"You really gave Father quite a scare today!"
On the sun-drenched corridor, Caspond teased his sister as he led the way. The three girls following behind him each wore very different expressions.
Remedios was still riding the high of the encouragement the Holy King had given her in the study. Her blood was pumping with patriotic fervor, and she didn't even notice Caspond's lighthearted jab.
Kelart, well-aware that such jokes were a privilege of the royal family, kept her eyes downcast and remained silent.
Only Calca was bold enough to fire back in the same joking tone.
"Oh, come now, Brother. I just used a few little tricks to give Father a bit of a surprise, that's all. 'Scared' is a bit much, don't you think? Don't go spreading rumors!"
Calca playfully held her thumb and index finger just a hair apart to illustrate her point. Her adorable gesture made Caspond chuckle, as he assumed his sister was merely being modest.
But for once, Calca wasn't lying.
Her father was shocked that Remedios had mastered the Magic Aura in a single night, but in truth, Calca's own contribution had been significant. The difficulty of controlling Magic Aura lay in the fact that ordinary people found it nearly impossible to perceive the subtle shifts in mana.
But Calca could.
With her Magic Affinity, her senses were sharp enough to feel not only her own mana but the mana of others as well. She could effectively act as a guide to accelerate someone else's progress.
The price, of course...
Well, it was much like how the protagonist Xiao Yan from Battle Through the Heavens helped the heroine Xiao Xun'er clear her meridians when they were children. It required a certain amount of physical contact.
At this moment, Calca could put her hand on her heart and swear she had absolutely no ulterior motives!
She walked with her chin up and chest out, bathed in the sunlight of the corridor, practically radiating "pure and righteous energy."
Caspond simply shook his head with a smile and said no more, focusing on the path ahead.
As the group of four traversed the palace grounds, they passed through a corridor supported by chalk-white columns. Before them lay a vast, open training ground surfaced in sand and bathed in brilliant light.
From their vantage point on the second floor, the three girls looked down, and all of them were visibly impressed.
Sixty priests—all of them robust men, most standing over 1.8 meters tall—were currently undergoing physical training in full heavy armor. They looked like a legion of seasoned elite warriors.
In reality, however, none of them knew how to use Martial Arts skills. While their raw physical stats might rival those of a warrior, they would still fall short in a direct confrontation against a dedicated combatant of the same level.
But they were priests. Their strength lay in their versatility; magic was more than enough to cover their tactical shortcomings.
Furthermore, if one wanted to research multi-elemental Magic Auras, the candidates had to be Magic Casters from the three main traditions. A Paladin would likely only ever manifest a Holy Aura; a Cursed Knight or a Fallen Paladin would likely only manifest a Cursed Aura. They lacked the diversity that Magic Casters offered.
Given the resources of the Holy Kingdom, priests were the only logical choice.
As Calca observed the men training below, they clearly noticed the royal party as well. These were men who had seen the battlefield; their observation skills were top-tier. Anyone lacking that basic awareness would have been dead long ago.
"Brother, do you have anyone in particular you'd recommend?" Calca asked as she scanned the ranks.
"No one in particular. But anyone selected for this group has already passed a rigorous screening. You can pick with confidence, Calca," Caspond replied, shaking his head.
To be honest, he wouldn't have recommended his sister come to pick her guards this early. Even if these men seemed fine, they should have been tested for a longer period first.
But if she wanted them now, it didn't really matter. If a problem was discovered later, they could just be replaced. For now, their primary duty was training and gathering data in this very field.
Caspond led the three girls down into the training area. Under the command of several instructors, the sixty priests had already formed into neat rows. They stood at attention, helmets tucked under their arms, backs straight as spears.
For the first time, Calca saw what it meant to be "as steady as a forest."
"Prince Caspond, Princess Calca! The Royal Priest Guard—sixty members and three commanders—is assembled and ready!" a robust, middle-aged man shouted.
He was a commander chosen from the original Palace Guard; his loyalty was beyond question.
Caspond gave a small nod of acknowledgment, then turned to Calca.
"Go ahead, Calca. Take a look. If you see anyone you like, bring them over. From this day forward, they will follow your command."
In an instant, every man in the unit stood with bated breath, hearts pounding with anticipation.
Though they had come from various parts of the country and weren't familiar with the intricacies of the capital, the palace was already thick with rumors of Calca's deeds. The "Favored of the Wind God," the "Future Saint of the Holy Kingdom"—these titles were enough to make any of them swell with pride at the prospect of serving her.
"Thank you, Brother," Calca said, lifting her skirt slightly in a graceful curtsy. Every movement radiated an indescribable regal charm.
She knew very well that at a time like this, she needed to project her charisma. Even though she was a Princess and these men were technically obligated to swear fealty to her, there was a vast difference between serving out of duty and serving out of genuine, heartfelt devotion.
Calca stepped into the ranks with a faint, enigmatic smile. While projecting an air of gentle warmth, she silently closed her eyes.
The priests' eyes widened in surprise. What Calca did next astounded them even further.
Holding her white skirt with one hand, she slowly raised the other, palm open, as if she were lightly stroking the air. She maintained a specific distance from each man as she passed.
In this manner, Calca miraculously navigated the ranks with her eyes shut tight. Everyone present felt a strange, inexplicable sense of ritual.
The men stood perfectly still, concentrating with every fiber of their being. A few of the more sensitive individuals even felt as though a gust of wind had been stirred beside them.
Once she reached the back of the formation, hidden by the mass of men, Calca slowly opened her narrowed eyes. She adjusted her direction, having instantly memorized those who had reacted with the most sensitivity.
Just now, she had used her Magic Affinity to sense the mana fluctuations around these men to judge their progress. Those who could sense the "strangeness" or who had instinctive mana fluctuations were the best prospects.
They were exactly the ones she was going to take.
Calca couldn't help but let a mischievous smirk flash across her face before she resumed her "mystical" act.
It didn't take long for her to pick out the six she wanted. The chosen priests looked as though they had been personally anointed by a deity, their faces filled with pious devotion.
Caspond and Kelart both watched Calca with surprise, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
After giving the six men their initial instructions—telling them to report to her every morning before 8:30—she prepared to leave with her brother. The priests still had their own training to complete.
Once Calca and Caspond parted ways, the girl slipped quietly to Kelart's side.
Kelart, still pondering the meaning behind Calca's performance, suddenly felt a warm, deep breath brush against her ear.
"In a bit, I'll teach you the Magic Aura technique!"
Kelart gave an involuntary shiver before answering decisively.
"Good."
She certainly wasn't going to pass up such a perfect opportunity for observation.
Beside them, Remedios saw the interaction and silently shook her head with a sigh.
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I'm not the Queen Greatsword. (70 Chapters, Ongoing)
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