Lucas’s Point of View
I naturally stood apart, observing the students and Luxia with indifference. I wouldn’t say I’m barely a first-star due to laziness, nor would I claim the opposite.
But using my affinity makes extrely uncomfortable. It’s not that I fear criticism; over ti, you beco immune to it. But I couldn’t ignore that I had the sa affinity that killed my uncle and caused my mother’s death. Though my father and older brother didn’t show it, there was always a hint of resentnt toward , which my aunt and her son, Leo, made clear during our rare interactions. And my other aunt, Luxia, whom I barely know but have faint mories of from when I was six or seven, at least doesn’t hate like my cousin does.
"If only I had the Light affinity like Leonard...," I thought, darkening my expression further.
There were a few combat simulations where Luxia comnted, explaining details to improve and each fighter’s weaknesses. She focused more on the first-years, and watching how Drake had tornted his opponent...
I sighed. "I’d rather avoid him in the future if possible."
"Eden Folker and Lucas..." She said, looking at her list of nas.
I was obviously surprised; I hadn’t expected her to choose .
I walked through the seats, climbed into the ring, and bowed to the Saintess and my opponent.
My opponent was the most arrogant person I’d ever seen—or rather, I was jealous of his affinity, which is why I didn’t like him from the start.
He looked down at , hands in his pockets, relaxed, without even drawing his sword or taking a fighting stance.
"This is a combat simulation. Eden Folker, you’re already a four-star, don’t use your full power. And Lucas... do your best."
"That’s what I intended to do, Saintess."
I frowned and decided to attack first. I drew my sword, and since I didn’t plan to use (or didn’t know how to use) my darkness affinity, I’d grown accustod to wielding mana without an affinity.
As I prepared to strike, a calm voice suddenly echoed in my mind, with a hint of surprise.
"#%&% (It’s... It’s him...)"
"Who is it?" I asked the Archdemon of Pride, though he spoke in a language foreign to , I instinctively understood his words.
I could hear his voice directly, while the Archangels only spoke through the oracles of His Holiness. I didn’t know why, but I was different from them.
"Hmm... Let’s say it’s soone’s mistake," he replied in his detached tone.
Contrary to what others think, that heretics are like slaves controlled to commit evil acts, personally, the Archdemon of Darkness has never forced to do anything.
I’m not the type to constantly complain that he’s responsible for my cursed affinity, so he’s the only person I often talk to, even though I’d love to rip his heart out for what he’s done to .
"Alright." His initial reaction to seeing this guy (Eden) didn’t really interest , and I doubt he’d want to say more.
"What will you do?"
"How, what will I do? I don’t even have a choice..." I sighed, using my mana to strengthen my body in response to his question.
’Are demons unemployed? How co they’re so talkative?’
As I circulated mana throughout my body.
"I’ll take the lead, cursed prince," he declared with a hint of amusent.
He pointed his index finger at , and several ice shards materialized, rushing toward at high speed.
I managed to dodge them thanks to Mana Body, which had multiplied my speed.
Then, sword in hand, I launched an attack to my left, but he dodged it with disconcerting ease, despite my increased speed, sowing doubt in my mind about my chances of victory, even though he’d reduced his power to my level...
The ease with which he dodged my relentless attacks was troubling, and I was starting to tire.
"Prince Lucas, are you serious?" he sneered, jumping a ter back, hands still in his pockets, without even thinking of drawing his sword, which wasn’t even at his belt.
"What do you an?" I asked, frowning and gasping, though the fight had only lasted five minutes.
"Hmm... nothing, I was just wondering where your curse was," he said, thoughtful.
He’s really starting to annoy .
I ignored his remark and pivoted to launch a roundhouse kick upward. Expecting him to dodge again, I prepared a sneaky attack accordingly. But I was wrong. He grabbed my right leg instead and said, smirking:
"Let’s finish this quickly, shall we?"
As I tried to stabilize and counterattack with my other leg, he landed a punch to my stomach, and I was thrown backward.
I’d underestimated his brute strength. He didn’t need his weapon to beat after all.
I quickly got up because staying on the ground too long would mark the end of the fight. But I didn’t want to lose, especially to soone who kept reminding of my inferiority and what I’d always desired.
"Prince Lucas, why aren’t you using your affinity? Then I’ll force you to. After all, I want to see it in action," he declared before briefly disappearing from my field of vision.
That half-second of inattention was fatal. I was struck again and again, almost knocked out, but I still heard his arrogant voice as he held by the hair, his gaze indifferent, head slightly tilted. The worst part was that he... had reason to be arrogant, and that I couldn’t stand.
"A sha to the Arcadia family."
I looked at Luxia, who was watching the scene. Her gaze showed she wanted to see more of Eden’s Light affinity than to end her nephew’s humiliation.
And just as he was about to slap again, I thought of what Sahara had said.
"Would my mother want to see her son humiliated? I doubt it! Her death must be worth it. It’s the burden I must carry."
[How can the Apostle of Pride be humiliated like this?] I heard Lucifer’s voice in my head.
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