At the center of the clearing, the wind swept up dead leaves, sending them swirling in every direction.
In the silence, there was an almost ceremonial solemnity.
Green slowly stepped forward to stand opposite Louis, his hand on his sword hilt and his expression grave.
"...My lord, please forgive me if I overstep." His voice was low, but his hesitation was clear.
It was not that he was unwilling to spar. He was afraid his blade might truly hurt his lord.
But when Louis nodded and calmly said, "Give it everything you have. Don't hold back," Green finally cast aside the last of his restraint.
The next instant, battle aura surged out like a tide.
Crimson battle aura erupted around him, swirling about his body like a tidal current. As it crashed into the ground, the earth cracked and stones flew.
The pressure was like a mountain collapsing, like thunder bearing down from overhead.
"A high-rank elite going all out..." Thomas swallowed. "Green's giving it everything."
"He is," Lambert said quietly. "Look. Even his eyes have changed."
Thomas said, "Nothing's going to go wrong, is it? It would be bad if he lost control and hurt Lord Louis."
Across from Green, Louis quietly drew his sword. With a casual sweep, pale red battle aura rippled around him.
But that was not his focus.
It was the barely perceptible fluctuation of magic power as he pressed two fingers of his other hand together and gently closed his eyes.
The air began to heat up, as though something was slowly brewing, held under pressure, waiting to explode.
"His lordship's battle aura... is quite a bit weaker than Green's," Thomas said, swallowing. "But his presence is about the same."
Lambert did not answer. He simply stared at those seemingly calm eyes, beneath which