The crowd erupted in applause, soon joined by the ecstatic Count Lark, who still couldn't believe his eyes.
Count Lark was a magic enthusiast, always on the lookout for talented children to sponsor, and from the look in his eyes, he believed he had found one in Lith.
Lith's master, Nana, reassured the boy that she would hold up her end of the bargain before sending him off to his parents. She then turned her attention to Ricker Trahan, a noble child who had been watching Lith's performance with a mix of awe and irritation.
"And that, young man, is what real talent for magic looks like!" Nana said pointedly, clearly addressing Ricker's earlier boasts.
Michael observed the interaction quietly, realizing that Lith and Ricker must be rivals. Their tension was palpable, even to an outsider.
"That was fascinating," Alia remarked, watching Lith with interest as she stood beside her son.
Michael nodded but paused as his mother spoke again, addressing soone nearby. Turning to see who it was, Michael noticed Count Lark approaching, his gaze shifting between Alia and Michael before recognition dawned on his face.
"Grand Mage Silva! What an honor to see you here!" the Count exclaid, bowing deeply.
Alia offered a polite nod. "My son wanted to experience the festival, so we decided to visit," she explained with a faint smile.
Count Lark straightened, his curiosity now piqued as he looked at Michael. "Ah, and this must be your son. A fine young man," he said, offering a courteous nod.
Michael returned the gesture respectfully.
"Young man, would you mind if my son competes with you?" She asked, gesturing toward Lith, who turned to look at Michael.
Alia glanced at Michael, silently seeking his opinion. Michael gave a slight nod of approval. "I don't mind," he said calmly, his tone betraying a hint of curiosity.
At that mont, a screen flashed before Michael's eyes:
[New Quest]
Objective: Defeat Lith in a magic duel.
Reward: Aura Basics Skill book
Penalty: None.
Michael's expression remained neutral as he processed the quest. "Interesting," he thought, as he looked back at Lith.
"If you win, this Magic Book of Basic Magic up to Tier III is yours," Alia said with a calm smile as she noticed Lith deep in thought. His eyes widened at the offer, and after a mont of consideration, he nodded.
"It would be my honor, Lord Mage," Lith replied respectfully.
"Hm, you can just call Aunt Alia," she said with a warm tone. "A talented kid like you might surpass one day." Alia offered her hand to Lith, her deanor both kind and regal. Lith hesitated briefly before shaking her hand, marveling at how approachable she was—so different from the nobles he had t before.
Even Nana, standing nearby, was struck by Alia's deanor. She couldn't help but compare it to Count Lark's, who, despite being kind, still carried the weight of nobility in his presence. Alia, however, exuded a natural charisma that was impossible to ignore.
On the other hand, Ricker approached Alia with a smug expression, clearly attempting to ingratiate himself. "Hello, Aunt Alia," he said with a confident smile.
Alia turned her gaze to him, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Who are you to call Aunt?" she asked coldly, her tone imdiately wiping the grin off Ricker's face. She could tell at a glance that he was a spoiled noble with little respect for others.
"But you—" Ricker began, only to be interrupted as Alia flicked her fingers, sending a light magical pulse toward him. The gentle burst of energy pushed him back slightly, causing him to stumble.
"I only allow this young man," she gestured to Lith, "to address that way—not impolite, pretentious children." Her voice was sharp, her words carrying a weight that left no room for argunt.
Ricker's face flushed with embarrassnt as the crowd murmured around him. Alia turned away dismissively, her calm deanor intact. "I dislike spoiled nobles the most," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
anwhile, Count Lark observed the exchange and turned to Nana and Lith with a thoughtful expression. "She's also a commoner who earned her title as a noble," he said, finally understanding why Alia carried herself so differently. She wasn't constrained by the usual airs of nobility, which made her presence approachable.
"No wonder she ca here wearing villager clothes," the villagers murmured amongst themselves, their eyes filled with admiration. A commoner earning a noble title was an inspiration to these humble people, a reminder that greatness could be achieved by anyone with talent and determination.
Soon, Michael and Lith entered the clearing. Michael extended his hand with a friendly smile. "Hello, I'm Michael. You can call Micky," he said cheerfully.
Lith nodded, taking his hand for a firm shake. "I'm Lith, from Lutia," he replied, his tone polite yet steady.
"Alright," Alia began, her commanding voice silencing the murmurs of the crowd. "This will be a magic duel. You are only allowed to use Tier I magic, and I will intervene if there's any chance of injury. Understood?"
Both Lith and Michael nodded in agreent. Nearby, Nana watched carefully, prepared to step in if necessary. She didn't trust nobles, no matter how kind they seed, as she knew too well the dark history many carried.
"Okay, begin!" Alia announced.
The clearing grew tense as Lith and Michael stared each other down, neither making the first move. Both were carefully gauging their opponent.
'We've got this, Solus,' Lith ntally said to himself, feeling the reassuring presence of his companion. On his finger, the simple rock ring shimred faintly, a sign of Solus's subtle yet constant support.
It is his Cheat a remnant of an Magic tower, now reduced to this small ring, though as Lith grows the tower also recovers its strength little by little.
Michael, on the other hand, clenched his fists, a faint magical aura swirling around him. He smirked. "Let's see what you've got," he said confidently, preparing his first spell.
The duel was about to begin in earnest, and the crowd held their breath in anticipation.
*******
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A/ N : if any of you are wondering how long will he remain in this world, then its just 20 chaps, I am just going to introduce the three worlds he got and then we are back to Marvel.
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