Chapter 381: End of the Examination (2) (1/2)

”While it may have seemed otherwise, the reason I wanted to take on this test myself was to confirm something about you, boy. However…”

He then slowly shifted his gaze and fixated it on the girl's masked, cloaked and hooded figure.

”…after witnessing the miracle of what your partner just did… I am now certain that I have finally found what I have been searching for... for decades…”

The old man's words caused a frown to appear and replace Aiden's cold outlook.

”What do you mean by that?” He asked, still keeping the tip of his obsidian blade aimed towards the old man. ”What… or more importantly, who were you searching for and why?”

”Well…” Keeping his gaze on the girl standing behind the boy, he revealed a bitter smile. ”It would be better if we were to bring this discussion to somewhere… less crowded.”

He then looked at the boy once more as he continued with a small, knowing smirk appearing at the corners of his bearded face.

”What do you say we bring this to the back? I believe you are already acquainted with the young miss… *khm* leader of the examiners… or am I wrong?”

Thinking about it for a bit, Aiden finally lowered his sword and stepped closer to Galina. Making sure that he was covering the frightened and shy little girl, he pointed towards the door.

”Fine… Let's talk. We'll meet you there shortly. Please, go ahead, Sir Arthur… Sonovan.”

He pushed his family name deliberately, giving the old man yet another wry look. The old man shook his head dismissively, with a wry-looking smile donning his old face, and silently stepped forward towards the door, whilst keeping his hand raised above his head all the while.

Arriving at the edges of the battlefield, he stopped in front of the golden barrier that was still up and looked back at the girl and boy duo over his shoulders.

”Young Miss… Would you please…” He glanced at the barrier, waiting for the pair to remove the magical block.

Feeling his gaze, Galina felt rather uncomfortable, despite that there was no ill intent behind it. She hid behind her young master, as she waved with her small right hand in the air.

In the next moment, the barrier began to fade out, vanishing in a couple of moments completely and returning the ability for the still lingering crowded upstairs to see what was happening below once again.

However, as they looked below, they couldn't understand what was going on. Was the fight already over? If so, who won? Both sides looked completely fine, healthy.

Furthermore, why would Sir Arthur leave? Why are his hands raised above his head? Did he surrender?

Did the boy win? Was it a draw?

”Who won?! Godsdammit how will I know if I won the bet or not?!”

”Yeah, this is not fair! We demand an explanation!”

”Look at his stance! Did the Roaring Lion lose? Did he surrender for some reason?”

”Impossible! What are you even saying?! How could the legend lose to this scrawny kid? His victory over Sir Michael was already way too suspicious!”

”Yeah, I also felt that something was not right with that! Did he used some enhancement drug?”

”I bet that little b*tch also did something… Maybe used dark magic and cursed Sir Arthur?”

”How could someone like these two be accepted?!”

The crowd instantly erupted, throwing not-so-kind remarks towards the youngsters, looking rather displeased at the confusing sight ahead of them.

Hearing the not-so-friendly remarks, feeling the growing hostility around them, Galina shivered, hiding her slender frame behind her Young Master. She buried her mask-covered face in his back, not daring to look away.

Being a girl, and from goblin origin, she naturally feared these aggressive humans, even if she were no longer the weak and frail little creature like before. Her nature, her shyness, and the fright of humans was after all, instinctively ingrained into her soul. It was not something she could undress from one moment to another.

Feeling her rapid heartbeat, her fright, Aiden's frown only deepened, he clenched his fists. He scowled, his anger steadily rising, the faint glimmer in his eyes began to throw brighter and more intense sparkles.