**Currently, Hanette was filled with dissatisfaction towards Oz Ternein.**
Although she didn't let these feelings overwhelm her, facing Oz might cause her to lose control. If anything went wrong during the sparring match, it wouldn't just affect the three of them but could also lead to conflict between their families.
'I don't doubt Hanette, but...'
There were other concerns too. She might use magic to toy with Oz, unleash her full power from the start, or prevent Oz from proving his abilities. It would be hard to monitor all her actions, and if something went wrong, fixing it would be difficult.
"Hanette, let me handle this."
"...You don't trust me, do you?"
"It's not that I don't trust you. I just know more about swordsmanship."
"A skilled swordsman should handle magic well too. I can assess that better."
"You need to wield a sword to showcase swordsmanship. Magic comes after that."
"Without magic, fighting monsters gets harder."
"A magician can use just magic, but a swordsman needs a sword."
"Magic can be infused even into bare hands."
"But you can't expect a swordsman to fight barehanded."
"Fighting barehanded is also a skill."
"If you can use a sword, why fight barehanded?"
"That’s the point. If you can fight well without a sword, you’ll be even better with one."
Hanette stubbornly argued back. Watching the sparring match alone would be frustrating, and she feared Zion might hold back too much. As Duke Adelaira's daughter, she couldn't accept Oz Ternein joining the Lihines Knights.
"Hanette, I started this, so I should finish it."
"I'm involved in this too. You may have started it, but I'll see the end."
"Can’t you let me handle this?"
"I could, but I still want to do it."
Zion sighed, unable to continue the argument. Hanette wasn’t backing down. Before meeting Oz Ternein, she had agreed to let Zion handle the sparring. She must have changed her mind while waiting.
"...Can I have a say in this?"
Oz, who had been listening to their argument, finally spoke up. Letting them decide might eventually resolve things, but he understood the root cause of the issue. So, he thought it best to address it directly.
"Do you mean you want to choose between us?"
"Yes, it seems like you two can't decide."
"......"
Hanette glared at Oz, sensing his intention. It was clear Oz intended to choose Zion to quickly prove his abilities. Once he joined the Lihines Knights, he could smooth over other issues.
"I’d like to spar with Deputy Commander Hanette. Even if I don’t join the Lihines Knights, it would be a valuable experience."
"......?"
Hanette paused, staring at Oz in disbelief. He knew she resented him. He must have known that facing her would be detrimental. So why not choose Zion?
"...Fine. I’ll leave it to the Deputy Commander."
Zion realized Oz's plan. The Lihines Knights were effectively a two-person team and hadn't recruited any new members yet. This meant they ran the knights together, and if either one disagreed, the knights couldn't function. Thus, Oz was seeking approval from both Hanette and Zion.
'This might work. Hanette needs to accept Oz.'
Zion understood Oz to some extent, knowing why he acted the way he did. However, to Hanette, Oz was an enemy who had attacked them. No matter how noble his intentions, she couldn't easily change her perception of him.
‘…I should give her some advice.’
Hanette might appreciate Oz's strength but would still find it hard to trust him. Oz needed to prove his sincerity for Hanette to even consider accepting him.
‘Hanette might understand, given her own past.’
**Duke Adelaira's mansion, outdoor training grounds.**
Oz visited the mansion again as scheduled. Hanette, clad in armor, stood on the training ground, with Zion beside her. The white apostle and the Sylase Knight Commander were also present to observe.
‘I still have a chance.’
Oz, also in armor, walked towards the center of the training ground. Across from him stood Duke Adelaira's daughter, ready to drive him out with all her might.
‘This is a trial.’
Ever since escaping from Duke Ternein, Oz had always thought the same thing. He was being tested, enduring trials and suffering to become stronger. If he endured, he believed he would eventually reach the pinnacle.
‘To strive is to endure trials.’
Oz stopped and faced his opponent. Cold eyes met his, and he felt a faint sense of killing intent. She wouldn’t kill him, but fear was inevitable. She was a mage knight who had slain the Shadow Dragon.
‘How long can I hold out?’
Once the spar began, she would unleash her magic. He might surrender or collapse without realizing it. Perhaps he would beg for mercy or attempt to flee in panic.
‘If I can’t join the Lihines Knights, I'll try the Sylase Knights.’
The Sylase Knights were led by a Magic Sword user and a Setinos Quasar, both respected and known throughout the region. Though not as prestigious as the Lihines Knights, their strength and reputation were comparable.
‘Having a Magic Sword would’ve made this easier...’
"Are you both ready?"
"...I’m ready."
"Yes."
"I'll count to five. There’s no time limit; we’ll stop once there's a clear result."
Zion stepped back, glancing between them. Hanette and Oz also stepped back, maintaining their focus. Both gathered their magic, preparing for the fight.
“5, 4, 3…”
Zion counted, staying alert. He needed to intervene quickly if something went wrong. Hanette said she’d control her strength, but he couldn’t rely solely on that assurance. Situations could change unexpectedly.
“2, 1. Begin.”
At Zion’s signal, one person moved first. Oz quickly drew his sword, charging towards Hanette. In contrast, Hanette remained still, watching with a blank expression.
‘What’s she planning?’
Oz’s sword neared Hanette. In an instant, crimson flames burst forth, deflecting the blade. Oz adjusted his stance and struck again, but the flames reappeared, blocking his attack. No matter how many times he attacked, the flames consistently intercepted his strikes.
“Do I look easy to you?”
Hanette’s eyes flashed as she increased her magic. The flames expanded, surging towards Oz. He condensed his magic, striking at the flames. The red and white energies clashed, pushing against each other. Eventually, both the flames and the magic dissipated.
“You only try hard when pressured?”
Hanette intensified her magic, creating larger flames that split into multiple streams. Oz steadied himself, knowing she was testing him.
‘She’s testing me.’
Oz infused more magic into his blade, slashing at the flames. A white arc cut through, pushing the flames back but not dispersing them completely.
‘He’s doing well.’
Hanette watched, noting Oz’s movements. Despite not having a Magic Sword, he was quick and agile. Her flames made him seem slower, but his natural speed was impressive.
‘I can see his potential…’
Recognizing the duel’s nature, Hanette slowly increased the flames’ intensity. She wasn’t an expert in swordsmanship, but she could tell his stance was solid, and his magic was well-controlled. He was responding to the flames with agility and precision.
But memories and emotions clouded her thoughts.
‘Why did you do such a thing despite being strong?’
Hanette gathered the flames into a concentrated mass, her hostility evident. Oz attempted to retreat, but the flames surrounded him.
‘I understand disliking your family like me. I can even understand running away. But you…’
Hanette couldn’t accept Oz Ternein. He had attacked her and her comrades, using the excuse of wanting to become stronger. Even if he intended only to seal the Magic Swords, his actions caused harm, and the memories of those actions lingered.
‘You did something I could never forgive.’
Hanette recognized the duel but closed in the flames, pressing down on Oz. He tried to cut through, but his blade couldn’t penetrate the intense heat. The flames closed in, threatening to engulf him.
‘No matter how strong you are, without trust, it’s over.’
Hanette waited, watching if Oz could break free. Whether he could or not didn’t matter. If he broke through, she’d increase the flames again, continuing until he gave up.
‘Should I stop here? It won’t matter...’
Hanette felt a shift in magic, turning her gaze swiftly. A green wind swept through, mingling with the flames. She recognized this magic, knowing it came from a Magic Sword.
“Yaaaah!”
With a short cry, the fierce wind dispersed the flames. Oz, breathing heavily, looked down at the sword in his right hand.
‘…The Wind Magic Sword, Timere.’