Nahir's expression turned ghastly. He now understood why he hated Kyran so much.
He realized it after witnessing the exchange between Cyneah and Kyran.
Rather than being annoyed at being unable to understand their conversation, Nahir was annoyed at seeing Cyneah's expression as she talked to Kyran.
She looked carefree, and even full of life. A huge contrast to her usual docile self with a reserved smile.
Nahir admitted he dislike it when Cyneah opposed him earlier. But more than that, he found this side of her refreshing and was even charmed by her carefree smile.
However, the reason for Cyneah's smile was not Nahir but that kid, Nar.
To sum up what Nahir felt for the younger man, basically, he was jealous.
It was a strange feeling for Nahir. Especially when the woman who caused it was someone that others would have reconsidered being betrothed with.
Cyneah had an Anathema, after all. Even if she had powerful healing magic, and a beautiful face her disability would still cause eligible bachelors to rethink marrying her.
Nahir was the only one who was willing to take her. At least, he believed he was the only one.
But he was wrong.
Looking at the approaching young man, Nahir glowered and could not help but wonder what was the difference between them.
No.
The answer to that question was too obvious.
Nahir and Kyran were worlds apart.
Physically, the former won by a large margin. He was handsome, tall, and considered to be the most sought after man among the Eidums. The latter, apart from having an appearance that made him stood out like a sore thumb- dark hair and dark eyes- he was pretty average. If there was something noteworthy about his physical appearance it would be his physique. He was tall, with broad shoulders and lean mascular body. But apart from that, he was just a show off kid in Nahir's opinion.
So why would Cyneah treat Kyran differently?
Why did it feel they were closer?
Nahir was Cyneah's betrothed, so why would she act reserved around him and carefree around a stranger?
Alas, due to Nahir's jealousy, the things he could see are narrowed and his understanding twisted.
Amit, Hilam, and the rest of the Eidums joined Azikh, Cyneah, and Gidan on one side of the ring and watched Nahir and Kyran.
Soria, curiously looked at Cyneah and asked, "Lady Saint, just now, you and Nar conversed in a different language...?" Her voice trailed off as she realized her question sounded too personal.
Cyneah turned her head slightly to the left where Soria was and said, "Sorry, we are not trying to keep our conversation to ourselves. I suppose, after meeting someone from my nativr land, I could not help but use our native tongue."
"So you and Nar came from the same place," Soria said with raised brows. "I didn't know that."
Cyneah only smiled in response. She feared Soria would follow through with another question if she say more.
"Same rules apply," Nahir said as soon as Kyran arrived.
The two stood face to face in the middle of the ring with only ten feet separating them.
"I will use the Abbey's teaching while you use yours."
"The result will be the same if we do it like that," Kyran responded with a slight smile. "How about I give you a handicap? I won't use any support skills and will only rely on my combat skills?"
The reason Kyran suggested this was simple. He could not use support magic. When he pretended to be Tyr, whose innate magic was considered a Support-type, he used array and camouflage the 'magic array' with Void magic. As to how he got the effect of Strengthening magic, he had combined the array with Draconic magic.
Nahir sneered, "Are you afraid your support spells are not strong enough to restrain me?"
"I'm worried you'd lose in seconds if I used support spells and lose face in front of your people."
Nahir grounded his teeth. But he held his tongue and only smiled in response. He would not let Kyran work him up before their battle. He was the Abbey's Head Master and must preserve his professional image.
Kyran sighed in his heart. He could not understand why Nahir would ignore his serious warning but get worked up when he was talking nonsense.
If Nahir did not want to listen, then Kyran would not bother anymore. Since he promised Cyneah to teach the older man a lesson, then he would do just that.
"Let's begin," Nahir said, not wanting to waste any more time.
"Please-."
Before Kyran could even say anything, Nahir already moved.
His whole body turned ablaze, before disappearing from Kyran's line of sight.
"Fast!" Hilam and the others exclaimed in shock. They heard Lord Nahir's offensivr magic was not the only thing that made him strong. His speed and combat sense was also in a whole different level.
Kyran's expression remained unchanged when Nahir disappeared before him.
Whoosh!
The next moment, he heard and saw a blazing forearm aimed at his right temple.
Without so much as a change in expression, Kyran raised his right hand to grab the incoming forearm.
But.
Foom!
The blazing arm erupted, engulfing Kyran's head in an instant.
"Nar!"
Amit, Hilam and the rest of the Eidums were shocked at the sudden turn of events.
They barely saw Lord Nahir reappearing beside Kyran and was poised to attack. But then, instead of hitting Kyran, Nahir ignited his blazing forearm, engulfing Kyran's head in the process.
Azikh and Gidan was also surprised. Not because they failed to see Nahir's attack but because they found the output of his flames too great for a mock battle. Though they sensed it was not that powerful, it was still enough to cause a first degree burn.
"You're too slow," Nahir said with a sneer, watching Kyran's head enveloped with flames. "Don't worry, I controlled my flames so it will only leave a slight burn..."
His voice trailed off and his eyes widened as he saw Kyran tilted his head slightly, seemingly unaffected by the flames.
BAM!
Without warning, Kyran hit Nahir's face with the back of his right hand.
Crack!
"Oomphf!" Nahir felt his nose cracked as Kyran's knuckles connected and he stumbled a few steps back.
Ignoring his ablazed head, Kyran followed up with a 360 back kick before Nahir could even regain his balance.
"Guah!"
Kyran's kick hit Nahir squarely on his abdomen and was sent flying backward.
With the force of the kick, the size of the ring was not enough to kill its momentum. Thus, Nahir hit the semi-transparent barrier with a loud thud.
Amit, Hilam and the rest of the Eidums were stupified as they watch Nahir slid down to the floor after hitting the barrier.
A strange silence followed as they realized Nahir had lost consciousness.
Azikh and Gidan were shocked. They knew Kyran was powerful, but Nahir aimed at his head at the start. This should have affected his performance even if a little.
Nahir's flames strength would not inflict too much damage but its heat was enough to irritate anyone. Others would even panic, especially those who knew Nahir's flames were hard to extinguish.
But Nahir's attack did not even faze Kyran. Apart from that, they did not see Kyran cast any support spells before he retaliated.
"Ah! Nar! You're head! You're head is still on fire!"
Yona's panic-stricken voice snapped everyone out of their own thoughts and looked at Kyran.
Indeed, his head was still on fire!
"Oh, this? It's fine, a small fire will not kill me," Kyran replied indifferently and slightly shook his head as if he was only dusting off dirt instead of putting out flames.
Hilam, Noam, Inca, Rakim, and Soria all looked at Kyran with a blank expression. They were already used to Kyran's strangeness that most of the things he does no longer surprised them.
But that was not the case with the other five. Their eyes almost popped at Kyran's nonchalant attitude.
Actually, the reason they were shocked beyond belief was because they were awar Nahir's hard to extinguish flames. For Kyran to easily put it out by shaking his head, was truly a shocking sight for them.
"What happened to giving him face?" Cyneah, who had been silent from the start finally spoke. She had a helpless smile on her face as she faced the directiong at which she believed Kyran was at.
Kyran cleared his throat, "My bad. I did not think he will go down in just two... Ah, crap! I did not use a support spell just now. Does this mean I lost?"
Azikh, who went to check Nahir could not help but look at Kyran with a wry smile.
"You're still thinking about that?" He asked.
"Lord Nahir did not even acknowledge your wager," Gidan also said. "Did you think this round is any different?"
"Is Nahir okay? Please take him to the infirmary, I'll have a look at him," Cyneah changed the subject.
"Actually, Lord Nahir is-."
"I am fine," Nahir suddenly spoke as he tried to sit up.
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