Harbinger: The Four Knights

First Duel Of The Year

The next day, Amon, Abel and Marcus is greeted by the gaze of other students while whispering to each other about the new rumors that is going around the academy but the three of them did not bother about it since it might be the ones they have already heard about but unfortunately, it’s not.

               “Well, see you at home. And don’t forget what I told you both. Don’t act so thoughtlessly, think about what I told you yesterday.” Marcus said as he wave his hand and walks on a different direction. “Well, I get to understand what he told us so I think I will be fine but you young master, you tend to act modest and kind. You are more likely to act like that.” Abel said and reminded Amon who is also aware of his flaw.

               “I know, that’s why maybe I should just ignore everyone but that would be bad right? People will think that I am arrogant if I don’t respond to them right? And by doing that I would also attract more people who looks down on me.” Abel sees his young master’s point and can’t help but agree to some extent. [Well, the young master does have some point. Everything will be meaningless if he starts ignoring everyone and ends up having to fight duels.] they stopped in front of the door of their room and found that a few good looking and elegant nobles standing in front of their door.

               “Excuse us but  that is the door of our room so if you excuse us, we are going to be late.” Abel said as he told them to move but the nobles refused. “You guys dare to humiliate the princess yesterday, do you think that we will stay silent for doing that to our queen?” one of the nobles said as they both their gloves at Amon and Abel who is oblivious to what that mean pick it and gave it back to them. “Those are expensive looking gloves, you should not be throwing it on the ground.” Amon said and left the nobles in confusion.

               “Can we enter our room now?” the innocent Amon asked. “What the hell is wrong with this bastards?” a noble said as he tries to slap Amon but before he could, Amon caught his hand. “That is not very nice you know?” Amon said as he grip the noble’s hand a little. “Get you hands off him!” the other noble wants to punch Amon but Abel stops him. “I think I know why you threw those gloves earlier. You want to ask us in a duel right?” Abel said with a stern tone as Amon lets go of the noble’s hand.

               “So that’s what it meant? They should have said so earlier than do something that I do not even have knowledge of.” Amon said wit a calm tone. “So when is it?” he added as the nobles smile. “Tomorrow afternoon, it’s a 2v2 duel. Weapons allowed.” The noble said with a smile on his face but both declined. “We are very busy people so why not right now?” Amon did all the talking since he is the one who is fond of fighting while Abel stayed silent on the sides knowing that whatever he says will not have any effect to what is about to happen since he cannot disobey his young master’s orders.

               “You seem pretty confident for a commoner. If that’s what you want then lets go right now.” One of the nobles said with sweat dripping down his face. The other one was surprised of the sudden agreement of his acquaintance, something that is outside of their plans. [What is this i***t doing? Nolan said that we should fight them tomorrow so what is he talking about? Well whatever, they are just low class trash after all, how will they even fair off against us?] he thought as a smile appeared on his face.

               At that time, instructor Norman appeared and heard everything. “A duel with the higher class? I will not allow it.” He stated his disapproval but Amon and Abel decided to fight in the duel. “Please allow us instructor, we promise to listen carefully in your class.” Seeing the determination in his students’ eyes he allowed it. “If you two have already decided then I guess I have no say in that.” Norman said as he lets out a sigh as the nobles walks away like winners already. “We know that our greetings are already late but, good morning instructor.” The two bow their heads as their instructor shook his head.

               “Just don’t overdo it you two though I might be there to watch the first duel of the year.” He said as he heads inside the room. [We don’t have much to learn in the room anyway so I think this is better to get a hold of what the nobles are really capable of.] Abel thought to himself as he sees his young master’s excitement.

               Marcus grabbed a hold of the rumors of the duel as it spread to the entire academy in an instant, and it turns out that the nobles are the one responsible for it to spread that fast. [Now they’ve done it. To think those bastards would pick the two people in this academy that even I am not capable of beating. Do they have a death wish or something?] Marcus could not hide his dissatisfaction and scratch his head. [I did not get to ask them this but are they actually learning something from the academy? Because I am certain that I don’t and putting into account their abilities, I don’t think there is something that they even need to learn here. The barrier that our instructor discussed yesterday is very inferior to the ones that the three of us are actually using,  its pitiful but if I showed my barrier to the instructor and everyone else in my class, I am sure that she is going to think that I am shaming her. Ah! What to do!] Michelle saw Marcus struggling with something and smiled.

               [How dare you ditch us yesterday, you are probably thinking of how your friends will be able to pull of against the nobles huh? Serves you right.] she thought to herself as her friends could not stop talking about the duel that is going to happen.

               Meanwhile

               “Master, I received a letter from young master Marcus. The letter says if he can buy a large amount of books that has advanced information about magic and various other things. He says that they need it to learn and plans to make a library out of it.” The apprentice of Lee said as he bust the door open while Lee is finishing the last few documents for today. “Hmmmm- so the academy really is lacking in terms of learning instruments that the young master would resort into having his own library? And I don’t think that he would be the only one to ask for that, the other two would be asking for that as well considering their skills.” The apprentice nods his head. “I think so as well. So what do we do master?” Lee gave him a blank expression and scold his apprentice.

“What are you talking about? Of course get on with their request, I am getting Lucas, my years are only a few so you need to make connections while you are young and the three are one of the people that you must connect with the most. If you know how to deal with them now, you will have no problem dealing with them in the future.” The apprentice apologizes for his lacking and promises to improve his insight about everything.

He then walks out of the room and have all the book and tome merchants called as his master gives him the full authority to move in his stead and use all means necessary to bring everything that they can send.

Meanwhile, everyone in the academy, boys and girls are interested in the duel that is about to take place. “Brother, have you heard of the rumors?” princess Joanna ask her brother who nods his head. “Yup, apparently it is taking place right now. This is probably the work of Nolan, the other nobles would not act that rashly if its not him. He as great influence in the others after all.” Japeth said as they walk into the arena where most students have gathered already to see the duel. “Idiots, do they know what they are doing? Even royal guards did not stand a chance against Amon and yet they are bold enough to pull something like that? Well, I guess we hid it as a secret that Kairon only knows so it’s understandable.” Joanna conveyed her disbelief in the idea of fighting against Amon and Abel knowing what the are truly capable of.

“A duel huh? The first one this year, if usually takes a few months before the first duel but to thin that this year only takes a few days after the start of classes. Things must be really interesting this year.” The head master said as he got out of his office to watch the duel himself.

“I did not expect that a huge crowd like this would appear. Nolan’s plan in humiliating them will be successful.” One of the nobles mutter after seeing the large crowd that assembled to watch the duel. “Now all that’s left is to defeat them and humiliate them entirely. This will be a piece of cake.” The other one said as he adjusts his gloves. The two nobles are fully geared for the duel while Amon and Abel are just in their uniforms.

“Looks like they are fully geared young master. Are we going to be fine like this? I get that we have barriers but we should at least have some armor too.” Abel said as he covers himself in barrier that they spent an entire year to develop and improve. “I brought the dragon’s bane weapons that old man Kaseki made, you want to use them? They said it’s okay to use weapons right?” Amon asked Abel who immediately agrees seeing that they might need them. “They are especially made for dragon’s but we are facing nobles so I guess we need to use them.” Amon then handed Abel a handful of arrows that immediately surprised everyone looking at them.

“What are those things? They are glowing in red?” / “The other one is an archer while the other one is a swordsman?” Marcus was dumbfounded after seeing them pulling out the weapons they used to take down the dragon monarch and covers his face with his palm in shock. “What are those guys doing?” he mutters to himself as Michelle enjoys the sight of him suffering.

“What ominous aura those weapons produce. They are not regular weapons at all.” Japeth said to himself after Amon pulls of a sword from his ring. “That dark purple thing never gets old. It’s amazing seeing it again.” Joanna said after seeing Amon’s void ring open.

“A dimensional ring huh? These guys turns out to be some big shot from somewhere. And what’s with those fancy weapons?” the noble said as he readies his sword while the other one raised his shield. Everyone else is gasping in surprise after seeing weapons like that for the first time but one the corner of the upper floors, the headmaster was left in shock, he recognizes the weapons glowing in red color. “They are with the young master Marcus, son of Mark Saber right?” his assistant nods his head in confirmation. [I think I get the entire picture now. They are the ones responsible for the subjugation of the dragons’ lair.] the headmaster flashes a smile after learning the truth about the rumors two years ago.

“So you are here your highnesses. Are you also interested in seeing those bastards getting humiliated?” Nolan ask as he and his group arrived at the arena. “Phew! I’m so glad that did not start right away.” He added as the princess turns to him with a cold expression on her face. Meanwhile, Michelle and her friends approached Marcus who is not comfortable of what is happening. “You are fidgeting even from earlier, are you afraid that you are going to witness your friends humiliated?” Michelle ask with a confident tone as her friends stops her from wishing the two getting beaten.

“Huh? So you are staring at me for a while earlier? Are you a stalker or something?” Marcus said with a disgusted tone.

“And who said they are going to be beaten and humiliated? I am more worried about those nobles since they picked the wrong persons to fight.” Both Marcus and princes Joanna told Michelle and Nolan who were greatly surprised of what they both said to them.