Chapter 274: Trails of Light.



BOOM!

A massive explosion tore through the training grounds, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

A young man was hurled backward by the force, his sword raised defensively in front of him. His hands trembled under the shock, his aura flickering erratically between shades of white and blue as he struggled to stabilize his mana flow.

Despite the nearly point-blank impact of the blast, he landed gracefully, his boots skidding slightly against the ground before coming to a halt.

“HAHA~”

A playful, mocking laugh echoed through the open training grounds.

Standing a few meters away was a young woman, her expression full of mischief. She observed him with a smirk, her arms crossed as if she had all the time in the world.

“Impressive, Senior-” Flamme’s voice was laced with amusement, her silver-gray eyes twinkling under the sunlight. “Even though I told my spirit to hold back, that was still an attack from a mid-grade spirit. Your aura efficiency is truly remarkable.”

The west side of the imperial palace was home to a massive, open training field enclosed by tall stone walls.

Today, this serene space had become the site of a high-stakes duel.

Riley, the young man at the center of it all, adjusted his stance.

His gaze was unwavering, his senses heightened to the extreme as he focused on his surroundings.

His breathing was calm, yet there was a fierce intensity behind his hazy eyes.

He shifted into a martial stance, one inspired by the famed hidden blade technique, his sword held low and ready for a precise, lethal strike.

This was uncharted territory for him-facing an opponent who was both invisible and devoid of any noticeable presence. It felt like he was fighting a ghost.

Flamme’s playful tone cut through the air again.

“Should I let them manifest, Senior?” she teased, leaning slightly forward as if to gauge his reaction. “Though I’ll warn you, they’ll be a bit stronger this time. Hehe~”

Riley, ignoring Flamme’s taunts, remained calm and steady, his focus sharpening like a blade.

He enhanced his mana senses, every fiber of his being tuned to detect even the slightest disturbance in the air.

-SWIIFF!-

His instincts kicked in.

A subtle shift on his right caught his attention-an imperceptible ripple in the air that most would have missed.

Without hesitation, his body moved instinctively, ducking just in time to avoid a surprise attack from Flamme’s wind spirit.

Flamme’s expression flickered with surprise.

She had been confident that her wind spirit’s sudden strike would catch Riley off guard.

She started to issue a command to her spirit, hoping to reestablish the attack.

But it was already too late.

Riley’s feet slid into position, his stance fluid yet precise.

His blade, still sheathed, pulsed faintly with a vibrant glow as his mana surged, enhancing both his weapon and his movements.

-Boom!-

In an instant, Riley unleashed his skills in a seamless combo.

[Dashing Sprint] → Activated!

[Blink Step] → Activated!

[Aura] → Activated!

[Monarch’s Will] → Activated!

His body blurred, moving with lightning speed.

The ground beneath him cracked as he launched forward, the sheer force of his movement leaving a faint blue trail in his wake.

-SWOOSH!-

Riley came to a halt, the wind pressure trailing behind him roaring like a thunderclap.

The sound barrier broke just as his sword stopped, its gleaming blade hovering a mere inch from Flamme’s neck.

Flamme froze. Her wide eyes mirrored disbelief, unable to process the sheer speed and precision of his counterattack.

Yet, just before Riley’s blade could reach her, a massive claw appeared out of thin air-a manifestation of her invisible water familiar.

The claw intercepted the strike, stopping it at the last possible moment.

“…I-I lost?” Flamme stammered, her voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Riley exhaled deeply, lowering his blade as the faint glow of his aura dissipated. He sheathed his sword with a calm, measured motion, his breathing steady despite the exertion.

“Looks like it…”

Slightly annoyed at the result, Flamme glared at Riley with a mix of frustration and

begrudging respect before letting out a soft, exaggerated sigh.

“Tsk~ Maybe I shouldn’t have held back,” she muttered under her breath.

Despite her annoyance, Flamme couldn’t deny Riley’s unexpected skill.

While she had initially categorized him in her mind as someone decent but not particularly

strong, his performance had proven otherwise.

He wasn’t just fast-he was clever, adaptable, and full of surprises.

However, one thing gnawed at her curiosity.

That moment during the duel-a fleeting second where she felt her strength and mana drain inexplicably-kept replaying in her mind.

Riley’s speed and technique alone shouldn’t have been enough to bypass her mid-grade

spirits.

If it weren’t for that strange disruption, she was confident her spirits could’ve intercepted

him.

Flamme’s gaze lingered on Riley as she pondered the possibilities.

Did he do something? she wondered.

But even if he had, she reasoned it was better not to pry too deeply.

After all, secrets were always more intriguing when left as mysteries.

Riley, meanwhile, had already begun making his way to the edge of the training area.

His movements were calm and measured, as if the intense duel hadn’t fazed him at all.

He accepted a canteen of water from a brown-haired maid dressed in a neat, simple uniform. Her attentive demeanor suggested she was familiar with his routine.

Taking a sip, Riley turned slightly and glanced back at Flamme, his expression neutral but

polite.

“Thanks for the hard work, Junior,” he said, offering her another canteen.

Flamme blinked in mild surprise before accepting it. “Thanks~”

She took a sip herself, still trying to shake off the lingering irritation of her loss. Finally, she

looked at him, her curiosity shifting gears. “Anyways, why did you suddenly ask me to train so

early in the morning, Senior?”

Riley paused, considering her question. “It’s rare to get the opportunity to spar with an elementalist,” he admitted, brushing a few stray strands of hair away from his face. “And I needed a warm-up before today’s journey.”

“Hmm~ I see,” Flamme replied, tilting her head thoughtfully. Her tone became more teasing as she added, “Well, I guess dulling your senses could cost you your life in the trial-“

Flamme already knew Riley was about to embark on the Trails of Light, a journey most

wouldn’t dare to attempt without thorough preparation.

She understood his reasoning for wanting to sharpen his senses, but the idea of being used as

a training tool irked her more than a little.

And most of all… “Couldn’t you have just trained with Snow instead?” she asked, crossing her arms and

shooting him an annoyed glare. “She’s going with you today, right? You could’ve even asked

her to join us.”

Riley shook his head lightly, his expression calm but resolute. “Ah, Snow won’t be joining me

today.”

“What?” Flamme blinked, clearly surprised. “But she insisted on coming with you, didn’t she? Even the Emperor approved it in the end.”

“It took some time, but I managed to talk her out of it,” Riley replied. His voice softened slightly, as though he were mulling over the memory. “For better or worse, tackling the trial

is too much for Snow right now.”

Flamme raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Heh~ And it’s okay for you?” she teased,

leaning in slightly. “Don’t get me wrong, Senior, you’re strong, but I don’t think Snow would

lose to you in a fight.”

Riley gave her a sidelong glance, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Is that what

you thought when you fought me today as well?”

“Wha—” Flamme froze for a moment, caught off guard, before her cheeks flushed in irritation. “I only lost because I held back a lot, if anything it was a tie at best, you didn’t

manage to reach me as well”

“Sure…” Riley replied, his tone dripping with playful disbelief.

“Grr…!” Flamme clenched her fists, her temper flaring.

Riley’s nonchalant attitude always seemed to poke at her pride in the worst way.

Ignoring her dog-like growl of frustration, Riley adjusted his scabbard and turned toward the exit, his steps unhurried. “I’m heading out now, Junior,” he said without looking back. Pausing briefly at the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder and added, “Make sure not to

cause Miss Filo any trouble, okay? If I manage to come out safe and sound, I’ll talk to the Emperor about lessening your punishment. So, don’t get too lonely while I’m gone.” With a small wave of his hand, Riley walked out, leaving Flamme behind, her mouth slightly

agape as she processed his parting words.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?” she muttered under her breath, her irritation now laced

with faint confusion.

Flamme wanted nothing more than to grab Riley by the collar and teach him a lesson for

being such a cheeky senior.

However, she held herself back, knowing she couldn’t afford to act impulsively.

After all, she was already being punished-a whole week confined to the training area, all alone except for a few servants to keep her company.

She let out a frustrated sigh, muttering to herself, “He really just came here to bother me for a

bit, didn’t he? If he was planning to work up a sweat, he could’ve just trained with the knights

instead…”

“Fufu~”

The soft chuckle of the brown-haired maid, Filo, broke the silence, resonating throughout the room. Flamme turned toward her, visibly annoyed.

Filo, the maid assigned to serve her during this week of confinement, had a quiet, frail

demeanor.

But Flamme knew better-Filo was an elite member of the Shadow Knights, her delicate appearance hiding her dangerous capabilities.

“What’s so funny?” Flamme snapped, crossing her arms in irritation.

Filo shook her head, her serene smile never faltering. “Oh, nothing at all, Lady Flamme.”

“Then what’s up with that loud chuckle just now?” Flamme demanded, narrowing her eyes. “Fufu~” Filo’s soft laughter returned, though she quickly composed herself. “It’s just that… this is the first time I’ve seen you look so genuinely happy around someone, Lady Flamme.”

“Happy?” Flamme raised an eyebrow, scoffing. “Of course, I’d be happy! It’s not every day I get to spend time with someone so amusing, right?” She huffed, trying to downplay her feelings, though her cheeks betrayed a faint hint of color.

“I’m sure you’ll come to understand what I mean someday, Lady Flamme,” Filo said

cryptically, her gaze softening as if she saw something in Flamme she couldn’t yet recognize

herself.

“Huh?” Flamme blinked in confusion, but before she could press further, Filo clapped her hands together with a resolute energy.

“Now, now~ Enough about that,” Filo said cheerfully. “Let’s begin today’s lecture, shall

we?”

Flamme’s irritation quickly shifted to dread as Filo reached for a thick, leather-bound book sitting on a nearby table.

The gilded letters on the spine gleamed ominously, and Flamme instinctively gulped. Ordered by the Emperor to instill “proper morals” into Flamme during her punishment, Filo

adjusted her round glasses with a calm but determined look. “Please listen carefully, Lady Flamme,” she said, flipping the book open to a densely packed page. “I’ll make sure you become a proper lady by the time your punishment is over.” Flamme stared at the book as if it were her mortal enemy.

At the heart of the imperial palace stood a vast, open garden, its lush greenery extending in all

directions.

Medium-height walls of meticulously trimmed hedges framed the area, while flowers of every color and variety bloomed vibrantly, their petals stretching toward the sunlight. The scene was like a painting brought to life, a perfect blend of nature’s beauty and human

craftsmanship.

The air was crisp with the freshness of winter, tinged with the subtle aromatic sweetness of the garden’s blossoms, a scent that deepened with every breath.

A soft breeze danced through the garden, rustling leaves and carrying with it the faint sound

of chirping

birds.

At the center of this serene oasis was a medium-sized white table, simple in color but

exuding an air of opulence.

The intricate carvings along its edges and the flawless polish of its surface hinted at craftsmanship so fine that its value was immeasurable.

Two equally elegant chairs flanked the table, their designs as regal as the setting itself.

Tuck.

The gentle sound of a teacup being set down on its saucer echoed softly, breaking the tranquil silence. The gesture was mirrored by another figure, both seated at the table.

Two pairs of eyes met-one a striking crimson red, the other a deep, contemplative blue.

Their gazes locked, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension. Though their surroundings were peaceful, the atmosphere around the table was anything but.

“Your Highness,” the Duke spoke, his voice measured but laced with a rising edge of

incredulity. “Could you repeat what you just said?”

“… Riley and I are dating.”

Crack!

The sound of porcelain shattering rang out as the teacup in the Duke’s hand crumbled into a

thousand fragments.

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