The sword became a crimson blur.
Steel whistled through the air.
The pressure alone made weaker students retreat.
Yet—
Kel continued dodging.
Not attacking.
Not countering.
Only dodging.
The performance continued for nearly a minute.
Then—
Valeryn suddenly stopped.
Complete stillness returned.
The sword lowered.
The wind passed between them.
The surrounding students finally remembered how to breathe.
Valeryn stared directly at him.
The amusement had disappeared.
Only certainty remained.
"You are hiding."
Her voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
Kel blinked.
"What?"
Valeryn pointed her sword toward him.
"You are hiding your abilities."
Silence.
The accusation landed heavily.
Several nearby students immediately looked shocked.
Others looked confused.
Valeryn continued.
"I don't know why."
"And frankly, I don't care."
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"Everyone has secrets."
"Everyone has reasons."
"I have no intention of forcing yours from you."
A brief pause followed.
Then her voice hardened.
"But don't do it during our match."
The statement carried absolute certainty.
Not arrogance.
Confidence.
The confidence of someone who knew exactly what she had witnessed.
"You may deceive others."
"You may deceive instructors."
"You may even deceive yourself."
The tip of her sword lowered.
"But you are not fooling me."
For several moments neither spoke.
The wind moved through the training grounds.
Kel stared at her.
Valeryn stared back.
Then suddenly—
She sheathed her sword.
Click.
The atmosphere relaxed.
Immediately.
As though the previous exchange had never happened.
The sudden transition confused everyone watching.
Including Kel.
Valeryn folded her arms.
"Now that we've settled that matter..."
She spoke as though discussing ordinary class assignments.
"...let's discuss something useful."
Kel blinked.
"What?"
"Our specialties."
The noblewoman sat upon the edge of the stone platform.
Practical.
Direct.
Focused.
Exactly what Kel expected from a warrior.
"If we're participating in team battles, we need to understand each other's strengths."
She pointed toward herself.
"My specialty is the sword."
No hesitation.
No boasting.
Simply fact.
"I specialize in aggressive close combat."
"I prefer ending battles quickly."
"My aura reinforcement is stronger than my elemental techniques."
She continued calmly.
"My strongest attribute is pressure."
"I force mistakes."
"I exploit hesitation."
"I overwhelm opponents before they can adapt."
The explanation was surprisingly professional.
No wonder she was approaching professor-level capability.
She understood herself thoroughly.
Then she looked toward him.
"What about you?"
Kel considered briefly.
Then lifted the weapon hanging at his waist.
The transforming bow-sword.
Valeryn observed it immediately.
Interesting weapon.
Practical.
Unusual.
"Archery."
Kel answered.
The noblewoman blinked.
"Only archery?"
Kel nodded.
"Mostly."
Several students immediately looked skeptical.
Especially after witnessing the earlier dodging.
Valeryn remained silent.
Then asked—
"What kind of archer?"
Kel thought carefully.
Then smiled.
"The kind that prefers not getting hit."
The answer was technically correct.
Which somehow made it worse.
Valeryn stared.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Bright.
Unexpected.
The surrounding students looked shocked.
Apparently many had never heard such a sound before.
The noblewoman shook her head.
For the first time since meeting him—
She felt genuinely entertained.
Because Aedon Flinth was unlike anyone she had ever met.
And the more she learned about him—
The more curious she became.
Meanwhile far away beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren's voice echoed through Kel's mind.
"This is becoming troublesome."
Kel silently agreed.
Because the most dangerous thing in the world wasn't a monster.
It wasn't an ancient curse.
It wasn't even a Leviathan King.
It was a curious intelligent person.
And unfortunately—
Valeryn Darkhart had just become very curious.