The Crest of Ruin

The sun was high, scorching the tiles of the private training grounds reserved for elite heirs. The white marble of the central platform shimmered in the heat. The sound of boots echoed as four young nobles approached—Lysandra, Talven, Ceyla, and Kallis—all dressed in training gear, their expressions mixed between wariness and curiosity.

"Why did they summon all of us here so early?" Lysandra muttered, flipping her braid over one shoulder.

Ceyla looked mildly annoyed, arms crossed. "Of course it's our first lecture....sleepyhead."

Talven cracked his knuckles. "If it's sparring, I'm in, I didn't get to go all out during the tournament it's itching me to fight since that day...haha."

Kallis walked quietly beside them, occasionally glancing around. He was in simpler black robes, but the lightning runes etched into his sleeves sparked faintly. "Feels weirdly quiet for a training field."

Then the ground shook lightly. A heavy thud resounded across the platform.

Darius Velentis stood tall at the center stage, arms folded, grinning like a devil with a holy badge.

"Good morning, my bright little disappointments!" he called out cheerfully.

All four froze in place.

Lucien arrived just then, walking behind them, his expression unreadable. But a twitch of his brow said it all.

'Fuck. It really is him,' Lucien thought, stopping beside the others.

Ceyla saw Lucien and started speaking "Good morning young master...you are looking radiant today...I think I am gonna faint before the training, hehehe"

Lucien ignored her trash talks and

the four turned to look at Darius. He looked calm,Too calm and obviously that meant trouble.

"Ah, there you are, golden child," Darius smirked while pointing out Lucien. "Now we can begin."

He took a few exaggerated steps toward them.

"Let me formally introduce myself," Darius said, arms wide. "I'm Darius Velentis, proud younger brother of Duke Kael, 6th Circle Final Stage, and from this day forth—your personal instructor."

Ceyla blinked. "Wait, what?"

Talven frowned. "But the Duke said we'd be assigned instructors based on our affinity and training focus."

Darius smiled. "Exactly. And I'm well-versed in everything—magic, tactics, beating overconfident brats into the ground. You're welcome."

Lysandra raised an elegant brow. "And how exactly are we supposed to believe you're qualified?"

"Oh, my dear noble lady," Darius said dramatically, placing a hand on his chest. "If you doubt my skills, you're always welcome to test them yourself. But I warn you… no one forgets my lessons."

Lucien coughed into his fist. Gods help them for spouting nonsense in front of him

He'd experienced this firsthand once. Darius didn't "teach." He broke you down, set you on fire—sometimes literally—and then rebuilt you with trauma and sarcasm.

"Now!" Darius clapped his hands. "What better way to start than a good old-fashioned spar?"

Talven cracked his neck. "One-on-one?"

"All together," Darius grinned. "Come on. Don't be shy."

There was silence. Then Kallis whispered, "Is he serious?"

"Oh, dead serious," Lucien muttered. "Make a formation. I'll lead."

They all looked at him.

Ceyla spoke hurriedly as soon as she listened "Of course young master who else can lead us other than you....your majestic face and aura will make everyone obey."

Everyone grinned listening to her nonsense and ignored her

Lysandra crossed her arms. "And why should we trust you?"

"Because I know how to and you already lost to me so kee quiet lysandra shutted her moth with a hmp." Lucien said, stepping forward. "Circle him then Kallis, lightning from the back. Cylia, barriers and suppress from left. Talven, physical assault—close in. Lysandra, wide-range magic and status effects."

The four hesitated… then nodded.

"On my mark," Lucien said.

They spread out.

Darius rolled his shoulders, then cracked his neck. "Try not to die. I'm already late for breakfast."

"Now!" Lucien commanded.

—THE FIGHT

Kallis struck first. A bolt of green lightning crackled from his staff and shot across the air. Darius sidestepped easily, not even blinking. Ceyla formed a suppression field to restrict Darius' movement, glyphs glowing around her palms.

Talven lunged from the front, sword glowing with mana. He swung low—Darius blocked it with his bare hand, his palm crackling faintly.

"Decent swing," Darius smirked, then twisted Talven's wrist and flung him back like a sack of flour. He crashed into Kallis, and they both went tumbling.

"Shit," Kallis groaned.

Lysandra cast "Petal Bloom", a wide-range illusion spell to confuse his senses. Mist filled the air, and dozens of illusory projectiles flew at once.

Darius just chuckled.

He waved his hand, and a gust of pressurized mana ripped through the mist like a blade.

Lucien came in then, his flame sword blazing. He slashed upward—but Darius blocked it with a single finger, then kicked Lucien square in the chest.

He grunted, sliding back, boots carving lines into the ground.

"Damn it," Lucien hissed. "Ceyla, bind him!"

Ceyla activated a "Mana Restraint Net"—a web of glowing lines shot toward Darius from all sides.

He just smiled. "Cute."

With a snap of his fingers, a shockwave burst from him. Everyone was thrown back like bowling pins.

In ten seconds, Talven was face-first in dirt, groaning. Kallis was clutching his ribs. Lysandra's braid had come undone, and her elegant robe was singed at the hem. Ceyla was panting, arm bleeding slightly.

Lucien was the last one standing.

He activated "Infernal Step", flame-wrapped feet boosting his speed as he darted forward. Sword out. He slashed thrice in a flurry.

Darius deflected each move lazily, then with a sweep of his leg, knocked Lucien off his feet and into the dirt.

A beat of silence.

Then a groan from someone in the pile.

"Ughh... I think I saw heaven," Kallis muttered.

"No. That's your face in the mud," Ceyla replied, face-down.

"You noble brats sure bruise easy," Darius chuckled, walking in circles. "That was generous. I gave you 58 seconds."

Lucien sat up, wiping blood from his lip.

Darius looked at them all, now in various states of devastation, lying on the ground like ragdolls.

"Lesson one: if you want to survive out there… don't fight like stuck-up noble babies. You all are Velentis and Velentis can be anything but not weak. Do you all understand"

All of them spoke loudly " Yes Teacher"

He clapped once and said"Alright. You've earned the right to breathe."

Everyone groaned in response.

"Oh, come on. That was fun," Darius grinned. "Anyway—feel free to train or spar with each other till evening."

He turned away, stretching. "At sharp 8 PM, report back at the training ground. You'll recieve your prize—courtesy of the primary Velentis treasury."

He walked off, hands behind his head.

The group lay in silence.

"…I feel like I got hit by a magical bull," Kallis muttered.

"You look like one too," Talven replied, deadpan.

Ceyla huffed, brushing dirt off her skirt. "He could've at least warned us."

Lysandra groaned. "No, he did. With that stupid smile."

They all turned to Lucien, who was still silent.

He just stood, wiped his blade, and said flatly:

"Next time, we last 2 minutes. Let's become stronger together"

They all smiled and shouted "Let's become stronger togethe" laughing slightly looking up to the sky.

After some time, after they all drunk recovery potions and were healed.

Talven stood and cracked his neck. "I'm going again. You in?"

Kallis groaned, got up, and smirked. "Yeah. Let's practice ."

Ceyla scoffed. "Idiots and asked Lucian if he will spar with her"

As he was going to speak someone came....