Inside a simple yet luxurious office, a bearded and bespectacled bald old man sat, inspecting a page of a compiled report.
"Yes, Sir Jebroham, that is the final list of the Inter-Class Representative Competition’s participants. We’ve also received confirmation that most of them have arrived in Crownspire from Ashen Crown’s Region Administrator. There are a few who are still en route, but they’ll make it by the end of the day."
Principal Jebroham nodded.
The Inter-Class Representative Competition turned out to be far more important now, as Caladbolg would be the one who would be choosing the representatives of the human race in the upcoming Clash Event.
The man said he would be choosing all five representatives from the pool of winners from all twenty-eight Bladeborn Academies.
The academy leader was looking forward to this event.
After all, the last ti he had the privilege to talk to Hailey Krauss, she said that Onimaru Kunitsuna was a student in his academy.
Would the mysterious bladeborn finally show himself? Or would he keep his identity private and gift Skylar Ashwind an easy victory?
There were also Edelweiss, Alopecion, and Taiya. The three S-rankers naturally had a fighting chance, but neither their swords nor their families could contend with Skylar’s.
There was little hope they would be able to shake the position of the Sky Prince.
He hadn’t been contacted by the esteed intel division leader since then, so Jebroham could only speculate.
"Alright then, you go personally to oversee the preliminary battles. I’ll join you tomorrow."
Secretary Helen nodded and left.
There were still a few arrangents to be done, so she imdiately headed back to the Myriad Sword Realm.
***
A few hours later.
The sun fully retreated — the canvas of molten amber devoured by the serene dark.
As expected, all the participating Bladeborns have already arrived in Crownspire, one of the thriving Rookie Cities of the Ashen Crown Guilddom.
Except one, though it could be argued that he was not in the list.
Daru was still seated atop his Cross-Eyed Albino Zebra, galloping across a Rookie Zone with Caleb.
The SS-ranker volunteered to help him get to Crownspire, knowing he would arrive on ti, but in a different city, if left to travel on his own.
"Ah, damn it...galloping under the night skies with a brother, inhaling fresh air with not a hint of a burnt sll, and feeling the evening breeze on my skin...lovely...the Myriad Sword Realm is lovely!!" Caleb roared to the skies, then laughed, turning his torso.
Daru had a faint grin on his face.
Even he couldn’t get enough of this simple experience. It wasn’t too difficult for him to imagine how much more Caleb appreciated it.
They felt so free.
Compared to their experiences in Limbo, the Inter-Class Representative Competition seed more like a leisurely activity now — a reward for his toils in the godless, ashen expanse.
Their enjoyable night ride soon turned more delightful.
In the distance, a faintly illuminated, awe-inspiring silhouette appeared. An Ashen Spire. While the color was not to their liking, the architecture was tiless.
The tip of the spire, reaching to the dark heavens, was in the shape of a magnificent crown, illuminated by the gentle glow of light.
It looked like a re wisp from where they were.
However, as they got closer, they realized that it was more like a miniature sun, shining subtle light over the entire city.
The towering, reinforced stone walls also ca into view. The tal gates, too.
Just from its exterior, Crownspire was nowhere near the Novice Cities. It was far more developed.
Excitent washed over the two young Bladeborns. This was Caleb’s first ti in a Rookie City, as well.
He never got to participate in the Inter-Class Representative Competition himself, but watching a brother fight for the championship and reveal his true talents would be more than enough of a consolation.
Soon, the two top-rankers arrived at the gates.
They were briefly scanned by the guards before being allowed in. The only requirent was to be a human, after all.
It also wasn’t too strange that rookies like them were here, as there would be a lively event tomorrow — the most prestigious novice competition for those in the south of the Ashen Crown Guilddom.
Even veteran scouts from both the guilds and the news channels were here to watch.
While a live stream was impossible for the latter, they could at least retrieve a recording.
Perhaps there would be a huge scoop?
Daru and Caleb looked around, awe-struck by what could be called a modern-fantasy city. It was as though they were in a the park.
The buildings were of a different architecture than the ones in Neo-Earth. They lined the finely-made stone streets, bringing life and bustle to Crownspire.
It was nightti. Yet, the city was extrely lively. The subtle glow of the Spirelight, assisted by the street lights powered by mysterious wisps of a myriad glows, made for mystical vibes.
Bladeborns walked the streets — a majority of them rookies who are not bound by the ti limit of the soul connection, though there were also a few novices who decided to use an hour or two to try the nightlife of Crownspire.
So walked alone, but most were in small groups, chatting happily with their friends.
Their topic? The Inter-Class Representative Competition.
Daru and Caleb heard the conversations as they passed.
"Hey, who do you guys think will win? Would it be the so-called Sky Prince as expected?"
"Well, of course, who else except the suprely talented second heir of the Ashwind Family would erge victorious?"
"Hmph! Commoner. Even though I’m two batches older, I’ve done my research, and there are at least three contenders: Edelweiss, Alopecion, and Taiya. All of them are S-rankers. You know how the differences between the top-rankers are minimal at this early stage. One mistake from Skylar Ashwind and he’s eliminated...and novices make mistakes!"
"Ha! You’re the commoner. I’ve also done my research, dumbass. I already know that there are three contenders. It’s just that even among the SS-rankers of this talented batch, the Sky Prince is sowhere around the apex.
Only three other SS-rankers can be compared to him!
While stating in an article that Skylar Ashwind is the sixth strongest Bladeborn of this batch — next only to the four SSS-rankers and the mysterious Onimaru Kunitsuna — could be a stretch, there is also a chance that it isn’t. Even if those three S-rankers are among the best in their batch in the entire world, which they probably aren’t, they still wouldn’t be able to touch the Sky Prince!"
"Shut up, two idiots! My Snowflower alone is the honored one."
"You shut the hell up, nerd!"
Caleb turned to Daru.
"You know this Skylar Ashwind? I’ve heard of his older brother, Salazar Ashwind, an S-ranker who was a year older than , but this is the first ti I’m hearing of this second heir. Maybe he was too young back then..."
"Well, it’s difficult not to hear his na in the Southern Bladeborn Academy. He has a lot of underlings, after all, and they’re quite the unpleasant bunch. I haven’t t him even once, though."
"I see."
The two continued to chat casually as they made their way towards an inn, arriving so ti later.
They agreed to et an hour before the competition’s opening ceremony before parting ways.
Daru used the rest of his limited ti roaming the street of the inn Caleb left his husk in, following the older bladeborn’s instructions of not making any turns.
Then, eventually, he just vanished as his connection was forcefully cut.
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