Older brother

The mid-term exams concluded in the Brylant Academy of the Diamondium kingdom, and the students had a whole week until the results were announced before the winter break.

Since mid-terms were mainly seen as practice exams before the real exams at the end of the academic year, many students chose to go home early and have an additional week of their winter break instead of bothering to know their scores immediately.

Not all, of course.

Quite a large group of students would use the chance to hone their skills by challenging each other to practice duels, taking full advantage of the Academy's gymnasium, reinforced by a myriad of spells, preventing any life-threatening injuries.

It was one of the most popular spots for those wishing to improve themselves. It was said to be so well crafted that once in a while, the Elite Guards would book it for their own sparring sessions and unofficial tournaments to determine their strength ranking.

But going back to the students, considering that the mid-terms were, in fact, over despite still being scored by the teachers, it also meant that the so-called protection period for the first years was over, too.

Meaning they could also be challenged.

Usually, that wasn't a reason for much excitement, but that particular day was different.

That's right. The word usual wasn't cutting it in this particular case.

After all, how many times was the Academy's strongest mage student challenging none other than the crown prince of their kingdom?

"Before we start, your Highness, would you mind telling me if there is some delay in the couriers aiding you and my sister in exchanging letters? I've heard that the Emerladios Empire faced quite a lot of trouble with bandits and monster attacks in recent months."

The proper-looking blue-haired third-year student with dark gold, almost amber eyes asked the first-year student, who styled his hair in a high ponytail and altered his clothes to look like a vagabond swordmaster as much as he could without breaking any rules.

"Hmph. There has been no delay because there can be no delay in something that is not happening."

The red-haired youngster declared in an arrogant tone of a confident warrior.

"What does that supposed to mean…? My sister hasn't been responding to your letters all this time?"

The older student furrowed his brows and lowered his head while giving his junior a hesitant look.

"Not at all. There has been no exchange of letters as neither side has sent any letter whatsoever."

"...what did you say…?"

The proud prince clarified with his head held high, which caused the blue-haired young man's voice to drop to a low growl of anger-fuelled disbelief.

"Your Highness… correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't your father, his majesty the King, advised you to write an apology to my sister…?"

The blue-haired third-year asked in an ice-cold voice while openly glaring at the crown prince.

"Lazurii Fenrioette! Watch your tongue, or you will get humiliated more than you need to during this duel! I have no reason to apologize to anyone! If your sister wants my attention, she can be the first one to send me a letter!"

"!!!"

The red-haired youngster roared, causing the students gathered to watch the duel gasp and start murmuring and exchanging rumors.

"...!"

Lazurii tensed up, and his eyes lost all their remaining warmth.

"So be it, Ester Diamondess."

He breathed out and nodded his head.

"Facing you with the high-rank spells would definitely bring shame to myself and my family name. Therefore, I hereby swear that during our duel, I will not use any spells above the first rank. Since you played with some of your supporters yesterday and the day before, you should already be accustomed to that level of firepower, isn't that right?"

"You…! How DARE you underestimate me and my friends like that?!"

Lazurii scoffed and spread his arms open while announcing indifferently, making the prince's face turn almost just as red as his hair in a shameful display of losing his temper.

"Instructor, I am serious. If you detect any spell above the first rank ones, end the duel in favor of the crown prince."

"...handicaps are something decided by the participating parties. If you wish to make such a rule, so be it, student Fenrioette."

"Teacher, you can't be serious?!"

The blue-haired young man ignored the fuming prince and turned to the tall, light-brown-haired man who nodded with a sigh, ignoring the protests of the crown prince throwing a childish hissy-fit.

"...holy shit, the prince is going to die…!"

"Your Highness! It's not too late to apologize!"

"Teacher! Cancel this duel! What are you thinking?! It's not like you can even dream of stopping Lazurii if he decides to harm the prince!"

"This is bad! This is very bad!"

"Somebody go get Tarkuazi! NOW!"

"O-on it!"

As the exchange was happening, panic erupted within the group of third-years, who began to shout over each other while one of them rushed out of the building, pale as a ghost.

"Hmph! And you dare to speak about me having bootlicking lackeys!"

"..."

The red-haired prince scoffed, but the blue-haired noble said nothing back, merely waiting for the instructor's command.

"This is supposed to be a learning experience! Don't forget that!"

"Pain is the best teacher!"

"..."

The light-brown-haired teacher called out, reminding the two participants, and once again, the prince was the only one to talk back while glaring triumphantly at the silent upperclassman as if he had already won.

"Begin!"

"HYAAAAAGH!"

"!!!"

The teacher called and within the same fraction of a second the crown prince roared, taking out the sword at his side with a lighting-fast speed - unleashing a crescent-shaped wave of energy that slammed agaisnt the idle Lazurii, casuing the blue-haired young man to be engulfed in steam while every student standing there as an auidence to let out an audible gasp.

"Ha! That's what you get for…!

"..."

Prince Ester scoffed and began to speak boastfully while sheathing back his one-sided straight-sword when Lazurii stepped out of the steam as casually as if the red-haired boy's attack wasn't even on the level of a gentle breeze.

"..."

"...you…!"

Without speaking a single word or even changing his expression, Lazurii took another casual step as if he was taking the most pleasant stroll, which clearly infuriated Ester, as the crown prince spat through his teeth while bearing them like some wild dog.

"HYAGH! HYAH! HYAAAAAAAAAARRRGH! HUA! HAAAAAH!"

"..."

The prince pulled his sword back out, unleashing one crescent wave after the other - each of which reached and crashed into the blue-haired noble without being able to make him stop or at least slow down his pace. In the first place, it looked like Lazurii wasn't even acknowledging them as attacks.

"WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT IS THIS, YOU BLASTED CHEATER?! YOU'RE CLEARLY USING HIGH-RANK DEFENSE MAGIC! TEACHER! STOP THE DUEL! I WON!"

After unleashing attack after attack until his face grew red and his breath ran short, the crown prince gritted his teeth and hurled words filled with desperate fury toward the stunned teacher.

"TEACHER!"

"...!"

Prince Ester had to shout once more time to get the attetnion of the light-brown-haired man as he couldn't take his eyes away from the indifferent blue-haired student.

"N-no, student Diamondess… Student Fenrioette is using only…"

"Lowest rank mana shield. One of the two most basic spells that don't use any attributes to influence the pure mana in its basic form."

The teacher gulped down his saliva and began to explain, but the one who finished the sentence was Lazurii, speaking for the first time since the beginning of the duel.

Still not slowing down and making his way toward the still furious Ester…

"...!"

…who, despite his anger, began to realize his situation…

"I will be going easy on you, after all, Ester. For some reason, I was bound by the logic of the normal mages, and in my studies until now, I focused on the fancy shields and rebound spells, writing off the mana shield as ineffective. Well, it is ineffective for someone whose mana has a reasonable limit. But with the help of the self-imposed handicap, I was able to see the reality."

"!!!"

Lazuri pointed out, staring down at the red-haired prince while approaching him.

"I am Lazurii Fenrioette. The next head of the Fenrioette ducal house, with two-stat-focused, a little bit of strength and mostly mana capacity oriented Gargantuan."

The blue-haired man said coldly, merely stating the fact.