CHAPTER 32: LUCAS VS EDEN

Lucas’s Point of View

I naturally stood apart, observing the students and Luxia with indifference. I wouldn’t say I’m barely a first-star due to laziness, nor would I claim the opposite.

But using my affinity makes me extremely uncomfortable. It’s not that I fear criticism; over time, you become immune to it. But I couldn’t ignore that I had the same affinity that killed my uncle and caused my mother’s death. Though my father and older brother didn’t show it, there was always a hint of resentment toward me, which my aunt and her son, Leo, made clear during our rare interactions. And my other aunt, Luxia, whom I barely know but have faint memories of from when I was six or seven, at least doesn’t hate me like my cousin does.

"If only I had the Light affinity like Leonard...," I thought, darkening my expression further.

There were a few combat simulations where Luxia commented, explaining details to improve and each fighter’s weaknesses. She focused more on the first-years, and watching how Drake had tormented his opponent...

I sighed. "I’d rather avoid him in the future if possible."

"Eden Folker and Lucas..." She said, looking at her list of names.

I was obviously surprised; I hadn’t expected her to choose me.

I walked through the seats, climbed into the ring, and bowed to the Saintess and my opponent.

My opponent was the most arrogant person I’d ever seen—or rather, I was jealous of his affinity, which is why I didn’t like him from the start.

He looked down at me, hands in his pockets, relaxed, without even drawing his sword or taking a fighting stance.

"This is a combat simulation. Eden Folker, you’re already a four-star, don’t use your full power. And Lucas... do your best."

"That’s what I intended to do, Saintess."

I frowned and decided to attack first. I drew my sword, and since I didn’t plan to use (or didn’t know how to use) my darkness affinity, I’d grown accustomed to wielding mana without an affinity.

As I prepared to strike, a calm voice suddenly echoed in my mind, with a hint of surprise.

"#%&% (It’s... It’s him...)"

"Who is it?" I asked the Archdemon of Pride, though he spoke in a language foreign to me, I instinctively understood his words.

I could hear his voice directly, while the Archangels only spoke through the oracles of His Holiness. I didn’t know why, but I was different from them.

"Hmm... Let’s say it’s someone’s mistake," he replied in his detached tone.

Contrary to what others think, that heretics are like slaves controlled to commit evil acts, personally, the Archdemon of Darkness has never forced me to do anything.

I’m not the type to constantly complain that he’s responsible for my cursed affinity, so he’s the only person I often talk to, even though I’d love to rip his heart out for what he’s done to me.

"Alright." His initial reaction to seeing this guy (Eden) didn’t really interest me, and I doubt he’d want to say more.

"What will you do?"

"How, what will I do? I don’t even have a choice..." I sighed, using my mana to strengthen my body in response to his question.

’Are demons unemployed? How come they’re so talkative?’

As I circulated mana throughout my body.

"I’ll take the lead, cursed prince," he declared with a hint of amusement.

Glacies Magicae: Glacies Shards

He pointed his index finger at me, and several ice shards materialized, rushing toward me at high speed.

I managed to dodge them thanks to Mana Body, which had multiplied my speed.

Then, sword in hand, I launched an attack to my left, but he dodged it with disconcerting ease, despite my increased speed, sowing doubt in my mind about my chances of victory, even though he’d reduced his power to my level...

The ease with which he dodged my relentless attacks was troubling, and I was starting to tire.

"Prince Lucas, are you serious?" he sneered, jumping a meter back, hands still in his pockets, without even thinking of drawing his sword, which wasn’t even at his belt.

"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning and gasping, though the fight had only lasted five minutes.

"Hmm... nothing, I was just wondering where your curse was," he said, thoughtful.

He’s really starting to annoy me.

I ignored his remark and pivoted to launch a roundhouse kick upward. Expecting him to dodge again, I prepared a sneaky attack accordingly. But I was wrong. He grabbed my right leg instead and said, smirking:

"Let’s finish this quickly, shall we?"

As I tried to stabilize and counterattack with my other leg, he landed a punch to my stomach, and I was thrown backward.

I’d underestimated his brute strength. He didn’t need his weapon to beat me after all.

I quickly got up because staying on the ground too long would mark the end of the fight. But I didn’t want to lose, especially to someone who kept reminding me of my inferiority and what I’d always desired.

"Prince Lucas, why aren’t you using your affinity? Then I’ll force you to. After all, I want to see it in action," he declared before briefly disappearing from my field of vision.

That half-second of inattention was fatal. I was struck again and again, almost knocked out, but I still heard his arrogant voice as he held me by the hair, his gaze indifferent, head slightly tilted. The worst part was that he... had reason to be arrogant, and that I couldn’t stand.

"A shame to the Arcadia family."

I looked at Luxia, who was watching the scene. Her gaze showed she wanted to see more of Eden’s Light affinity than to end her nephew’s humiliation.

And just as he was about to slap me again, I thought of what Sahara had said.

"Would my mother want to see her son humiliated? I doubt it! Her death must be worth it. It’s the burden I must carry."

[How can the Apostle of Pride be humiliated like this?] I heard Lucifer’s voice in my head.