Dragonblood Ascension

The measure of a knight

In the academy’s cafeteria, students crowded the halls in loud groups and most of their conversations revolved around the duel, mostly praising Cedric’s extraordinary abilities.

Leon expected nothing less. The academy worshipped talent above everything else. The stronger your mana, the more respect you receive. It didn’t matter whether you are arrogant, cruel, or crooked. Power alone decides a person’s worth in the kingdom.

“Look who survived!” One of the students loudly brought attention to him and everyone started laughing again.

“I thought Cedric already killed him earlier.”

Leon’s friends stood with him and the closest held him back from acting out. He grabbed the cheapest meal and moved toward the isolated corner near the back wall. That had been his base for years. The students didn’t think it was right for the weak ones to share a decent table. Even the meals had been separated, depending on your level of mana.

He and his friends sat together at the table and the mocking didn’t reduce.

“Just ignore them,” Taylor said and looked behind him to see the noble students sitting together and laughing.

Roan just sat there quietly and ate his food.

Leon had believed that training hard would eventually get the people to acknowledge him, but now he knew better. No amount of trying would make them see him as something as long as Cedric remains the top student. Maybe if he beats him someday, they would start seeing him in a good light.

He tore a piece from the stale loaf of bread in his tray and before he could take a bite from it, a loud crash echoed across the cafeteria.

A young servant boy delivering food to the nobles had accidentally spilled hot tea across the uniform of a noble student who now stood with fury all over his face.

“You fool!” He shouted and slapped the boy hard, sending him crashing onto the floor.

The entire cafeteria fell silent at once. The boy couldn’t have been older than thirteen. His body trembled violently as he tried to apologize.

“I-I’m sorry s-sir. I didn’t m-mean—“

“Shut up!” The noble whose name was Tristan, thundered angrily at the boy, and as if he hasn’t had enough, he raised his hand again, flames now gathering around his palm.

Leon frowned and clenched his fists hard on the table. Nobody moved or tried to stop him from wanting to use such force against a frail boy and that angered him.

He stood from there and said aloud with clenched hands, “That’s enough!”

Tristan turned sharply, the flames now disappearing. “What did you say?” he asked as if to be sure he heard correctly.

Leon left his seat and walked toward the servant boy, helping him to his feet. He was moved by how his body trembled with fear as tears filled his eyes. He then returned his eyes to Tristan.

“I said that’s enough,” he repeated. “The boy already apologized.”

Gasps filled the cafeteria immediately. Obviously, no one wants trouble with a noble family.

Tristan laughed coldly. “And who are you to interfere?”

“I’m a knight apprentice,” Leon answered the obvious and they all burst into laughter at once.

“A mana-less knight!” someone shouted and they all laughed again.

Tristan sneered at him and said, “You really don’t know your place, do you?”

Mana flared around his hand instantly and the temperature in the room rose. The servant boy quickly hid behind Leon, clutching tightly at his worn sweater.

“Move,” Tristan warned with a darkened expression.

But Leon didn’t budge. He stood there defiantly, eyes staring angrily into his and looking unfazed.

At the table, Cedric didn’t know if Leon was bluffing or if he really has some hidden mana that can’t be detected by the orb. He still remembers their earlier duel. If he had been given a real sword, maybe he would have killed him by now.

Tristan’s expression darkened further and the flame around his hand increased.

Leon stood there with clenched hands and tension filled the atmosphere. Just as Tristan made to attack, a deep commanding voice suddenly echoed throughout the cafeteria.

“Stop what you’re doing right this instant!”

Tristan was upset at whoever was trying to interrupt and his face twisted into an ugly expression, until he heard the whispers that it was Commander Gareth.

Everyone stood immediately and the cafeteria fell silent as Commander Gareth walked past them to where Leon and Tristan stood.

Tristan, fearing the commander himself, withdrew his hand to the back and stood still.

Anyone who is in the academy has heard about Gareth Duran. He joined the academy at a very young age and surpassed all the ones before him, passing the evaluations ahead of everyone and was immediately promoted to join the elite squad. He helped defeat the attacks from the undead and with his level of mana, he should have been made a mage and attain the title of ‘Night Sage’. But he refused it and asked to be made a Commander instead. Now, he leads a squad called The Vanguard.

Those who joined his squad all had terrifying stories about him and the places they’ve conquered. Every year, a number of 200 deaths are recorded, and yet, he says they are making progress. Once you join the Vanguard squad, you are basically selling the right to your life. That’s why he is seen as terrifying and no one wants to mess with him.

But Leon doesn’t see him that way. To him, commander Gareth is his life saver who rescued him from death years ago during the dragon-related catastrophe that costs over 3000 lives, and he left him in the academy to survive on his own. That is the reason he is trying to become something, to prove to everyone that he can become a knight.

But now that Commander Gareth is here, Leon feels like he has disappointed him again.

Gareth stopped in front of Leon and Tristan and he let his eyes stay on Tristan who immediately straightened himself. Even arrogant nobles like him lost their confidence beneath the commander’s cold stare. Or maybe it was the massive scar stretched across the left side of his face which gave him an even more intimidating appearance.

“Are you using magic against servants now?” he questioned.

Tristan shook his head immediately. “N-No, Commander,” he quickly answered.

Gareth looked unconvinced, and seeing his expression, Tristan knew better than to lie. After all, the commander’s mana core is darkness, which means he can move even in the shadows. He must have seen everything happen.

He lowered his head in a deep bow and said, “Forgive me, Commander. I must have lost my mind for a second.”

Gareth dismissed the servant boy and said in his usual deep voice, “Sit everyone. And maintain the cafeteria rules.” He then moved his eyes to Leon and said, “You are coming with me.”

They left the cafeteria together and Leon dragged his feet behind him with his head sunk down. After several minutes of walking, he didn’t know that the commander had paused and turned, and he hit his head on his broad chest.

“Ouch!” Leon said the moment he realized and he rubbed his forehead. “Why are you wearing your gear under your cloth?” he asked.

“You have to prepare for battle always. It’s not every day we get to fight physical battles.”

Leon tried to make sense of what he meant, and Gareth studied him for a moment before speaking again.

“I’m surprised you are still alive.”

Leon looked at him and pulled his brows into a frown. It seems as though even the commander doesn’t have any hope left for him. He remained silent and heard him speak again.

“I watched your duel earlier. You blocked Cedric’s lightening steps four times. Some second-year students won’t even be able to react to it.”

“You saw all that?” Leon asked him with raised eyes. It was the first time someone had paid attention to him and looked at him with curiosity.

“You have good swordsmanship, but a swordsman without mana will never become a true knight.”

If there was any little joy or hope Leon has been hanging on, it had just been killed, by Commander Gareth.

The commander’s expression was unreadable as he said, “It’s the reality, Leon. The world is not how it used to be anymore. Surviving on swordsmanship won’t keep you alive for long. Our enemy is far powerful than that. Imagine the world crumbles today, and you have to save someone desperately but you can’t with just your skills alone. As you watch such person die a slow painful death, you’ll only regret not having mana enough to save them. And then you’ll carry that guilt with you forever.”

Leon had thought he was talking about him, but it seems to be that he was speaking about himself instead.

He released a deep sigh and continued, “But that doesn’t define who you are. You are not worthless. They just haven’t realized how good you are yet.”

Without another word, the commander turned and left.

Leon was lost in his own thoughts. Fighting stronger opponents had forced him to develop sharper instincts, yet, that wasn’t enough to even survive this world. It means that even if he beats Cedric in a duel, nothing would change the fact that he is still mana-less.

What more can he be if not only useless?