"Is the Vice-chair and Chairman in cahoots with each other in bullying you, then?" Phel asked him from the side, jokingly. "I always see the Northerner putting you in awkward situations, but now that I think about it, the Chairman also does the sa thing, doesn't he? I rember how he threatened to take back your World Shards on the first class of Combat training."
"Well, who knows…" Evin replied offhandedly. He was careful not to say anything compromising, as he was still quite close to the Chairman.
"I always fancied attracting the attention of a bigshot, but now that I look at you… it doesn't really feel the sa as I'd envisioned it, he-he," Phel chuckled.
"So is it common for you to be pulled into these random fights, then?" Phel's father asked from the side curiously.
"Oh, yes. Evin gets pitted against Decatur at least once a week and the topic of the challenge can be… anything, really," Phel replied for Evin. "Close combat, aim training, spell-casting, and even basic exercises... Now that I think about it, it seems like a huge pain in the as- uh, head, if you know what I an."
Evin chuckled at Phel's little slip of the tongue, but his attentive mind noticed how the two Viscounts' eyes started to look at him differently. Evin thought a bit, and realized that Phel made it sound like the Chairman and the Vice-chair had a lot of expectations of him. So, as politicians, the two Viscounts would be interested in soone who so obviously holds the attention of a High-mage and his close personal aide.
"Well, one can't escape the expectations of others… no matter how much they want to," Viscount Borna said softly.
Evin didn't know whether the words were ant for him or Bella, but the girl definitely took it as an affront to herself, "We've been through this, father. You don't have to bring it up over and over again."
"I ant the words for Evin, dear," Viscount Borna replied neutrally.
Bella turned her head away from her father dismissively and looked towards Evin instead, "It's good you've asked for the fight to only last five minutes. You definitely wouldn't have had any chance otherwise."
"What do I do, coach?" Evin replied smilingly. He'd started calling her that at so point during their shared training and the na stuck.
His tone turned softer and more relaxed, as he was sitting here with his friends. Although Bella's relationship with her father seed a bit tense, the man himself was casual enough and the sa could be said for Phel's father. It was gratifying to not have to speak so politely, worrying about each and every word he spewed out of his mouth.
"When the fight starts, focus on your defenses. I'm sure Decatur's going to throw a big spell at you first. I know you don't want to, but pile your mana-core with Earth energy at first. I know you're your worst World by far, but the defense it offers is what you need. Survive the first wave of spells and you will have more options… but knowing you, you're probably just going to hide behind illusions and shadows."
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