Crackle— Crackle—0

The campfire crackled, its flickering light casting faint shadows across the silent training grounds. Most had already left, leaving behind Yulie and a few of her close knights. Gwen observed her, head bowed in silence, while Raphel and Sirio exchanged glances.0

“… Maybe he used magic. A trick. Or, you know, something, don’t you guys think? But who would ever throw a kick in a sparring match between knights? … Oh, right, he’s not a knight,” Gwen muttered, breaking the silence first and shooting a pointed look at Raphel and Sirio, silently prompting them to share their thoughts.0

“Magic… I’m not sure. But didn’t we all see how Deculein handled his sword? It looked full of gaps, yet somehow, it wasn’t. I might have even fallen for it at least once. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before—a completely new style of swordsmanship,” Sirio replied.0

“Hey, what are you even talking about?” Gwen said, her brow knitting as she fixed Sirio with a sharp stare.0

“I’m just saying how I felt. It was like the wind—though not quite as swift as I am, of course. Hahaha.”0

Deculein’s swordsmanship was better described as a movement than a technique. It carried the elegance of a waltz, never losing the poise of nobility. Each step and swing unraveled Yulie’s blade as though he were dancing through the battle.0

“That’s true,” Raphel said. “And besides, Deculein’s physique is unquestionably strong. Even for you, Yulie, overcoming such a physical difference without mana would have been nearly impossible.”0

Even the most skilled knight would find it nearly impossible to overcome an eight-inch reach disadvantage without mana. Yulie wasn’t wielding an unusually long spear but still tried to force her way in, only to expose herself, allowing a critical blow to land.0

“… I am fine,” Yulie said, though her voice betrayed her words. “I admit it. The sparring match is mine to lose. The professor completely...0