Lith did as instructed, kneeling in front of the raised floor as the ceremony required . King Meron placed his right hand over Lith's head while holding the staff representing the Crown's authority over magic in the other .
"For your services in curing the plague, for saving many lives during Balkor's last attack, and for your contribution in defending the White Griffon, I hereby award you the Verhen name . It will be extended to your family and passed down by your children .
"It grants to you and to you alone the same status of a Baron . Your starting fief will be the region of Lutia, under Count Lark's supervision, should you ever decide to trade your merits for the lands and responsibilities that a noble title implies .
"Stand up, Mage Lith Verhen!"
Lith did as ordered . The members of the Royal family applauded him, immediately followed by a standing ovation from the guests . Lith was supposed to be happy . Another milestone in his master plan had fallen into place .
Yet he felt empty, meaningless . Just like the sound of his new name .
***
The following morning, the trio was in Phloria's room . The girls were making their final preparations for the tournament, while Lith had been using Accumulation non stop since the previous night .
Taking deep breaths was the only way he and Solus had found to keep his emotions in check . There was still a storm brewing inside of him and as it was for any storm, stopping it was impossible . Lith could only wait for it to pass .
"Do you still suffer from Death Vision?" Friya said as she came out of the training room . She and Phloria had just finished a light spar as warm up .
Lith nodded . Over time he had shared a few details about himself with her . In the space of a few seconds, Lith saw her die of poisoning, old age, and by decapitation .
"What about now?" She asked multiple times, coming closer and closer until at three meters distance Lith shook his head . Friya was alive and well now .
"What about her?" Friya pointed at Phloria, who was still in the training room .
"She's fine . "
"I knew it!" Friya snorted . "I bet that the safe zone range depends on how much you care for the person . I guess three meters after two years is still better than nothing . "
Lith didn't agree with her theory, yet he found it interesting . Back when Death Vision started, he would see everyone die, even his family, no matter the distance . For a long time, the only exception had been Phloria, but only when she was very close to him .
Over time, though, he had learned to control it with his willpower . Also, Lith had developed a safe zone, were people would appear normal as long they were within its range . Lith and Solus thought it depended on him mastering whatever Death Vision was, while Friya had a more romantic concept of it .
"Who do you think will win if we both get into the finals?" Phloria tried to change the topic . If her sister was right, it would make breaking up even more awkward .
"Do you want the cold truth or the boyfriend truth?" His voice was slow so he wouldn' lose his breathing rhythm .
"Cold truth . " The girls replied as one .
"It's a coin flip . Phloria, you have a better technique while Friya has more fighting spirit . Since you are both Mage Knights, you'll want close combat . At that distance, a single strike can seal the result . " Neither of the girls liked the answer .
Friya because she was aware of her limits, Phloria because she hoped he would be more supportive .
'What if you had to bet?' Solus asked .
'In that case, with a sword at my throat, I'd bet on Friya . She has a lot of pent up stress and the tendency to become more aggressive because of it . Phloria has a lot on her mind, I doubt she can show her full strength right now . Especially against her own sister . '
Solus sighed . The only thing that she hated more than a murderous Lith was an emotionless one .
The tournament took place in the academy's colosseum . It was a huge arena, located on the ground floor of the White Griffon that was usually off limits outside special events . Duels and fights were a relic of the past, relegating the use of the colosseum to be exclusively ceremonial .
To everyone's surprise, the whole Royal family was attending the event . Headmaster Marth offered to the King the role of arbiter for the event, but Meron politely declined .
Spectating was one thing . Participating in the event would mean giving it special importance, hurting the pride of the other academies .
Both girls fought fiercely, showing that the point difference between them and the other rankers wasn't just a fluke . They literally wiped the floor with any opponent they faced in ten moves at worst .
Linjos's legacy, the daily evaluation, was showing its worth in all the academies that employed its system . It forced the students to give their all every day, rather than cram the month before the exams and just learn by rote .
As Lith predicted, when Friya and Phloria fought in the finals, Phloria was unable to consider it more than a spar, losing to Friya's ruthlessness . Being right didn't make him happy . He was actually sad for her . The result only proved Phloria was right too .
She was still too soft .
The Royals applauded both contenders, giving House Ernas double the honor any other household had ever achieved in the academies' history . Never before had two of the first three rankers belonged to the same family .
It pissed off everyone present that wasn't part of the academy's staff, the Ernas, or the Royal family . Commoners and nobles alike had hoped that since the top ranker wouldn't attend, they would still have a chance to shine .
"It was truly a magnificent competition, your Majesty . " Sitting next to King Meron there was Archduke Taben, family head of one of the most ancient households of the Griffon Kingdom and the father of the girl ranked fourth .
"It's too bad the first ranker didn't attend, right Xebas?"
"Indeed . It would have made an excellent show . " Marchioness Xebas belonged to an almost as important family and her son was ranked fifth .
"Marth, why don't you ask him for an exhibition match? You can't leave your guests of honor with the curiosity about what the brightest talent of the White Griffon can do . "
The two nobles didn't give a damn about Lith, their aim was to embarrass house Ernas . Jirni and Orion not only had received plenty of awards for defeating Nalear, but now their daughters were stealing all the spotlight . It was more than what the other households could bear .
Not that they could bear much anyway . The higher they got, the touchier they became .
"It's an interesting idea . " King Meron scratched his beard .
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