ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 178: A LITTLE FLASHBACK

In the quiet stillness of the lounge’s backyard, Morris, Kaelen, and Ethan stood in a loose circle, grins on their faces as they prepared for a friendly duel. Their weapons gleamed in the sunlight—Morris gripping a normal mage staff, Kaelen holding a sleek silver longsword, and Ethan with a well crafted daggers, radiating an aura of quiet confidence.

They squared off, nodding to one another before Morris made the first move. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a swirling gust of wind, laced with ice, aiming to catch both of his friends off guard. Kaelen, moving with sharp precision, dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast as he retaliated with a sweeping arc of his blade that sent a thin stream of lightning toward Ethan.

But Ethan’s reflexes were quick; his body twisted out of harm’s way, and he disappeared into a shadow, emerging behind Kaelen in an instant. His daggers moved like a blur, delivering a quick series of strikes that forced Kaelen into a defensive stance.

"Getting faster, aren’t we?" Kaelen chuckled as he barely blocked Ethan’s quick blows, his blade sparking with the effort.

"Someone has to keep you two on your toes," Ethan replied with a grin, his voice calm but his movements sharp. Morris seized the opportunity and flanked Ethan, sending a flare of flames to box him in, but Ethan ducked low, rolling out of the way just in time.

They continued like this, each friend countering and testing the other’s reflexes, abilities, and strategies. Morris used his mastery of the elements to create intricate traps, trying to corner Ethan and Kaelen. Kaelen’s blade flashed with bursts of electricity, striking with strength and speed as he tried to overcome Ethan’s agility. But Ethan, ever the tactician, stayed just out of reach, his daggers glinting as he maneuvered around them with fluid ease.

Finally, as Morris conjured a spiral of flames and Kaelen swung his blade in a powerful arc toward him, Ethan saw his chance. He slipped into the shadows and reappeared behind them both, his daggers pressed lightly against their backs in a silent declaration of victory.

"Looks like I win," he said with a smirk.

Morris and Kaelen exchanged surprised glances before bursting into laughter, each acknowledging their defeat with good-natured pats on the back. "Alright, alright," Kaelen grinned, sheathing his sword. "You got us this time."

"Seems like I underestimated your speed, as usual," Morris admitted, a glimmer of respect in his eyes.

Ethan shrugged modestly, stowing his daggers. "Hey, it’s just practice. Next time, one of you might take the win."

They laughed together, the camaraderie evident in their easy banter, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the backyard.

After the friendly spar, Kaelen, Morris, and Ethan strolled back toward the lounge, each feeling the satisfying burn of exercise in their muscles. They chuckled over minor details of the duel as they wandered into the kitchen, grabbing a pitcher of cool water and some glasses. Each poured a drink and leaned against the counter, still catching their breath.

As they took a moment to relax, Morris glanced at Kaelen, a nostalgic smile creeping across his face. "Kaelen," he began, "can you believe how far we’ve come? Seems like just yesterday we were a bunch of rookies, nervously facing off during the academy admittance exams."

Kaelen tilted his head, thoughtful, as he took a sip of water. Memories flooded back—standing in line outside the academy’s massive gates, the weight of his sword feeling heavier back then, more uncertain. He remembered the adrenaline rush, the anxious glances exchanged with strangers who’d soon become friends, and the fierce competition that awaited them inside those hallowed walls.

"Yeah," Kaelen finally replied, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "I still remember that day. Watching everyone else, being measured up by a magic potential orb, and then seeing you there, this fire mage with a determined look in his eyes. I didn’t know whether we’d end up as rivals or allies."

"I second on that, especially when I witnessed you being in a really awkward situation" Morris suddenly commented with a light chuckle on his face. But Kaelen quickly retorted back with a wronged look on his face. "But you know that wasn’t my fault and it was unavoidable if they stick to their rules"

"Yeah well I get it and I totally agree with you. But I wouldn’t say the same for the rest of the people who witnessed it, especially the other examinees" Morris said while he shrugged his shoulders. When Kaelen heard him, he couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.

Morris and Kaelen’s bickering quickly made Ethan curious as he hurriedly asked. "Hey what are you guys talking about? What happened at you guys academy admittance examinations?"

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

"Well it’s kind of a long story but I will just point out the main issues here. You still know about the magic potential orb which the academy used to find out if you are suited for magic before admittance right?" Morris quickly replied with a cheerful look on his face. "Well yeah" Ethan replied "I clearly remember".

"Well apparently, the orb refused to respond to Kaelen no matter how hard they tried" Morris said with his eyes narrowed to a thin line as he suddenly looked at Kaelen who began dodging eye contact sheepishly."What!!?" Ethan exclaimed with a look of disbelief on his face, "How is that possible?"

"Well it’s true" Morris replied while shrugging his shoulders. "Then how did he get into the Academy then? It just not possible to get into the academy if the magic potential orb isn’t responsive" Ethan exclaimed yet again with an intense curiosity appearing on his face.

"Well it’s all thanks to the Vice chancellor who brought him in the first place. He insisted that Kaelen should still attend the academy since he has already adopted him from that orphanage, and since the Vice chancellor has the highest authority after the Chancellor himself in the Academy, there was no one to stop him from doing what he wants" Morris answered with an awestruck expression on his face.

"But that his simple and dominant act of his made me to be the most hated external student in the history of the academy" Kaelen suddenly commented with a bitter smile on his face.

"Hahahaha" As soon as Ethan finally got a full gist of it, he couldn’t help but burst out in laughter while holding onto the his stomach.

"But you know, that wasn’t the most interesting part. What was is that his sweetheart Lila also went through the examinations at the same time and her result was the exact oppo–"

"Ok, I think that part of the story isn’t necessary right now, Morris" before Morris could finish what he was saying gleefully, Kaelen suddenly interrupted him with a flustered look on his face. When Morris noticed this, he finally gave up as he shrugged while saying. "Well if you say so, I was just making the atmosphere more relaxing"

When Kaelen heard him, he suddenly smiled as he raised his glass and said. "To then and now. We’ve come a long way, but I have a feeling this is just the beginning."

Morris raised his glass in response, his eyes glinting with determination. "Here’s to that. And to whatever comes next."

"And whatever comes right after that"

Ethan joined in, clinking their glasses together in a silent promise. As they drank, each of them couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of camaraderie and purpose—a reassurance that, whatever the future held, they’d face it together.

...

In the office of Vice Chancellor Reeves, the air was thick with a sense of inquiry. Reeves sat at his large mahogany desk, General Cao and the other senior figures of the academy surrounding him, each looking intently at Charlotte, who stood with her head bowed in the center of the room. Her fingers fidgeted slightly, betraying the nervousness beneath her calm exterior.

"Charlotte," Reeves began in a firm yet controlled tone, his gaze steady. "Where did you learn these divine shield techniques?"

Charlotte hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. The silence grew heavier, and her hesitation seemed to intrigue the onlookers even further. Reeves’s eyes narrowed, sensing there was more than what met the eye. "This is crucial information, Charlotte. These techniques… they’re not something one learns casually. I need you to be forthright with us."

Charlotte’s shoulders tensed. She felt the weight of every gaze on her, pressing in, expectant. Taking a deep breath, she finally raised her head. "I… I inherited the technique," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reeves leaned forward, his brows knitting in confusion. "Inherited?" he pressed, as if he hadn’t quite grasped what she meant.

"Yes," she admitted, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I inherited it from my father. He was... the last wielder of the divine shield. It was passed down to me after he…" her voice faltered, a shadow crossing her face. "After he passed away."

The room fell into stunned silence. General Cao’s eyes widened as he exchanged a glance with the others. Reeves himself looked as though he’d been struck, his usually composed face now a mask of surprise and bewilderment.

"This... this is extraordinary," Reeves said slowly, piecing together what he’d just heard. "You’re telling us your father was a practitioner of this sacred technique?"

Charlotte nodded, though she looked visibly uncomfortable with the attention. "He trained in secret for most of his life, dedicating himself to perfecting the shield techniques. I never thought I’d be the one to carry them forward... until he passed it to me in his last moments."

The others in the room murmured amongst themselves, still digesting the revelation. General Cao finally broke the silence. "No wonder the shield resonates with a strength we haven’t seen in decades… Your father must have been a master of the art."

Reeves sat back, processing this revelation. His expression softened as he looked at her. "Charlotte, your father’s legacy and hardwork on this technique is one of great weight and honor. You must understand how rare it is to encounter a technique like yours. But... you should also know that this power will make you a target. Are you prepared for what that could mean?"

Charlotte nodded, her face set with determination. "I understand, Vice Chancellor Reeves. And I will do my best to uphold the legacy he left behind."

With that, a newfound respect lingered in the room, and Reeves’s stern expression finally softened.