93 Stage

A couple of days passed, Dante and Young Master Shen finally reached Rain Academy. They had a few matters to take care of before they came here, they collected the necessary items for the magic ritual.

"So this is the Rain Academy?" Shen said as he looked at the campus in the lake with curiosity

"Indeed, the top half is for the knights; inside a spatial crack is the school is the Magi academy. In this area is the Knight Academy, which includes the Weapon temple and Code Fane. Which is also close to the temple of the divines, the arena, and also the job assignment area." Dante quickly listed off as Shen looked around identifying each area.

"Where is your disciple?" Shen asked curiously, he hadn't seen Brian at all on his trip.

"He perished in a ruin excavation a few months back....." Dante said in a somber tone

"I am sorry to hear that." Shen courteously responded

"No point in talking about it more importantly, there is a national tournament soon," Dante said as he tried to change the topic

"Oh, what kind of competition?" Shen asked as the carriage finally reached the ground

"Just a school competition: 1. Rain, 2. Divinity, 3. Trinity, 4. River, and 5. Flux are the only ones of real importance. If we lose then we lose our rights for the dream formation, and we lose a lot of funding." Dante said although in his heart he didn't care at all, he had much more pressing concerns on his mind.

"Ah, that reminds me of the Rain king's plans to unveil a few cards, to the nations in the international meet up....." Dante further said

"Why else would my father send me?" Shen said as he released his sharp sword aura

"Have your sword arts progressed this far, you are 75% of the way to creating your sword heart....." Dante couldn't help but be awed by his talent

"Each of the Rain King's cards will each be suppressed, Sword king by me, Isaiah by Carina, and Aringer by Father," Shen said with an arrogant smirk

"What of the Scarlet Devil: Princess of Flames?" Dante said this was her full title

"She won't be suppressed, she will become mine...." Shen said as he chuckled

"Wait, has the king decided that Sword King will inherit the throne?" Dante said confused

"Yes, your king mentioned it to his highness; my father was drinking with his Highness when he found out," Shen said as he thought about his father

"So they are finally unveiling your father? Well who else could beat Aringer?" Dante said with a sigh

"Yes, his highness decided the cover was no longer necessary. We know the only ones that truly fell for the story of the Cambells rise, was the mortals, not the real experts." Shen said as he walked out of the carriage with Dante

"Of course if nobility was so easily earned, then any merchant can run a nation," Dante said with a chuckle as the walked towards the teacher area

"I would like to challenge, Sword King at some point...." Shen said in a confident voice.

"No need to worry, I will arrange for that soon. For now, why don't I show you around?" Dante said as if he was bragging

*************************************

That night John, Carol, and a few other figures from the second year class assembled in the dining room's second floor. Carol sat at the center, with Lucas and Raynard went; she was the strongest in the class with John being second.

"How's your training proceeding?" John asked respectfully as he looked at Carol, her beauty had only improved since a few months ago. Her engagement was broken, and she became dedicated to training. She was known as the Valkyrie of the class, her Phantom Snare unbeatable.

"I've reached early inner reformation, and I've also started to close in on mid-stage." She said as she gracefully ate her food, and wiped her delicate lips with a napkin.

"What about you." She said as she looked at John, her eyes cold and unemotional.

"I am half step inner reformation sadly...." John said shamefully, his speed was barely above average at the school. He would have broken through earlier, but he couldn't get inspiration. So he was stuck at peak, but now that he was half step. He wasn't that far from becoming a true inner reformation knight.

"Will you breakthrough before the national tournament." Carol intoned as she stood up.

"Hopefully...." John said with a sigh

"We'll just have to hope that we get all the firepower, that we can before the test," Carol said as she started to walk away from the table

"If Lucas were still here." Some said with a mumble as Carol walked away.

The moment she heard that her body swayed with reminiscence. She had hated him intensely before, but he taught her an important lesson.

"Pride is for the strong, and subservience is for the weak." She said to the remaining class members as she quietly left cutting a lonely figure.

"You were strong, no doubt about that. But even the strong will perish, so I want to be eternal, not strong." She declared in her heart

***********************************

In a beautifully decorated room with a massive bed in the center, slept a crimson beauty. She wore a thin blouse as she peacefully slept, and she just as calmly woke up.

The world responded to her and lit up, as though it was awaiting her presence. The door opened and a blonde beauty with glasses walked in, she was wearing frilly blue robes as she approached the crimson beauty.

"Sasha, you always look so enchanting." The Blonde said as she touched Sasha's crimson hair.

"Sister Priscilla is the real beauty." She said as she looked at her firm and full bust in almost admiration.

Priscilla followed her vision and chuckled when she realized her jealousy.

"They are more troublesome than you think." She teased as she half bounced

"Have you no shame?" Sasha said playfully, but then she saw Priscilla's face become serious

"What is it?" Sasha said in a grim half expecting voice

"Your chances aren't looking good," Priscilla said as Sasha's face darkened

"So father has decided to use me as a bargaining chip....." Sasha said as she put on elegant red robes

"Yes, he has." Priscilla said as she helped her put on the robes, and she started to comb her hair.

Sasha's eyes sparkled as she was on the verge of tears, and she gritted her teeth in anger. She refused to cry as she quickly wiped her tears.

"Very well, If I cannot find freedom with my intelligence. Then I will use my fists to carve a path to freedom." She said as an inferno like blaze came from her body.

Priscilla calmly continued to comb her hair as she respectfully listened to the Flame Princess.

"Scarlet Devil or Flame Princess; whatever path you take I will forever follow you." Priscilla said as she went on one knee, she took the Flame Princess' hand and kissed it.

"Thank you, Priscilla." Sasha as her inferno calmed down, and her face softened.

***************************************

In the arena, a handsome young man was fighting a group of 2 boys and girls. They were skilled with their swords, and they attacked the young man. The young man used a single finger to fight of their various attacks.

"Your intents lack any properties, such intent is far too flimsy." He said patiently as he guided them

"Of course your highness can easily do that, but we lack your talent." One of the boys said

"Don't be too quick to call me your 'highness'." The young man said as he looked at the boy

"Very sorry, Sword King." The boy said with a bow

"Now visualize the path for your intent and cut me down. As my Sword Dukes and Duchesses, I expect that much." Sword king said as he awaited their next attack

They continued to fight with the 4 students becoming slowly better. But by the end, they had collapsed onto the ground from their tiredness.

'They improve well, but they just aren't able to challenge me.' Sword king thought as he remembered a boy from a long time ago.

"If it was him, I would be forced to use my Sword World." Sword King mumbled as the students looked extremely shocked, they knew what it meant to use his sword world. Even among the true knights, they were fearful of Sword King's sword world.

"Oh, a sword world has your naming sense become so arrogant, Kallis." Someone said from behind the Sword King

"Sword Slayer Shen, to think you have decided to enter the light for once." Kallis the Sword King said with a laugh as he turned around and looked at Shen.

"I have hidden long enough, the world has decided you be the Sword King? Clearly, they are just mistaken, the true Sword King is right in front of you."

"Oh, so you want my title." Kallis said as he put his hand on the hilt of his Sword.

"Your reign is over, I want a one vs one at the end of the national tournament." Shen said as he released his sword aura.

"Neither of us can compete in that tournament. We are both transitioning knights, what do you want to do?" Kallis said as his sword aura fought back

"They will let us fight, even the teachers want to see that." Shen said with a snicker

"Alright then I will defend my title, and slay the Sword Slayer." Kallis said as he rapidly unsheathed his sword and swung at Shen. Shen arrogantly stood still and partially unsheathed his sword in guard.

Kallis' sword clashed with Shen's unmoving blade unable to advance.

"Your partial drawing has gotten quite profound." Kallis said as he sheathed his sword.

"Your swing finally got some power." Shen said as he jumped out of the arena.

"But you'll need a lot more power to beat me." He said as he disappeared from the arena.

Kallis looked at the place that Shen just left, he couldn't help but shiver with excitement.

"Finally some competition!" Kallis said as he laughed uproariously.