Graceful, confident, and radiant in her deep violet combat robes that shimmered subtly with royal embroidery, the princess strode across the training field with the poise of a goddess who knew the world bent to her will. Long hair flowed like liquid silk behind her, and her emerald eyes scanned the area with a mix of curiosity and mischief.
Students all around paused. Conversations died down. Whispers surged like a ripple in still water.
"Is that Princess Nyx?"
"She's back from the king's brother's domain?"
"She's even more stunning than the rumors said…"
Lucas remained still as she walked directly toward him, every step sending waves through the training ground's energy like the calm before a storm. Her gaze was locked on him. That same look she always had—pretty, unreadable, and just a little dangerous.
He stood and bowed respectfully, not too deep to look like a fool, but low enough to show courtesy. "What did I do to deserve your presence?" he asked with a small, crooked smile.
Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she responded, "Good morning, Xavier," her lips curling into a mischievous smile that could disarm a war general.
Lucas smirked inwardly but kept his expression composed. "Why does she always look at me like that?" he wondered. "Beautiful... but cunning. Like a fox in royal silk."
"Good morning, my Princess," he replied aloud, straightening as she came to stand beside him.
She gestured slightly, and they both took seats on a nearby bench, the training noise starting to pick up again—but only barely. Many students still cast jealous glances their way, jaws clenched, eyes narrowed. Some of them were probably princes or nobles themselves, furious that a commoner like "Xavier" was sharing a moment with royalty.
Lucas noticed. He didn't care.
He was used to envy. He fed on it.
And then, without much warning, Nyx leaned a little closer, her tone playful but unmistakably provocative. "What about a duel between us?" she asked, her voice light, yet threaded with challenge.
Lucas chuckled. "Hehehe… be easy on me, Princess." But inwardly, he was already calculating. He could feel her aura clearly—stronger than his. She had already stepped into the First Stage of the Expert Rank. He was still in the Late Stage of Adept.
He didn't let that bother him though. His foundation was firmer. His experience deeper. And he was improving faster than anyone around him, thanks to the dual cultivation technique and the incredible Yin energy he'd drawn from Lira and Selene.
He stood, brushing imaginary dust from his robe, and bowed slightly again—less formally this time, more teasing. He extended his hand to the side, palm open, signaling toward the duel ground with exaggerated grace.
"You first, my Princess," he said smoothly.
Nyx raised a brow, an amused smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she stood. "Such a gentleman," she mused aloud as she began walking ahead, her hips swaying slightly with each poised step.
Lucas followed, already feeling the curious and hungry eyes of the training ground following their every move.
Let them watch. Let them see. Let them learn what happens when two storms collide.
And with that, they stepped onto the dueling platform.
As Lucas and Princess Nyx stepped onto the elevated dueling platform, the atmosphere shifted almost instantly. The hum of Qi in the air seemed to pulse with anticipation. Word traveled fast—students abandoned their training, conversations stopped mid-sentence, and even the instructors nearby turned their attention toward the platform.
A crowd began to form around the perimeter, lining the stone pillars and railings that encircled the dueling grounds. But if Lucas expected the crowd's interest to be split, he was quickly reminded of reality. All eyes were on Nyx.
"The Princess is dueling?"
"She's actually going to fight?"
"I bet Xavier's just lucky to be her punching bag…"
"Does he even stand a chance?"
Lucas heard it all. The mutters, the snickers, the scoffs. Not one of them was interested in seeing him. He was just a shadow standing next to royalty in their eyes. But he didn't mind. He preferred it this way. The less they expected from him, the harder they'd fall when the truth revealed itself.
Princess Nyx stood a few feet away, stretching her shoulders casually, as though she were just warming up for a morning jog rather than preparing to duel. Her violet robe fluttered lightly in the wind, and the mischievous look she wore earlier still danced in her eyes.
"You sure you're ready for this?" she teased, flashing him a smirk as she rolled her wrists.
Lucas smirked right back, tilting his head slightly. "Why? Planning to go easy on me, Princess?"
She chuckled, the sound light and elegant. "Hmm… I thought about it," she said, tapping her chin with a gloved finger. "But I changed my mind. If you collapse after the first strike, that's on you."
The crowd let out a soft wave of laughter and gasps. Lucas could hear them feeding on her words, already painting him as the underdog doomed to lose.
Lucas didn't reply. He just smiled, calm and unreadable.
Then the shift happened.
Nyx's smile faded into something more focused. Without a word of warning, the temperature dropped. A cold breeze swept through the dueling platform like the breath of winter itself. The ground beneath her feet began to frost over, ice creeping in elegant, curling patterns like vines across stone. The air grew heavier, crisper.
She raised her right hand slowly, and a spear of ice formed mid-air, hovering above her palm before snapping down into her grasp with a sharp crackle. The weapon glistened like crystal, glowing faintly with embedded Qi.
The crowd gasped again. A few students in the front row instinctively stepped back from the cold that reached the edge of the platform.
Lucas, however, remained still.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, analyzing the flow of her energy, the rhythm of her stance, the subtle shift in her footing. She was strong. No doubt. But she wasn't the only one with tricks.
He slowly raised his arms, palms glowing faintly. A flicker of orange sparked in the air—then burst into a small swirl of flame. It curled around his fingers, then crawled up his arms in a rapid blaze of controlled heat. The flames danced and swirled, almost playful—yet clearly potent. Despite the fire, his robes didn't catch, nor did they even singe. The flames obeyed him like loyal beasts.
The crowd went silent.
Lucas smirked.
"Ice, huh?" he said quietly, his voice smooth as he stared at Nyx. "Then I guess it's only fair I bring the heat."
The crowd were a little surprised, genuinely intrigued now. This wasn't the same 'Xavier' they had seen stumbling through basic training.
Princess Nyx took a step forward, ice crackling beneath her heel.
And Lucas?
He dug his foot into the stone, heat simmering beneath his skin, ready to explode.
She didn't hesitate.
With a sudden burst of energy, Princess Nyx leaped high into the air, her violet robes trailing behind her like the wings of a phoenix in reverse. Her long silver hair fluttered with the motion, catching the morning light as dozens of sharp, gleaming icicles formed around her in a perfect, fluid orbit. She looked almost ethereal—dangerously beautiful.
The temperature dropped further, a thin frost covering the edges of the dueling platform. The students watching held their breath.
Then, without warning, she hurled the ice spear directly at Lucas with incredible force. The air whistled as it tore toward him, gleaming with razor-sharp precision. The icicles around her trembled, ready to follow.
Lucas didn't flinch.
He raised his right arm, and a fiery sigil lit up around his wrist like a brand. The moment the ice spear was about to connect, a roaring wall of flames erupted in front of him—his fire shield.
Fsshhhhh...
The ice collided with the fire in an instant, hissing and steaming violently. The spear melted into mist before it could even reach his body, completely neutralized. Wisps of vapor curled in the air like ghosts.
The students gasped.
Lucas stood behind the flame barrier, calm, unfazed, his eyes fixed on Nyx above.
"You'll have to do better than that, Princess," he thought with a grin pulling at the corner of his lips.
Nyx landed gracefully back on the platform, her eyes narrowing—not in frustration, but amusement.
"Oh? That was fast," she said, her voice carrying a playful lilt. "You've improved."
Lucas tilted his head. "Or maybe you've just underestimated me all along."
Her smirk returned, colder this time. "Let's see how long you can keep that fire burning."