Chapter 116: Worth

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Worth

"The best fighter is never angry." — Laozi

The first light of dawn spilled over the academy grounds.

Riven stood among nearly three dozen cadets, dressed in a simple gray training tunic and trousers. The cold morning air brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of damp grass and polished wood.

The camp was already awake.

Cadets stood in neat rows across the courtyard, their practice swords resting at their sides. Most looked alert and eager, while a few still struggled to hide their exhaustion.

Riven glanced around.

The training grounds were larger than he had expected. Several wooden platforms stood along the edges, and a wide stone balcony overlooked the courtyard from the main building. Beyond the walls, Mistveil Isle’s mountains rose through the morning mist.

He had come here to find Elara.

Instead, he had somehow ended up attending a morning training session.

At least the academy had a proper breakfast.

That alone made the detour worthwhile.

A quiet rustle came from the shadow beneath the nearby eaves. Riven briefly glanced in that direction.

Nyx was concealed there, hidden through the Binding Sigil. The little wyvern had been less than pleased about being left behind, but Riven had no intention of explaining why a hatchling wyvern was following him around an elite knight academy.

He returned his attention to the courtyard.

At the front stood Master Kaelen.

The elderly Sword Saint wore a plain training robe, his hands folded behind his back. Despite his age, his posture remained straight, and his gaze was sharp enough to make several cadets stand a little taller.

"Today’s session will begin with an evaluation," Kaelen announced. "We have a visitor who wishes to train here while he searches for someone."

A few cadets turned toward Riven.

Whispers immediately spread through the formation.

"He’s the visitor?"

"He looks younger than all of us."

"Is he even a knight?"

"Does he have a core?"

Riven ignored them.

Kaelen continued, "Julian. Step forward."

A tall young man emerged from the second row.

He was broad shouldered, with neatly combed blond hair and a polished training uniform. His confident expression suggested that he was accustomed to being watched.

Riven recognized him from the introductions earlier.

Julian was a Tier Four vanguard and one of the most accomplished senior cadets. He had reportedly remained undefeated in the academy’s quarterly duels for two years.

Julian bowed to Kaelen before turning toward Riven.

His eyes moved over Riven’s plain clothes and lean frame.

"This is the evaluation?"

"It is," Kaelen replied.

Julian’s eyebrows rose slightly. "I see."

He walked toward the weapon rack and selected a weighted oak practice sword. After testing its balance, he tossed it toward Riven.

Riven caught it by the handle.

The weapon was heavier than the wooden swords he usually trained with. Its weight was concentrated near the blade, making it suitable for testing strength and control.

He gave it a small swing.

Not bad.

Julian folded his arms.

"Before we begin, I should mention that I won’t break your ribs. You’re a visitor, after all."

A few cadets chuckled.

Riven looked at him.

"That’s considerate."

Julian’s smile tightened.

"I’ll need to see your stance first. Then I can decide how much of a handicap to give you."

Riven said nothing.

He stepped into position.

His feet settled naturally against the packed dirt. His rear heel carried a little more weight, while his shoulders remained loose. The practice sword rested in his hands with its tip aligned toward Julian’s lead eye.

It was a simple guard.

Nothing flashy.

But the moment Riven settled into it, Kaelen’s expression changed.

The old man stood on the stone balcony overlooking the courtyard. His eyes narrowed as he studied Riven’s posture.

That stance.

He knew it better than any one.

Not merely the general structure. The angle of the wrists, the placement of the feet, and the way Riven allowed his breathing to settle were all familiar.

Kaelen’s fingers tightened slightly behind his back.

"Begin," he called.

Julian moved first.

He stepped forward and swung horizontally, the weighted wooden blade cutting through the air toward Riven’s torso.

"Let’s see if finesse can overcome weight!"

Riven watched the movement.

Julian’s shoulder shifted before his sword did. His front foot planted firmly, and his center of gravity moved forward with the strike.

A strong attack.

But predictable.

Riven moved his lead foot a few inches to the left.

The wooden blade passed in front of him.

He glided past the strike, turning his body just enough to avoid the weapon. Before Julian could recover, Riven’s sword moved forward in a straight thrust.

The wooden tip stopped just short of Julian’s throat.

The courtyard fell silent.

Riven lowered his sword.

Julian stared at him.

For a moment, he seemed unable to decide whether he had just been insulted or taught a lesson.

Then his face flushed.

"Again."

Kaelen watched without interrupting.

Julian stepped back and raised his sword.

This time, a silver aura spread across the wooden blade. The air around him seemed to grow heavier as his mana gathered.

Several cadets leaned forward.

"Julian’s using aura?"

"He’s taking this seriously."

Riven adjusted his grip.

He could feel the pressure coming from Julian’s aura. It was not overwhelming, but it was enough to make the difference between a careless mistake and a serious injury.

Julian’s expression had lost its earlier amusement.

"Let’s see you avoid this."

He charged.

The practice sword rose above his head before descending in a powerful overhead strike. The aura coating the blade shimmered in the morning light.

Riven waited.

The weapon came down.

At the last possible moment, he stepped inside Julian’s reach.

His sword met the descending blade at an angle, redirecting it away from his shoulder. Rather than pushing against Julian’s strength, Riven allowed the weapon to slide along his own.

Then he moved.

A quick tap against Julian’s left wrist.

Another against his right knee.

A third against the center of his chest.

Each strike was controlled and precise.

Julian’s balance collapsed.

He dropped to one knee, his breath knocked from his lungs. His practice sword slipped from his fingers and clattered against the dirt.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Riven stepped back and lowered his weapon.

Julian remained kneeling, one hand pressed against his chest as he tried to recover his breath.

The cadets stared.

Some looked stunned. Others seemed unsure whether they had just witnessed a real evaluation or a trick.

Riven had not released mana.

He had not used a flashy technique.

He didn’t coat his sword with shadows.

He had simply moved.

Kaelen’s gaze remained fixed on him.

The old Sword Saint had seen countless swordsmen over the years. He knew the difference between someone who possessed natural talent and someone who had been shaped by a master.

Riven’s movements carried the unmistakable rhythm of a trained swordsman.

More than that, Kaelen recognized the style.

The same measured breathing.

The same relaxed grip.

The same subtle shifts in balance.

It was his.

But Riven’s execution was unusually refined for someone so young.

Kaelen’s expression grew thoughtful.

Elara had taught him.

There was no doubt about it.

But how long had they been together? And how much had she taught him?

The old man’s thoughts wandered for a moment.

Elara, where on earth did you find this monster?

Riven rested the wooden sword against his shoulder.

"Are we done?"

Julian looked up.

His expression was a mixture of frustration and disbelief. He slowly rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his uniform.

"I wasn’t ready."

Riven tilted his head.

"You asked for another round."

A few cadets coughed to hide their laughter.

Julian’s face reddened further.

Kaelen stepped forward before the exchange could continue.

"That is enough."

His voice carried across the courtyard.

Julian straightened immediately.

"Yes, Master Kaelen."

"You were defeated because you relied on your strength and aura instead of controlling your movements. A stronger opponent would have punished the same mistakes far more severely."

Julian lowered his gaze.

"I understand."

Kaelen turned toward Riven.

"And you. Your technique is impressive, but you should be careful about how much you reveal during an evaluation."

Riven glanced at the practice sword resting on his shoulder.

"I thought the point was to evaluate me."

"Also this much is revealing nothing"

A brief silence followed.

Then Kaelen let out a quiet laugh.

"Fair enough."

The cadets exchanged glances.

They had expected a visitor to struggle against Julian. Some had even anticipated that the senior cadet would finish the evaluation in a single exchange.

Instead, the visitor had defeated him twice without showing any sign of strain.

Kaelen looked across the formation.

"Does anyone else wish to test our guest?"

Nobody moved.

Riven scanned the rows.

"Come on. I’m not that intimidating."

The cadets remained silent.

Riven sighed.

"Fine. I tried."

Kaelen shook his head, though the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Return to formation. We will continue with the scheduled drills."

The cadets quickly rearranged themselves.

Julian retrieved his practice sword and returned to his place. He avoided looking at Riven, though his posture had changed. The arrogance had not entirely disappeared, but it had been replaced by something more cautious.

Riven returned the wooden sword to the rack.

He had only wanted a place to train while waiting for Elara.

Now he had managed to defeat one of the academy’s best cadets before breakfast.

He glanced toward the main building.

Hopefully, nobody would make him do this every morning.

He had come here to find someone.

Not to become the academy’s newest source of paperwork.