Chapter 65: Imagine What I Can Do.

“Prince Aurien…” Ezra whispered under his breath, his body still, eyes slightly widened.

He had not expected that.

As soon as Aurien finished with Team D, more footsteps echoed up the incline. The other teams were arriving, drawn by the noise.

They saw Team D on their knees.

They did not hesitate.

Team B and Team C crested the ledge almost at the same time. The moment their eyes landed on Aurien standing calmly with the flag still in hand, they took it as a challenge.

They did not ask questions.

They attacked.

Ezra barely had time to breathe before it happened again.

Aurien moved.

Not frantic. Not aggressive.

Just certain.

He slipped between them like water slipping through cracks in stone. Steel never left its sheath. The scabbard struck, redirected, unbalanced. He used their momentum against them, their pride against them.

Within moments, both teams met the same fate as Team D.

On the ground.

Weapons knocked aside.

Kneeling.

Shocked.

Shame burning in their eyes.

Ezra stood there, still unmoving.

’What… happened to him?’

“Yes?” Aurien asked lightly, turning toward him with a small smile.

An innocent smile.

As if he had not just dismantled three full teams without drawing his blade.

As if he had not just demonstrated skill far beyond what most in this kingdom believed he possessed.

The kingdom called him a coward.

Ezra had believed it too.

’And I taught him,’ Ezra thought, something tightening in his chest. ’I was the one who showed him how to hold a sword.’

The boy who once trembled at the thought of striking first now moved like this.

Confident.

Measured.

Deadly.

“To say your skills have improved would be…” Ezra trailed off.

He could not find the word.

Improved felt insulting.

Understated.

Aurien tilted his head slightly, waiting.

Ezra swallowed.

The old memory flickered in his mind. A younger Aurien gripping a sword too tightly. Hesitating. Looking to Ezra for reassurance.

And now?

Now Ezra felt something else entirely.

He was itching to move.

Ezra loved sparring with those he deemed worthy. Loved testing his limits. Loved the clarity of crossing blades with someone strong.

And seeing Aurien like this—

’God,’ he thought. ’I want to see how far he can push me.’

Before he could say anything further, more boots scraped against stone.

Team F had arrived.

Perrin stepped forward first.

“Alright then,” Perrin said calmly, eyes sweeping across the platform.

He took in the sight quickly.

Three teams kneeling.

Aurien standing untouched.

Ezra silent beside him.

“Seems something is… going on here.”

There was no panic in Perrin’s voice. No outrage. Just a quiet assessment.

Behind him, his team shifted, hands tightening around their weapons, ready to charge.

Perrin sighed softly.

“Stand down.”

It was not loud.

But it carried.

And they obeyed immediately.

Ezra felt something settle in his chest.

’Good,’ he thought.

Aurien’s smile deepened slightly.

He was pleased.

Not because they were afraid.

But because they understood.

Aurien’s gaze shifted toward the incline again.

“They will not have to wait long,” he said calmly. “Team A is already climbing.”

Ezra followed his line of sight.

Stone.

Gravel.

Empty slope.

He heard nothing.

No footsteps. No shifting armor. Not even breath carried by the wind.

’How could he tell?’ Ezra thought, a faint crease forming between his brows.

He did not ask.

He did not want to sound doubtful.

But the question lingered.

Around them, the kneeling knights shifted slightly, confusion spreading in quiet ripples.

One of the members from Team B lifted his head, still on one knee. His pride was clearly wounded, but his voice remained respectful.

“Your Highness,” he began carefully, “may I ask why all of us need to be here before you… tell us what is going on? We are all on a time limit for this exercise.”

There was no edge in his tone.

Only confusion.

Aurien regarded him for a moment.

“You will have your answer,” he replied evenly. “Once the remaining team arrives.”

That did little to ease anyone.

If anything, the tension thickened.

Some of the knights turned their eyes toward Ezra.

Perrin most noticeably.

His gaze was steady.

Expectant.

As if he assumed Ezra knew.

As if the captain would explain the strategy behind this delay.

Ezra met Perrin’s eyes.

His expression did not change.

He did not offer reassurance.

He did not nod.

’I truly have no idea,’ he thought plainly. ’And I am not about to pretend that I do.’

He held Perrin’s gaze a second longer before looking away.

Let them wonder.

Though—

It felt strange.

Unsettling, even.

As captain of the Sunward Sentinels, he was accustomed to commanding the field. Giving orders. Anticipating movement before it happened. Every decision during training or battle usually passed through him.

Now?

He was simply standing there.

Watching.

Waiting.

Doing nothing.

He was not used to being on the sidelines.

Not used to being the one who did not know.

And yet, here he was.

Silent.

Still.

Waiting for Aurien to speak again.

’This is a first,’ Ezra admitted inwardly. ’And I do not know whether I like it.’

He felt oddly displaced.

Not useless.

But unnecessary.

He had built his identity around command. Around stepping forward when others hesitated. Around knowing what to do before anyone else did.

Now he stood at Aurien’s side like an observer.

And the prince did not need him.

Aurien turned slightly toward him.

“Are you excited, Captain Ezra?”

There was something in his tone. Light. Almost teasing.

Ezra frowned faintly. “Excited for what?”

Aurien did not answer.

He only lifted his hand and pointed toward the incline.

This time—

Ezra heard it.

Bootsteps.

Steady.

Measured.

Not rushed.

Not scrambling.

Deliberate.

The sound rolled upward like a drumbeat, echoing faintly against the stone.

Team A appeared at the crest.

Guy Man stepped forward first.

Broad-shouldered. Confident. His movements carried the ease of someone who trusted his own strength.

He paused the moment he saw what awaited him.

Three teams kneeling.

Weapons discarded.

Team F standing off to the side, restrained but uninjured.

Aurien holding the flag as if this were a formal gathering rather than a battlefield exercise.

Ezra silent beside him.

Guy’s expression shifted.

Not panic.

Not anger.

Assessment.

His eyes flicked from Aurien to the kneeling knights, then to Ezra.

“What is going on, Your Highness?” Guy asked, calm but alert. His gaze lingered a second longer on Ezra. “…Captain.”

There was respect in it.

And expectation.

Behind him, Team A tightened formation instinctively. Their feet adjusted, shoulders aligning, hands ready. They did not charge.

Not yet.

From the side, Perrin watched the scene with narrowed eyes.

“I wouldn’t charge if I were you, meat head,” he said flatly.

Guy shot him a look.

“Who you calling a meat head, you—”

Aurien clapped his hands once.

The sound was not loud.

But it cut through everything.

Conversation stopped.

Movement stilled.

All eyes turned back to him.

“We are doing things differently today,” Aurien announced, a faint smile forming on his lips.

“Differently?” one of the knights muttered under his breath.

Ezra glanced at Aurien.

’What exactly are you planning?’

He could feel it now.

The shift in the air.

Anticipation.

Aurien let the silence stretch just a little longer.

Then he spoke.

“You will all fight each other. Now.”

Murmurs erupted almost immediately.

Confused.

Sharp.

Disbelieving.

“The last two teams standing,” Aurien continued calmly, “will have the chance to fight Captain Ezra and I for the flag.”

The words settled heavily over the platform.

Shock flickered across every face.

It sounded absurd.

Almost cruel.

Even the kneeling knights straightened slightly, staring at him as if they had misheard.

’Is he serious?’ Ezra thought.

Guy stepped forward half a pace, arms crossing over his chest.

“What for?” he asked plainly. “We can do it now. All of us against the two of you. We can figure out who gets the flag amongst each other later.”

There was no arrogance in his tone.

Just confidence.

The kind born from strength.

Behind him, several knights nodded in agreement.

Yes.

Overwhelm them together.

Take the flag by numbers.

Aurien looked at him.

And smiled.

“What makes you think,” he asked softly, “that you would be able to fight us off?”

The air shifted.

Subtle.

But undeniable.

Some of the knights stiffened.

“I have already shown you,” Aurien continued, gesturing lightly toward the kneeling teams, “what happens when you charge without thought.”

His voice did not rise.

It did not need to.

“I can break each of your bones right now without a second thought. Members of my order know that.”

A few swallowed.

No one laughed.

No one argued.

They had seen it.

“And if I can do that alone,” Aurien added, his gaze sliding briefly toward Ezra, “imagine what I can do with Ezra Belloren.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep