Artheris Academy
15:00
Training Hall, Sparring Grounds
Two figures stood in silence, gazing up at the towering oil painting of a warrior—one of the five champions immortalized by the academy. The artwork, rendered in a vivid new oil technique developed in Mathema, served as both inspiration and a solemn reminder.
“It really is beautiful,” Dan murmured.
“I heard they used a new oil-blend layering from Mathema for this one, Prince Fury,” Nora replied politely.
“No, I meant my wife. She’s beautiful.”
“...”
“Look at her—my beautiful, radiant wife. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I get it, I get it, Prince Fury…”
“Can I take it home?”
“That’s theft.”
—
Dan requested only a small portion of the training area for his practice.
“Urgh!”
“The ice will gnaw at your hand, but I’ll gradually increase the intensity so we can see how much you can withstand.”
Nora's hands sliced through the air, forming jagged crystals that jutted from her palms. She handed them to Dan, the intense cold immediately searing into his skin.
He gritted his teeth, barely holding back a scream.
Receiving direct instruction in Ice Magic—an exclusive Snowhaven technique—from the princess herself was a golden shortcut. Painful, but worth it.
“Nora! Stop! I can’t… It feels like my hand’s being hollowed out from the inside!”
“Understood.”
The ice fell away from his hands, revealing raw, reddened flesh.
“Looks like your human body can handle Ice Magic up to Level 3.”
“How many levels are there?”
“Ten.”
“And what level are you?”
“Nine.”
“...”
“...”
“So when you blasted me into next week, what level was that?”
“…Maybe… five… six-ish…”
“You froze Zeedee into a statue with just a six?!”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“…Possibly seven… or eight… or nine…”
“I now fully grasp how pathetic I am.”
Break time.
“How do you plan to find Ms.Maximin?”
“You already used your one-question pass today.”
“That doesn’t count. This isn’t the daily question.”
Nora wiped breadcrumbs from her lips. Dan set his half-eaten sandwich aside.
“Professor Foden might know something. I’m working on getting close to her.”
“And if that fails?”
“Then I’ll just have Zeedee crack her skull open while he’s sleeping.”
“…Excuse me?!”
“Kidding, geez.”
“Please don’t joke like that, Mr. Fury…”
“Digging up old student records might work too. Sneaking into the library at night could be a shortcut.”
“That’s a crime…”
“Not if you don’t get caught.”
“...You’re hopeless…”
—
After Dan endured Level 2 Ice Magic control, Princess Nora’s lesson concluded.
Dan lay sprawled on the sparring ground floor, panting.
“Phew…”
“Do Diabo rank their warriors?”
“Only in two tiers.”
“Which are?”
“Alive or dead.”
“Are you joking again?”
“I’m dead serious.”
“Can’t tell anymore…”
She offered him her hand. Dan grabbed it and stood.
“In war, no one cares whether you’re using magic or a soup pot. If it works, it works.”
“But being well-rounded is better, Your Highness.”
“You’re a real pain, you know that?”
“I have a long way to go before I can match you, Prince Fury.”
“What you lack is experience. Not target practice.”
He pointed at her.
“I’ve got nothing to teach you about magic—you’re better than me at that. What you need is grit.”
“There’s no warzone nearby for me to jump into.”
“Are you trying to be cheeky, Your Highness?”
“Just teasing, Prince Fury.”
Dan twirled his training staff and laid it down.
“So you’re practicing combat next?”
“Yes, this is how I stay fit.”
“You usually train alone?”
“You’re my sparring partner.”
“Listen, kid. I’ve got firewood to chop, tents to patch, mosquito nets to hang, meat to hunt, meditate, dive, grow coral—I’m busy.”
“What if I hired you?”
Dan froze mid-packing and slowly turned.
“...You want to hire me?”
“You’re in debt, right? I don’t have much, but I can pay 1,000 credits a week… does that sound fair?”
“You think a Crown Prince can be bought with—”
“2,000.”
“...Let me sleep on it.”
“Demons have bills too, huh?”
“Try being in debt. You’ll be volunteering to help me next.”
Dan slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Alright, fine. I’ll be your sparring partner. Looks like we’ll be stuck in the same world for a while anyway. Let’s start tomorrow.”
He waved goodbye.
“If it pays, it plays. I’ve got a long road to being debt-free. Later.”
“Back to the camp?”
“What do you think I’m doing? Fixing the house you destroyed in two minutes!”
“…Can I come?”
“Huh?”
Dan raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“I want to take responsibility for wrecking your camp. I know someone—Snowhaven’s best builder. I’ll cover all the costs. He can build you a proper home.”
“I don’t want anyone else knowing about the camp. No more than necessary.”
“Then can I provide materials for you to build it yourself? I’ll cover the costs.”
“I don’t like owing anyone.”
“This isn’t a debt—it’s responsibility. As a princess.”
“ Hmm... In that case... yeah, I do have something in mind.”
—
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. She’s here again?”
Zeedee looked utterly unwelcoming as she sliced up a rabbit.
Nora looked awkward, watching the demon girl glare while cleaving meat.
Dan had gone on a shopping spree—motors, wiring, lightbulbs, cookware, cleaning supplies...
“The rest will arrive once Phase Two of Project Happy Home wraps up.”
“Where’d you get all this?”
“Thank Nora.”
“That kid bought all this?”
Zeedee squinted at the pale-skinned princess inspecting the half-built wooden walls.
“Better check if she stuffed a bomb in that stove.”
“These are my apologies. And the stove’s bomb-free, thank you.”
“You’ve got more to answer for than that, runt!”
Zeedee slammed her knife down on the cutting board.
Dan walked up, inspecting the shelter.
“Hey.”
“?”
“Why’s there still ice on the roof? Why haven’t you cleaned it?”
“I tried. It won’t come off.”
“What?”
“…That’s Level 6 ice, Your Highness…”
Nora laced her fingers together, sheepishly.
“It’ll take a week to melt, maybe longer.”
“What the hell kind of ice is that?!”
“I thought about using fire, but that might burn down the camp too.”
“Good call, Zeedee.”
Dan tapped at the crystal ice. It was solid—completely unmelted.
“This is just Level 6. What’s it like at Level 9, Nora?”
She averted her gaze, expression blank.
