Razen's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, her sharp eyes scanning the road ahead. She liked Mixarnt—she was aware of it, and it annoyed her to no end. Every time she tried to say something nice to him, her words came out harsh and dismissive. She hated that she couldn't express herself properly, and she hated even more that Mixarnt had moved inside the carriage, leaving her alone in the driver's seat with the 4 commoners. But she couldn't voice any of this out loud. It was frustrating for her, to say the least.
"Sigh... annoying—hmmm?" Razen stopped mid-sentence, her train of thought interrupted as she noticed something strange. She frowned, her instincts kicking in. "How many minutes has it been? I'm pretty sure it's more than an hour, but we haven't seen the city of Ateria. What are the guys in front doing? And why are we entering a brown forest instead of a green one?" she muttered, her voice low but urgent.
She turned her head slightly, calling out to Rise, who was sitting inside the carriage. "Hey, Rise, can you check in front and see what's going on?"
Rise, ever the cheerful and eager helper, grinned and nodded. "Sure, sure!" he said, jumping out of the carriage with his usual energy. He ran ahead to confront the participants tasked with managing the front of the caravan.
When he reached the front, Rise noticed that the group seemed tense, their expressions guarded. "Hey, what's going on? Why are we entering a brown forest?" he asked, his tone light but curious.
One of the noble participants, a young man with a dismissive air, replied, "Oh, this is a shortcut."
Another noble, older and more aggressive, snapped, "Just shut up and go back to the back carriage, you shitty brat."
Rise's grin didn't falter, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Aren't you a bit rude?" he said, his tone still playful but with an edge.
Before anyone could react, a sudden blur of movement caught Rise off guard. A kick landed squarely on his face, so fast that he didn't even see it coming. The force sent him tumbling backward, his body slamming into a tree with a sickening thud. Rise groaned, his mind reeling as he tried to process what had just happened.
In his dazed state, Rise looked up to see a cold, menacing figure standing over him. It was Aaron Montaves, a 28-year-old noble participant infamous for his ruthless behavior. Aaron was known for targeting other participants, especially commoners, and his presence sent a chill through the air.
Rise, despite the pain, managed to speak, his voice strained but defiant. "Heh, aren't you concerned? What you're doing is being broadcast—GAHHH!!" His words were cut off as Aaron grabbed his arm and twisted it sharply, the sound of bones cracking echoing through the forest.
Rise screamed in agony, his body writhing as Aaron loomed over him, his expression cold and unfeeling. The other participants watched in silence, too afraid to intervene. Aaron's reputation for brutality was well-known, and no one dared to challenge him.
Back in the carriage, Razen's sharp instincts picked up on the commotion. Her eyes narrowed, and she immediately stood up, her hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of her sword. "Something's wrong," she muttered, her voice tense.
Mixarnt, sensing the shift in her demeanor, poked his head out of the carriage. "What's going on?" he asked, his tone serious.
Razen didn't answer immediately. Instead, she jumped down from the driver's seat and began moving toward the front of the caravan, her movements swift and purposeful. Mixarnt, Liva, and Mitchel exchanged worried glances before following her.
As they approached the scene, they saw Rise on the ground, clutching his broken arm, and Aaron standing over him like a predator toying with its prey. The sight ignited a fire in Razen's chest, her usual stoic demeanor replaced by a fierce determination.
"Hey!" Razen shouted, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
Aaron turned to face her, his cold eyes narrowing. "Stay out of this, little girl," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Razen's grip on her sword tightened, her expression darkening. "You're the one who's going to regret this," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
Mixarnt stepped forward, his usual grin replaced by a rare look of seriousness. "You messed with the wrong group," he said, his tone calm but filled with resolve.
Aaron's cold eyes locked onto Mixarnt, a flicker of recognition passing through them. He remembered General Xacion's orders—kill Mixarnt during the trial. As a hidden assassin working for the general, Aaron had no qualms about carrying out his mission, no matter how brutal it had to be. Without warning, he lifted his foot and stomped down hard on Rise's head, eliciting a pained cry from the young boy.
Razen's eyes blazed with fury at the sight. Without thinking, she activated her red mana, her body surging forward with incredible speed as she charged at Aaron. Her sword gleamed in the dim light of the forest, her intent clear. But Aaron was no ordinary opponent. Despite Razen's speed, he was faster. With a swift, calculated movement, he intercepted her attack and delivered a powerful blow to her midsection, sending her flying backward. Her body crashed into one of the carriages, the impact destroying it completely.
The merchants, who had been watching the chaos unfold, were horrified. One of them ran toward Aaron, his face red with anger. "H-hey! Are you guys crazy!? Why are you destroying our carriages!?" he shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration.
Aaron ignored the merchant, his attention focused on Rise, who was still writhing in pain on the ground. "You can have this kid back," Aaron said coldly, delivering a brutal kick to Rise's gut. The force of the kick sent Rise flying toward the group, but Mixarnt stepped forward, catching him smoothly before gently setting him down.
"You okay, bud?" Mixarnt asked casually, his tone calm despite the chaos around them.
Rise forced a grin, though his face was pale and his body trembling from the pain. "Y-yeah... just a scratch," he said, his voice strained but still trying to maintain his usual cheerful demeanor.
Meanwhile, Mitchel and Liva rushed to Razen's side, their faces filled with concern. Razen groaned as she pushed herself up, her body aching from the impact. "I'm fine," she muttered, though her voice was tight with pain. Her pride was bruised more than anything, and the fact that Aaron had so easily overpowered her only fueled her anger.
Mixarnt's calm demeanor shifted as he turned his attention to Aaron. His usual grin was gone, replaced by a steely resolve. "You've got a lot of nerve, picking on kids and destroying carriages," he said, his voice low but carrying an edge of danger. "But you messed with the wrong group."
Aaron smirked, his cold eyes narrowing as he sized up Mixarnt. "You're the one I've been waiting for," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "General Xacion sends his regards."
The mention of General Xacion sent a ripple of tension through the group. Mixarnt's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "So, you're one of his lackeys, huh?" he said, his tone icy. "Figures. He's always been too cowardly to fight his own battles."
Aaron's smirk widened, but before he could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the forest. The other participants, who had been watching the confrontation from a distance, began to gather, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity. The broadcast magic was still active, and the entire kingdom of Aetherlight was watching the events unfold.
Razen, despite her injuries, stood up, her sword still in hand. "We're not letting you get away with this," she said, her voice firm. "You're going to pay for what you've done."
Aaron chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "You're all so naive," he said, his tone mocking. "This trial isn't about teamwork or loyalty. It's about strength. And I'm the strongest here."
Mixarnt stepped forward, his eyes locked on Aaron. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice calm but filled with determination. The air around him seemed to shift, a faint glow emanating from his body as he tapped into his mana.
Aaron's actions sparked outrage not just from Mixarnt and his group, but also from his fellow nobles. Kleto, Ratrat, and their gang stepped forward, their faces a mix of anger and panic. "Aaron, wait! What the heck are you doing!?" Kleto shouted, his voice trembling with frustration. "You destroyed one of the carriages! The deal was that we lead them to the forest, you attack the commoners, and then we, the other nobles, would escort the merchants! Are you trying to fail all of us!?"
Aaron's cold gaze shifted to Kleto, his expression unreadable. "I don't care about your deals," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I have my own mission. If you don't like it, stay out of my way."
Erenesto, who had been watching the chaos unfold with a calm demeanor, stepped forward as well. Unlike Kleto and Ratrat, his tone was measured but firm. "Hey, Aaron, I don't know what you and the others talked about, but leave me and my friends out of this," he said, his eyes narrowing. "We may not like the commoners, especially Mixarnt, but we're not here to sabotage the trial. Unlike you, we actually want to pass."
Aaron's smirk returned, but he didn't respond. Instead, his attention remained fixed on Mixarnt, his true target.
Meanwhile, Tessa, Mara, and Lina had left their positions at the carriage and rushed to Rise's side, their healing magic already at work. "We left the carriage to Ewan so we can support you guys," Tessa explained, her voice calm but urgent as she focused on healing Rise's injuries.
Rise, despite the pain, couldn't help but crack a joke. "Woah~ Hey, Mixarnt, is this what it feels like to have a harem?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Mixarnt, who was completely oblivious to the concept, tilted his head in confusion. "Harem? What are you talking about?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Tessa, Mara, and Lina laughed awkwardly at Rise's comment, their cheeks flushing slightly. They were older than him, and hearing such a remark from a 12-year-old was both amusing and embarrassing. "H-hey, wanna be my brides?" Rise added, his tone playful and his eyes still sparkling.
Lina, the most composed of the three, shook her head with a soft laugh. "Uh... haha... Lord Rise, t-that's not something we can talk about in this situation," she said, her voice gentle but firm as she looked away, trying to hide her blush.
Mixarnt, meanwhile, turned his attention back to Aaron, his usual grin returning despite the seriousness of the situation. "Hahahaha! Hey, Aaron, so what now? Your noble friends are ganging up on you because you went berserk like a stupid monkey, lol," he said, his tone casual and teasing.
Razen, despite her injuries, couldn't help but chuckle at Mixarnt's joke. She wondered if this was part of why she liked him—his ability to lighten even the most tense situations with his humor. "L-Lady Razen, please stay still," Liva said, her voice soft but firm as she handed Razen a healing potion.
Razen took the potion with a nod, her expression softening slightly. "Thanks," she muttered, her voice low. She glanced at Mixarnt, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Despite her usual tough exterior, she couldn't deny that his presence had a way of making her feel... different.
The audience watching the trial was in an uproar, their reactions a mix of shock, excitement, and curiosity. The revelation that the Hero Xacion had instructed Aaron to attack Mixarnt sent waves of chatter through the crowd. Some were horrified, while others treated it as a thrilling twist in the trial, almost like a special event.
"I can't believe the Hero put one of his men in the trial to test the Pajama Warrior!" one audience member exclaimed, their voice filled with awe.
"Yeah, this is getting intense! I wonder how Mixarnt will handle this!" another added, their excitement palpable.
However, not everyone shared the same enthusiasm. In the royal seating area, Alyssia clutched her hands together, her face pale with worry. "Uhm... Sis... I have a bad feeling," she said, her voice trembling as she watched the screen, terrified of seeing Mixarnt in a horrible state again.
Elyssia, ever the protective older sister, wrapped her arms around Alyssia in a comforting embrace. "He promised us, right? Then he'll fulfill it," she said, her voice gentle and reassuring. Despite her calm demeanor, even Elyssia couldn't completely hide her concern.
Meanwhile, Mika, was on her feet, her hands cupped around her mouth as she cheered loudly. "Gooo, Mixarnt! Beat that ugly man!" she shouted, her grin wide and her energy infectious. Her enthusiasm brought a small smile to Alyssia's face, even as her heart remained heavy with worry.
In the grand hall of the palace, the atmosphere was far less cheerful. The nobles argue about the actions of their sons and daughters, and the generals were in a heated debate, their voices rising as they discussed the unfolding events. Kalavan, Razen's father, was particularly furious. He stormed over to Xacion, grabbing the Hero by the collar with a snarl. "Xacion! What the fuck!?" he shouted, his face red with anger.
Kay and Gawain quickly intervened, grabbing Kalavan's arms and shoulders to pull him back. "Calm down, Kalavan! There are other nobles here," Gawain said in a low voice, his tone firm but cautious.
Xacion, however, seemed unfazed. He shrugged off Kalavan's grip with a smirk, his expression smug. "Hah! So what?" he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "The Aether Knight Trials are brutal. Of course, my protégé might hurt them. That's the point of the trial, isn't it?" He scoffed, clearly unbothered by the outrage he was causing.
Percival, Rise's father, stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a seething anger. His fists were clenched at his sides as he glared at Xacion. "He's right, Kalavan," Percival said, his voice low and dangerous. "But that doesn't mean we have to like it." The sight of his son, Rise, being brutalized by Aaron had pushed Percival to his limit, and it was clear he was struggling to keep his composure.
Borris, ever the voice of reason, stepped in to mediate. "Calm down, everyone," he said with a sigh, his tone measured. "Getting heated up won't solve anything. Let's focus on what's happening and trust the candidates to handle it."
Gerald, nodded in agreement. "Borris is right. We need to keep our heads cool," he said, though his eyes remained fixed on the screen. He had seen the look in Aaron's eyes—it was the look of a predator hunting its prey. Gerald couldn't help but wonder if Xacion bore a personal grudge against Mixarnt after the young man had defeated his team in the fourth trial. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
Back in the forest, the tension between Mixarnt and Aaron was reaching its peak. Aaron's cold, predatory gaze never left Mixarnt, his body poised for another attack. Mixarnt, however, remained calm, his usual grin replaced by a focused determination. He knew this wasn't just a test of strength—it was a test of character, and he wasn't about to back down.
Razen, stood by Mixarnt's side, her sword at the ready. "You're not doing this alone," she said, her voice firm.
Mixarnt glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks, Razen. Let's show this guy what we're made of."