A few months had passed since the incident.
Yet...
It still lingered in the back of his mind.
The attack on the palace.
The overwhelming strength of his enemy.
The feeling of being unable to do enough.
Levi remembered it all.
And because of that...
He trained harder.
The sound of steel echoed throughout the training yard.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
Levi's sword moved repeatedly.
His swings were faster than before.
His movements were sharper.
But even now...
He knew there was still a long way to go.
"Captain."
Levi lowered his sword.
The Royal Captain stood before him, observing him with a satisfied expression.
"You've been training well, Levi."
Levi wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Thanks, Captain."
"I've been training to avoid any further incidents."
The Captain nodded.
"Good."
"That mindset will keep you alive."
A brief silence followed.
Then...
The Captain smiled.
"But..."
"Are you strong enough?"
Levi raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?"
The Captain rested his sword against his shoulder.
"How about a spar?"
Levi immediately froze.
"W-with you, Captain?"
"Isn't that unfair?"
He pointed toward himself.
"It's like a toddler fighting a dragon."
The Captain laughed.
"Oh, don't worry."
"I'm not the one you're fighting."
He turned his gaze toward the other side of the training yard.
A blonde woman stood there.
Her presence was calm.
But the pressure she gave off was unmistakable.
"She's Valerie."
"The Vice Captain of the Royal Guards."
Valerie stepped forward.
She smoothly unsheathed her blade.
"Nice to meet you, Young Master."
She smiled.
Levi stared at her for a moment.
Then...
He charged.
Valerie's eyes widened slightly.
But she reacted instantly.
Her blade moved.
The two swords collided.
"How rude."
Valerie smiled.
"I introduced myself."
"And you did not."
Levi pushed against her blade.
"I will if I lose."
Valerie raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a promise?"
Levi smiled.
"Yes."
From the side...
The Captain sat down.
And somehow...
He had a bag of popcorn in his hands.
He watched the fight with amusement.
Levi and Valerie clashed again and again.
Each strike echoed throughout the training yard.
Levi attacked aggressively.
Valerie defended effortlessly.
Yet...
She could see it.
His instincts.
His adaptability.
His potential.
"You're good, Young Master."
Valerie said.
Her smile widened.
"I'll take this seriously now."
The atmosphere changed.
The next moment...
Her body began to dissolve.
Like mist disappearing into the wind.
Levi's eyes widened.
'Where did she go?'
He scanned the training yard.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No sound.
Then...
A voice came from behind him.
"Gotcha."
Levi turned.
Too late.
Valerie appeared behind him and lightly tapped his shoulder with her blade.
Levi froze.
Then sighed.
"You got me."
Valerie lowered her sword.
"Never go easy on a pretty woman."
She smiled.
"You'll die if you do."
Levi looked at her.
"...That is surprisingly practical advice."
Valerie laughed.
"Experience teaches many things."
Levi sheathed his sword.
"Well..."
"I should introduce myself then."
"As promised."
He gave a slight bow.
"I'm Levi Ashbourne."
Valerie laughed.
"I know."
"The Captain already informed me."
Levi looked confused.
"Then why bother asking?"
The Captain answered before Valerie could.
"To make sure that even on a battlefield..."
"You aren't arrogant."
Levi looked toward him.
Then smirked.
"Okay, sir Yaps-a-lot."
The Captain immediately looked offended.
"What did you call me?"
Before Levi could react...
The Captain lightly kicked him.
"Ow."
"Still too slow."
The Captain laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
"Now..."
"Let's see how much mana you can control."
The Captain placed a hand against Levi's back.
Then...
He stopped.
His expression changed.
The playful look disappeared.
His eyes widened.
For a moment...
He saw something.
A vast ocean.
A sea of flames and darkness.
Two completely opposite forces.
Moving together as one.
The Captain slowly removed his hand.
"..."
Levi noticed his expression.
"Captain?"
The Captain stared at him.
Then...
A grin appeared.
"You talented bastard."
Levi blinked.
"What?"
The Captain shook his head.
"You have the mana capacity of an Archmage."
Silence.
Then...
"What?"
Levi's eyes widened.
"An ARCHMAGE?!"
Valerie tilted her head.
"The glow is..."
"Definitely intense."
"But whatever you say, Captain."
The Captain looked at her.
"No."
"You have to believe me."
He stepped closer.
Then lowered his voice.
He explained what he had seen.
Valerie listened carefully.
Her expression slowly changed.
"Captain..."
She blinked.
"You're really close."
She paused.
Then...
Her eyes widened.
"Wait..."
"That's actually insane."
A smile appeared.
"The Young Master is truly talented."
She glanced toward Levi.
"Is it because of the Captain?"
"Or did he train him this well?"
She chuckled.
The Captain laughed as well.
"Maybe it is."
"Maybe he really does have a good teacher."
Levi looked between the two of them.
Then sighed.
"Okay."
"Lovebirds."
"I'll leave you two to have fun."
He waved and turned away.
A small grin appeared.
'I guess it's just the two of us now.'
However...
Before he could leave...
A knight hurried into the training yard.
He immediately bowed.
"Captain."
"You are being summoned by His Majesty."
The Captain's expression became serious.
"Understood."
He turned toward Valerie.
"Let's talk next time."
Valerie froze.
For a brief moment...
Her expression changed.
Like she had been about to say something.
Something important.
But she stopped herself.
She looked away.
"Okay, Captain."
"Maybe next time."
Her voice was quieter than before.
The Captain nodded.
Then followed the knight.
Levi watched them for a moment.
Then continued walking.
Leaving behind...
A training yard.
Two unfinished conversations.
And feelings that remained unsaid.