Chapter 65
“What is the meaning of this! A fight?”
Professor Herdeum, pale-faced, scolded the two of them.
At this moment, both of them had left the chaotic party hall behind.
Lunia was turning her head away, while Leo calmly straightened his clothes with an indifferent expression.
Watching them, Professor Harrid asked,
“What happened? Who started it?”
At Professor Harrid’s cold voice, Lunia flinched.
There were no teachers like Professor Harrid at Seiren.
Professor Herdeum frowned.
“Are you interrogating our student?”
“We can’t resolve this unless we know the problem.”
“What! Fine! Lunia is the first-year representative of our academy! She isn’t someone who would cause trouble!”
Professor Herdeum then turned to Leo.
“Leo Plov, what was the reason for the fight?”
Herdeum’s question, clearly implying Leo was at fault, was met with Leo’s calm reply.
“It seems I made a small mistake.”
“Aha! I thought so! There’s no way Lunia would be at fault—”
“Professor Herdeum, don’t you think it’s unfair to assume blame so one-sidedly?”
“What are you talking about? Didn’t Leo Plov just admit—”
“If Lunia El Lunda is the first-year representative of Seiren, Leo Plov is also the first-year representative of Lumene.”
At Professor Harrid’s clear statement, Professor Herdeum was surprised.
He hadn’t expected Leo to be a first-year representative.
Seiren, by nature, didn’t pay much attention to the affairs of other schools.
“And most importantly—”
When Professor Harrid’s cold gaze fell on him, Professor Herdeum faltered.
“Just as you trust your student, I trust mine.”
Hearing that, Leo couldn’t help but smile.
Though feared by the students, Professor Harrid’s care for them was sincere.
‘He’s only strict for their sake.’
After Professor Harrid spoke, Professor Herdeum cleared his throat.
“Well, fine! Lunia, what did Leo Plov say to you?”
‘I can’t talk about this in front of others!’
As the heir to the Lunda family, having her Phoenix taken from her was deeply humiliating.
If this got out at Seiren, she’d surely be ridiculed.
As Lunia hesitated, not knowing what to say, Leo spoke.
“I made a contrac—”
“Haha! It was just a small misunderstanding.”
Lunia hurriedly clamped her hand over Leo’s mouth.
She shot him a fierce look, as if to say, ‘If you say a word, you’re dead!’
When Leo shrugged and nodded, Lunia removed her hand and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Professor Herdeum, Professor Harrid, for causing trouble at a gathering meant for harmony, and for…”
Lunia forced a smile as she bowed.
“I’m sorry, Leo Plov. I apologize for my rudeness.”
Leo found her trembling lips amusing.
Seeing this, Professor Herdeum clutched his head.
“Oh no, how could this happen…”
“It seems the misunderstanding has been resolved, so let’s continue the party. And let’s not speak of this again.”
At Professor Harrid’s words, Professor Herdeum glanced at him and nodded.
“Professor Harrid, Leo, you two may return to the party. I’ll have a word with Lunia.”
With that, Professor Harrid and Leo reentered the hall.
Left alone outside, Lunia bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, professor.”
“It’s all right. What’s done is done. Was the student who fought with Tirren earlier today also this student?”
“Yes.”
“Leo Plov, then. I remember now. He was the representative at Lumene’s first-year entrance.”
Professor Herdeum nodded and crossed his arms.
“Don’t let anything like this happen again, Lunia. You’re Seiren’s first-year representative, one of our most promising talents.”
“I understand.”
“And don’t fall behind Leo Plov in the joint classes starting tomorrow! Seiren has always been ahead of Lumene!”
Professor Herdeum clenched his fist, showing his competitive spirit.
“We must continue to prove that Seiren is superior to Lumene—and to all hero academies!”
“I’ll never lose to that guy! I’ll totally crush him, so don’t worry! I swear on Seiren’s honor!”
“Luniaaaa! How many times have I told you to fix that coarse language!”
Ignoring Professor Herdeum’s plea as he clutched his head, Lunia glared fiercely at the party hall.
‘Just you wait, Leo Plov!’
—
The party ended.
But the atmosphere between the two schools was extremely awkward.
And how could it not be? There had just been a conflict between the representatives of each academy.
A new tension hovered between the two schools.
Returning to the dorm, Leo changed into comfortable clothes.
Sitting at the table in the dorm, arms folded, he waited for someone.
Whoosh—!
A shadow flashed past the window.
The blizzard had cleared.
Looking outside, Leo saw Lunia.
Their eyes met, and Lunia softly chanted a spell.
Click—!
The window opened, and Lunia stepped inside.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Judging by your personality, I figured you’d show up tonight.”
“Then, care to explain? How did you end up stealing my contracted spirit?”
“Calling it stealing seems a bit off. I only contracted with Fiora at Lady Phirina’s suggestion.”
“Nonsense! Lady Phirina chose me as Fiora’s contractor when I was five! I’ve cherished Fiora since I was little! We went everywhere together! Took baths together every day! I even dressed her!”
“Fiora only hatched three months ago.”
“I took great care of her even as an egg!”
“Find another Oathbound. Lady Phirina is already searching hard for another Phoenix for you because she feels bad.”
For most people, a Phoenix is a legendary familiar, but with the Lunda family’s influence, it wouldn’t be hard for Lunia to find another Phoenix to contract.
“But it has to be her!”
Leo sighed as Lunia shouted, eyes brimming with tears.
‘It’s true, I do feel a little bad.’
Taking a contracted familiar from its intended partner is extremely rude.
In severe cases, it could cost someone their life.
Even though Phirina arranged Leo’s contract with Fiora, she only did so because she thought it would be impossible.
It’s understandable.
No matter how talented, how could someone who hadn’t studied summoning contract with a Phoenix?
But Leo succeeded, and this situation arose.
No one was really at fault, but Lunia had undoubtedly lost her intended partner.
‘And a Phoenix is famous for having only one Oathbound.’
Phirina only made the offer to Leo as a special exception because he was her benefactor’s son.
A proud Phoenix never has more than one Oathbound.
“I took such good care of Fiora! Sob! We were always together! Waaa! Now she’s not my partner! Fiora! Waaah!”
As Lunia lay on the floor, wailing, Leo asked,
“What do you want me to do?”
Lunia abruptly stopped crying.
She glanced at Leo.
“Then can you grant me one request?”
“If it’s something I can do.”
“Fight me.”
“What?”
“I’ll prove it! I’m the Oathbound who deserves Fiora more than you!”
Leo smiled as Lunia’s eyes burned with determination.
“Let’s go, then?”
—
Leo and Lunia left the dorm and headed to a wide, deserted field.
Their footsteps left marks in the white snow as they took up positions far apart.
“Let me warn you.”
“Hm?”
“If you feel you can’t go on, give up quickly. Don’t get hurt because of pride.”
Leo gave a wry smile at Lunia’s words.
“Worried about me?”
“As if.”
Lunia snorted and crossed her arms.
“I’m only saying this because you’re Reina’s son—she’s my father’s benefactor!”
With that, Lunia took a coin from her pocket.
“The duel starts the moment this coin falls.”
“All right.”
“Here goes.”
Ping! Whirrrrr!
The gold coin sparkled in the moonlight as it rose high and then fell.
Thunk—!
Fwoosh—! Fwoosh—!
Flames of aura and magic blazed at the same time.
Seeing Leo’s flames, Lunia narrowed her eyes.
‘Zerdinger flames. Like our family, a house blessed by the Phoenix.’
As one of the rare families in the world capable of wielding Phoenix power, Lunia’s competitive spirit flared.
‘I absolutely won’t lose!’
“In the name of the contractor—”
Five summoning circles appeared around Lunia.
With them, five mid-level fire-attribute familiars, Salamanders, emerged.
The bipedal Salamanders breathed fire and used both hands with great skill.
“Five mid-level familiars?”
Leo was impressed, but that wasn’t all.
As Lunia chanted, flames formed a spear and shield in each Salamander’s hands.
Watching Lunia quickly strengthen her Salamanders with magic, Leo smiled.
“As expected from Seiren’s first-year representative.”
“You seem pretty relaxed, but I haven’t even started yet! Everyone, let’s go!”
Leaving the front line to her Salamanders, Lunia quickly widened the distance and began chanting.
Facing the five Salamanders pressing in, Leo murmured,
“Leaving the fighting to your familiars and focusing on a powerful spell yourself… classic.”
“That’s the elves’ traditional fighting style! Lady Luna fought like this, too!”
By today’s standards, Luna is considered a traditional mage who turns the tide with overwhelming spells.
“She’s seen as a traditional mage now, yeah.”
Leo smiled.
“But you’re wrong.”
“What?”
“If you look at it by today’s standards, Luna was a combat mage.”
A mage who rampaged through the battlefield, firing spells without rest.
For Kyle and his companions, even pausing to cast a spell could mean death.
Luna only paused to cast spells when the situation allowed.
The reason Luna is now considered a traditional mage is simple.
‘Even while moving non-stop, each one of her spells could turn the entire battlefield.’
A flawless magician.
That was Luna, Founder of the Nebula.
“Hmph, that’s what humans think. But when it comes to the Founder, elven records are more accurate than human ones, don’t you think?”
Lunia narrowed her eyes.
While they spoke, Leo dispatched all five Salamanders.
If Lunia had focused more on supporting them, it wouldn’t have been so easy.
But right now, Lunia was pouring all her attention into her spell.
‘Now if I take down Lunia—’
Leo quickly closed the gap.
But as soon as he locked eyes with Lunia’s bright smile, he leapt back.
“Quick reflexes, huh?”
Lunia smiled and raised her right hand.
A massive sphere of flame appeared.
Fwoooosh—!
The intense heat melted all the snow around them.
“Scorching Sun. The ultimate magic of our family.”
Like the Zerdinger family’s Phoenix Breath, it was a magic powered by the Phoenix.
But only a fool would face such a powerful spell head-on.
‘Even a fragment of that spell would be devastating…’
“You sure? Magic that uses the Phoenix’s power will have its effect halved on me.”
That’s right.
Leo’s flames and Lunia’s flames were fundamentally the same attribute.
So Lunia’s magic couldn’t inflict full damage on Leo.
“I know. But I’ll beat you with this spell anyway.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t just a duel. I have to prove I’m the Oathbound more suited to Fiora than you. Winning isn’t enough.”
Lunia’s face turned serious.
“This is my pride as a Phoenix’s Oathbound.”
“Really? Then I accept your challenge.”
“What?”
Lunia paused, not immediately grasping Leo’s words.
But without thinking further, she hurled her magic at Leo.
“Get ready!”
A mass of fire, like a miniature sun, engulfed Leo.
Fwoosh—!
Flames surged from Leo’s body.
Taking a deep breath, Leo swung his sword at the Scorching Sun.
Rumble—
Lunia’s eyes widened in shock.
“Are you crazy? You’ll die if you mess up!”
“You wanted to prove you’re worthy of Fiora, didn’t you? Then I’ll prove something too!”
Lunia tried to cancel the spell but hesitated.
“I’ll show you why Fiora chose me!”
Lunia’s jaw dropped.
‘So that’s what he meant by accepting my challenge? He’s out of his mind!’
If she attacked Leo now, victory would be hers.
But the duel was no longer just about skill.
It had become a battle of pride between summoners—
And between those who wielded the Phoenix’s power.
Crash! Crash!
Leo blocked the Scorching Sun as he kept retreating.
But his flames kept devouring Lunia’s flames.
‘Stronger! Even stronger!’
Fwoosh! Kaaaa!
Leo’s fire hungrily swallowed the stray flames breaking away from Lunia’s magic.
‘He’s making his fire stronger by letting himself get hurt?’
It wasn’t a normal method.
No one could imagine such a way to fight.
Unleashing more power than his body should allow, even at the cost of injury!
But Leo kept devouring Lunia’s fire.
And finally—
Fwoosh—!
Leo’s flames consumed the Scorching Sun entirely.
Thud—
Lunia, stunned, lost all strength in her legs and collapsed before she realized it.
Step, step—
Leo, his shirt in ashes, walked up to Lunia.
Lunia stared up at him in a daze.
“If you want a real duel, I’ll take you on properly. What do you say?”
“Haha! Ahahaha!”
Lunia burst out laughing despite herself.
“No, I lost.”
How could she stay angry at someone who faced her fury head-on like this?
With effort, Lunia stood up and gave a bitter smile.
“I’m sorry for acting so arrogant and refusing to acknowledge you. I sincerely apologize.”
“It’s fine. I’d have been angry too.”
‘…For two first-year representatives, the difference is really embarrassing.’
She felt humbled by her opponent’s broad heart.
“I recognize you, but I haven’t given up.”
Lunia crossed her arms.
“I’ll prove I’m the Oathbound more suited to Fiora! So Fiora can choose me next time!”
Fiora pointed at Leo Plov with her wing.
“So from now on, Leo Plov, you’re my rival!”
“Think what you like.”
“I’ll be looking forward to the joint class tomorrow.”
As Lunia spun away, red hair swaying, Leo smiled.
“I’ll make sure I meet your expectations.”