The crowd was on edge, their voices rising in a cacophony of anxious murmurs as the dust from the explosion began to settle. Whispers of David's demise rippled through the arena like a wave, and so spectators, their faces pale with disbelief, murmured that he had to be gone.
Luna stood apart from the chaos, a small grin pulling at her lips as she observed the scene. "He lost," she muttered under her breath, a mix of amusent and intrigue in her tone.
Mariana, overhearing Luna's words, turned to her with concern etched on her face. "What do you an, he lost? Is David okay?"
Realizing her slip, Luna quickly masked her expression and reassured Mariana, "Oh, he's fine. Don't worry. But... let's just say he didn't quite stick to his word."
Mariana's eyes narrowed in confusion, but before she could press further, the arena was engulfed in a piercing white light. The brilliance forced the crowd to shield their eyes, gasps of astonishnt echoing around them. Slowly, as the light dimd, the sound of deliberate clapping cut through the stunned silence.
All eyes turned toward the center of the arena, where the dust had finally settled to reveal David, unhard and standing tall. His hands slowly ca together in a mock applause, his figure radiating an undeniable, almost otherworldly presence.
The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and shocked exclamations. "What kind of monster is he?" soone shouted.
In a corner of the arena, Yue and Litty materialized from thin air, their expressions mirroring the astonishnt of the audience. Yue, normally composed and confident, was wide-eyed, her lips trembling as she whispered, "Impossible... That spell was designed to incapacitate even a King-ranked swordsman..."
Litty, equally stunned, looked at her mother, then back at David. "Mother, your spell... it failed?"
David's calm voice broke through their shock. "You two were incredible. That was a comndable attack—one that could have brought most seasoned warriors to their knees. But..." His eyes scanned the arena, stopping at Mariana and Luna before turning back to the duo. "I lost."
A stunned silence fell over the arena. The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, trying to comprehend what they'd just heard.
The receptionist, who had been frozen in place, suddenly rembered the conditions of the match. Stepping forward with a mixture of awe and apprehension, he pointed at David. "You weren't supposed to use Aura to fight or defend yourself... But right now, Aura is covering you."
David glanced at himself, the faint glow of his Aura enveloping his form like a protective shield. He sighed and nodded, acknowledging the truth of the statent. "You're right. I broke the rules."
The crowd erupted again, their earlier awe replaced with an uproar of mixed emotions. So jeered, others laughed, and a few cheered for Yue and Litty, acknowledging their victory.
Mariana looked at David, her face a mixture of relief and mild annoyance. "You said you wouldn't use Aura..."
David shrugged, his lips curving into a sly smile. "Sotis, instincts take over. But that just shows how dangerous they were." He turned to Yue and Litty, bowing slightly in respect. "You two were magnificent. I look forward to seeing what more you're capable of."
Yue and Litty exchanged a glance, their shock slowly lting into pride at David's words. Even in defeat, they had earned the respect of soone who, Aura or not, had proven himself to be a force of nature.
As the crowd's excitent began to settle, Yue stepped forward, her small fra commanding attention despite her childlike appearance. Her erald eyes glead with curiosity as she approached David. "Bend down," she said softly, her tone carrying an unusual intensity.
David raised an eyebrow, but with a shrug, he crouched to her level. Yue leaned in close, her lips near his ear as she whispered, "Why didn't you tell that the unknown energy from back then—the one we couldn't figure out—was just Vrynxor Aether?"
David blinked, his head tilting slightly. "Vrynxor Aether?" he repeated, confused.
Without hesitation, Yue smacked him lightly on the head, causing him to flinch. "Don't tell you've forgotten! Vrynxor Aether is one of the topmost forms of energy, commonly wielded by Dragons. How could you not know this?"
David's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle scattering wildly. Dragons? Topmost energy? White Aura? His confusion was evident, his eyes darting as he tried to make sense of Yue's words.
Yue squinted at him, studying his expression. "Wait... Don't tell —you didn't know?" she asked, her voice laced with incredulity.
David opened his mouth to respond, but Yue grabbed his hand, cutting him off. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, her senses probing the faint traces of energy emanating from him. Suddenly, her eyes shot open, wide with disbelief.
"Your Aura... it feels like a Dragon's, but at the sa ti, it doesn't," she muttered, half to herself. Her gaze bore into him, demanding answers.
Before Yue could dig further, Mariana approached them, her noble deanor instantly shifting the atmosphere. She offered Yue a polite nod, her voice respectful. "It's an honor to et an S-class alchemist. Individuals like you are exceedingly rare."
Yue blinked, caught off guard by the noblewoman's greeting. Bowing slightly, she replied, "The honor is mine, Lady Fla sword. Your reputation precedes you."
Mariana smiled graciously, her tone soft but commanding. "I'd like to extend an invitation to both you and Litty. Tonight, there's a banquet at my castle. Your presence would be most welco."
Yue's mouth fell open slightly, and even Litty looked taken aback. "A banquet... at the castle?" Yue stamred, her usual composure slipping.
David, who had been quietly watching the exchange, broke into a warm smile. "You should accept," he said, winking playfully at Yue.
Yue's cheeks flushed faintly, and she nodded, understanding the subtle ssage in David's gesture. Turning to Mariana, she and Litty bowed deeply. "We would be honored to attend."
Mariana nodded approvingly, her eyes glancing back at David as a smile tugged at her lips. "Then it's settled. I'll see you all tonight."
As the trio watched her walk away, Yue turned to David, her curiosity not entirely sated but montarily set aside. "You've got so explaining to do," she whispered, her tone both amused and intrigued.
David chuckled, the weight of Yue's words lingering in his mind as he prepared for the evening ahead. Vrynxor Aether... Dragons... what exactly am I?
****
A/N: Hey everyone! Apologies for not publishing yesterday—I was attending an event, and it turned out to be super rewarding! I had the chance to connect with a god-tier artist who has previously worked with Redice Studio, the creators of Solo Leveling. Fingers crossed, but I might be dropping so original character designs soon! Let know in the comnts if you think this book should be adapted into a manhwa!
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