Chapter 83 - Translation

Chapter 83: The End of Basic Combat “Are you alright, Young Lord?” Tiberias had grown so furious at seeing Elise and Leon together and acting so intimate that the other nobles at his table couldn’t help but say something. Normally if something like this happened, the noble who gets angry will bottle it up until they’re out of the public eye, but Tiberias was so obviously pissed that it compelled his tablemates to speak up and try to remind him of his dignity and image. Tiberias glared at the man who spoke, a third-tier knight in service to his father, the Duke of Aurelianorum, an extravagantly wealthy region along the western coast of the Endless Ocean. The veteran knight shut his mouth under Tiberias’ intense gaze and nearly jumped out of his own skin when Tiberias responded with a curt “I’m fine!” However, barely five minutes passed before Tiberias suddenly rose from the table, dropped a roll of silvers on the table, and left without another word. Those he was eating with were left flabbergasted, but none followed him to see what was going on. Given how much difficulty he seemed to have maintaining his noble bearing, everyone else at his table silently agreed that his departure was for the best. Before too much longer, Tiberias found himself passing the lavish estate of the Duke of Lentia. Gaius—the Duke’s third son—was undoubtedly here, spending his off-time partying with a few of his close friends. ‘Might as well stop here for a while… It’s as good a place as any to cool my head, ’ he thought to himself. Tiberias identified himself to the guards at the gate of the estate and was shown inside in short order. He was led through halls of pure white stone and marble extravagantly decorated with gorgeous mosaics, masterfully crafted statues, and magnificent paintings. However, none of the decorations made any impression on Tiberias, as the wealth and luxury of Aurelianorum far outstripped that of Lentia several times over. Regardless of its effect—or rather the lack thereof—on Tiberias, the estate was still quite extensive, so it took a fair amount of walking to arrive in the brightly lit hall where Gaius, Actaeon, and Linus were spending their time with several beautiful women. “Tiberias!” exclaimed Gaius. He hurriedly moved the woman on his lap so he could rise and greet his fellow noble. “I wasn’t expecting you to come here today! You there, bring my friend some wine!” Gaius waved at a nearby attendant who dutifully presented Tiberias with a full cup. Actaeon and Linus also rose to greet Tiberias, though they let Gaius go first as he was the host. Tiberias simply accepted their hospitality in silence. He was searching for the right words to say, but his seemingly stoic face masked a pitch-black killing intent that clouded his mind. “So, what brings you over here, Tiberias?” asked Gaius as the four sat down. Gaius and Linus put their arms around the attendants serving them, while Actaeon went a little further and ran his hands over his attendant’s body a few times. After taking a long moment to think, Tiberias said as casually as he was able, “Do you actually plan on retaliating against the Snow Lions?” His question took the other three by surprise, so much so that they were stunned into a brief silence. “Of course we are…” said Actaeon a little hesitantly, as he was concerned that he had misheard Tiberias’ question due to being slightly preoccupied with his attendant. “Obviously…” added Linus, confused as he was as to why Tiberias was bringing this up completely out of the blue. “Yeah, we were planning on waiting until after our first-tier guys had completed their Basic Combat training. Why do you ask? Did something happen?” Gaius responded. “No, nothing at all…” said Tiberias, though a subtle clenching and unclenching of his fist made it clear how truthful he was being. “Well, alright then! We’ll strike back against them at the end of the upcoming week when we finish our Basic Combat classes,” said Gaius with a smile of anticipation. “Not to be rude, but why do you care?” asked Actaeon to Tiberias. “Oh, I asked him to join us during our attack,” responded Gaius. “You didn’t tell them?” Tiberias growled in obvious displeasure. Gaius gave him a playful look and said, “I wanted it to be a pleasant surprise.” “Ancestors damn it…” muttered Linus, quite cleanly summarizing the other three’s feeling towards Gaius’ decision. “Well, since we’re all here, let’s hammer out the specific schedule,” suggested Gaius. “Yeah, wouldn’t do for any of us to be late,” Actaeon said sarcastically. Gaius sent an angry look his way and asked, “You got a problem?” “So long as you’re not keeping any more secrets, then no.” Gaius stared at Actaeon for a long few seconds before smiling at him and saying, “Good, then there’s no problem…” They spent the next fifteen minutes debating exactly when to attack, where to attack from, and what specific day and time to meet up. When their plan was over, Tiberias immediately rose to leave. Gaius invited him to stay, but Tiberias refused and made to leave the estate. He had regained his usual calm, but his wrath still lingered deep inside of him. ‘I only need to hold back for a few more days…’ he thought to himself, forcing his face into a bright and noble smile. — When Leon returned to the Snow Lion’s tower, he dropped off most of what he had just bought in his room and ventured back out into the forest to try out his new hunting bow. The only other things he brought with him were his family’s sword, a one-handed training short sword, and a dozen arrows. He wasn’t really intent on hunting, he only wanted to get used to the new bow. He strolled into the forest until he found a clearing. It was reasonably quiet there, so there was where he stopped. The clearing wasn’t that large, barely more than half the range of Leon’s bow even if it hadn’t been enchanted. Still, Leon missed a target he carved into a tree with his first round of arrows. He sighed as he went to retrieve them. He was out of practice and the new bow just felt a little weird in his hand. He had used his old bow for so long that the grip had been slowly molded into the perfect shape for his fingers, and this new bow just couldn’t match up, even with its more well-crafted enchantment. Leon spent hours shooting at his target and when the time came for him to return to the tower, he felt that he had hit the mark more times than he had missed, though it wasn’t by much. He spent almost the entire Sunday in that clearing as well, shooting at the tree until, by the end of the day, he could consistently hit it ten or eleven times out every dozen shots. But that wasn’t enough for him, and he intended to keep practicing when he had the time. — The following week proceeded much the same as the previous had. The trainees were now familiar with the routine, so their Senior Instructors led them to the training field without any fuss. The third-tier trainees had gotten bored of sparring with each other, so they all but stopped by the end of the week. The Senior Instructors didn’t press them to continue, allowing them to chat and build connections with each other for the last two days. However, the same complacency was not found in Valeria or Leon, as the two battled each other five times during that week and each time was just as spirited and vigorous as their first few bouts. Their record barely budged, though, with Leon winning twice, Valeria winning twice, and their Friday fight ending in another draw. With the exception of the duels between Valeria and Leon, the third-tiers breezed through the rest of the Basic Combat classes with remarkably little effort. The same could not be said for the second and first-tier trainees, who were drilled in the basic fighting style of the Royal Legions almost to the point of exhaustion. Furthermore, the first-tier trainees had started to bicker amongst themselves, especially the Snow Lions and Deathbringers who nearly started fighting in the middle of class over a few muttered insults. Normally, the instructors teaching the classes would have the first-tier trainees spar against each other and deliberately feed these little conflicts, but the tension between these two units convinced them that the usual tactics used to encourage the battles between units weren’t necessary, so the units were made to spar amongst themselves for the last few days. Thanks to the additional instruction given to them by Leon, Charles, Henry, and Alain performed admirably during these sparring sessions, quickly gaining a reputation as some of the strongest first-tier fighters in the Snow Lions. Bohemond and Matthew also acquitted themselves well, though they’d only been training with the others for less than two weeks. The afternoon classes were just as uneventful as the morning classes were. Since the trainees were split up into dozens of different classes, there weren’t as many Snow Lions and Deathbringers in the same place, not to mention the Senior Instructors made sure to keep the peace among the first-tier trainees during their Magical Theory classes. — The Senior Instructor had more than usual to say to the Snow Lions at the end of Friday. “Basic Combat is over! You’re all at least mildly competent with the standard Legion sword! First-Aid will take up all of next week, and then it’s on to Light Infantry classes!” The trainees began to excitedly chat amongst themselves. The start of Light Infantry classes was when they would be issued their armor as well as when they would start learning how to fight as the smallest standard group in the Legion—squads of ten or so trainees, each containing seven or eight first-tier trainees and two or three second-tier trainees. The third-tier trainees would be free to choose which group they wanted to join. The Senior Instructor wasn’t done talking, though, and he angrily shouted at the chatting trainees, “Shut the fuck up! Those who speak before I’m finished will run the circuit a few hundred times!” Running the circuit was to run around the tower with increasingly large logs and stones. All three instructors had made enough people run the circuit in the past few weeks for everyone to know that the Senior Instructor wasn’t playing around when he ordered them to be quiet. The room fell silent in seconds, with no one willing to break it. “Good. First-Aid training will be fairly straightforward, you’ll learn all about how to activate and utilize low-grade healing spells, as well as how to apply tourniquets, bandages, and splints! After that will be a couple days of drills until you can all save your buddies if they get hurt in combat!” The Senior Instructor glanced over at the second and third-tier trainees before continuing. “All of you will be expected to step up and fulfill your duties as the leaders of this unit next week! Do not fuck this up!” With those words said, the Senior Instructor turned around and left the tower, dismissing the trainees. Leon and the usual group got together for some additional training. Everyone, that is, except Henry, who slumped down onto a chair nearby with a long sigh. “What’s wrong with you ?” asked Charles, sensing a possible moment of weakness to exploit in revenge for Henry poking fun at his chosen elective. “Haaaaaaah, I… need to get laid,” replied Henry. “What?” asked Charles in confusion, while Bohemond nodded in understanding and Matthew just laughed. “It has been more than a month since I last touched a woman!” complained Henry while adjusting his pants. “Gragh! It’s getting so bad I’m growing a damn third leg!” “Then go out and find a willing girl and get it on… with… her…” said Charles, leaving the others to give him odd looks as he trailed off. Charles only paused for a couple seconds before continuing with a mocking tone like he’d just solved the mysteries of life, the universe, and everything. “Oh, wait! I know exactly why you’re not getting any ladies, it’s because none of them can stand to be in your presence for more than a few seconds at a time!” “Oh ho, you want to get personal, huh?” said Henry with a grin as he stood up. “So what if I do?” asked Charles. The two men started approaching each other as if they were about to fight, but the barely concealed grins on their faces betrayed just how serious this little back-and-forth was. They stared each other down for a moment, then laughed and went back to what they were doing. Henry returned to his seat and asked, “But seriously, I’m hitting up the beach tomorrow. Anyone want to come with? Matty? Bo?” “Nah, I’ve got a fiancé,” responded Matthew. Bohemond also refused, saying “Same here. Well, not a fiancé, but a girl I’ve been seeing for a long time back home.” Henry was left staring at them in equal parts dejection, admiration, and surprise. “Seriously?! How is it that all of you have girlfriends or fiancés and I don’t?!” He paused for a moment before turning to Leon, who was quietly moving through a few sword forms that Artorias had taught him years ago and listening to the group’s conversation with a slight smile. “Hey, Leon!” In response, Leon glanced over at Henry but didn’t stop moving. “You want to go to the beach with me tomorrow? Come on, the only two single guys here!” Leon chuckled a little but politely shook his head. “I plan on staying here over the weekend brushing up on my knowledge of fire enchantments…” [.. and I’ll be expecting your help, demon,] he added in his mind. [Huh? What?] asked a slightly taken aback Xaphan. [You promised to provide me with ‘power, wisdom, and knowledge’. I’ve given you plenty of time, now you’ve got to deliver.] [… So be it.] “You know what?” Henry asked Leon rhetorically after a bit of thought. “It’s probably better you don’t go with me. As you’re a third-tier mage, you could probably just stand there looking as sharp as a sphere and you’d still have better game than everyone else here, without a doubt.” “I… don’t know about that…” Leon responded bashfully. He knew he wasn’t that great with people in general—and women in particular—and if it wasn’t for Elise constantly approaching him, he doubted that he would be able to speak more than a few sentences to a woman before locking up. “Whatever, I’m going to bed. I’m going to need to be in peak condition tomorrow…” Henry said as he rose and made for his bed. The rest of the group wasn’t that far behind, only staying up for another hour before turning in as well. However, not everyone in the Academy was turning in early. A second-tier trainee ran out of the Deathbringer’s tower not long after sundown bearing a message for Tiberias. The message was a short and simple reminder: tomorrow morning. When he received the message about half an hour later, Tiberias merely nodded and smiled. He’d calmed down significantly over the week and no longer particularly cared about Gaius’ attack itself, but still looked forward to it as a pleasant distraction while he contemplated less petty and far more permanent ways to get rid of Leon. !

**Chapitre 83 : La Fin du Combat de Base** « Tout va bien, jeune seigneur ? » Tiberias, fou de rage en apercevant Élise et Leon ensemble dans une intimité manifeste, avait atteint un tel degré de fureur que les autres nobles attablés avec lui s'étaient sentis obligés d'intervenir. En temps normal, un noble outragé aurait contenu son ressentiment jusqu'à être hors de vue du public. Mais Tiberias, visiblement hors de lui, avait perdu toute retenue au point que ses compagnons durent lui rappeler urgemment sa dignité et son rang. D'un regard assassin, Tiberias foudroya l'homme qui venait de parler – un chevalier de troisième rang au service de son père, le duc d'Aurelianorum, cette région démesurément riche bordant la côte ouest de l'Océan Infini. Sous l'intensité de ce regard, le vétéran se tut aussitôt, sursautant presque lorsque Tiberias rétorqua d'un ton coupant : « Parfaitement bien ! » Pourtant, à peine cinq minutes plus tard, Tiberias se leva brusquement, laissa tomber un rouleau de pièces d'argent sur la table et quitta les lieux sans un mot. Ses compagnons, médusés, ne tentèrent même pas de le suivre pour s'enquérir de son état. Devant sa difficulté évidente à conserver son maintien aristocratique, tous convinrent tacitement que son départ était une bénédiction. Peu après, Tiberias se retrouva devant le fastueux domaine du duc de Lentia. Gaius, le troisième fils du duc, y passait indubitablement ses loisirs à festoyer en compagnie de ses proches amis. *« Autant m'arrêter ici... L'endroit est aussi propice qu'un autre pour retrouver mon calme »*, songea-t-il. Après s'être annoncé aux gardes, Tiberias fut conduit à travers des halls de marbre et de pierre blanche, somptueusement ornés de mosaïques étincelantes, de statues magistrales et de fresques majestueuses. Aucun de ces trésors n'impressionna le jeune noble – la richesse d'Aurelianorum éclipsant sans peine celle de Lentia. L'immensité du domaine imposa une longue marche avant d'atteindre la salle lumineuse où Gaius, Actéon et Linus s'amusaient en compagnie de quelques courtisanes. « Tiberias ! » s'exclama Gaius en repoussant vivement la femme assise sur ses genoux pour accueillir son pair. « Quelle surprise de te voir aujourd'hui ! Toi, là – du vin pour mon ami ! » Un serviteur s'empressa d'obéir, tendant à Tiberias une coupe emplie jusqu'au bord. Actéon et Linus se levèrent également pour le saluer, laissant toutefois à Gaius la prérogative de l'hôte. Tiberias accepta leur hospitalité en silence. Son visage de marbre dissimulait une intention meurtrière aussi noire que les ténèbres qui obscurcissaient son esprit. « Alors, qu'est-ce qui t'amène par ici ? » demanda Gaius une fois rassis, enlaçant négligemment une servante tandis qu'Actéon laissait ses mains vagabonder sur les courbes de sa voisine. Après une longue pause, Tiberias répondit avec le naturel dont il était encore capable : « Comptez-vous vraiment riposter contre les Lions des Neiges ? » La question cloua ses trois interlocuteurs sur place. « Bien sûr... » répondit Actéon, légèrement distrait par les caresses de sa compagne. « Évidemment », ajouta Linus, perplexe devant cette entrée en matière abrupte. « On attendait juste que nos gars de premier rang terminent leur Combat de Base. Pourquoi ? Il y a un problème ? » s'enquit Gaius. « Non, rien de particulier... » mentit Tiberias, les jointures de son poing se blanchissant imperceptiblement. « Parfait ! Alors on contre-attaquera la semaine prochaine dès que les cours seront finis », annonça Gaius avec un sourire carnassier. « Sans vouloir être indiscret, pourquoi cet intérêt soudain ? » interrogea Actéon. « Oh, je lui ai proposé de se joindre à nous », révéla Gaius. « Tu ne leur avais rien dit ? » gronda Tiberias, visiblement irrité. Gaius lui lança un regard espiègle : « Je voulais leur faire une surprise. » « Que nos ancêtres nous maudissent... » murmura Linus, résumant parfaitement l'opinion générale sur les méthodes de Gaius. « Puisque nous sommes tous réunis, établissons un plan précis », proposa Gaius. « Oui, ce serait dommage d'arriver en retard », ironisa Actéon. Gaius le foudroya du regard : « Tu as un problème ? » « Plus maintenant que tu ne nous caches plus rien. » Après quelques secondes de tension, Gaius éclata de rire : « Parfait, alors tout va bien... » Les quinze minutes suivantes furent consacrées à déterminer l'heure exacte de l'attaque, le point de ralliement et la stratégie. Une fois le plan arrêté, Tiberias se leva aussitôt pour partir. Bien que Gaius tentât de le retenir, le jeune noble quitta les lieux sans plus de formalités. Son calme apparent dissimulait mal une colère sourde, tapie dans l'ombre. *« Plus que quelques jours à tenir... »* pensa-t-il en forçant ses traits à arborer un sourire noble et impassible. — De retour à la tour des Lions des Neiges, Leon déposa ses achats dans sa chambre avant de repartir vers la forêt pour tester son nouvel arc de chasse. Il n'emporta que l'épée familiale, une épée d'entraînement et une douzaine de flèches. Sans intention réelle de chasser, il voulait simplement apprivoiser son nouvel arc. Après une longue marche, il trouva une clairière paisible – un espace à peine plus grand que la portée normale de son arc. Pourtant, sa première série de flèches manqua la cible gravée dans un arbre. Il soupira en ramassant les projectiles. Rouillé par l'inaction, il trouvait la prise de ce nouvel arc étrangement inconfortable. Son ancien arc, moulé par des années d'usage, épousait parfaitement sa main – avantage que ce modèle enchanté ne pouvait égaler. Des heures durant, Leon s'obstina. Au crépuscule, il estima avoir touché la marque plus souvent qu'il ne l'avait manquée, mais de justesse. Le dimanche suivant, il retourna dans la clairière. À la nuit tombée, il parvenait à atteindre sa cible dix fois sur douze. Insatisfait, il comptait bien poursuivre son entraînement dès que possible. — La semaine suivante reproduisit presque à l'identique la précédente. Les recrues, désormais habituées à la routine, furent conduites sans encombre au terrain d'entraînement par les instructeurs. Lassées des duels, les recrues de troisième rang avaient pratiquement cessé de s'affronter en fin de semaine. Les instructeurs, complaisants, leur permirent de socialiser durant les deux derniers jours. Seuls Valeria et Leon firent exception. Leurs cinq duels de la semaine furent aussi acharnés que les premiers – deux victoires chacun et un nouveau match nul le vendredi. Alors que les troisième rangs traversaient le reste du programme avec une nonchalance remarquable, les premier et deuxième rangs subirent un entraînement éreintant au style de combat des Légions Royales. Les tensions explosèrent parmi les premier rangs, particulièrement entre Lions des Neiges et Porteurs de Mort, qui faillirent en venir aux mains après des insultes échangées en cours. Habituellement, les instructeurs auraient alimenté ces rivalités, mais la tension était déjà si palpable qu'ils renoncèrent à leurs tactiques habituelles, séparant les unités pour les derniers jours. Grâce aux conseils de Leon, Charles, Henry et Alain brillèrent lors des sparrings, s'imposant rapidement parmi les meilleurs combattants premier rang des Lions. Bohémond et Matthew, bien que novices, firent également bonne figure. Les cours théoriques de l'après-midi s'écoulèrent sans heurts, la dispersion des recrues dans différentes classes réduisant les occasions de conflit. — Ce vendredi soir, l'instructeur senior avait plus à dire que d'habitude aux Lions des Neiges : « Le Combat de Base est terminé ! Vous maniez tous au moins vaguement l'épée légionnaire standard. La semaine prochaine sera consacrée aux soins médicaux, puis nous passerons à l'Infanterie Légère ! » Une excitation parcourut les rangs. L'Infanterie Légère signifiait la distribution des armures et l'apprentissage du combat en formation – par escouades d'une dizaine de recrues (sept ou huit premier rangs, deux ou trois deuxième rangs), les troisième rangs ayant le libre choix de leur groupe. Mais l'instructeur n'avait pas terminé : « Fermez vos gueules ! Tout bavardage sera puni par des centaines de tours de circuit ! » Cette menace – courir autour de la tour avec des fardeaux de plus en plus lourds – réduisit l'assistance au silence en quelques secondes. « Bien. Les premiers soins seront simples : sorts de guérison basiques, garrots, bandages et attelles. Quelques jours de pratique suffiront à vous rendre opérationnels. » Son regard se fit plus intense en se posant sur les deuxième et troisième rangs : « Vous, en particulier, devrez assumer votre rôle de leaders. Ne merdez pas ! » Sur ce, il tourna les talons, libérant les recrues. Leon et son groupe habituel se réunirent pour un entraînement supplémentaire – tous sauf Henry, qui s'effondra sur une chaise en soupirant. « Un problème ? » demanda Charles, flairant l'occasion de se venger des moqueries antérieures. « Haaaaaaah... J'ai besoin de baiser », gémit Henry. « Quoi ? » s'étonna Charles, pendant que Bohémond hochait la tête en connaisseur et que Matthew riait. « Ça fait un mois que je n'ai touché une femme ! » se lamenta Henry en réajustant son pantalon. « Putain, c'est à devenir dingue ! » « Alors trouve une partenaire consentante et... fais-le », proposa Charles, avant de réaliser soudain : « Ah ! Je comprends : aucune femme ne supporte ta présence plus de trente secondes ! » « Oh, on passe aux attaques personnelles ? » contre-attaqua Henry avec un sourire carnassier. Ils feignirent de vouloir en découdre avant d'éclater de rire et de se séparer. « Bref, je vais à la plage demain. Matty ? Bo ? » proposa Henry. « Fiancé, désolé », refusa Matthew. « Moi aussi, une amie de longue date m'attend », ajouta Bohémond. Henry les dévisagea, partagé entre jalousie et admiration. « Sérieux ?! Comment ça se fait que vous soyez tous casés et pas moi ?! » Il se tourna vers Leon, qui enchaînait silencieusement des mouvements d'épée tout en écoutant. « Hé, Leon ! Viens à la plage demain ! On est les deux célibataires du groupe ! » Leon déclina poliment : « Je dois travailler sur les enchantements de feu ce week-end... » [... et je compte sur ton aide, démon], ajouta-t-il mentalement. [Hein ? Quoi ?] répondit Xaphan, surpris. [Tu m'as promis "pouvoir, sagesse et connaissance". C'est l'heure de tenir parole.] [... Qu'il en soit ainsi.] « Au fond, c'est mieux que tu ne viennes pas », conclut Henry pensivement. « Avec ton rang, tu n'aurais même pas besoin d'essayer pour nous éclipser tous. » « Je... doute fort... », balbutia Leon, mal à l'aise. Sans Élise qui prenait toujours l'initiative, il aurait été incapable d'échanger plus de trois phrases avec une femme. « Bon, au lit. Il faut que je sois en forme pour demain... » lança Henry en se dirigeant vers son lit. Le groupe le suivit bientôt, ne tardant qu'une heure avant d'aller dormir. Mais pas toute l'Académie. Une recrue deuxième rang des Porteurs de Mort quitta la tour après le coucher du soleil, portant un message pour Tiberias – simple rappel pour le lendemain matin. En recevant le message, Tiberias se contenta de sourire. La rage de la semaine précédente s'était muée en une anticipation jouissive – distraction bienvenue avant de mettre au point quelque chose de plus définitif pour régler le cas de Leon.