Chapter 53: Runt
A/N: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ CHAPTER 52, GO BACK AND DO THAT NOW
I REPEAT, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ CHAPTER 52, GO BACK AND DO THAT NOW
"Glad Kirsch gave me clearance for this," Lars mused, whistling as he twirled his scythe, the soft crunch of dried leaves beneath his feet. "It's the least I can do to help old man Bertholt."
He twirled his scythe, occasionally stopping to test out a few of his spells on some unsuspecting trees. As he cut down one with a Telekinetic Sweep, Iskra reappeared in front of him, a displeased expression on her face.
"Find something else for target practice, Casanova," Iskra said, pointing a finger at his chest. "Nature is beautiful, and shouldn't be destroyed because you wish to test out your new weapon!"
"What else is there, Iskra?" Lars replied, not seeming to be bothered, and stepping over some stray vines in his way. "And why do you keep calling me Casanova?"
"Is that not what the Hansen girl calls you?" she asked, a playful smirk creeping up her lips.
"Yes, but there's context to that. Anyone who doesn't know the context doesn't deserve to call me that," Lars sighed, massaging his temples. As useful as the celestial was, having her constantly inside his head could prove annoying.
"Then tell me the context," Iskra replied, smirking as she knocked the mind mage's shoulder.
Lars sighed. He knew she would keep harassing him if he didn't say anything, so he gave in.
…
The lively chatter of the bustling tavern in Kikka filled the air, the scent of roasted meats and sweet ales mixing with the laughter of its patrons. Oda had dragged Lars and Yul out that evening, declaring it a "mandatory celebration" for Yul's safe return after the attack on the Royal Capital.
"It's a mixer," Oda had explained with a cheeky grin. "You know, meet new people, have a good time. Loosen up, Lars. You too, Yul. You need to live a little."
Lars wasn't sure about this, but seeing Yul's faint smile after days of brooding, he figured he'd go along with it.
The three of them had settled at a long table where they were joined by a group of women, all commoners from the area. There was Alina, a sharp-witted tailor with auburn hair tied in a messy bun; Mare, a lively herbalist with a laugh that was impossible to ignore; and Sela, a quiet blacksmith's apprentice with strong hands and a softer voice.
The conversation started slow, with Oda making most of the jokes, but before long, the ale flowed, and the mood lightened.
"Alright, truth or dare," Mare announced, her cheeks flushed from drink. "Yul, you're up first!"
Yul blinked, his stoic nature slipping for a moment. "Uh… truth?"
"What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done as a Magic Knight?"
Yul's mouth twitched into what might have been a smile. "Probably letting Oda convince me to come to a mixer," he deadpanned.
The table burst into laughter, but the attention quickly shifted to Lars.
"Your turn, Lars," Alina said, leaning forward. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare," Lars replied confidently.
Alina smirked. "I dare you to charm the next woman who walks through that door."
Before Lars could protest, the door swung open, and in walked a young woman with wild curls and a curious gaze. She paused when she noticed everyone staring at her.
Lars sighed, picking up his drink. "Fine. Watch and learn."
He approached her with his signature confidence, casually introducing himself. Her name was Kara, and she was a baker's assistant. Lars turned on his charm, weaving stories of his adventures and using his Mind Magic subtly to create dazzling little illusions of stars in his hands.
To his horror, Kara blushed furiously and giggled at his antics. She wasn't the only one; Alina and Mare exchanged wide-eyed looks at the table, clearly impressed.
Across the tavern, Sharya sat at the bar, trying to stop Lyra—very drunk and attempting to climb onto the counter—from causing a scene.
"Get down, Lyra," Sharya hissed, but Lyra just giggled. "What are you even looking at?"
"Your precious Lars is out there being all smooth," Lyra slurred.
Sharya turned, just in time to see Lars helping Kara into her seat, where she looked utterly enchanted. Alina and Mare were whispering, their faces lit with amusement.
"Oh, this is gold," Sharya muttered. "Lilian has to hear about this."
By the end of the night, Kara and the others left, giggling about the "dashing Mind Mage." Lars, oblivious to their fawning, returned to the table.
"That was nothing," Lars said, brushing off the incident.
"Nothing?" Oda teased, clapping him on the back. "She was practically floating after you talked to her."
"Relax. I'm not some Casanova," Lars grumbled.
From the bar, Sharya's sharp ears picked up the word. A grin spread across her face.
"Oh, you are so a Casanova," she muttered under her breath.
By the next morning, the nickname spread through the squad like wildfire, thanks to Sharya.
…
Back in the present, Iskra's laughter rang in Lars' ears as he finished recounting the story.
"Casanova indeed," she teased. "I wonder what Lucia would think of that tale."
Lars groaned, gripping his scythe. "She already knows, and trust me, I'll never hear the end of it. Let's just focus on finding the runt."
As the mind mage and celestial advanced throughout the forest, they stumbled upon a clearing where the trees parted to reveal a little lake, and the sun shone down on it. Next to the lake was Alexis, his blue grimoire floating beside him, seemingly repeating the same magic spell over and over again.
"So he uses Water Magic, eh?" Lars whispered to Iskra, climbing up a tree to get a better view of Alexis, and activating his Tiefe Analyse.
He was different from the boy that Lars remembered, at least. He was significantly taller, around the shoulder height of Lars, and he held a staff that looked too large for him in his hands, occasionally wobbling trying to steady himself. He had reddish-brown hair that was slicked back with a ridiculous amount of hair gel, revealing a scar across his forehead, and dark blue eyes that sparkled with determination every time he cast a spell. His clothes were simple - a light brown tunic with black trousers and boots.
His routine was simple - he would aim for a tree, condensing a small burst of water to travel very fast. His face was deadly focused as he cast each spell.
The only problem was that he was also consistently missing.
Lars crouched on the branch, his Tiefe Analyse revealing the faint traces of mana Alexis was pouring into his spell. The boy's focus was impressive, but his technique was sloppy, and his control wavered with each cast. Lars sighed, shaking his head as he leapt down from the tree.
"Yo!" he said lazily, raising a hand in greeting.
Alexis startled at the sudden noise, spinning around with his staff raised defensively. His blue grimoire shimmered, and water began to swirl around him in a protective ring.
"Relax, runt," Lars said, holding up his hands. "It's just me."
Alexis squinted, then groaned. "Lars? What are you doing here? Spying on me?" He scowled, lowering his staff. "I'm not a kid anymore, you know. I can handle myself."
Lars crossed his arms, leaning casually against a tree. "Oh, I can see that. Your water spell was really doing a number on that bark. Another hundred years, and you might actually take the tree down."
Alexis flushed with embarrassment, the water around him dissipating as his concentration faltered. "I'm training. I don't need you to come here and mock me."
"I'm not mocking you," Lars said, though his smirk suggested otherwise. "I'm just saying you've got a long way to go. You're wasting energy, your aim is off, and that staff looks like it's about to knock you over. If you keep this up, you're going to hurt yourself before you even step onto a battlefield."
Alexis bristled, his eyes narrowing. "I don't need your help. I'm perfectly capable of training on my own."
Lars raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you've got no idea what you're doing. You've got potential, sure, but without proper guidance, you're just spinning your wheels."
"I don't need guidance," Alexis snapped. "I've been doing fine without you."
Lars shrugged, stepping closer until they were face to face. "If you're so confident, how about a little test? A friendly spar, you and me. No grimoires, no weapons—just you against me. I'll even fight with my hands behind my back."
Alexis blinked, caught off guard. "You're joking."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Lars said, his smirk fading into a more serious expression. "You think you've got what it takes to be a Magic Knight? Then prove it. Show me you can handle yourself."
He took a few steps back, planted the butt of his scythe into the ground, and held his hands behind his back. "Hit me. Just once. If you can land a single spell on me, I'll back off and leave you to your 'training.'"
Alexis hesitated, his staff wavering. "You're not serious."
"Dead serious," Lars said, his voice calm but firm. "You think you're ready to be a Magic Knight? Show me. Prove me wrong."
Alexis gritted his teeth, his pride stinging. "Fine! Don't cry when I knock you flat."
Lars smirked, his eyes glinting as he activated Tiefe Analyse. "Good luck, runt. Let's see what you've got."
Alexis planted his feet, the staff trembling slightly in his grip as his grimoire's pages glowed faintly. He gritted his teeth, summoning all the focus he could muster.
"Water Magic: Rapid Torrent!"
A concentrated burst of water shot toward Lars like a speeding arrow, its force enough to displace leaves from nearby trees.
Lars tilted his head lazily to the side, letting the water blast pass him harmlessly. "Weave," he said with a smirk.
Alexis scowled, already summoning another spell. "Stop mocking me!"
"Hit me, and I will," Lars replied, his tone calm but taunting.
Alexis fired another shot, this one faster and aimed lower, trying to catch Lars off-guard. But Lars sidestepped smoothly, the water missing him by inches.
"Weave," he repeated, his smirk growing.
Alexis growled in frustration, sweat forming on his brow. He adjusted his stance, taking a deeper breath before firing three rapid shots in succession.
Lars spun away from the first, ducked under the second, and leapt over the third, landing lightly on his feet. "Weave, weave, weave," he said, his voice carrying an almost musical quality now.
"Stop dodging and fight me!" Alexis shouted, his face red with frustration.
"Why should I?" Lars replied, circling Alexis slowly. "You're not even thinking. You're just throwing spells around like a tantrum. Do better, Alexis."
The boy gritted his teeth, his hands trembling as he raised his staff again. This time, he aimed carefully, waiting for Lars to move before releasing his spell. The water shot out with surprising speed, cutting through the air like a blade.
But Lars pivoted at the last second, the spell grazing past his shoulder and splashing harmlessly against a rock. "Weave," he said again, his smirk vanishing as his tone turned serious. "You're predictable, kid. Aiming where I was instead of where I'm going. That'll get you killed someday."
Alexis roared in frustration, his focus slipping. He rushed forward with his staff, swinging wildly in an attempt to catch Lars off-guard.
Lars didn't even flinch. With a single smooth motion, he sidestepped the strike and lashed out with his leg. His heel connected viciously with Alexis' temple, the force of the kick sending the boy sprawling to the ground.
Alexis hit the dirt with a grunt, his staff clattering to the side. His head rang, his vision spinning as he tried to push himself up.
"Too fucking easy," Lars said, his voice cold. He stood over Alexis, his hands still clasped behind his back. "You've got spirit, but spirit alone won't save you in a real fight. You need skill, discipline, and most of all, a clear head."
Alexis groaned, clutching his head as he glared up at Lars. "You… didn't have to hit me so hard."
"You charged at me," Lars said simply, crouching down to meet Alexis' gaze. "What do you think a real enemy would've done? Pat you on the back and give you another shot? No. They'd put you in the ground."
The boy didn't respond, his anger fading into a mix of frustration and humiliation.
"Get up," Lars said, standing and offering a hand. "You're not going to learn anything sitting there."
Alexis hesitated, then reluctantly took Lars' hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.
"Next time," Lars said, brushing dirt off the boy's tunic, "think before you act. You've got potential, kid. But right now, you're just a reckless fool with a stick and a spell."
Alexis' jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Fine. You win this time. But don't think I'm giving up."
Lars smirked. "Good. Because I'm not done with you yet, runt."
…
The trio moved cautiously through the dense forest, the tension between them as palpable as the magical energy in the air. The strange behavior of the magic beasts in this area had caught the Coral Peacocks' attention, and now it was up to Ximena, Russell, and Malakai to investigate.
The beasts had been attacking nearby settlements with unusual ferocity, displaying tactics and coordination far beyond their usual instincts. Reports indicated they were congregating in a nearby ravine, which the three mages now approached, wary of an ambush.
Ximena strode confidently ahead, her arms crossed, her piercing green eyes scanning the terrain. "Stay back, both of you. I'll handle this. Earth Magic is the foundation of all creation—no beast stands a chance against my power."
Russell snorted, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he followed. "Right, because throwing rocks around is going to save the day. When was the last time you actually hit something with those fancy spells?"
Ximena whipped around, her brown hair still looking as uneven as ever as she glared at him. "I don't need your dusty little comments, Russell. You've got no place criticising real magic."
Malakai sighed, stepping between them. He was the youngest of the trio, with a calm demeanor that rarely wavered, though the tension between his teammates was beginning to test his patience. His snow-white hair and matching pale blue grimoire gave him an almost ethereal air. "Can we focus, please? We're not here to fight each other."
Russell shrugged, brushing past Malakai. "Tell that to her. I'm just here to clean up the mess."
Ximena bristled but bit back a retort as a guttural growl echoed through the trees. The trio froze, their eyes snapping toward the sound. A moment later, the underbrush exploded as a pack of magic beasts burst into the clearing.
The creatures were monstrous hybrids—part wolf, part boar, with glowing red eyes and jagged, crystalline growths jutting from their backs. They moved in eerie synchronization, circling the mages with predatory precision.
"Looks like your mess just arrived," Russell muttered, pulling out his grimoire.
Ximena ignored him, her grimoire glowing a vibrant brown, erupting with mana. "Earth Magic: Splintered Flintstones!" She slammed her foot into the ground, sending a wave of jagged stone spikes erupting toward the beasts.
The spikes struck true, impaling two of the creatures and sending the others scattering. Ximena smirked, tossing her hair. "See? I told you—"
Her triumph was cut short as the remaining beasts regrouped, their crystalline backs glowing ominously. They unleashed a synchronized howl, and the ground beneath Ximena's spikes shattered, the stones crumbling into dust.
"What the shit?!" Ximena stumbled back as the beasts charged.
"Looks like they're adapting," Russell said dryly, his own grimoire glowing faintly. "Dust Magic: Suffocating Haze!" A swirling cloud of dust erupted around the pack, blinding them and slowing their charge.
"Cheap tricks," Ximena muttered, but she didn't argue as she retreated to regroup.
Malakai stepped forward, his grimoire glowing a soft blue. "Snow Magic: Frozen Veil." He raised his hand, and a dome of frost formed around the three mages, creating a momentary barrier against the beasts' assault.
"Smart," Russell said, nodding. "Buys us time to figure out what's going on with them."
Ximena huffed. "What's to figure out? We kill them, problem solved."
"Not if we don't know what's driving them," Malakai said firmly. "These aren't normal magic beasts. They're coordinated, and that crystal growth—" He pointed at the beasts clawing at the frosty barrier. "—that's not natural."
Ximena crossed her arms, but she stayed silent, begrudgingly acknowledging the point.
Outside the barrier, the beasts howled again, their crystalline growths pulsing with light. The frost began to crack, and Malakai winced as the strain of maintaining the spell took its toll.
"They're going to break through," he warned.
"Not if I bury them first," Ximena snapped, her grimoire glowing again.
Russell held up a hand. "Wait. Look at their eyes."
The group paused, watching as the beasts moved with unsettling precision. Their glowing red eyes flickered, almost as if responding to an unseen command.
"They're being controlled," Malakai realized.
"Controlled by what?" Ximena demanded incredulously.
Russell frowned, his grimoire flipping to another page. "Dust Magic: Tempest Of Ruin."
A concentrated blast of dust shot forward, dispersing the frost barrier and striking one of the beasts in the chest. It shattered, revealing a pulsating crystal embedded in its torso.
"That," Russell said grimly, gesturing to the crystal.
Before Ximena could respond, the other beasts turned their attention to the mages, their crystalline growths glowing brighter.
"They're going berserk," Malakai warned, raising his grimoire again.
"Let them come," Ximena growled, slamming her hands together. "Earth Magic: Gaia Grasp!" Giant hands of stone erupted from the ground, grabbing two of the beasts and slamming them into the earth.
Russell followed up with another blast of dust, shattering the crystals on the fallen beasts. Malakai, meanwhile, summoned a flurry of snowflakes that encased the remaining creatures in icy restraints.
As the last beast fell, its crystal shattering under Russell's spell, the trio stood in tense silence, catching their breath.
"Well, that was messy," Ximena muttered, brushing dirt off her sleeves.
"Messy or not, we've got a bigger problem," Russell said, pointing at the shattered crystals. "Someone—or something—is controlling these things."
Malakai nodded, his calm expression giving way to a rare seriousness. "We need to report this. If these beasts are being controlled, whoever's behind it isn't done yet."
Ximena crossed her arms, her confidence wavering for the first time. "Fine. But next time, stay out of my way."
Russell smirked. "You're welcome, by the way."
"Enough," Malakai said, stepping between them. "We've got answers to find, and whoever's behind this isn't going to make it easy."
With that, the trio turned and headed deeper into the forest, the shattered crystals crunching under their feet.
…
Lars stood in the clearing, his arms crossed and a look of grim determination etched across his face. Alexis stood across from him, panting and clutching his staff, his forehead slick with sweat. The bruises on his arms and legs were a testament to the brutal training exercise Lars had put him through.
"All right, runt," Lars said, his voice steady but unforgiving. "You've managed to dodge maybe three out of ten spells. Not bad for a beginner, but not good enough if you ever want to wear a Magic Knight robe. We're going again."
Alexis groaned, straightening up with visible effort. "I can barely move… Aren't you supposed to be teaching me, not killing me?"
Lars cracked a smile that held no warmth. "Teaching you to survive is the lesson. Magic beasts, hostile mages, dungeon traps—they won't wait for you to be ready. Now, get moving!"
Before Alexis could protest, Lars raised his hand, his grimoire glowing. "Mind Magic: Kraftvoller Gedankenstoß!"
A concentrated blast of psychic force hurtled toward Alexis at blinding speed.
"DOOOODGE!" Lars shouted, his voice booming across the clearing.
Alexis scrambled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack as it slammed into the ground, kicking up a plume of dust and dirt.
"I'm trying!" Alexis yelled, diving behind a tree for cover.
Lars' eyes narrowed, and his hand twitched. The psychic force swerved mid-air, slamming into the tree and splintering it into shards. "Wrong answer. Dodge better."
Alexis stumbled out from the wreckage, his face pale but resolute. Another blast was already coming for him.
"DOOODGE!"
This time, Alexis managed to roll out of the way, his movements growing more desperate but also more agile.
"You're not thinking ahead!" Lars barked, unleashing another barrage. "If you keep reacting, you'll get caught eventually. Anticipate!"
Alexis clenched his teeth, sweat dripping down his face as he tried to read Lars' movements. Another blast came toward him, and he leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding it.
"Better!" Lars called out, though his tone was as sharp as ever. "But 'better' doesn't cut it in real combat. Again!"
For the next half hour, the clearing was filled with the sound of explosions, Lars' relentless shouts of "DODGE!" and Alexis' increasingly frantic attempts to evade the onslaught. By the end, Alexis collapsed to his knees, panting and shaking.
Lars approached him, his grimoire closing with a soft thud. He crouched down to meet Alexis' eye level, his tone softening slightly.
"Not bad for a runt," Lars said, though his expression remained unreadable.
Alexis glared at him through his exhaustion. "If that was 'not bad,' I'd hate to see what you think is bad."
Lars smirked, sitting down cross-legged in front of him. "Oh, you'd be surprised. Let me tell you about my second year trying the Magic Knights Exam."
Alexis raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt, too tired to protest.
"I was like you," Lars began, his gaze distant. "Hot-headed, full of big dreams, and no idea what I was doing. My family—back when we still had some standing—they expected me to pass on my first try. Thought I'd breeze through it."
He let out a bitter chuckle. "But I failed. Badly. I froze up in the combat test. My opponent wiped the floor with me, and I was too ashamed to go home. I wandered for weeks after that, trying to figure out where I went wrong."
Alexis blinked, surprised. "You… froze up? You're kidding."
"Dead serious," Lars said, his tone grim. "The worst part? I was good - really good - but I didn't understand the weight of it all. The fear of failing, the fear of not being good enough - it paralyzed me. My opponent didn't just beat me physically; they crushed me mentally."
He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Alexis'. "That's why I push you so hard. You can't afford to freeze. Not in combat, not when lives are on the line. I don't care how many times you get knocked down, but you better get back up and be ready to fight."
Alexis swallowed hard, the weight of Lars' words sinking in. "What happened after that? After you failed?"
"I found a teacher," Lars said, his voice softer now. "Someone who didn't pull punches, who didn't let me make excuses. They broke me down and built me back up. I hated them for it at the time, but it was the only way I got strong enough to try again."
He stood, offering a hand to Alexis. "And now, I'm doing the same for you. So get up, runt. We're not done yet."
Alexis hesitated for a moment before grabbing Lars' hand and pulling himself to his feet. His legs shook, but there was a spark of determination in his eyes.
"Fine," Alexis said, gripping his staff tightly. "But next time, I'm dodging everything."
Lars smirked, stepping back and raising his hand again. "We'll see. Now, dodge!"
…
It was almost midnight in the Coral Peacocks base, but Lars and Yul were outside training against each other. Lars had recently discovered something really cool he could do with his scythe - use a chain made of mana to disconnect it, and activate it at will. Now, he and Yul stood far away from each other, both bruised here and there with minor cuts, but each one really enjoying the battle. Suddenly, a stabbing pain shot through Lars's back, and he fell to his knee in pain.
"You should really take better care of yourself," Yul said. "You're pushing too hard, especially after the mission you just did."
"Don't patronise me," Lars snarled, slapping away his hand, "you sound like a neek."
"Jeez…" Yul said, scratching the back of his neck. Lars saw his friend's worried expression and sighed, taking Yul's still outstretched hand.
"Sorry, it's just…" Lars said. "All that stuff I preached to Lucia and Kirsch about intellect, to the runt about strength… it means nothing if I can't back it up. And ever since I got back to the real world, I haven't been able to control Gedankenreich for more than 30 seconds, even less if I try to summon something."
"You're already stronger than most of us in the squad," Yul said. "I'd say you're on par with me and Lilian, and just behind that earthy freak of nature."
Lars chuckled, though his eyes were gravely serious. "I still think I need to get better… I wasn't able to beat that blood mage, after all.
"Come on man, from what you told me, he was captain level strength! How the hell were you supposed to beat him?" Yul exclaimed. "Get over yourself!"
"Still…" Lars said, "it feels like I'm missing something."
There was silence between the two, only interrupted by the sound of boots on the grass.
"That doesn't change the fact he's right, you know," a voice said, cutting through the silence. "You shouldn't push yourself unnecessarily."
The man who stepped out of the shadows was striking, his presence commanding the clearing with an effortless air of authority. He was tall, with broad shoulders draped in a finely tailored, dark-green overcoat that swayed gently as he moved. His silver hair was slicked back, a few rebellious strands falling across his angular, clean-shaven face. Piercing blue eyes seemed to see through everything, and his relaxed smirk hinted at mischief. At his side stood a boy about Alexis's age, with spiky black hair and a defiant look. He wore a tattered cloak that barely concealed the sharp edge of a gleaming dagger at his hip.
"Who the hell is this guy?" Yul said, taking a defensive stance, his hands glowing faintly with mana.
Lars' eyes widened, the exhaustion momentarily forgotten. A grin broke across his face, one filled with disbelief and excitement. "Uncle Viktor! And… Felix?!"
"I came to beat down my favourite nephew!" Viktor exclaimed. "Now… Could I please have some coffee? I've been craving it for a while…"#
A/N: Did you like me double dropping (and once yes, why?)
should i do it more often or is it confusing