[Elena's PoV]
The battle had reached its end...
Brian walked out of the arena, leaning on Ariel for support. I was shaken to my core seeing him awaken that power. There was no mistaking it—the mark on his left hand was the Codex Pendragon.
Pendragon was a legendary knight who live 800 years ago. When his brother, Aragon, began to forge this nation, it was Sir Pendragon who stood as its protector. He remains the strongest knight in history of Aragon Empire.
Long ago, when the Demon Race launched its first invasion, Pendragon sacrificed his life to slay the attacking Demon King. Today, his sword, Excalibur, remains enshrined, waiting for the Chosen One who appears only once every century to shield the land from great calamity.
I made my way down to the arena floor, approaching the black-haired man still lying unconscious against the stone wall.
Raul de Garcia... I'm certain of it now: he intended to lose this fight. Had he truly wanted to, he could have defeated Brian at any moment during their duel.
Did Raul know from the very beginning that Brian possessed the Codex Pendragon?
What are you really planning, Raul? And why are you supporting my candidacy for the throne?
I looked down at Raul's face as he slept peacefully. For some reason, I found myself smiling at the sight of him like this.
"Well... you're actually quite handsome when you aren't acting out, you know."
I lifted him up and began carrying him toward the infirmary.
***
[3rd PoV]
That night, at the Grunbelt Academy Headmaster's Office...
An old man with a thick beard sat at his desk, intently reading a parchment. Before him sat a large, imposing man waiting to deliver his report.
"To what do I owe this visit, Instructor Torun?" the old man asked, his eyes never leaving the page.
"Headmaster William, I have found the Chosen One," Torun answered, getting straight to the point.
At those words, Headmaster William stopped what he was doing and looked Torun in the eye.
"Are you certain the Hero has returned?" William asked, seeking confirmation.
"Quite certain, Headmaster. I saw the Mark of the Legendary Knight—the Pendragon—manifest on his left hand."
Headmaster William stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the night sky. A magnificent full moon illuminated the darkness.
"The Hero has been chosen... This signals that a great disaster will befall humanity before long," William muttered, a shadow of concern crossing his face.
"Torun, keep this information strictly confidential for now," William commanded. He feared that if word spread, the enemy would hunt Brian down and kill him before he could master his power.
"As you command, Headmaster."
"You and Erina will serve as his guardians. Teach him to control that power of his."
***
The Demon Realm
A desolate place where demons and other nightmare creatures dwell.
"I can sense it, Regulus," said a demon seated upon a dark throne. "The Hero has returned to that world."
"Impossible... Now? Just as we are about to execute a plan 200 years in the making?" his subordinate replied, visibly shaken by the news.
"Indeed... Send your subordinates. Find out exactly who this 'Chosen Hero' is," the Demon Lord ordered.
The subordinate bowed his head deeply. "By your will, Your Majesty."
***
[Ariel's PoV]
The following day, we gathered at Marina's Tavern, a small spot not far from the academy. We were there with friends to celebrate Brian's victory over Raul.
"Once again, a toast to Brian's victory over that rotten noble!"
"Cheers!"
"To Brian!"
Everyone seemed so happy. These were the students who had been bullied and oppressed by Raul in the past.
Brian chatted easily with everyone. He was actually closer to the students from other classes than those in his own—likely because the Elite Class was mostly filled with the kingdom's high-ranking nobility.
"Hey Ariel, Brian hugged you in the arena yesterday. Does that mean you two are officially a couple now?" a girl sitting next to me teased.
The memory made me flush with embarrassment.
Ugh... why did Brian do that so suddenly? I knew he was excited, but couldn't he have controlled himself a little? Because of that moment, all sorts of strange rumors had started flying around.
I only saw Brian as a friend. I admired his high level of determination and his drive to reach his dreams. I simply wanted to have a heart as steadfast as his.
"Ahahaha... It's not like that! Brian and I are just close friends."
I watched Brian as he was surrounded by a crowd. His kind nature made it so easy for him to make friends wherever he went.
"Hey Brian, what about your bet with that trashy noble?" one student asked.
"You're right. I was so exhausted yesterday that I forgot to collect," Brian replied with a grin.
It seemed the victory had given him a new surge of confidence. Even the students who were previously timid were no longer afraid to speak up.
"Speaking of that bastard, I saw him at the arena earlier training some members of the Disciplinary Committee," another student chipped in.
"Is that so?" Brian turned to me. "Ariel, let's go. It's time to get that apology Raul promised."
To be honest, I didn't care much for Raul's apology. I wasn't holding a grudge over what he said. If anything, his harsh words had made me realize the weakness in my own heart.
"I'm not thinking about his words anymore, Brian. We don't need to go through the trouble of seeing him."
"But Ariel, a promise is a promise. My way of the knight is to never take back my word," Brian said seriously.
Well... there was no stopping Brian once he got like this.
"Alright, Brian."
We left the tavern and headed toward the Arena. The academy felt more vibrant than usual. Students were still buzzing about the duel and wondering how Raul would act now that he had been defeated. Would he still be as arrogant as before?
When we arrived, we saw Raul training a few members of the Disciplinary Committee. Their numbers seemed much smaller than they used to be.
"Hey, Raul!" Brian called out.
The black-haired man stopped and turned to face us.
"What do you want?" Raul asked, his tone as sharp as ever.
It seemed losing hadn't humbled him one bit.
"Tch, even after losing, your attitude is still as rotten as ever," Brian mocked. "Apologize to Ariel for making her cry yesterday."
At that, Raul shifted his gaze to me. He began walking toward me. His eyes were like dark abysses, and his calm, dignified expression reminded me that he was indeed a high noble of this kingdom.
"Ariel..." Raul said, looking me directly in the eyes.
"Y-yes...?" For some reason, my heart started racing. Being this close to him made me incredibly nervous.
"Forgive me... if my previous words hurt you, Ariel."
I was stunned. His apology sounded... sincere. It felt like it came from the bottom of his heart. What was happening?
The Raul standing before me now felt like the Raul from the past—the one I knew before I met Brian. His voice and demeanor were so much softer.
"Is that sufficient?" Raul snapped, returning to his usual unpleasant tone.
The moment he spoke, the sincerity vanished. It felt as if that brief softness had been nothing but an illusion.
"How was that, Ariel?" Brian asked, crossing his arms.
"Yeah... I think that's enough. I've already moved past it, Brian."
Brian nodded, and we left the arena to rejoin the others at the tavern. However, Raul's words lingered in my mind.
Was it possible? Could I change Raul's attitude back to how he was before he ever knew Brian?