The training grounds of the Royal Academy of Light were a grinding chorus of clashing wood and guttural effort. The air hung heavy with the salt stink of sweat and the sharp, ozone bite of 'Holy Resonance' forced through blunt practice blades. Captain Graves stood like a granite statue, his one good eye tracking every movement of the thirty students under his command.
Dorian stood at the edge of the pit, his posture one of bored detachment. To him, this 'Combat Training' was a farce watching children poke at each other with sticks in a mud puddle.
"Pair up!" Graves's roar cut through the din. "Basic strike and parry. If I see anyone leaking magic before they can balance their own weight, I'll have you scrubbing the latrines!"
The students scrambled, avoiding Dorian's gaze. He was no longer a target of ridicule; he was a source of superstitious dread. Julian Valmont stood near the weapon racks, his bandaged wrist cradled against his chest. Beside him stood his older brother, Cassius a Rank 3 Holy Resonance 'Elite' who possessed the cold, calculated cruelty Dorian found almost nostalgic.
"So," Cassius said, stepping into the sand pit. He leveled a wooden training blade at Dorian's throat. "The family embarrassment has crawled out of the hole. I hear you've been telling stories, Valerius. Fables about ledgers and secrets."
Dorian walked into the pit. He didn't reach for a wooden sword. "I don't tell stories, Cassius. I state facts. It isn't my fault your father finds the truth so... financially draining."
Cassius's eyes narrowed into slits of amber. "Captain," he called out. "I'd like to partner with Valerius. I think he needs a more... vigorous assessment."
Graves grunted, recognizing a grudge match but knowing strength was the only law that mattered here. "Fine. But keep it within the regulations."
*Ding!*
**[Urgent Saint Quest: The Discipline of the Light.]**
**[Objective: Defeat Cassius Valmont while 'Teaching' him.]**
**[Reward: +100 Faith Points / +2 Strength.]**
Dorian plucked a wooden sword from the rack. He didn't test its weight. "Teaching? Fine. I'll be the professor today. Try not to fail the first lesson."
Cassius lunged forward, his Rank 3 resonance flaring. The wooden blade hummed, coated in crystalline golden light. It was a 'Holy Strike' a move far too advanced for a training session. Dorian didn't parry. At the last possible microsecond, he pivoted, the blade whistling past his chest.
"First lesson, Cassius," Dorian said. "Power without precision is just a very loud way to telegraph your failure."
Cassius growled and spun, launching a flurry of strikes. To the other students, it looked like a blur of unstoppable force. To Dorian, it looked like a clumsy child throwing a tantrum.
"Second lesson," Dorian continued, parrying with short, sharp movements. "Your anger is a leak in your soul. You're fighting me because you're terrified that the 'trash' is actually your superior."
"Shut up!" Cassius roared, raising his sword for a massive overhead strike.
Dorian's eyes flared with a cold, sapphire light. He didn't dodge this time. He stepped into Cassius's space, his wooden sword moving in a blur.
**[Skill: 'Holy Bindings': ACTIVATING]**
Thin, golden threads of light erupted from Dorian's hand, wrapping around Cassius's wrists and ankles. Cassius's strike froze mid air.
"Third lesson," Dorian whispered, stepping close. "The Light isn't just a hammer, Cassius. It's a cage. And you've been living in a very small one your entire life."
Dorian tapped the wooden blade against Cassius's forehead. It was a gentle movement, but it felt like a mountain of ice had collapsed onto the boy's mind. Cassius's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into the sand.
The training ground went silent.
*Ding!*
**[Saint Quest: COMPLETED!]**
**[Good Deed Detected: Humbling an Arrogant Noble.]**
**[Faith Points Received: +100]**
**[Stat Increase: Strength +2]**
**[Current FP: (9,999,300 points deducted)]**
"He'll be fine in an hour," Dorian said to Captain Graves. "He just needs to learn how to breathe without a silver spoon in his mouth."
As Dorian walked past the students, they parted for him like a tide receding from a jagged reef. He didn't look at them. He only cared about the fact that he was one step closer to clearing his debt. But at the edge of the grounds, Professor Aris was waiting.
"A Rank 4 technique?" she asked. "You're getting sloppy, Valerius. The Headmaster will be suspicious."
"Let him be suspicious," Dorian replied. "As long as he's also afraid, I don't care."
Aris smiled. "There's a mission tomorrow. A village near the Whispering Woods is reporting an outbreak of Ghouls. I suggested you lead the team. I want to see what happens when your 'miracle' meets something that actually wants to eat you."
Dorian chuckled a cold, dark sound. "Ghouls? I hope they're hungry. Because I haven't had a good slaughter in a very long time."
***
**Author's Note:** The Tyrant has taught his first lesson, but the real test lies in the Whispering Woods. If you enjoyed the battle between Dorian and Cassius, show your support with **Power Stones**! Your votes fuel the Emperor's growth. Are you ready for the Ghoul outbreak in **Chapter 9**? Let us know in the comments!