Cygnus couldn't help but laugh at how intimidating the major was. He looked more dangerous even though he was just uncomfortable because he was inside the tower. It was fun seeing him like that.
"Brother! I am glad to see you! I thought you won't be coming?" He bypassed the other soldiers and took the seat beside the man.
"Of course, how can I miss a very important event and I am also here to make sure that you'll be safe during this exam." Linius looked at the master and showed him a warm smile.
The people who saw this interaction thought that the brothers were really close and that the major's younger brother was being protected by them. Some of them even thought that the only way to make a connection with the dukedom was to be friends with the younger Ginehart.
Both Linius and Cygnus could already feel the intense stares from the other guests and the master already knew what they were thinking. He couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head.
"People are really ambitious," his voice was in a whisper.
Linius who heard this statement looked at the other guests who were with them before he returned his gaze to the arena. "They indeed are."
"You know, you are not required to attend, I can see that you are really uncomfortable right now. Your face is so stiff that even a smile can be regarded as a threat. No ladies would dare to approach now," Cygnus, without shame, pointed out which made the ladies in the crowd giggle.
Linius gave the master a glare, "Do not tease me. We are in a public place right now." The major warned his mischievous brother.
"Tsk, how strict. I will really have no sister-in-law if you continue to be like that." He gave the major an up and down look before shaking his head from side to side.
"Rigel," Linius gritted his teeth and was holding himself back from reprimanding the man. He did not know when and where to hold back.
The master laughed when the bell rang to indicate that the exam was about to begin. Cygnus stood up, "I'll come look for you again after the event." The master waved him goodbye and left.
Linius looked at his departing back before his gaze returned to the arena. The first match was about to begin and the competitors looked fierce. They were serious about this event because becoming a disciple to one of the elders will bring them and their family's prestige.
The audience watched in anticipation as the fight progressed. One could clearly feel the anxiety and excitement in the air. There were loud cheers and boos from the different sides which made the atmosphere competitive and intense.
"What do you think of those youngsters, major?" One of the soldiers leaned a little bit down and asked.
He was interested to know if the major wanted to recruit any of them for his special squad. This was also an opportunity for them to build their power.
"I haven't seen any promising candidates yet but if I find one, you'll need to take note of it," Linius answered.
Six battles were already done and yet he found no one that caught his attention. They were indeed powerful, worthy to be called apprentices to the Hall of Time, but for some reason he wasn't impressed. On the seventh fight, Lilia came out and she would be facing a woman with blonde short hair and clear emerald eyes.
At the beginning of the fight, Lilia immediately showed her strength as she used her gravitational dominance to repeatedly pin her opponent on the ground. At first glance, one would think that she was winning and that her opponent couldn't even do anything to counterattack but at a closer look her opponent was slowly getting used to the pressure of the gravity.
Linius narrowed his eyes at Lilia's opponent, the young woman was actually using strength magic to reinforce herself and lessen the burden of the pressure exerted on her. In the end, it was all she could do and she was defeated by Lilia. The major snapped his finger and pointed at the defeated woman. The soldier behind him took note of this.
After that there's not much to look forward to. All he could see were young masters just flaunting their powers with no talent or a drop of hard work. He was getting bored as he rested his head on his fist then closed his eyes.
After two more fights, he heard his brother's name being announced. He sat straight and focused on the arena where he saw the master's lazy expression. He seemed to be not serious about the exam but Linius knew that the man was nothing but serious.
His gaze moved to the opponent who will fight the master and he actually knew who the other person was. He was one of the children from Blackwell Dukedom. Although he was not of the main family, he was a talented lad and Duke Blackwell had him on his list of successors.
To see him in the tower was a bit surprising on his part because he thought that the duke would cultivate him personally. His eyes narrowed. He needed to talk to the duke about this matter. There must be a reason why he sent one of his successor candidates to a place that he too loathed.
For now, he would watch the fight and see if the young man was really talented as the duke claimed. Cygnus looked at his opponent and observed him carefully. He was tall and had a lean build. His black eyes reminded him of a certain someone who was close to his father.
-
The master tried to look into his mind to confirm his identity but for some reason he couldn't see anything from him. His whole mind was filled with darkness or it could be some sort of barrier.
"Hmmmm, interesting. To think that I would be able to meet a person like you," the master suddenly whispered to himself as he looked with interest at his opponent.
At the signal, both of them did not move and instead stared at each other. This time, Cygnus had a smile on his face as he stared at the other man. His opponent who was used to observing his enemies first was creeped out at the look that the other person was giving him.
He was being wary because according to what he had heard, the son of Duke Ginehart can use two elemental magic and that he was an exceptional fighter. He couldn't let his guard down in front of an opponent like him but he was becoming more and more unnerved at the glint in Rigel's eyes.
The audience started to whisper because none of the participants were moving or attacking each other. They were only standing there without doing anything. 'Boos' started to ring inside the arena but it did not have any effect on the both of them.
As the patience of the audience started to disappear, both of the participants disappeared from where they were standing and met in the middle of the arena. Both of their hands were covered in their own magic, wind was surrounding the master's arm while lightning was dancing on the other's palm that he used to attack Cygnus.
Both of them immediately separated and clashed with each other again. The audience was left speechless at how fast their movements were almost to the point that they can't follow them with the naked eye. Their exchange of attacks and defenses were both strong and fast.
Linius could clearly see the grin on the master's face as he fought the scion from the Blackwell's. It's rare but he was clearly enjoying the fight. Even though he could parry all of the attacks from the master, he was clearly at a disadvantage. The major could see how he was gritting his teeth every time their attacks clashed with each other.
Cygnus was now sure that he could become like those annoying guys who were always on his tail. The thought of snatching him from them would be a delight that he would welcome in that way he could have someone who can fight against them in his stead. He felt giddy at his own thoughts that a fraction of his power slipped out.
He was in the middle of attacking the man and lightly knocking him down but because his mind was wandering off, his wind ice attack became a little bit stronger. The ice crystal sword reinforced with swirling wind pierced through the lightning and froze his opponent all the way through the back as the ice almost froze even the area where the audience were watching.
