Regnum Aetern: Dual Rebirth

Chapter 158: Finally time

Evangeline stood in the grassy clearing, completely focused, with her muscles tense and sweat dripping down her chin.

A few meters ahead, Adrian stood facing her, calmly gripping a sword in one hand.

Taking a deep breath, Evangeline sharpened her focus, and...

"Now!"

Hearing Ravian’s shout, she quickly used a Tier Two spell, Wind Blade, launching a large horizontal blade of wind towards Adrian. At the same time, she channeled mana in one of her bracelets as well as the tiara she wore.

Soon, a crown made of water materialized above her head.

Adrian covered his blade with a large amount of mana and cut down the wind blade coming his way. Not wasting a moment, he rushed toward her as he spoke.

"Instead of trying to learn a bit of everything, try to specialize in using one element first and then move on to another."

Evangeline jumped back to create distance. At the same time, large water droplets materialized in the air near her. Using the increased control over water granted by the Ruler of Waves spell, she launched them towards Adrian like bullets.

But Adrian swiftly cut down all those water bullets with fluid swings of his sword as he closed the distance.

By the time she pointed her hands at him for another attack, Adrian was already upon her, pointing his sword at her face.

"It’s over."

Evangeline loosened the tension in her body and exhaled a hot breath.

"Wow, Adi, you really have gotten stronger."

Adrian turned away and spoke dismissively.

"Not really. In a one-on-one fight between a caster and an infuser, the caster will always be at a disadvantage. You are actually much stronger than me if our strength is measured objectively. And besides," he glanced at her. "I doubt I would have won had we both gone all out."

Indeed, if they had both used everything they had, then the result of the fight would’ve been ambiguous.

There was a reason they were holding back. Since reaching Phase Three, their physical abilities had increased beyond human limitations, into the realm of the superhuman.

A punch from them could now easily put a hole through a thick stone wall. Their jumps could allow them to almost reach the roof of a small building. Moreover, their mana capacity had become nearly twice the size of what it was before.

If they fought with everything they had, it would devastate the surrounding area.

Just then, they both heard loud clapping, causing them to turn towards its source. Sitting under the tree, Ravian was looking at the two of them with admiration.

"The two of you are really impressive. I learned a lot from watching your spar. Miss Evangeline, you were especially impressive."

Evangeline blinked.

"Me? Don’t you mean Adi?"

’What did I even do?’

Ravian shook his head with a smile.

"I meant you. Not only did you cast spells efficiently, you even used the gap created after firing one spell to prepare the next one. I would’ve never thought of something like this."

’Is it really that impressive? Maybe it’s the result of sparring with Adrian every day for a whole year.’

It had been a year since Adrian’s return, and things had largely remained the same as before, even though there were quite a few changes.

One of those changes was Adrian becoming her tutor, teaching her the best way to utilize what she already had. He was such a good teacher that she had improved drastically in only one year.

And so, the three of them began walking towards the mansion.

While walking, Adrian did what he had been doing for the past year after the end of every spar.

He started giving her pointers.

"I think that your greatest weakness is the absolute vulnerability every caster has when an enemy closes the distance and reaches you. The fight becomes pretty much decided whenever that happens. You will have no hope of winning against an infuser who matches you in ability if things remain this way."

Evangelie nodded.

He was correct. The fight would always be over whenever Adrian closed the distance between them.

"Then what should I do? Barrier spells? Or should I make use of the stone armor I created during our first spar?"

"No, those are not a permanent solution." Adrian shook his head. "An enemy can even bypass them in some cases. I believe it is time you learned some hand-to-hand combat to solve this weakness. Of course, you don’t need to master it; just learn enough that you have some breathing room to cast spells during close combat and not get instantly defeated."

Evangeline smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Sure thing, ’Master Adrian.’ I thank you for your teachings."

Adrian ignored her casual jab and looked ahead. Just then, Ravian chimed in from the side.

"I’ve been wondering about this for a while now. Adrian, why don’t you use that black sphere or the third level of your infusion art during the spars? I mean, I get that you both hold back, but isn’t that starlit black sphere only a Tier Two spell?"

Adrian shook his head while still looking ahead.

"It’s a Tier Two spell in name only; its strength is determined by how much mana I use to cast it. If I use up all my mana for a single cast, then Space Implosion can easily rival Tier Four spells in its ability to cause destruction. Besides, it’s a lethal spell and not something I am supposed to use during small spars like these."

Ravian nodded.

"I see..."

The three of them soon reached the mansion’s door. Standing there, Ravian alternated his gaze between her and Adrian as he asked.

"Are both of your preparations done? When are you both going to depart for the capital?"

’The capital, huh?’

Having now turned sixteen, it was time for them to do something every noble child had to do after reaching this age.

Attend the Valcarion Imperial Academy.

Of course, since the academy was located in the capital, they would obviously have to live in the capital for the duration of their curriculum.

’God, I’m so nervous.’

But at the same time, she was extremely excited. She was going to spend several years alongside children her age.

’Um... maybe not necessarily my age, per se...’

Having interacted with Adrian and Ravian so much, she tended to forget that she was a reincarnate and was nearly twice their age.

’Right, I am technically thirty-two in terms of the years I’ve lived. Wait... thirty-two...? Doesn’t that make me...’

"...An old woman who is playing around with kids half her age."

Adrian frowned.

"What nonsense are you spouting? There is nobody here besides the three of us."

Ravian also calmly nodded.

"Indeed, I don’t spot any old woman nearby, nor can I find any kids playing around. Miss Evangeline, I believe you are mistaken."

"..."

Evangeline stood there with her mouth hanging open, unsure how to reply.

Ignoring her, Adrian turned to Ravian and answered in his usual dull tone.

"Our preparations are complete, and we are going to depart today."

Ravian made a regretful face.

"Today, huh? I wanted to travel to the capital together with the two of you, but it seems luck isn’t on my side. I would need a few more days to complete my preparations."

He sighed and turned around, walking towards the carriage.

But then he suddenly stopped halfway, turning towards them. Giving them his trademark charming smile, Ravian waved at them.

"See you at the academy."