Rumors

With the fireball finally neutralized, Varron let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

His sword, having been infused with too much mana, couldn't withstand the pressure any longer. It shattered into pieces, falling to the ground.

"I knew this would happen," Varron muttered, his voice barely audible. He was panting, his energy drained from the intense duel with Gareth and the subsequent defense against the fireball.

He dropped to one knee, his body screaming in protest. His duel with Gareth had taken a lot out of him, and the unexpected defense against the fireball had pushed him to his limits. He was exhausted, his body demanding rest.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with concern. Lord Varron, the powerful and seemingly invincible noble, was showing signs of fatigue. It was a sight they had never seen before, a reminder that even the strongest had their limits.

At the same time,as Varron knelt on the ground, Alicia quickly rushed over to her family.

"Thank God,you guys are okay."

Relief washed over her as she hugged them tightly, her heart pounding in her chest. But amidst the relief, a question lingered in her mind.

"Why?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Her family looked at her, their expressions filled with relief and gratitude.

"You're misunderstood something,Alicia.Lord Varron is the one who help us before."

"What!"

They began to explain what had transpired. They told her about the noble's cruel actions, about how he had tried to blame them for his own mistake. They told her about how Varron had stepped in, standing up to the noble and protecting them.

As they spoke, Alicia's eyes widened in surprise. She turned to look at Varron, who was still kneeling on the ground, his body showing signs of exhaustion. She had misjudged him, attacked him without knowing the full story.

"Lord Varron!" Melissa's voice echoed through the marketplace, filled with concern. She rushed over to him, her heart pounding in her chest. She knelt beside him, her hand reaching out to gently touch his shoulder.

"Lord Varron, are you alright?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were filled with worry as they scanned his exhausted form. She had been watching from the sidelines, her heart in her throat as Varron faced Alicia's fiery onslaught and the subsequent fireball attack.

Varron looked at her, and gave her a small nod, a silent assurance that he was alright. But Melissa could see the fatigue in his eyes, the toll the duel and the defense had taken on him.

'It's all because of me.Lord Varron injured because of my request,'

She thought while silently looking at her lord.

Meanwhile, Alicia approached them, her heart heavy with regret.

"Lord Varron, I... I am sorry," she stammered, her voice filled with sincere apology. She bowed deeply, a clear sign of her remorse.

The crowd watched in silence, their eyes moving between Alicia and the pair on the ground. The tension had dissipated, replaced by a heavy silence filled with regret and concern.

"So, the fiery maiden has finally cooled down," Varron said, his voice laced with a touch of dry humor. He was leaning heavily on Melissa, her hand steady and comforting on his arm.

As he slowly rose to his feet, his gaze swept over the crowd. His eyes softened as they landed on Alicia and her family.

'So they are family...This start to make sense now.The reason why Varron and Alicia fought for the first time is because her family being disturbed by Varron or even worst,dead by him.'

A pang of something akin to concern tugged at his heart.

'This is not something I wrote about.I just wrote that today is the time Alicia's determinated for revenge without telling any detail,but I also can't forget that it's also my responsibility as an author.'

He thought to himself,as he turn to his back.

'Knowing this,I don't think I can follow the flow anymore.'

Just as he was about to step away, Alicia's voice rang out, halting him in his tracks.

"Lord Varron, how can I... how can I make this right?" Her voice wavered, her regret and sincerity clear.

Varron paused, turning back to look at her. He studied her for a moment, taking in her determined stance, the remorse in her eyes. Looking at this scene made Varron realize something.

'That expression,is exactly like what I wrote on the novel,'

Realization comes up with a new idea. Yeah,there is another emotion that can made Alicia stronger,and even more stronger than in the novel.

"Alicia," he began, his voice steady and firm,

"train harder than you ever have. Prove your strength at the Tournament of Light. That's how you can make this right."

Alicia's eyes widened, then hardened with resolve. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before responding.

"Yes, Lord Varron. I understand your challenge," she said, her voice steady.

"I will train, I will push myself to my limits and beyond. I will become stronger, not just for the tournament, but for myself and for my family."

She paused, her gaze meeting Varron's. "And I want to thank you, Lord Varron. For standing up for my family, for protecting them. I... I misjudged you, and for that, I am truly sorry."

"....I don't forgive someone easily. Win against me on the tournament and I'll make it done.

.

.

Don't dissapointed me Alicia."

_________________

The next day, the Ainsworth Kingdom was abuzz with rumors about Varron. However, these rumors weren't tales of his bravery or his duel with Alicia. Instead, they were malicious rumors, designed to tarnish his reputation.

The rumors claimed that Varron, a respected noble, had been torturing commoners. They said that he had been using his power and influence to oppress the weak and the helpless. Furthermore, they stated that when a noble tried to intervene and help the commoners, Varron had beaten him up.

These scandalous rumors spread like wildfire, painting Varron as a cruel and oppressive figure. The image they presented was in stark contrast to the Varron who had defended Alicia's family and dueled with her in the marketplace.

Despite some commoners who defended Varron, claiming the rumors were false, the majority seemed to believe in the scandalous gossip.

"That lowly noble must be behind these rumors," some people muttered, suspecting the noble who had tried to blame Alicia's family for his own mistake.

But Varron, in his usual fashion, didn't seem to care. He went about his day, ignoring the whispers and the stares. He knew the truth, and he knew that those who mattered knew it too. And for Varron, that was enough.

Melissa was deeply troubled by the rumors. She knew Varron, knew that the cruel and oppressive figure the rumors painted was far from the truth. She felt a pang of guilt, a desire to defend Varron and clear his name.

But Varron, ever the stoic, dismissed her concerns.

"Forget about the useless rumors, Melissa. Focus on your work," he said, his voice steady. He didn't seem bothered by the rumors, his focus remaining on his duties.

As the day wore on, Melissa watched Varron. He was engrossed in his work, his attention undeterred by the whispers and rumors. It was late in the afternoon when she approached him again.

"Lord Varron," she began, her voice hesitant, "the Duke has requested to meet with you."

Varron looked up at her, his gaze steady. "Did he mention why?" he asked.

Melissa nodded. "He mentioned the rumors and... your broken sword, my lord."

Varron sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. It seemed that the rumors and the aftermath of the duel were catching up to him.