Chapter 29: A Reunion After Ten Years
"Linley and Hadeson?" Master Lorrens beside them also exclaimed in surprise.
Marquis Kifer quickly nodded. "Yes, just two nights ago, in the dead of night, Olivia was severely injured by Lord Hadeson and is still unconscious. Immediately after, Lord Hadeson challenged Master Linley to a duel."
In their words, Marquis Kifer and Scott both subtly implied that Hadeson had gone too far.
"This Hadeson, calling himself the number one Saint-level expert. To be able to injure Olivia so badly that he's unconscious—his strength is certainly no bluff. Linley may be a genius, but he's only twenty-seven..." Master Lorrens also expressed some dissatisfaction.
He knew that his disciple, Delia, liked Linley, so naturally, he felt a fondness for Linley as well.
"Olivia severely injured and unconscious?" Delia's eyes blazed. "With light-type healing magic, how could he be unconscious?"
No matter how severe the injury, light-type healing magic could easily and completely cure it. And in terms of healing ability, there was actually another type of magic even more powerful than light-type healing magic—life-type magic!
The three high-level magics—necromancy, the Great Prophecy, and life-type magic.
As long as one wasn't dead, even a severe soul injury could be repaired by life-type magic.
"It seems to be related to the soul," Scott said. As a prince, he was privy to a lot of information.
"The soul?" Master Lorrens frowned. "Does this Hadeson possess the ability to attack the soul?" In fact, Saint-level magi were the most adept at soul attacks.
Generally, after comprehending the laws, with their terrifying spiritual power, it wasn't difficult for them to grasp soul attacks.
"Do you think Linley has any hope of winning against Hadeson?" Delia asked abruptly.
"Of course not," Scott said directly. "Lord Hadeson has been famous for centuries, and no one has ever been able to defeat him! Besides, Master Linley recently dueled Lord Olivia, and they were about evenly matched. Since Lord Hadeson could reduce Olivia to that state, it's entirely possible he could severely injure or even kill Linley."
Even as calm as Delia was, she now felt worried for Linley.
What if Linley were killed?
Delia truly couldn't bear to imagine it.
"Would Hadeson go that far? Show no mercy at all?" Delia tried to remain composed on the surface.
"Miss Delia, two days ago, when Lord Hadeson fought Lord Olivia, he showed him no mercy at all. Why would he hold back against Master Linley?" Marquis Kifer said.
Master Lorrens shook his head as well. "When Saint-level experts fight, unless there's a huge gap in strength, they don't dare hold back. If you hold back and your opponent goes all out, you might die."
Delia was silent for a moment.
"Miss Delia?" Marquis Kifer and Scott called out softly.
"It's nothing. Let's go." Delia's face resumed its practiced smile, but there was a hint of stiffness in it.
Marquis Kifer and Scott nodded.
******
In front of the Count's mansion.
"Miss Delia, I told you, whether we can see Master Linley is not guaranteed," Marquis Kifer said with a laugh. Then, he casually said to the guard, "Go and announce that the Eighth Prince, Marquis Kifer, and the special envoy from the Yulan Empire are here to visit Count Wharton."
"Yes, please wait a moment."
One of the guards at the Count's mansion immediately ran inside to report.
Delia and the others knew that given Linley's current status, it was very difficult to see him. For now, they could only meet Wharton first and then indirectly request to see Linley.
"Please, come in, lords and ladies."
Delia, Master Lorrens, Marquis Kifer, Scott, and the others all entered the Count's mansion.
...
In the living room of the Count's mansion.
"Wharton." Scott strode into the living room, speaking with familiarity. "Let me introduce you. This beautiful lady is Miss Delia, the special envoy from the Yulan Empire."
Scott was the Eighth Prince of the Empire, and Nina was the Seventh Princess. Naturally, Scott was very familiar with Wharton.
"Special envoy from the Yulan Empire? Why would she come to my place?" Although Wharton was surprised inwardly, he kept a smile on his face and bowed politely. "Miss Delia, it's an honor to meet you."
"Count Wharton." Delia smiled back. "This is my teacher, Master Lorrens, the wind-type Saint-level magus."
Wharton was stunned, and even his butler, Hiri, behind him, was shocked.
In the O'Brien Empire, it was easy to meet Saint-level warriors, but Saint-level magi—they had never seen one before. After all, the number of magi in the empire was very small.
"Wharton, has the imperial envoy arrived?" A loud, boisterous voice rang out. It was Gates, one of the five Barker brothers.
Wharton had been training with the five Barker brothers earlier. When he heard the servant's report, he stopped training and came to receive the guests. Gates had also followed out of curiosity.
"Oh, what a beautiful lady." Gates's eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Gates, this is Miss Delia, the imperial envoy, and this is Master Lorrens, the wind-type Saint-level magus." Wharton quickly introduced them, worried that Gates might cause trouble.
Gates's attention immediately shifted to Master Lorrens.
"Wow—a Saint-level magus!" Gates's eyes widened like an ox's.
Master Lorrens sighed inwardly. Good heavens, what kind of people were these? Wharton's towering stature alone was enough to amaze Lorrens. But Wharton was still somewhat handsome. Gates, however, was a different story—his waist was incredibly thick, and he looked like a giant bear.
"Stay away from my master." A deep voice rumbled.
Behind Master Lorrens, the giant bear's height rapidly increased. It had been only two meters tall, but now it grew to three meters. The Earth Bear lowered its head to look at Gates, a hint of smugness in its eyes.
"A Saint-level magical beast?" Gates looked up at the Earth Bear.
Delia, however, got straight to the point. "Count Wharton, my teacher and I have come to see Master Linley."
"See my big brother—" Wharton frowned.
The visitors were of high status and even brought a Saint-level magus. But in Wharton's mind, his brother's training was the most important, especially with the duel just over two months away.
"I'm sorry, but my brother is focusing on preparing for his battle with Hadeson and can't be disturbed," Wharton said. When he mentioned Hadeson, there was no respect in his tone.
Hearing this, Delia also thought that Linley's preparation for the duel was crucial. After a moment of silence, she said, "Then... I won't disturb him."
Master Lorrens sighed inwardly and then spoke up, "Count Wharton, my disciple Delia was also a student at the Ernst Institute of Magic back then. She was a very close classmate of your big brother. They haven't seen each other for ten years."
"A student at the Ernst Institute of Magic?" Wharton's heart stirred.
In truth, Linley still ate and rested every day. He wasn't constantly training without a break, like when he was comprehending the 'Pulsating Defense.' Stopping for a while to receive guests wouldn't be a big deal.
If it were strangers, Wharton would have refused. But this was his brother's old classmate.
"Alright, come with me," Wharton said with a nod.
Delia clenched her fists slightly, then let out a breath to relax herself. Master Lorrens beside her patted her shoulder with a smile. "Relax."
"Old classmate?" Scott and Marquis Kifer were both surprised inwardly.
But at this moment, Delia was walking ahead, not even looking at them. The two of them tactfully followed behind in silence.
After walking for a while—
"Miss Delia, my brother is training in the courtyard ahead," Wharton said with a smile. Gates quickly added, "I'll go inform the master."
Delia felt her breathing quicken.
Ten years!
The year Linley's father died, Delia and Linley parted ways. In the blink of an eye... a full ten years had passed. Delia closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, she was much calmer.
"Bebe, move aside! I have something important!" Gates's loud voice rang out in the courtyard.
"Master, there's someone named Delia outside. She says she's your old classmate and wants to see you."
"Delia?" A calm but slightly surprised voice sounded from the courtyard. The voice wasn't loud, but to Delia, it felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her.
No matter how strong her mental fortitude, meeting the person she had longed for for ten years made her heart tremble uncontrollably.
"Whoosh!" A breeze blew, rustling the branches of the short, sturdy trees and stirring Delia's golden hair, making it look even more ethereal.
The wind stung her eyes, and Delia couldn't help but squint.
At that moment, a figure that had appeared in her dreams a thousand times emerged at the courtyard gate. He wore a simple, light blue robe. His once-short hair had grown long.
Delia looked at him carefully.
"He's taller than before, and much more mature." Delia gazed at the person who haunted her thoughts, but for a moment, she couldn't say a word.
"Delia, it really is you." Linley's voice carried a hint of pleasant surprise.
"It's me." Delia finally managed to speak.
Linley's eyes were deep as the sea, and he immediately noticed Master Lorrens and the Earth Bear beside Delia. "A Saint-level magical beast? An Earth Bear?"
"Linley, this is my teacher, Master Lorrens, the wind-type Saint-level magus. The Earth Bear is his magical beast." Delia's mind was now fully clear.
"Come in," Linley said with a smile.
Seeing Linley's smile, Delia felt a warmth surge within her. "Is this feeling... called happiness?" Delia felt her eyes grow hot.
...
"Wharton, you can go entertain those two." Linley glanced at Scott and Marquis Kifer and said no more.
Scott and Marquis Kifer weren't offended in the least. They respectfully took their leave. After all, he was a Saint-level expert, someone even the Emperor treated with courtesy. Why would he care about a couple of aristocratic playboys?
Around the stone table in the courtyard.
Linley, Delia, and Master Lorrens sat down.
"What are you looking at?" The Earth Bear glared at the Shadowstripe Leopard, 'Hei Lu.' As a Saint-level magical beast, the Earth Bear was very proud.
"You stupid bear," Hei Lu snorted coldly.
"Saint-level magical beast?" Master Lorrens and Delia were both surprised to hear Hei Lu speak, and they looked at Linley.
"Hei Lu, stop it." Linley glanced at Hei Lu, who immediately lay down and ignored the Earth Bear. Hei Lu knew he was no match for the Earth Bear, but he wasn't afraid either—the Earth Bear's speed was no match for his.
Bebe, however, deliberately waved his claws at the Earth Bear in a threatening gesture.
"Bebe." Delia exclaimed happily.
Bebe nimbly leaped into Delia's arms.
"Bebe, it's been a long time." Delia stroked Bebe's smooth fur affectionately, and Bebe squinted his little eyes in enjoyment.
Even as she petted Bebe, Delia's thoughts were on Linley.
The Linley of the past had been so resolute and cold, but the Linley now had a gentleness about him. Even his every gesture seemed so natural.
"Master Linley, I heard you're going to duel Hadeson?" Master Lorrens was the first to bring up the topic.
"Yes," Linley said with a nod and a smile.
Delia looked up at Linley and asked, "Linley, do you have any confidence in defeating this Hadeson?"
"No," Linley answered honestly. Delia was one of the very few friends Linley had made at the Ernst Institute of Magic. Besides Yale, Reynolds, and George, she was probably the one he was closest to.
Seeing Delia, Linley couldn't help but recall their parting ten years ago.
That time...
Delia had come to see Linley late at night, saying she was leaving the Sacred Alliance. She said she wanted a hug before they parted. But who would have thought that the farewell hug would turn into a farewell kiss?
That kiss had stunned Linley at the time.
Even now, seeing Delia, Linley couldn't help but think of that night.
"No confidence?" Delia bit her lip and asked, "Then, Linley, can you call off the duel? Not fight him?"
Master Lorrens shook his head. "Delia, how can you say something so foolish? When Saint-level experts agree to a duel, how can they back out?"