'That story seems off...'
Silvana thought as she scanned his body as she felt he wasn't being fully honest. Maybe she could be wrong but logic and her experience just didn't make that seem viable.
'Hmmm. A slightly well toned body, an above average face... He's nothing special to write about, but it's still a large difference from what I heard about the second eldest a few days ago.'
Dante had improved tremendously over the last day that he had regressed, his body is the most apparent aspect of this, but his facial feature did get slightly sharper as well.
"I don't mean to be disrespectful. With all the sources I have heard there are many things that don't add up."
Her body tenses up a little as she tried to read Dante's reaction for any possible hostility.
"One. Dante was described to be sickly pale, slightly skinny with a lack of muscles and no combat abilities."
"Two. The second eldest was said to spend most of his time indoors."
She furrowed her eyebrows and squints his eyes as she stared at Dante's own.
"Finally. Every direct member from a family, has a emblem or crest they possess to signify they are a member of the family. Although not everyone wears them, they still carry them on themselves."
She stared at Dante's clothes there were no pockets in his trousers and nothing clipped on his belt. It would be fair to assume he was an invader who came in. Someone stronger or equal to the person in power can hide their Mana Realm from the other's senses.
However, she could not feel his mana realm at all, it was incredibly vague. Either he's incredibly powerful or he's unwakened chances are he is the latter. But unawakened people do not possess that much mastery over a weapon. Even with techniques learnt, his basics were solid.
That is the only aspect that correlates with his identity being Dante.
The sun shone on both their bodies, warming them up as the silence rang.
Silvana finally spoke.
"Could you show me... The emblem of the Desmiscue."
She said cautiously, staring at his hand, in case he tries to draw the sword from his hips.
Dante still remained expressionless, he did not move a single muscle from his position.
'This is troublesome.' He thought.
He did not expect to have a situation where his identity was questioned to occur. He had known despite the fact that were no knights that actually liked him. They were in no position to complain if he were to train there.
This didn't help the fact that although Dante was a descendant of the Demiscue and a direct member of the family. He had never been allowed an emblem. When his sister and brother were gifted one during their 7th birthday all he could do was watch.
Their reason was why would he ever need it in the first place.
"I was not provided with one."
Dante decided to just shoot straight ahead with the truth. There was nothing he could say that would avoid suspicion, so he may as well speak the truth. Lying could also lead to more complications down the road.
"I apologise but you yourself must know. How implausible that sounds."
Her face turns colder as her soft gold hair was pushed back by the wind, tightly gripping the handle of her lance now.
Dante crosses his arms just simply staring at her eyes whilst a period of silence meet the two again.
They were 30 steps apart.
Her façade of questioning finally broke as she simply states.
"How did you get in here."
"Through walking."
"Cut the sarcasm. Answer the truth. The Demiscue house is one of the most guarded households throughout the continent. For someone unawakened you must have quite the courage."
"Cut the shit and get on with it." Dante replied back, although he had nothing against Silvana and she is just just doing her job he has no choice.
"No matter what action I take, unless I provide proof you wont believe it."
"Your correct there. I'm sorry but that's the world we live in today..."
Deep inside, Silvana was not sure if she could win. Yet it would be a dishonor to her father if she were to back away and let a criminal escape now. She was training to be a knight so she was bound to be in this situation anyways in the future. She may as well gain some experience now.
She raised her lance up so it pointed at towards Dante, she pulled it back and lowered her body weight so her lance hilt was next to her lance shoulder. It was as if she held a bow with a lance instead.
The lance was about the length of a sword but slightly larger. It was a beautiful silver colour with gold engravings put around it.
This was bad. Although she was creating her own series of moves known as the 'payback series' They heavily depended on her GrandShield as well. As she didn't bring it she would be forced to only use her lance. The techniques she had learnt for her lance was very limited, they were purely attacking and she only knew two.
[Multiple Heavy Thrust (F)] and [Focused Mana Pierce (F)].
The Former was just speeding up her attacks with mana so she can perform multiple heavy strikes in one go. The latter would be focusing her entire strength on the tip of her lance to deal a single powerful attack when landed.
Dante changed his posture, lowering down slightly with a hand on his hilt ready to draw his blade if she attacked.
There was a moment of silence. It was the calm before the storm.
Silvana took a deep breath in. Her eyes focused on her target, like a hunter about to strike their prey. She calmed her mind as she entered a trance, removing all negative emotions.
Dante's eyes widened, this was something he had heard many times about before but had never personally witness. It was her personal focus art she developed herself. [Divine True Peace (B)].
Currently, she had no clue about her unique technique. Silvana would develop this and progress this later in the future, increasing it's rank.
As she readied herself to attack. A voice heard from the are of the barracks broke her trance.
"Silvana!"
Her face looked exhausted as she realised who had called out to him. It was Danny. He was a senior knight who had graduated a year ago. 4 Years older than her at 20. He had expressed interest in her multiple times.
She has rejected him every time, yet he continues to be persistent. He glanced back at Dante, who also relaxed his own grip.
'Well, it seems like his luck ran out. The rest of the knights are here. He cannot beat all of them, so that only leaves him with surrender.'
She relaxed her grip as she straighten her posture once more. She looked to the left and noticed all the knights exiting the barracks. Her father was not in sight as he is currently out on patrol of the Demiscue grounds.
Danny approached Silvana with a bright smile on his face. "I managed to steal some pears from breakfast as I know you don't usually eat."
Silvana sighed as she simply says back. "I keep telling you. I eat in the mornings before and after my trainings. I have no need for these useless items you bring me."
"Yea but still, it would be a waste to not have them at all. So let's share it."
"I refuse go ask your own friends to share it with."
"Don't be like that. What if I...."
His words stopped as his face began to get angry.
"What are you doing with the this little bitch."
He stared at Dante's face, although it's changed slightly he could still tell from when he saw him whilst doing his duties as a knight. He had noticed him multiple times whilst patrolling and each time he would always seem weak and needy.
Silvana inspected the looks Danny was giving to Dante. It was as if he knew him...
It began to dawn on her the possibility of accusing an innocent person based on her own judgement. A tinge of guilt swelled up in her heart as she asked Danny a question...
"Do you know him?"
"Yea he's the little bitch of the Demiscue family Dante. Born with no talent except for being a doormat and a dog."
Silvana gazed down at the ground as she took a deep breath in.
Dante did not pay attention to Danny at all, he was just curious over what Silvana was doing.
She then bows at a 90 degree angle, a very low bow, dropping her lance to the floor.
Danny looked at her as if she gone mad, at stared at Dante with hatred for making her embarrass herself life this for trash like him.
"I apologise for my actions and not noticing you right away. I was merely trying to do my duty as a knight in training of Demiscue."
She maintained her bow until Dante said. "Forget it. You were only doing your job."
She stood back up giving a smaller bow as thanks to him for forgiving her. Silvana had a strict moral code. If she was he one in the wrong she would apologise, it could also reflect poorly on her father. Who she viewed as a genuinely good person she did not want to disappoint.
"No..."
Danny said in a low tone of voice filled with anger.
This gathered both the attention of Dante and Silvana.
"Don't bow your head to trashy people like him. I'm sure he was the one in the wrong. He is always being blamed in the mansion so I'm sure today is no different!!"
He shouted loud enough to gain the attention of the other knights.
'What a fool.' Dante thought.
'Trying to act like her saviour on someone you view weaker than yourself. So that you will gain her favour.'
'A knight in shining armour, as they say. When your using the excuse with an ulterior motive. Your nothing but a hypocrite.'
His face remain emotionless as Danny continues...
The emblem of Demiscue is a red rose, surrounded by thorns with a spear stabbing up through the middle.
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