22 Mock Battle! (1)

Abaddon's brief introductions ended, making everyone inside the enclose room grew silent commanded by his voice. It was befitting for a king, as what Zero must have to say after hearing his speech. The crowd of the knights and students showed their respect for their master, simultaneously bowing their heads as an act of valor. Unexpectedly, Lilith and mr. Snow had done the same, kneeling whilst lowering their heads like it was the most natural thing to do. Bewildered from the weary events, Zero gave Abaddon a confused look and questions his sanity whether to bow down to a man who has great power over the country or to hold onto his pride, in which was in arrogance. Amazed from the boy who is still standing, the man who had called himself a holy knight curls his lips upwards which made him glimmer from his amusement.

"Ho~ to think that a mere guy like you could possess such as an abyss of fearless soul in your heart. Truly wonderful, indeed."

He slowly approaches Zero and waves his hand, signalling everyone to be at ease. Some of the knights, which Zero happened to take a glimpse of, shrugs the forceful spell off of their mind while some reminisce from what had happened. Even Lilith and mr. Snow had been coughing, showing signs of resistance once the spell had been dispelled, preparing for the unknown. Zero stood his ground, waiting for his next response.

"What seems to be the problem, sire?" Zero did not wished to be rude towards a great individual. He had experience quite the suspense throughout his life, seeing someone mightier than the problems he had faced before, never had been fazed from his breath. Cold and calm, both of these individual expresses their thoughts via staring onto each other's eyes, like a channel of some sort being created, sending their most important message.

"When have you been elected as a mage, young boy?" he asks.

"About three days before." Zero narrows his eyes, observing the actions of the person handling the conversation.

"Not bad for a chump like you. What brings you from my humble abode?" extending his arms, grandly, more so sarcastically, welcoming his 'eye sore' visitor.

"Sire, we wish to visit the different part of the sections of this labyrinth for Zero, which is also my student, could access these great training ground." Mr.Snow replied, gazing on a blank space, eyes open wide. There must be a common rule to not look straight on the higher ranks eyes when communicating or replying to their orders.

"Hmm" Abaddon rests his fingers on his chin, creating a solemn pose philosophically like a mosaic statue.

"Very well…" He continues, "Use this area as you see fit." He turns around, portraying from his grace that we did not mean anything to him anymore. The hatchet opens in a majestic manner, making all the spectacles of light scrambles within his aura as he slowly fades away inside the throne room.

Looking around, Zero saw all of the audience making their way to their normal routines, as if to indicate that what had happened wasn't eventful from their livelihood. Roundabout murmurs and clanking of swords clearly dusted along the way, making the scene lively again from what they had seen moments before.

Zero picks up his pace as he steadily walks towards his group.

"'Sup" casually greeting them, smiling teasingly to Lilith.

"Did you not notice the overwhelming power of that guy? My knees eventually gave in" She starts shivering, making her recall the dreadful feeling of the said Holy Knight.

"How on earth did you pulled that off, Zero?" Director Snow, somehow still stumbling on his feet, asks in mere curiosity.

"Uh, I actually have no idea. I just… had this feeling… an urge to look at him straight into his eyes as if testing me and…"

"HEEEY!" a loud yell rings into his ears as he shouts towards their direction, waving his hand. My sentence was abruptly cut off due to him screaming out from his lungs, randomly calling out to us. Shifting our gaze, we saw a group of knights walking in a steadily pace with their personal arsenal in hand.

"HEEEY, yer the new comer, aren't cha? Ma~n, I've always wanted a cute little bro alongside my adventures. The name's Lance Nevermore~" the somewhat drunken man, with a large grin on his face, was the first to spoke up. He's wearing an identical uniform, similar to his group, with a corresponding dragon crest from the knights who had cater them during the battle from the Dark deception, is distinguish-ably placed on the right side of his collar. Apart from this badge and his broad sword carefully placed behind his waist, all of them share the same set of uniform of the said knights.

"Stop it lance, you're scaring the kid. Hello~, my name's Penelope Migurdia. I have a great affinity towards water and healing. Pleased to meet you!" a soft voice pops out near Lance, which Penelope later on grabs the tips of his ears and pulls him out of the group. She has her ash brown hair seemingly falling from her waist, tied in a braided manner. She gives me a wink and a flashing gentle smile beneath her face.

"Don't mind them… they're too…noisy" the last from their group who had spoken up was a man, seemingly the youngest from the group, who acts out uninterested from these bunch. Guessing from his stature, wearing a jet-black cloak, with his hidden knives, his class must be an assassin; stealthily handling their foes one way or another. He returns the gazes from our eyes and abruptly turns his head again, shifting his sight from the rest of us.

"Cytus…Cytus Lore" stating his name, still uninterested and oblivious from his surroundings.

"Hey, old man Abaddon had took quite an interest to you guys. Especially from you, little guy. What's your name?" Lance, who had returned from the lashes of Penelope, asks him a question.

"Apologies for the late introduction. I'm Zero Heil. Nice to meet you guys." Zero makes a wry smile staring at the named Penelope pouting, arm's crossed.

"Say, would you like to participate in the upcoming tournament?" Lance throws Zero a question, making the rest of the group perks their ears, waiting for his answer.