This was the first time Richard and Kelly had seen the legendary Dwarves and Gnomes. After being stunned by their height and appearance, they grew curious about how Donald knew them. Donald only said that he had been invited to work in this Laboratory.
"Let me make this clear first: I don't have much to do here anyway, so I might as well teach you. If you can't take it, you can quit at any time. But if you ask me, you probably won't last a day."
"If we stick with it, will we definitely become Knights?" This was what Richard cared about most.
"I'm not answering such a stupid question," Adarua said disdainfully.
Seeing the puzzled look Richard cast his way, Donald explained, "Adarua is a Level 5 Dwarf Warrior, the equivalent of a Level 5 human Knight."
Richard was even more shocked than Donald had been earlier. The strongest instructors he had met at the academy, the figures who seemed so lofty in his eyes, had only just entered the ranks of Level 2 Knights. To Richard, a Level 5 Knight was practically no different from the God of Knights.
Kelly felt the same way.
Adarua relished their reaction. He crossed his arms over his chest, apparently trying to strike the pose he thought a master should have, though given his height, the effort didn't have much effect.
Donald found it amusing and took the initiative to break the awkward silence. "How about this? Richard, Kelly, and I will all train with you. I only have two days free each week, but they can come by every day for a while, if that's all right with them."
Adarua gave Donald a contemptuous look and shrugged. "I don't care. Teaching a few more makes no difference."
Donald soon regretted his decision.
Adarua had no intention of teaching them moves together. He simply asked who wanted to go first. Donald was the oldest, so naturally he went first.
He had only taken a couple of steps forward when the little man's face twisted into another barely suppressed grin. Donald knew this probably wouldn't end well.
Unfortunately, before Donald could react, Adarua slapped him squarely in the chest. Just as he tried to grit his teeth and get up to demand an explanation, the other man kicked him back down.
Richard and Kelly didn't know what to do. After a brief hesitation, they remembered they had to protect Donald and rushed forward. But Adarua only said, "That works too. We'll train all of you together," before kicking them both to the ground as well.
It was a ridiculous sight: the Dwarf chased after them, kicking and beating them as the three rolled around on the floor. Donald and Kelly kept yelling and screaming, while Richard didn't make a sound. But no matter how they reacted, the result was the same. In the end, the three boys gave up trying to get back up. They could only cover their heads and curl into balls while the other man kicked every part of their bodies.
Adarua kicked and beat them for a full half hour before finally stopping, still looking unsatisfied.
"First time, so we'll take it easy and let you get used to it."
Donald lay on the floor, his whole body aching as if his bones had come apart. He couldn't get up. Summoning the last of his strength, he demanded, "This is... your training method? And this is... easy?"
"Told you it'd be hard to stick with. The worst is still to come," Adarua said, in high spirits.
"I think... you're going to... beat us to death."
"Hmph! Killing you would be much easier than what I just did."
"I think... you're just bored out of your mind and using us to amuse yourself."
Adarua ignored Donald and went back into the Laboratory. Before long, the two little girls came rushing out together.
"Oh my, Donald the Great Demon King, aren't you a Mage? Why do you have to train like a Warrior too?"
"That's right, that's right. A Mage getting kicked around isn't cool at all."
Hearing the Gnome sisters say that, Donald finally believed that Adarua's actions really had been training. Still, he shouted angrily, "Couldn't you help us up first?"
"No, no, you can't move right now. If you sit up, your bones will break."
"That's right, that's right, you absolutely can't move. Wait a bit and rest. I'll get you some Recovery Potion."
Adarua's voice came from inside. "Don't worry. I haven't even used the Devil Training Method yet. This is nothing. No bones will break."
The twin sisters exchanged a smile and ran back into the Laboratory. After a while, they returned with a large bottle of Green Potion and poured a spoonful each for Donald, Richard, and Kelly to drink.
The three of them lay there for another half hour before they could barely sit up.
"Are you okay?" Donald asked Richard and Kelly.
"I'm fine!" Richard had gritted his teeth and endured it in silence from beginning to end. He didn't speak until his older brother asked him.
Unexpectedly, Kelly also shook her head and said she was fine. She was much stronger than her frail appearance suggested.
"I think Manda was right. I'm going to be a Mage, so I'm not training with you." Donald felt as if the kicks had nearly scattered even his Sea of Consciousness, and shouted toward the Laboratory.
"No, no, it wasn't Manda who said that. It was Mia," Ailimiya corrected him.
Adarua strolled out of the Laboratory and said indifferently, "I told you, you can quit whenever you want."
Then he said to Richard and Kelly, "Same goes for you two."
"I won't quit!" Richard was as stubborn as an ox.
Kelly struggled with herself, but when she saw the concern in Donald's eyes and thought of that noble girl named Lucia, she gritted her teeth and replied, "I won't quit either."
"Hey! I've never had Knight training. Couldn't you at least consider tailoring it to the person?" Donald glared resentfully at the little man.
"You think I used the same amount of force on all of you?" Adarua felt a little wronged. Kicking Donald had actually been the hardest part, since he was the weakest of the three and Adarua had to control his strength much more carefully.
Donald rolled his eyes at him and said no more.
As dusk fell, the three of them finally dragged their bruised bodies away, supporting one another. Before leaving, Kelly chatted privately with the twin sisters for a while, glancing shyly at Donald as they talked.
Only later did Donald find out that Kelly had asked them whether this kind of training would leave ugly scars. The Gnome sisters had told her it wouldn't. The two little girls seemed to have figured out the relationship between Donald and Kelly, and even told her that a female Knight and the Great Demon King made a much better match. Only then did Donald remember Kelly's shy glances.
Richard told Donald that he and Kelly had both signed up for the Martial Magic Tournament in Dorn City. Donald didn't mention that someone had secretly signed him up, because he had already decided to withdraw on the day of the tournament. That way, he wouldn't have to explain to too many people why he had advanced to Magic Apprentice in just half a year.
Donald hadn't really given up on Adarua's training. Although the unreasonable training method nearly killed him every time, he still felt he should set an example for his younger brother and Kelly.
From that day until the end of April, the three of them actually kept up the inhuman beatings. Adarua had finally found some entertainment to occupy himself during his dull security work. And after enduring his entertainment for a while, the ones he entertained began to feel their muscles and bones growing stronger by the day. After each beating, they could sleep it off and wake up feeling as good as new.
Richard and Kelly also found their daily drills at Knight School growing easier and easier. This became an important reason why they continued with the training.
Dorn City, the secret chamber in the City Lord's residence.
Marquis Elesiriel, the City Lord, was quietly discussing something with a man and a woman. The door to the chamber was shut tight, but the three of them still instinctively kept their voices low. What they were discussing could not be allowed to reach a fourth person.
The middle-aged woman among them was Professor Judy of the Magic Academy. The other man besides the City Lord was Carl's father, Derrick.
The Sirius Family had held power in Tris Province for hundreds of years. Marquis of Eli, who served as the City Lord of Dorn City, was said to be a powerful Mage. Judging by his lifespan of over a hundred years, the rumor was probably true. Derrick and Judy were his son and daughter.
"I heard Kaz went to the Magic Academy. Derrick, have there been any other irregularities recently?" Marquis of Eli looked to be in his fifties or sixties. Though he was also over a hundred, he looked much younger than the dean of the Magic Academy.
"No, Father. Kaz seems to have stayed at the Magic Academy the whole time. Don't worry; my people won't give themselves away."
"A bunch of useless fools! They can't even handle one little brat. How am I supposed to be reassured?"
"There are traces of the ropes in the room having been burned through, but Lucia is a Water Element Magic Apprentice. The problem must have been that poor boy we captured by mistake!"
Judy already knew who her brother meant by the poor boy, but based on what she had learned afterward, she couldn't figure out how Donald and Lucia had escaped.
"What's the point of talking about that now? An important part of the plan is gone, so we can only stake everything on one move."
"Father, do you think we should wait a little longer? I could look for an opportunity at the Magic Academy," Judy suggested.
"No. You mustn't expose yourself. Besides, Kaz is protecting Lucia now. Even if you wanted to make a move, you wouldn't get the chance."
"Kaz will have to go back eventually," Judy said softly.
"Don't underestimate those people from the Fremont Family. They may not have caught on yet, but if they find even the slightest clue, our carefully laid plan will be ruined. They haven't made a move yet, so we have to strike first."
"Father, are those People from the West really trustworthy? The people I placed over there haven't noticed any sign of troop movements."
"Of course. If even your people had noticed, what kind of secret would it be? As soon as we succeed here, they'll make their move. Our plan is a perfect opportunity for them, too."
"Are they really willing to make Tris Province our fief?" Derrick asked.
"We have no choice but to gamble. Otherwise, in a few decades, they won't need our help anymore. By then, we may never get another chance to restore the glory of the Tersli Duchy."
"You're right, Father. We have to win this time," Judy agreed.
Marquis of Eli straightened up and braced both hands firmly against the table. In a low voice, he said, "Six hundred years have passed. People have probably long forgotten the Tersli Family. We've been in hiding long enough. It's time to step back into the light."
"Yes, Father."
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