"Who wants to go first?" Siderius said.
Bas stepped forward and unbuckled the sword strapped on his waist. He held the sword high.
"Let do it first then. I can't beat your blade." Bas said.
Kynidus stared at Bas with a knowing smile. Bas answered his gaze by looking directly at Kynidus's eyes. The two of them stayed silent for minutes. No one interrupted them nor did anyone make a sound.
Even the woodcutter also lowered his head.
Kynidus was the first to divert his eyes away. He drank from his large wooden mug again.
Then he said, "You failed."
"What?! Why?" Bas said.
"I'm not the one who's going to give you the answer. You can only know that you failed." Kynidus shrugged.
Bas scratched his head. He was less frustrated and more confused about everything. Siderius did tell Bas about what he found about Kynidus.
So Bas did tell the truth. He didn't think he would beat Kynidus. But still, he had failed.
"Well. I hope my friends can do it better than ." Bas stepped to the side.
Quinlan was the next to step up.
Kynidus took a glance at him. "What with all the bandages?"
"Is that the challenge?" Quinlan smiled faintly.
"Nope. I'm just curious."
"I suffer from an ailnt that makes a walking nightmare for people to see. To spare their sanity, I cover myself up." Quinlan said.
"I see. Well then. The sa question.
Can you beat my blade?"
Quinlan rubbed his chin in deep thoughts. He didn't answer right away. His eyes darted around to figure out what he was missing. He knew that Kynidus wanted an honest answer. Bas gave him one but Bas still failed. So honesty wasn't enough.
Kynidus continued drinking without a care in the world.
"I will." Quinlan said.
"Oh? Care to elaborate?" Kynidus smiled.
"I can't beat you right now. But you will grow old. I will grow stronger. In the future, I will beat you." Quinlan said.
"That might be true." Kynidus stared at Quinlan. "Hmmph. You are a rare case..."
Kynidus tapped his finger on his chin then he said, "How about this. I need you to answer another question to decide. Your answer didn't give what I need yet."
"Hey! That's cheating!" Bas blurted out.
Siderius placed a hand on Bas's shoulder, "It's his ga. We need to play by his rules."
Kynidus glanced at Siderius. He shared a curious smile. Of all the people in front of him, a female warrior, a male bodyguard, a mummy, and a masked man. Siderius seed to be the most interesting out of all. He was really looking forward to what Siderius' answer would be.
"Ask away." Quinlan nodded.
"In the future, can you beat my blade?" Kynidus said.
"Yes." Quinlan didn't hesitate and said.
"Very confident. You passed. Step to the side. I'll teach you once I'm free."
The woodcutter clapped his hands with admiration. "It has been a while since anyone passed."
"Damn. How did you do it, Quinlan?" Bas whispered when Quinlan stepped to the side.
"I just said what I thought."
"But I also did the sa thing!"
"There must be so difference between us then."
Then Ashe stepped forward.
"Hello, princess. You aren't from around here, are you?" Kynidus said.
Ashe nodded, "I'm from a place far far away."
Kynidus smiled. He knew she was from Eldoria. But he didn't need to expose that. The man continued drinking.
"I'm ready." Ashe said.
"Sa question. Can you beat my blade?" Kynidus said.
"Not right now." Ashe said.
Kynidus tilted his head a little bit while staring at her.
"You chose the sa way as the previous one. Unfortunately, you are different from him. You failed." Kynidus said.
Ashe sighed. Unlike Bas, she knew what she was missing. She didn't believe what she was saying with all her heart. She knew that she could be stronger than Kynidus under Siderius' guidance. But her heart said otherwise.
"Thank you for your ti, Master Hephaestius." Ashe stepped to the side.
Finally, it was Siderius' turn.
"I was looking at you, white hair. What really are you? So kind of rare bloodline?" Kynidus said.
"Not really. I'm just a commoner. Or more precisely, I was a commoner." Siderius said.
Kynidus smiled and took a sip, "You don't seem to be one."
Siderius had the aura of a long ti noble and the commanding presence of a general. A commoner wouldn't have that. Kynidus could see that clearly on Siderius.
The Master put his mug down and stared at Siderius.
"Can you beat my blade?" Kynidus said.
"Yes, I can." Siderius said plainly.
Kynidus's grin beca wider.
The woodcutter covered his mouth in surprise, 'There wasn't a yes man for a very long ti'.
Kynidus stood up. He walked down the porch and stood at the opposite of Siderius.
Bas grabbed Quinlan's arm and whispered, "Shit is about to go down!"
"Stay quiet. Let focus on watching them two."
Kynidus lifted his chin lightly and looked down upon Siderius. He raised his hand and opened his left palm.
From inside the castle, a sword flew out shrieking like an eagle. It landed in his hand gently and precisely. A small shockwave spread.
Siderius didn't react. He still stood there motionless.
"Take off your mask. I want to see your expression." Kynidus said.
"As you wish."
Siderius pressed the button on the iron mask. He slowly took it off, revealing the cold and indifferent expression beneath.
"You really believe you can beat , huh? I don't know if that's arrogance or confidence." Kynidus said.
Siderius threw the mask on the ground. The Silver Hawk appeared on his back as he grabbed it.
"I can't beat you. If you use all your Spirit Power. But the question isn't whether I can beat you, right? It's whether I can beat your blade.
If it's just your blade, none can beat my blade."
Kynidus nodded along, "There haven't been a lot of people that can get that. So did but their answers were true to their heart.
You're smart, naless swordsman. And you know your heart. You are worthy to learn my swordsmanship.
But I need to know whether you have a stupid or a wise heart."
Kynidus raised his blade. His blade was a straight and thin sword. It was a little bit shorter than the usual long sword that everyone used.
"Tell your na and raise your blade, swordsman. You're about to face Kynidus Hephaestius."
Siderius raised the Silver Hawk, "I am Sir Siderius Snow Satterblade. Grand Alchemist of Enderthal. Master Witch Hunter. Knight of the Holy Order. And Baron of Snowfell. En garde!"
Kynidus smiled, "I am Kynidus Hephaestius. Fierce Warrior of the East. The Mad Dog. The Torchbearer of Anu. The Champion of Shadow. En garde!"
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