Chapter 9

Arthur and Louis were confused as to how the one with the circular shield had lost when a voice came from behind them, "John could have made the pillar that held Derrik up into a spike and pierced him." The twins turned back and saw one of the instructors that had been teaching the soldiers just moments ago. "All right you idiots, get back to training, can't you see the two young masters wish to use the cage?"

The soldiers who had been watching the fight quickly walked back to the training grounds while the two that had been sparring walked up to the instructor. "What'd you think of my pincer movement, impressive ay'?" John asked while laughing. The instructor chopped his head with a hand before saying, "Derrik could have dodged the hit if he had half a mind you idiot, he could have hit himself with an air gust and dodged to the side. You should have surrounded him with earth spikes instead."

John grumbled while rubbing his head, "I can't do that yet you old man, you'd think that everyone has an unlimited amount of mana from the start with the way you're talking." The instructor hit John's head again while giving a stern look to Derrik who was slowly scooting away. "Derrik, use your air attribute more creatively," the instructor said while sighing.

Louis who had been listening in spoke up, "What if John encased Derrik's foot while doing his pincer attack." "That would be smart, but John has shitty control, so that would've been infeasible," the instructor replied. "Huh, you're a smart kid," John said while wiping his sweat. The instructor looked surprised before looking towards the twins, "You were the ones who said that?" "It was Louis," Arthur said while looking proud.

Louis laughed helplessly at Arthur, "He said I was smart, not you Arthur." "We're a team Louis," Arthur replied before laughing. "Aren't you two here to spar? Go ahead, I'll give you pointers," the instructor said while leading the two into the cage. John, after a brief moment, gathered the soldiers up again to watch the twins. "John why are you calling us to watch a couple of kids fight," Derrik grumbled. "The bets are more fun if we don't know what we're getting into," John replied. The other soldiers started laughing and agreed to go to the cage for bets.

***

Augustus found his way to the training grounds and saw a majority of the soldiers heading to the cage, grabbing one of the soldiers he asked, "What's going on, why are they all going to the cage?" The soldier, recognizing the baron's son, replied, "They're going to watch some children duel, young master." Augustus's eyes widened before calling his butler to follow him to the cage.