"Rosalind!!!"
Rosalinda’s eyes widened in disbelief as she saw her granddaughter alive, saved by none other than Mixarnt. Tears of relief streamed down her face as she watched the boy hand Rosalind a healing potion.
A burst of boisterous laughter erupted from Gundrik.
"GAHAHAHAHA! HOLY CRAP! THIS BOY NEVER FAILS TO SURPRISE ME!"
The former generals smiled fondly, watching the scene unfold on the magical screen.
"I knew it," Lancelot said, grinning proudly. "That kid… I knew he’d come." He recalled how Mixarnt had saved a girl during the first trial—it was in his nature to protect others.
Former General Xavier sighed in exasperation. "I swear… that boy defies all logic."
Sunshine’s heart swelled with joy.
"Sun! Our predictions were right!" Althea exclaimed, running up beside her. "Mixarnt really shook things up!"
Even the King and Queen were visibly astonished by the boy’s actions.
But the most unexpected reaction came from Prince Art, who had remained silent the entire time.
For the first time, he smiled, his interest now fully piqued.
"Interesting…"
A few seconds earlier,
"H-Hey, can you put me down?" Rosalind asked, her face flushed with embarrassment as she found herself in Mixarnt’s arms.
"Oh, right! Of course!" Mixarnt replied with a grin, gently lowering her to the ground. Her injuries were severe, and she had lost a lot of blood.
"Here, drink this. A health potion and a stamina potion," he said, pulling out two vials from his bag. The moon above shone brightly, casting a silver glow over them.
"T-Thank you... I guess," Rosalind murmured, feeling a mix of emotions—gratitude, embarrassment, and disbelief. A commoner was helping her, and she didn't know how to feel about it.
Then, a sudden surge of killing intent made Mixarnt tense.
"You really think I'd let you heal right in front of me?" Kalavan's voice growled as he charged forward.
Mixarnt, unfazed, simply raised a hand. "If you do that, I win the duel by default, hehe." He grinned mischievously. "The announcer said we can attack you, but you can’t engage in combat unless we attack first. And guess what? I haven't attacked you yet."
Kalavan smirked at the boy’s audacity, but instead of targeting Mixarnt, he swung his blade toward Rosalind, who was still drinking her potions.
Mixarnt’s instincts flared. "Enigma Enhancement 50%!" With a burst of speed, he grabbed Rosalind and dodged just in time.
"That was close," he exhaled, setting her down gently. "Is that how knight generals act? Attacking a helpless girl!?"
Kalavan scoffed. "Yeah, right. That 'helpless' girl attacked me first. That means I can cut her down if I want." His expression showed mild annoyance, but he had no real intention of killing Rosalind. He only struck to provoke Mixarnt.
Mixarnt grinned wider, a spark of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Oh, really? I guess that's your KNIGHT'S HONOR, huh? Hahahaha!" His voice echoed through the arena. "This is getting broadcasted, right? Hey, everyone! Check it out! This GENERAL loves attacking helpless girls! LOL!"
A murmur spread through the audience in the whole Aetherlight.
Mixarnt continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "They say adventurers are scum who prey on the weak, but look at this guy! Who’s the real scumbag now? Looks like the knights are the ones abusing their power, not us adventurers! Hahaha!"
Kalavan’s eyes darkened. Mixarnt’s words weren’t just taunts—they were calculated attacks on his pride and reputation. Worse, if Kalavan struck now, it would only prove the boy's point. The entire kingdom of Aetherlight was watching via the magical screens, and any reckless action on his part could damage the knights' reputation.
Kalavan let out a low chuckle. "Heh..." His grip on his sword tightened. He was seething in anger.
In the Colosseum, Moonlight giggled, watching the scene unfold on the magical monitor. "He’s really troublesome, so what now Kalavan?" she mused, her voice filled with amusement. Mixarnt’s audacity was refreshing.
In the Viewing Box
Lyandra’s expression twisted in irritation. "How dare that boy mock the knights?" she spat.
The king chuckled, entertained by Mixarnt’s taunts, while the queen looked worried. Saving Rosalind was commendable, but the boy’s attitude was undeniably provocative. Aetherlight prided itself on its knights, and his words could spark unwanted controversy.
Meanwhile, Rosalinda let out a small laugh. She couldn't bring herself to be upset at Mixarnt—not after he saved her granddaughter. She could also tell that he was stalling to buy Rosalind more time to heal.
General Xavier sighed heavily. "That audacious boy! And you call him your protégé, Gundrik?"
"GAHAHAHAHA!" Gundrik roared with laughter. "The kid’s got BALLS! GAHAHAHAHA!" He beamed with pride.
Sunshine exhaled, but a small smile tugged at her lips. The other former generals exchanged glances, knowing full well that Mixarnt’s words were a strategic move rather than pure arrogance.
"My, my… Mixarnt is quite the troublemaker, isn't he?" Althea mused, smirking. "His plan was simple but effective—though it’s a double-edged sword. Many knights will resent him for this, but at the same time, some might start questioning the integrity of the knights."
She leaned toward Sunshine and whispered, "Still, he can’t be charged with 'incitement of rebellion.' This is the Knights' Trial—everything goes. Kalavan was an idiot for falling into his trick."
Lancelot chuckled. "That boy has a sharp tongue. Even during our duel, he used his words to turn the audience against me."
Leoric scoffed. "That BOY is DEAD. Mark my words. He just made Kalavan REALLY mad."
Lusaric shook his head. "First, he saves Rosalind. Now, he provokes Kalavan. What a reckless boy."
Theron remained neutral, his gaze fixed on the screen. "In that situation, the boy made the right move. I won’t say I approve of his method, but his words clearly caught Kalavan off guard."
Lyandra clenched her fists. "That was still an act of rebellion."
Amon remained calm. "Lyandra, relax. You’re in the presence of the King and Queen. Besides, his words were spoken inside the Knights' Trial. They hold no real weight."
"Do you really think that’s the case, Amon?" Lyandra argued. "The whole Aetherlight is watching. That boy just mocked the very foundation of our kingdom."
The King, listening to the heated discussion, turned his gaze to Althea. "General Althea, what do you make of this?"
Everyone turned to her. The Great Silvercrest house, known for their strategic brilliance, carried great influence in matters of politics and warfare. What Althea said next would shape how this incident would be perceived.
