Challenge to a Duel

Although Max looked a little more dangerous than the guys around him, Vince thought she could be a decent person based on how she talked to him while others made him the subject of their ridicule.

Participants of the exam kept arriving over the next few minutes.

There was a golden clock in front of the hall, and there were still a good twenty minutes before the written test started.

Vince didn't bring anything because the facilitators would provide everything the examinees needed during the exam.

"Isn't that Lexus Blythe?"

Vince noticed that the people who had been talking about him earlier had found someone else to gossip about.

A young man who appeared to be younger than Vince entered the hall with a bright smile on his face. He wore clothes made of high-quality fabric that only nobles could afford.

His shaggy hair was dark blond, and he walked with an air of aristocracy, his eyes looking a little too excited as he darted his gaze around.

Vince stared at the young man, who looked no older than sixteen in his eyes, and noticed something odd about him. The lad named Lexus Blythe wore a bright smile that seemed out of place, as it made him look like a maniac who had just stepped out of mental facility.

It made Vince wonder what kind of person the young man was. He had a good physique, lean and muscular (but not too muscular), and a pleasant face with rather delicate features.

But there was something in Lexus's expression that gave Vince the first impression that he was bad news.

"Hey," Vince turned to Max. His voice was low when he asked her, "Everyone's talking about him. Do you know that guy?"

Max's lazy, uninterested eyes flicked to Lexus for a brief moment, then she returned her gaze forward, calmly staring at nothing with her knees apart as she sat quietly in her seat, arms folded across her chest.

"You must have lived in a cave in the middle of nowhere for so long, that's why you don't know who Lexus Blythe is."

Vince was about to give an excuse, like how he'd been in the outskirts for many years before coming to the capital, but before he could speak, Max continued.

"That kid is from the noble Blythe family. He's the thirteenth son, but he's the most favored child of the family head. But that's not what made him famous. He's known for his playful ways of handling things and how crazy he can be. He loves pulling pranks and enjoys reckless fighting. He's just 37 years old, quite young and childish to be a city guardian, if you ask me."

From the way Max described Lexus, Vince realized that his first impression of the lad made sense. The young man was indeed bad news.

He also thought Max might be older than his age in this world, considering her mature features and the way she spoke.

"He's nicknamed Crazy Blythe," Max added.

As Lexus approached the middle of the hall where Vince was sitting, the people who had been talking about him earlier fell silent.

Lexus hailed from a noble bloodline and was a first-class awakened with a strong magic affinity.

Besides fearing to offend a noble family, the gossipers also didn't want to become the subject of Lexus's crazy pranks, so they chose to keep quiet, afraid the noble lad might hear them.

Although Vince was aware that Lexus was walking toward the row where he was seated, he was surprised when the young man stopped at the seat next to him on his left.

There were still plenty of unoccupied seats around, yet Lexus chose to sit next to Vince.

"You don't mind if I sit here, do you?" Lexus grinned at Vince.

"…."

"I know you. Vince Rosen, right? I'm Lexus Blythe. You can call me Lexus. That's what my family and friends call me."

'This is odd. Why does he know me? And why is he acting so friendly?'

If this guy was a noble living in the capital, Vince figured meeting him before was unlikely. So, he assumed Lexus must have heard about him after the Selection.

After all, it had become quite the center of gossip that the beautiful city guardian captain had chosen a dormant as her mate.

"Raine and I are distant cousins, and I was there during the Selection last month. The scene where Raine and Scarlett were fighting over you was so intriguing! If only I were a girl, I would have joined the fun too. Well, not for the same reasons the ladies choose males from the Selection, but because I'd like to have a fight with you. My instincts tell me you'll be a great fighter once you awaken."

Vince didn't know what to say.

He was speechless, his jaw dropping.

He wanted a fight with him???

'This kid is definitely crazy!'

"I heard that during the Selection preliminaries, you were quite the dark horse, acing the mental test and even catching the judges' attention during the combat test because of your good fighting skills as a dormant. I can see that you have great potential, and I believe you made the right choice in participating in this year's city guardian entry exam."

Lexus continued speaking, his eyes glowing, his smile bright yet somewhat unhinged.

"I can't wait to see your performance in the second and third parts of the entry exam! We might even have a duel during the combat test! Ah, that would be truly fascinating, don't you think?"

Max, who had been silent on Vince's other side, smirked without glancing at the talkative kid or the distressed Vince.

The excitement in Lexus's eyes told Vince the lad must be a fighting maniac.

If they were to duel during the combat test, Vince had a feeling he might stand no chance of passing the final exam, especially considering how Max mentioned Lexus had a strong magic affinity. She hadn't said what his magic was, though, which made Vince wonder.

"I think all of you are here. In two minutes, the first part of the entry exam will begin, so brace yourselves and sit calmly in your seats!"

Vince finally had a chance to divert his attention elsewhere. Lexus's constant talking was giving him a headache.

The examiner, a middle-aged man, began stating the rules for the written test.

Before the test started, selected city guardians entered the hall, standing in the corners and along the sides of the room. They were there to act as watchers, ensuring none of the participants had a chance to cheat.