"Hehe, Arkhen has much more in his pocket, and I do as well," Grace said with a chuckle before she dashed forward in another direction and waved her sword.
Five steaks of condensed steam lines were unleashed from her sword before they tangled into an eccentric web that blocked all five creatures.
A second later, Grace activated her sword's power and technique as all steam lines that caught nightmare creatures burst into amber flame and killed them.
"Humph, I am not going to stay behind you two," Maryl snorted and also joined the battle as more and more nightmare creatures started spawning.
Cyrus just observed them first while nodding occasionally.
"They are good, especially Arkhen and Grace. Their hard is plain to see in their combat," Cyrus said.
"Indeed. They are my best students, haha," Instructor Klein said with a laugh. "Especially Arkhen. Now that he tasted the real deal in this land, he will improve fast."
"Worry not. I won't let Grace stay behind him once she comes to Twilight Valley." Cyrus smiled.
"Well, the nightmare land near your place is more dangerous from the get-go," Instructor Klein wryly smiled.
…
The students fought for two hours before they moved in another direction and arrived in a forest.
In the forest, everyone struggled really hard. First, it was a creepy forest, and two, the nightmare creatures were persistent and scarier.
After fighting for four hours there, all of them returned back.
The practice test was over, but most of the students were in bad shape.
The atmosphere of Nightmare land affected them. Especially those who let fear produce in them.
Most of them fell asleep in the morning.
"This batch is better than the previous batch," Instructor Willow said with a smile.
"Hahaha, that's because of Arkhen and Grace. Those two are goals for the rest of the students," Instructor Klein jovially laughed. He was satisfied with everyone's performance.
"Indeed. A few wavered at last, but none of them were deeply affected like some in the previous batch."
…
Arkhen, Grace, Maryl, and Cyrus didn't go to sleep. Instead, the four of them ate and sat in a tent.
Cyrus had shown his power, and it made their jaw drop to an extent.
After talking for an hour, Cyrus left the tent while Maryl and Grace talked about him.
"Arkhen, he is not too bad, right? I guess I am not unlucky as I thought," Grace said with a smile.
Arkhen's lips twitched slightly, but he nodded with a smile.
"Sis, he didn't even touch you or show any other things I was expecting. I thought he would behave differently, but he is such a gentleman, hahaha," Maryl said as she chuckled. "Lucky you, I guess."
"Cough… I am a bit tired, so I'll go take some rest," Arkhen said before he quickly left the tent.
'What is this? This fucking pain…' Arkhen thought as his heart was beating and in pain at the same time.
He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth before rushing out of the camp area and towards the Nightmare land.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck!'
After entering the Nightmare Land, he screamed at the top of his lungs. He was irritated, angry, and… lost.
Soon, creepy beastly shrieks reverberated, and nightmare creatures spawned, but Arkhen was precisely waiting for them!
"Die!"
*Boom!*
Arkhen swung his sword as he let out his power and frustration!
'Why? Why is she not feeling what I am feeling?!'
'I am in love with her! We stayed together every fucking day, all the time.'
'So why? Why is not feeling what I am feeling?'
'Velshi, is she going to fail this trial?'
'Velshi!!'
"Fuck, fuck! Die!" Arkhen killed the beast while shouting and screaming.
Instructor Willow noticed Arkhen going out and followed him.
She was secretly watching him and was startled by his actions.
'What happened to him? Weird.'
…
After five hours, Arkhen returned and went directly to sleep in a tent but was too exhausted.
"No use. We can't wake him up," Instructor Klein said while shaking his head. "He has completely exhausted himself, both physically and mentally. After all, Just staying in Nightmare Land for a long time can cause normal people to go insane."
"But don't worry. He just needs rest, that's all."
"Why did he go out to fight again? Stupid Arkhen," Grace said with a wry smile.
"You all return first since the test is over. I'll come with him after he wakes up," Instructor Klein said.
"Don't worry. Arkhen is very tough-willed. I have noticed even you and Maryl getting a bit affected by nightmare land's pressure, but he was perfectly fine from start to end," Cyrus said with a smile. "He just needs rest."
Instructor Willow nodded. She observed Arkhen the entire time and was very impressed. Clapping once, she attracted everyone's attention and said, "Get in the carriages. It's time to leave!"
Cyrus also went to the Empire with the group.
…
Arkhen woke up the following morning as he had slept for over fourteen hours.
Opening his eyes, he stretched his arms as cracking sounds popped.
"Good morning," Instructor Klein was reading a book at a nearby table while snaking. "Everyone has already left. Eat breakfast and freshen up. We will leave after that."
Arkhen nodded and went to the wooden bathroom outside.
…
An hour later, both of them left.
Inside the carriage, Klein looked at Arkhen with raised eyebrows and asked, "What's the matter? You've been down since you woke up."
"Nothing," Arkhen smiled and shook his head. "Maybe I am still a bit tired because of yesterday."
"Why did you go there again?"
Klein was curious.
"No particular reason. I just didn't have enough during the test."
…
After returning to the Empire's capital, Arkhen went to the Royal Palace to meet Grace.
'Maybe, she will change her mind once I confess to her? She will realize her love for me,' Arkehn thought as he entered and notified the Royal Guard.
The Royal Guard knew Arkhen and Princess Grace were friends, so when he heard he wanted to meet Grace, he was surprised.
"Eh, you don't know?"
"Don't know what?" Arkhen replied with confusion.
"Princess Grace went to Twilight Valley today morning. It was announced in the capital that she would get engaged to Cyrus of Twilight."
The guard neared Arkhen and whispered, "Yesterday night, Princess Grace's nightmare curse flared for the first time. There was no other choice but to go there. Emperor Vanis knew it would happen once she visited Nightmare Land, and that's why Cyrus of Twilight came here with other students."
"Oh…" Arkhen's mind turned blank. "I-I see…"
He turned around and started walking. At every step, he felt as if a knife was being twisted in his heart.
'She is gone?.... No way, right?'
He couldn't even open his mouth as he felt a huge lump in his throat.
Velshi was observing Arkhen but didn't say anything. Instead, she just watched him walk with a blank gaze, and when he returned to his house, something happened to Arkhen that had never occurred to him before.
Tears.
His eyes instantly filled with tears when he returned home. His face was still blank, but tears were falling non-stop while experiencing a pain he had never felt before.
'Grace…' Arkhen squeezed his heart by clawing at his chest. He was feeling immense pain in his heart for the first time.
'Why? This pain… is it heartbreak?'
'Velshi… Is this it? Velshi?! Why are you not answering?!'
"Arghhhh!!!"
After that, he cried. He cried loudly, he cried silently, and he cried internally as he felt his heart bleeding.
'I am sorry, my lord. But the trial is not over yet.'
[A/N: I didn't want to make a half-baked story and end this arc. So there will be one more, and It will be a blast. :D I will publish it soon because I can't wait to put this plot of pure love I have cooked into words. I promise you will be satisfied, haha.]
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