The Raven Knight Order (2)
Maxim stared at Christine in blank astonishment as she stretched her hand straight toward the sky. Because of her petite stature, only the tips of her slender fingers were barely visible above the knights’ heads when she looked up. He wanted nothing more than to shout at her and demand what on earth she thought she was doing, but the situation offered him no such luxury.
He turned his gaze toward Theodora on the platform. Her elegant brows were slightly furrowed as she regarded the volunteers.
“Are there truly only two members applying for the vice commander position?”
Theodora scanned the remaining knights, but no one else raised a hand. They merely cast sidelong glances at the two applicants, their eyes glinting with curiosity.
After a measured pause, Theodora called the pair forward.
“...Very well. The two who have volunteered, step forward.”
Christine wore a perfectly composed expression. Her green eyes, usually bright, now held a different, sharper light. There had been a time when she claimed she had no interest in the vice commander role and would leave the order with Maxim if he went. Yet here she was, stepping up to claim that very position.
Maxim let out a quiet, hidden sigh. She wasn’t the type to joke in a moment like this. She had to have a reason. He tried to soothe his uneasy heart with that thought.
In the meantime, the candidates began their self-introductions.
“...I am Roberto Miller. I wish to support Commander Theodora Benning—renowned as the sword of the north—and help lead the Raven Knight Order together.”
Roberto Miller had tied back his long hair, which fell past his shoulders. He was a hook-nosed knight who left no particularly strong impression. His skill was enough to manifest a faint Aura Blade.
Maxim recalled the way Roberto fought. He remembered agile movements and swift attacks, a style that emphasized speed. Swordsmanship that prioritized velocity held an advantage against mages. Of course, that didn’t mean he could defeat Christine.
Christine will win handily, Maxim thought.
If she fought in earnest, the only opponent she might not overcome was Theodora. Maxim wasn’t worried about her safety. He was simply full of questions about why she had applied for the vice commander position at all.
Once Roberto Miller finished his greeting, Christine took a step forward.
“I am Christine Watson. Like Sir Miller, I also…”
At that point, Christine gave a small nod in Theodora’s direction.
“…wish to stand at Commander Theodora Benning’s side, supporting her as we lead the Raven Knight Order.”
She turned to face forward again and flashed her signature fresh, lively smile. The expression seemed somehow directed at Maxim, and he felt a sting in his chest that he quickly brushed aside.
Theodora looked at the two of them and began explaining how the selection would proceed.
“Since this concerns the selection of the order’s vice commander, there is no need to complicate matters.”
At her words, something like confidence flickered across Roberto’s face. Maxim looked at him with pity; the man still had no idea what was about to happen.
“We will decide by duel.”
The moment the words left Theodora’s lips, the knights moved like lightning, withdrawing to the edges of the training ground. Maxim clicked his tongue at the sight—such enthusiasm was a far cry from the old, lethargic Raven Knight Order. In the midst of it all, someone sprinted toward the main building to fetch Roberto’s armor.
Paola approached Maxim while he watched Christine, who stood with her eyes closed, calmly gathering her mana.
“Oh, Maxim.”
The corner of Maxim’s mouth twitched. Isn’t that a bit too eager?
Paola grinned and came to stand beside him, pointing a finger at Christine. Her rich golden hair swayed gently in the breeze.
“Were you watching that adorable young lady?”
“I’m not sure we’re looking at the same person.”
“My, you really are the bashful type.”
“And you seem to be the exact opposite, Senior.”
Paola burst into laughter at the reply.
“Well, that’s true enough. Anyway, what do you think?”
“What do I think about what?”
“I’m asking who you believe will win between the two.”
Maxim answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Christine will win… No, she is going to win.”
At Maxim’s confident declaration, Paola’s expression grew deeply intrigued. The look was one only a true connoisseur could wear, and Maxim unconsciously frowned. If it had been pure interest in combat and martial skill, he would have answered gladly.
“I consider Roberto a rather capable knight myself… What makes you so certain?”
“…There’s no need for reasons. Watch the fight and you’ll understand.”
Maxim delivered the assessment in a cool voice. Paola rubbed his chin, his expression shifting as he looked toward the training ground. Roberto Miller, now fully armored, had just entered with a metallic clatter. The way he swung his shoulders suggested his confidence had risen considerably.
“So it’s not mere simple favoritism.”
“No one asks for reasons when you say Fenrir will win a fight against a wolf.”
Paola replied with a thoughtful “Is that so?” and turned his eyes to Christine.
“Genius is genius, even after leaving the Magic Tower. A shame about Roberto, though.”
“It would be best not to mention the Magic Tower in front of Christine.”
“I have that much tact, Maxim.”
When Maxim warned him, Paola chuckled.
“If Roberto overheard us, he’d probably cry.”
“Were you acquainted?”
“We were in the same order before. We’ve simply met again here.”
With that, Paola focused his attention on the training ground. Both combatants had finished their preparations.
“Are you both ready?”
When Theodora asked, both nodded. A tension unsuitable for the clear, peaceful weather hung in the air. Fortunately, it was not the cold strain of a selection exam but the heated atmosphere that came before a storm of excitement.
At Theodora’s signal to begin, Roberto Miller kicked off the ground and charged at Christine, sword raised. The assault looked crude, but for any swordsman incapable of launching an Aura Blade, Roberto’s approach was close to the correct tactic. The problem was that Christine was not a mage against whom that method worked.
Clang!
Roberto’s sword bounced off Christine’s defensive spell. She took one step forward. Roberto was pushed back, leaving grooves in the dirt.
“Kgh!”
A groan escaped him. He had struck that barrier with a blow that contained not a trace of mana; his hands and arms must have gone numb. Roberto gripped his sword with a distorted expression and began launching a series of slashes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He continued swinging. The increasing speed suggested he was drawing up his mana with full effort. As his blade grew faster, confidence returned to Roberto’s face. His arms whistled through the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The interval between impacts grew shorter and shorter. Christine remained motionless, maintaining only her defensive magic. The scene reminded Maxim of the previous selection test. Back then, she had simply blocked while keeping her barrier active.
Roberto swung even faster, as if he refused to accept defeat.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His confident expression began to fade. Maxim could tell Roberto was trying to draw out the full power of his aura. A violet aura bloomed along his blade. It spread slowly from the tip, like water soaking through paper. The level of the Aura Blade was not particularly high, but the mere presence of aura exerted tremendous influence on a knight’s combat strength.
Determined to shatter the shield this time, Roberto abandoned even minimal defense. His movements accelerated once more. The afterimages of his Aura Blade left violet lines hanging in the air. An ordinary mana shield would have been sliced apart like a sheet of paper.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Yet the barrier did not receive so much as a scratch. Unease began to shake Roberto’s face. As the blows continued, that unease gradually transformed into pure shock.
“Damn it—!”
Roberto raised his arm high. He was pouring every ounce of his mana into a simple overhead strike with no form or technique. And in that brief interval, Maxim caught sight of Christine’s expression beyond the barrier. Yes, he had seen that look once before. It was the face she made when she had resolved herself completely.
Maxim’s eyes widened slightly, unconsciously overwhelmed by her determination.
“Uraaaaaah—!”
With a thunderous battle cry, Roberto swung his arm down. The violet aura traced a faint crescent. But that once-in-a-lifetime strike was halted by an absurdly mundane sound.
Clang—!
Golden defensive magic and violet aura collided, scattering sparks in every direction. Roberto focused desperately on breaking through the barrier, but Christine’s eyes were not on him or his sword. She withdrew her hand. The flow of mana accelerated rapidly. The magic circle forming the barrier grew brighter and brighter until it shone so brilliantly that the sun overhead seemed pale in comparison.
The knights on the training ground raised their hands to shield their eyes. Just as they thought the change had stabilized—
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted. The shockwave from the explosion shook the entire training ground. Yet no cloud of dust engulfed the area. Christine had used magic to summon a wind that scattered every particle of dirt.
Thanks to that, the members could see immediately what had happened.
“Ugh…”
On the far side of the training ground, Roberto Miller lay in tatters, twitching. Christine appeared to have controlled her power well; he didn’t seem injured. His training sword lay discarded on the ground.
Impressive that it didn’t even break, Maxim thought with reluctant admiration.
Christine, who had just delivered a performance that overwhelmed everyone present, sent Roberto an apologetic glance. Half-risen from the ground, he waved his hand to signal that he was fine. Applause burst forth from the knights. There were no cheers, but the new members of the Raven Knight Order offered sincere praise, genuinely awed by Christine’s ability.
Christine steadied her expression, turned away from Roberto, and looked at the knights surrounding the training ground.
“…You were right.”
Paola’s voice beside him was filled with astonishment. Maxim turned to see him frowning in wonder, no longer the mere spectator but a true knight enthralled by combat and the clash between sword and magic.
“Indeed, when you say Fenrir will win against a wolf, no reason is necessary.”
Maxim shrugged.
“I did tell you.”
“Anyone listening would think you were the one who won the duel.”
Paola chuckled. Maxim looked back at the training ground. Christine sent him a bright smile. Setting aside his questions about why she had decided to become vice commander, he responded with wholehearted applause for the display she had just given.
Christine’s gaze suddenly fixed on a single point. Following it, Maxim saw who stood at the end of her line of sight.
Theodora.
Christine stared at her with a bold expression. The surrounding applause slowly died down. Keeping her eyes locked on Theodora, Christine spoke.
“…I look forward to working with you.”
She flashed another bright smile.
“Commander Theodora.”
Theodora was looking at Christine. Her demeanor was calm, as if she had already anticipated the outcome. Yet behind that surface, dark clouds had gathered, robbing her of her usual vitality and leaving her rigid.
“Yes. I look forward to it as well.”
Theodora’s voice was exceptionally gentle.
“Vice Commander Christine.”
After Christine was confirmed as vice commander, Theodora ordered the knights to train freely and walked with Christine through the rear garden of the main building for a short while.
Christine Watson. Theodora knew little about her. She had left the Magic Tower after some conflict, joined the Raven Knight Order, and had once been called the tower’s new genius—that was the extent of her information.
“Congratulations on becoming vice commander. As the commander, I must thank you for earning the support of the existing members like this.”
“Thank you.”
Christine accepted the praise with humility. Looking at her, Theodora tried her hardest not to recall that day. She tried not to remember the rainy day and the sight of Maxim and Christine visible through the window.
“I expect you to devote yourself to the development of the Raven Knight Order from now on.”
“Yes. I will follow your lead, Commander.”
Theodora studied Christine’s face. It was very small. Cute, large eyes and rich golden hair that shone brightly and reached her waist. While Theodora admired the doll-like appearance, she made an effort to ignore the discomfort that stirred somewhere inside her.
An awkward silence stretched between them as they walked. Christine, who had been quietly observing Theodora, suddenly asked a question.
“Commander, may I ask you one thing?”
“Of course. Ask anything.”
Christine hesitated for a moment, then met her eyes squarely.
“May I ask why you decided to replace the previous vice commander? He didn’t fail the selection test, and someone who held the position for two years must have been quite helpful.”
Theodora’s ash-gray eyes met Christine’s grass-green ones in midair. The question carried many layers of meaning. Theodora hid her emotions and answered as if it were nothing.
She did not want to reveal these feelings carelessly to anyone—especially not to someone close to Maxim.
“…As you saw that day, I did not believe the previous vice commander’s skill met my standards.”
Yet she could not hide the slight stiffness that entered her voice at the end.
“That is all.”
Christine did not press further. The two women stood facing each other in silence for a while.
It was then that a knight came running toward them in a hurry.
“Commander! Vice Commander!”
The knight looked back and forth between them. Only after their gazes turned to him did he speak.
“A letter has arrived from the royal family.”