Albert leads Quinn through the estate’s front garden. Tall, well-maintained hedges provided privacy along the estate’s perimeter, which stretches more than five hundred yards from end to end. A variety of flowers and shrubs were neatly arranged in rows. Even at night, it was clear how hard the servants worked to keep such a massive area clean and organized. A fountain stood in the center, splitting the walkway.

  “If you go around the fountain and continue straight, you will reach the main house where the Verdey family lived. If you veer left, you will end up in front of the annex, where the workers stay. We, however, are taking the right path to get to the training grounds. We will conduct your test there. After that, you will rest up in the annex. We will discuss what’s left tomorrow afternoon.” Albert explained.

  Quinn can’t help but be astonished by such an outstanding home. Although tragedy has led him to abandon his leisurely life, he still enjoys the new experiences he would never have had if he had stayed in Amber.

  The two finally reach the training grounds. It is large enough that plenty of people can spar at the same time without risking an accidental collision. There are several sections besides the central sparring platform. One section is filled with training dummies and a rack of wooden weapons. There are also separate sections for weight training and target practice, where someone can use magic or arrows.

  “Just how rich are these people?” Quinn wonders.

  “At least ten times more than what you can think of.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “Haha. Try not to think about it so much. We aren’t here to discuss money anyway.” Albert picks up a wooden sword from the nearest rack. “What weapon would you like?”

  “Give me a spear.” Although Quinn has never had proper weapon training, Zeke had taught him the basics, and the weapon he knew best was a spear. Zeke used to wield a spear before switching to a bow after losing most of his power. Perhaps the spear held some meaning for angels, Quinn thinks. Remembering that Ben and Luther had also wielded spears when they attacked.

  “Remember, this is just a simple spar to test your abilities so we can incorporate you into the existing plan.” Albert walks to the next rack where the spears are located. “I will stop the battle once I believe I have a good grasp of what you're capable of before you get hurt. So don’t worry and go all out.”

  “Is that so?” Quinn’s eyebrows twitch. Albert unknowingly triggers Quinn by insinuating that he will undoubtedly lose before the match has even begun. He had been looked down on once before by Marvin, and back then, he had lost his temper. But this time, he manages to breathe and keep his anger in check.

  Albert gets a wooden spear and tosses it over to Quinn. Quinn holds onto the spear, gripping it tightly. It reminds him of his father and those who destroyed his peaceful life.

  “Ready?” Albert takes a leisurely stance.

  “Ready.” Quinn follows suit by lowering his stance, gripping the spear tightly with both hands.

  Hmm. I guess he’s not a complete novice. Not that it matters anyway. Show me what you got, Quinn. “Begin!” Albert announces.

  The two who are at opposite ends of the arena kick off the ground and instantly clash with one another in the center.

  Quinn quickly thrust his spear toward Albert. The attacks come so fast that it looks like many spears are swarming Albert all at once. However, Albert easily dodges and deflects all of the attacks aimed at him.

  He’s quick, but there’s not much power behind these attacks. Did I overestimate him? Albert, thinking he had seen enough, parries Quinn’s attack. The spear flew back to the edge of the platform. Albert swings once more, aiming for Quinn’s stomach, but before the sword lands, Quinn swiftly retreats, gaining distance, and recovers his spear.

  “I must say this is quite disappointing. I guess the strength you showed back at the guild was your best, but relying solely on that strength will get you killed. I guess this is where we st-”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “You’re right. This is disappointing. I thought you were going to test me, yet all you have been doing is letting me attack you nonstop. You’re making it difficult to control myself if all you’re going to do is dodge and block.”

  Albert is taken aback by Quinn’s claims that, because Albert isn’t taking the fight seriously, Quinn had been forced to hold back as well during their spar.

  A smile appears on Albert's face. He finds it amusing that such a boy had lectured him. Albert was already in his late forties; he couldn’t remember the last time someone had lectured him.

  “I see, it appears I have been quite rude to you. Shall we start again? But this time I won’t be going easy.”

  “You’re still wrong.” Albert looks at Quinn with a confused expression. “I’m going to make you go all out. If you don’t … You might die.”

  “What?”

  It seems Quinn is more annoyed than he thought. Being looked down on and treated as a weakling had gotten so far under his skin that a vein popped out on his forehead.

  Quinn didn’t even wait for Albert to start the fight. He immediately sets it off by throwing the spear at Albert's head.

  “Throwing away your weapon from the start is quite arrogant.” Albert dodges by slightly moving his head. Just as he is about to charge forward, Quinn kicks off the floor, leaving a crack behind. Quinn disappears from Albert’s sight and reappears behind him, catching the spear he just threw. Quinn grips the spear tightly with both hands and swings it downward.

  Shit, I can’t dodge this. Albert manages to turn around in time to block the attack.

  When Quinn’s attack connects, a loud boom shakes the training grounds. The ground beneath Albert crumbles as he sinks slightly into it. Quinn’s spear also breaks. Only Albert’s sword held on. It is covered in a blue light that makes the wooden stick sturdier than steel.

  Quinn clicks his tongue. He had hoped to end the fight with that one move. He tosses the broken spear aside and kicks Albert in the side. Like last time, Albert blocks the attack with the sword, but the immense force of the kick still pushes him back a few meters.

  “Ha, it seems I was the arrogant one in our exchange,” Albert admits, sweat trickling down his brow. Had he not infused the wooden sword with the blue aura, he could have been hospitalized. “As an apology, I will give you what you want and take this a little more seriously.” The same blue aura that his sword has suddenly surrounds Albert’s body. The air around the training grounds grows heavy as Alberts exert such immense pressure.

  Although Quinn can feel his body shake, he can’t contain his excitement either. A devilish smile spreads across his face. He is about to see just how much stronger he has become after his body has changed. “Finally, the real test begins.”

  “Ready?” Albert asks.

  “Ready!”

  Both of them took their stance and prepared to lunge at eachother the moment the battle begins.

  “Let’s-”

  “STOP!”

  A woman’s voice rings out, interrupting Albert, stopping the fight. From where the voice came, an angry young woman marches over to where the two are sparring.

  A blonde woman wearing a long silver wizard’s cloak holds a staff in her right hand; it’s a long wooden staff woven with green vines, and a large silver crystal is embedded in the tip. She appears ready for combat against intruders, but when she sees her most trusted and mighty knight engulfed in a blue aura by a young, unarmed boy, her pale face turns red with fury.

  “My-my Lady, what are you doing here? Ah, it’s, umm, not what it looks like, I swear.” Albert powers down and turns to the woman. Albert begins sweating profusely, realizing that without context, the scene must have looked like he was bullying and about to cause serious harm to an innocent kid.

  ‘My Lady?’ Ah, she must be Louise Verdey, the one leading the expedition. Quinn remembers as he stares at Albert, struggling with how to explain the situation.

  “Oh, really? What is it then? Because to me it looks like the captain of the Verdey family’s knights is fighting against a small child.”

  “I understand the confusion, my Lady, but I already intended to stop before any injuries could occur. Ahem, regardless, allow me to introduce you to Quinn. He is going to join us on the expedition.”

  Louise glances back and forth between Quinn and the damaged area.

  “Are you saying that kid did all that?”

  “I know it may be hard to believe, but I swear on my honor as your knight, he is no simple kid.”

  “Hmm. Hey, Quinn, was it? Come here for a second.” Quinn strolls over and stands in front of Louise as she calls for him. Unbeknownst to Quinn, Louise is listening to the spirits who had witnessed the fight.

  According to the spirits, Albert is telling the truth. Not that she didn’t trust him, but even with the spirits’ detailed account of what happened, it was still hard for her to believe without seeing it firsthand. Yet with so much evidence, she has no choice but to accept it as the truth. Before she can say anything else, Quinn’s stomach speaks first. “Would you like some dinner?”

  “Yes?” Surprised by the sudden invitation, Quinn hesitantly accepts.