Leon Stark bore the golden hair of his father—the Duke—a mark of status and legacy. He had awakened last year with the rare and formidable [Knight] class. Even with very few records in the class, one fact was consistent: [Knight] was strong. With his [Shield Mastery] and [Counter] skills, Leon had made short work of every opponent thrown at him.

  Back in the eastern city, a skilled [Spearman] around his age was expected to test him. He didn’t last a minute.

  His father never missed a chance to parade him. At every village or town they passed en route to the capital—especially now, nearing King J’s birthday—he was made to spar against the strongest local Awakeners. So far, none had lasted long.

  This year’s journey was tighter. His father wanted to shave off time, cutting through select villages to reduce travel from two weeks to ten days. Supply stops were coordinated in advance, courtesy of letters sent ahead to the local chiefs.

  Their third stop brought surprise.

  Three awakened youth invited to the Academy? That was rare. His father’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

  The first girl, Suri, had some kind of summon ability. It wasn’t a combat skill, but there was cleverness in it. Her summon could morph—fluid, adaptable. Leon found it interesting, though not threatening. Likely useful in support or exploration roles.

  The second, a [Spearman], was apparently grounded—caught sneaking around with stolen smoke bombs. Still, his father had insisted on seeing him, then learned that he had lost to someone else his age.

  That was the moment his father’s interest sharpened.

  And then… she arrived.

  She didn’t walk in like the previous nervous awakeners.

  She strode in—calm, unbothered, eyes assessing everyone in the room.

  Leon stared at her.

  Her hair was jet black, wild and loose to her waist. Her crimson eyes flicked briefly toward him, and in that moment, Leon felt something strange—not fear, not awe—but pressure. A sense of presence that didn’t match her age. Her lean frame wasn’t built like a fighter’s, but something about her posture made him hesitate.

  “She’s the one who defeated the [Spearman],” the chief whispered.

  Leon narrowed his eyes.

  The girl stopped in front of the Duke, unflinching. Her voice was low, “I refuse.”

  His father tilted his head slightly, amused. The air in the room thickened.

  Then, the village chief moved beside her, whispering urgently.

  Leon studied her closely now. Her limbs were too thin for a warrior, her face too calm for a child, and yet—she had refused his father without blinking.

  No one ever refused his father. Not even city officials.

  Leon crossed his arms, unsure whether to feel challenged or intrigued.

  “Interesting…” he murmured to himself.

  He glanced again at her as the chief tried to smooth things over. Leon wasn't sure how this visit would end—but for the first time, he wasn’t sure if he could win so easily.

  …..

  Leon tightened the straps on his armor, the metal gleaming under the late afternoon sun. His shield settled against his arm, and his blunt one-handed sword rested with practiced weight in his palm. He glanced toward the crowd gathered beyond the practice yard.

  As expected, his knights were mingling, taking small wagers, confident in their young lord.

  But what caught Leon off guard was the villagers' reaction.

  They weren’t murmuring in fear or awe like the other villages. They were cheering—for her. Coins exchanged hands. Some were even laughing, confident in their bets.

  They trusted her.

  He frowned. Didn’t they know how these fights ended? Haven’t they heard of rumours about me? Always the same—one-sided.

  Still, he had heard the village chief had to bribe her to accept. In the end, like all things, it came down to coin.

  He turned his gaze forward.

  There she was. Kana.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Unarmored. Unimpressed. Unbothered.

  She wore simple villager clothes, dust clinging to her. In one hand, a short dagger twirled between her fingers—absently, effortlessly, like she had done it a thousand times.

  She yawned.

  Leon narrowed his eyes. Was this some kind of tactic?

  “Are you not going to use a bow?” he asked, curious, almost amused.

  Kana’s crimson gaze locked on him. Her voice was cold, flat, and dismissive.

  “I don’t need to.” A pause. Then, with a faint tilt of her head, she added:

  “Young lord.”

  A few of the villagers chuckled.

  Leon didn’t smile.

  He raised his shield.

  ….

  Kana didn’t want to agree to the duel, but five silver coins were too good to pass up. And then the village chief promised ten if she won.

  Still, thanks to her [High Awareness], she overheard the chief betting twenty-five silver coins on her. Even some of the villagers seemed to trust her. She hadn’t planned to go all out—but then she spotted her mother in the crowd.

  Waving. And smiling. And even wager fifteen silver coins to her.

  Kana raised a hand in return.

  Guess I need to win.

  The Duke won’t get mad… right?

  In front of her stood a boy around her age, almost as big as Boris. He had the posture of someone trained—formally, and from a very young age.

  A knight stepped between them.

  “The rules are simple,” he said. “No fatal strikes. Disarm or disable your opponent to win.”

  He stepped back.

  “Begin!”

  The young lord didn’t move. Shield raised, sword angled—he was waiting for her.

  Kana took a slow breath.

  She knew his skills: [Shield Mastery], [Counter]. He wanted her to attack first—wanted a duel on his terms. It was smart.

  But Kana was Level 10.

  She lunged.

  The young lord's eyes widened—surprised at her speed. She struck directly at his shield, her momentum slamming into it harder than expected. His feet slid back. He staggered, confused—her strength didn’t match her frame.

  She struck again—this time from the right. He gritted his teeth, recovering.

  [Counter] activated.

  His shield twisted, parrying her blade. His sword followed through, sweeping toward her blindspot.

  A clean hit—

  If not for [High Awareness].

  Time slowed in her senses. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the blunt sword as it hissed above her ear. She spun low, pivoted, and—

  kicked the back of his knee.

  He grunted, collapsing on one leg.

  Before he could recover, she vaulted into the air like a dancer, landing behind him with her dagger pressed to the back of his exposed neck.

  “Stop!” the knight shouted.

  “Kana wins!”

  The crowd erupted.

  The duel lasted five seconds.

  ….

  To everyone’s surprise, the Duke wasn’t angry.

  “At last,” he said with a grin, “someone finally knocked the cockiness out of my son.”

  He stepped forward and extended a hand toward Kana. She hesitated for only a second before shaking it.

  “Find me after you graduate from the academy,” the Duke said, his voice firm and sincere. “I’ll offer you a position—with generous pay.”

  Kana blinked, not expecting that kind of praise—or the offer.

  There was more they wanted to say, but time pressed them. The duke’s entourage needed to move on, continuing their journey toward the capital city.

  Leon, silent the entire time, said nothing. His pride still stung, but his expression wasn’t angry—it was focused. He sat inside the carriage, eyes low, clearly replaying the fight in his head, reviewing every mistake, every opening he’d missed.

  ……

  “What do you think, son?” the Duke asked inside the carriage, his voice calm but probing.

  Leon grunted, flexing his swollen left arm. “I don’t know. Her strength… it was too much. Like blocking one of Uncle Greg’s strikes.”

  He looked down, shaking his head. “And her speed—how can she move like that?”

  The Duke nodded thoughtfully, then turned his gaze across the carriage.

  “And you, Lian?”

  His daughter—poised, sharp-eyed, and in her second year at the academy—folded her arms.

  “I’m not confident I could beat her,” Lian admitted without shame. “She was surprised by my little brother’s [Counter], yet still reversed the situation in a single breath. That kind of composure? Reflex? She’s a natural. We have to recruit her. No matter what.”

  Leon stared at her. “Even you, sister?”

  Lian nodded once, firmly. “Even me.”

  The Duke raised an eyebrow—impressed. He turned next to his wife.

  “And you, my dear?”

  Belle, elegant and quiet until now, gave a light, dismissive wave of her fingers.

  “I don’t care about Kana.”

  That made all three heads turn.

  Belle continued, her voice smooth, commanding.

  “You all obsess over fighters. But none of you noticed the girl who controls mana like it was nothing.”

  “Suri,” she said. “That girl is special. You saw how she shifted her summon form? That takes focus, mana control beyond your understanding. And she did it like it was nothing.”

  The Duke sat back.

  “Then it’s settled,” he said. “We get them both.”