Bully's second chance

Suddenly the door opens and Ian followed by Alessa walks into the suite. Karl quickly puts the handkerchief away.

"Leo! I saw your matches, you were amazing!" Ian smiles and runs to Karl like a toddler. He pats on Karl's shoulder to congratulate him. "And you won't believe what just happened. I met principal Estha. She was also praising your performance."

Karl raises his eyebrow as his mind didn't register Ian's words. "That bitch?"

As Karl and Ian are talking, Alessa silently walks to her master. Ray whispers something to her.

"You hit Jerome and he went flying!" Ian tries to imitate Karl's movement. "Everyone gasped in awe."

Karl chuckles. "Haha. Glad you enjoyed the fight."

Ian turns and waves his hand at a knight. The knight who was guarding the door grabs a chair for Ian. He placed the chair right next to Karl's chair. "Also, principal Estha said that you don't need worry about the reputation of the academy or the school. Focus on your performance." Ian says as he takes a seat.

"How kind of her. Speaking of performance, how many matches do I have to win to secure a spot in top 10?"

Ian notices Karl's restlessness in his words. "The next one should be last. Then you will be officially promoted to low knight."

Karl looks unconvinced. "Low knight? If I remember correctly Sian and Zena was one of those. Does this make me as strong as they were?...I don't feel like it though."

Ian raises his hand to summons his magic circle. 3 balls of vacuum are formed, one is light green and it looks fragile. Middle one being a bit darker and it is bigger and even more fragile that one can see through the orb. Last one is the darkest while having a small but perfect spherical shape. It is moving so fast that it looks still to a naked eye.

"Let's assume that these three orbs are the order of knights. Low, Intermediate and High. The rank of low knight is achievable through sheer training and dedication. Though it takes a really long time. After the next win, 5 sponsored teams would be honoured with the rank of Low knight. But this rank is merely superficial and just an imitation given to promising talents. A person only elevates ranks by the will of the horizon itself."

Karl thinks for a second before asking. "So, it just happens? Like randomly?"

"Don't disregard the will of horizon. It exactly knows who to bestow his power." Hector says with a soft yet threatening tone.

"Y-Yes. My tongue slipped my apologises." Karl quickly takes his words back. 'Yep. Totally crazy worshippers.'

Ian grabs Karl's hand. "You will feel it once it happens, Leo. Like your body feels lighter, closer to horizon. Your mana capacity skyrockets. Unimaginable miracles would reveal itself to you. Believe in the horizon and you will obtain everything you want."

Karl smiles awkwardly at Ian's words. 'Fuck no. This gives the exact feeling of the stuff you get sold by that shady person in the back alley.' "I-I think about it."

"Son, I think there is no need to feel agitated in this matter. Looking at Leonard's prowess Low knight should not take effort. Give it few years and he will reach there."

Karl's curiosity sparks. "What about Intermediate or High Knight? Can I reach there?"

Ray scratches his stubble beard as he thinks. "Hmm. As Ian stated earlier, low knight is achievable but ranks beyond that is a different story. A considerable amount of talent is required for intermediate rank and in most cases only talent doesn't cut it."

Karl blinks for a second because he didn't understand Ray's words. "You just said that talent is required which isn't enough?"

Ray raises his hands and the middle orb starts to float towards him. "It is complicated. Look at this orb. Compared to the first orb, this one is slightly darker and bigger yet it looks more fragile. When a person elevates from low to intermediate rank the very foundation, techniques and spells they learned crumbles. They have to relearn everything in a completely different way which is often inferior to the original that they learned in the first place. That is why one needs deep understanding of magic and the core concepts. Even with those many fail to relearn and falls into self-doubt which leads to permanent loss of their abilities. Becoming a weakling who can use fraction of their original abilities."

"Hypothetically, if one person were to relearn in a new way. Won't they still be weaker than their peak low rank?"

Ray rotates his finger and the orb flies to the first orb. WHOOSH! A violent gust of wind was formed as the first orb refused to be absorbed. Suddenly the bigger orb opens up and completely eats the smaller orb. "Weakness is a state of mind. If the intermediate knight relearns everything his newly achieved state would be 100 times stronger than his peak as a low knight. The output would be devastating."

"Not to mention, the majority of sentinels completely shattered this stereotype." Ian states in an exciting voice.

Karl stares at the floating orb.

Ray smirks at Karl's reaction. "Looks like you are still not convinced."

"I am not." Karl answers honestly.

"First become a proper low knight. Then ask me again. I explain it to you."

Karl looks into Ray's eyes and sees a green glow. "Then….What about that one?" He points to the last floating orb.

"High knight is something like a legend. Very few of exists. Only 39 are publicly known high knights. Most are affiliated with the federation which keeps the total number hidden to ensure not leak information to the enemies. The exact process of elevation from intermediate to high is different but one thing is same for everyone. They all killed a noble or something far stronger than themselves." Ian explains while holding Karl's hands.

Yet Karl's eyes are fixed on Ray. "A legend, you say?"

"Those are just fancy mere words. In reality high knight should be classified as walking calamites. Capable of destroying entire blocks and reshaping the very laws of worlds itself. They are not heroes or legends you hear. They hardly can be called knights. With all of this powers they often stray away from horizon and become a twisted creature." Ray expresses his own thoughts.

"Says the one who is a high knight himself." Karl immediately jokes. Ian and Alessa chuckles.

Ray clears his throat before continues. "Ahem! Don't take me as an example. It hasn't been much more time since I elevated and I lost most of my abilites due ancient beast Koraet. It wouldn't be wrong to classify me as an intermediate knight impersonating a high knight." "No! Father is strong." Ian quickly disagrees." Ray's cheeks turn red seeing his son praising him. "The point is that all high knights have some screws loose. Therefore try to avoid involving with them at all cost."

Ian nods at his father's words. While Karl takes a mental note.

"Sir Leonard, I believe that you have to meet someone now." Alessa spoke.

In the different building where the participants were given accommodation, Yelm is watching his mistress pack her suitcase. He has reverted to his normal body. His face again looks beautiful and handsome. Almost all of his major wounds healed. Only his hands are covered in bandage. He is wearing a blood red tuxedo, ready to leave this pesky human farm. "Milady, you have been packing this for last 20 minutes."

Kalonice's hands stop.

"Please control yourself. That lowly human does not deserve your attention." Yelm says with a worried look.

Kalonice closes he suitcase and sits on the bed. Her hands on her chest as she tries to fight her feeling. Telling herself to forget about him.

"Milady…" Yelm is even more distressed after seeing his mistress's state.

Kalonice's cheeks are bright red as she cries silently.

Suddenly a though crosses Yelm's mind. "M-May I suggest a solution?"

Kalonice wipes tears of her face and looks at her subordinate.

"What if we demanded the boy along with blade from the Count?"

Kalonice immediately rejects the idea and cracks the bed as she stands up like bolt. "Never suggest such idea."

Yelm quickly bows and seeks forgiveness. "I apologize for being an incompetent follower. Please punish me as you see fit."

Kalonice quickly eats her anger and her expressionless face returns. "The fact that we are getting help from the Count makes me sick from the inside. I am sure that sly man will ask something outrageous as a return of this favour."

Kalonice grabs the suitcase and puts on the ground.

"Also, grandpa was right. If that person doesn't accept my proposal after repeating it three times, it is clear that he doesn't deserve me. Hmph!" She swings her hair.

KNOCK! KNOCK! A sudden knock startled Kalonice as she jumped. "Hiee! Is it him? You look."

Yelm looks at the door through his red eyes. Though his sight is not good as Kalonice, he can still see the silhouette of the person standing outside the door. "Hmm. The height is about the same. Maybe he is here. Now he understands my lady's real beaut-"

"SCRAM NOW!" Kalonice yells in panic. Yelm quickly kneels and continues to sink in the floor. Kalonice is panicking as she checks her face and dress. "W-what do I do? Is my hair good? Also take this."

Suddenly she tosses her suitcase to Yelm which hits his injured hands. He groans in pain but doesn't complain.

After Yelm fully disappears Kalonice gathers the courage to open the door.

Gea stands at the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. "H-Hello, miss Tenebris."

Kalonice's quickly face changes expression. "Why are you here?"

"I just wanted say few things." Kalonice waits.

"T-The thing is….I got my leg amputated. It looks good right?" Gea raises his left leg which looks muscular than other.

Kalonice just stares at Gea's awkward smile.

Just then he bows and extends the flowers. "T-The thing is that I like you. Please marry me. I-I have convinced my father. I will keep like queen and give you everything you want. Please be mine!"

Kalonice's eyes gradually turns dark red.

Suddenly a something pushes Gea. Interrupted, Gea turns around and snaps. "Who dares to….." He looks straight up and sees a handsome man in red tuxedo standing behind him.

"I guess I could use a snack for my travels." With these words, Yelm pushes Gea into the room before closing the door.

After that no one heard of Gea's screams nor his voice.