Cornflower Witch

Chapter 112 A Battle Under the Setting Sun
While Siltiya was preparing, the other trainees were also going about their own lives.

Jiaoshicheng Training Ground.

The sky was obscured by thin clouds, and the once bustling training ground was now rather deserted, with only a few castle guards standing sparsely, chatting idly on one side of the training ground.

In the afternoon, Mick stepped into the south gate of the training ground, carrying a large steel sword on his back, wearing smart leather armor, with long trousers covering his legs, and striding with straight steps.

Compared to a few months ago when he was a naive young man who had just started learning, he now walks with a brisk and powerful gait, and the excitement and confusion in his eyes are gone, replaced by a calm and composed demeanor.

Soon after, another young man with similar black hair entered, carrying a broadsword made of steel at his waist, and standing upright.

Upon arriving at the training ground, the two exchanged a glance, then put down their weapons, replaced them with blunt-edged blades from the training ground, and stepped onto the battlefield.

"There was no opportunity in the previous assessments."

“However, I think we should have a proper match this time.” Thorin held his sword in both hands and slowly placed it in front of him, the tip of the sword pointing at Mick opposite him.

“If you’re not satisfied, I’ll certainly oblige.” Mick’s eyes also revealed a hint of mutual respect.

"Heh, as expected, you want to fight too, right?" Thorin stretched his legs.

People with vastly different strengths often find it difficult to become friends, but if two people are of similar strength and constantly compete with each other, they can easily become long-term rivals and enjoy such competition.

Having a worthy opponent is a blessing, as it allows you to clearly see changes in your own strength and provides valuable feedback.

After exchanging a few words, the two swung their swords and charged at each other, and soon the sound of crisp metal clashing echoed across the battlefield.

They exchanged blows, using familiar sword techniques in combat, but each had a different style, switching between them from time to time to find weaknesses in their opponent and conceal their outdated moves.

The thick iron swords left scratches in their hands, with tiny nicks and sparks occasionally flying from them.

Hearing the noise, several guards turned their gazes curiously to the two people.

"Oh, it's those two lads."

"Did they not perform well in the assessment? Now they're competing again."

"The fight was quite intense."

"However, to be fair, the two are indeed quite strong, about the same level as some of our veterans."

"They were all very young, I remember."

"She's probably only seventeen or eighteen years old."

"It's great to be young..."

The guards watched the two fight, occasionally bringing up the past. Many of them had grown up in Scorched Stone City and, like Mick and Thorin in the arena, had participated in the selection trials in the woodlands, but failed and became relatively ordinary members of the city.

"The most outstanding person in our group back then, I don't know where he is now. I haven't seen him for about twenty years."

"I still remember the bloodthirsty look on his face when he walked out of the forest carrying the head of a giant wolf. None of the students in the same class dared to challenge him."

"Sometimes I wonder, if it were me that day, if I had cut off the giant wolf's head and successfully made it to the woods, what would things be like now?"

"I reckon it will be infinitely more exciting than my current life..."

The battle in the arena was slowly coming to an end. As they practiced their breathing techniques, their bodies gradually reached their limits, and their movements began to slow down.

They didn't have the special talent of Siltia, who could break through on the spot and advance her breathing technique to the fourth stage, or even the third stage, which was rare among her peers.

Thorin leaned on his sword, panting heavily, sweat soaking his forehead. A few strands of hair obscured his eyes, but he moved his lips and blew the hair off his forehead, revealing his eyes fixed intently on his opponent.

Once again, he strode forward, raised his broadsword high, and slashed down at his opponent.

The broad arcs of the swords collided head-on in mid-air. As if finally unable to bear the weight, the two iron swords broke apart and fell onto the field, splashing up some dirt along with the sweat.

At this moment, the two men saw the broken sword in their hands and had to stop, then burst into relieved laughter.

"It seems that this time it will still be a draw."

They threw down their swords, linked arms with each other, and walked toward the rest area.

The cool well water was poured over their heads, calming their boiling blood and bodies. They shook their heads, then leaned against the railing again to let the breeze dry their clothes and hair. The dark clouds on the horizon dissipated a little, revealing the orange sun, which reflected the surrounding clouds, turning them crimson like waves, dyeing them into a vast expanse.

"I'm leaving, Mick," Thorin said slowly, his eyes reflecting the sunset on the horizon.

"Where are you going?" Mick asked, turning his head.

“To the northern battlefield.” He shrugged.

"Everything I want is there: plenty of opponents, abundant resources, and targets to fight hard against."

“I remember your father, the soldier who was far from the battlefield, right?” Mick replied.

“That’s right. He said he was originally going to die on the battlefield, which is the most heroic end for a Regas man.” Thorin closed his eyes slightly, enjoying the momentary breeze of the evening.

"But he still chose to come back for my sake."

"I used to think that his words were just an excuse, and that the old man was probably afraid of dying because he had been on the battlefield too much."

“But now I understand.” He opened his eyes again and gazed at the distant scenery.

"I started off well during the assessment, but a small mistake led me to be venomed by a snake and I almost died in the forest."

"At that time, I buried myself halfway in the soil, thinking that this would keep my body warm and reduce the possibility of being attacked and discovered. My consciousness was gradually fading."

“That process was really tough,” Thorin shook his head.

"Fortunately, Tiya saved me, gave me antidote herbs, and then gave me some water, which allowed me to slowly escape from the brink of death."

"After returning home, I lay in bed for many days before slowly recovering."

"On his sickbed, the old man asked me if I still planned to go to the battlefield in the future."

“I told him I still had to go, and he smiled and asked why.”

"Because I went there, I was able to erase my previous failures with a victory and make up for the regrets of last time."

"He then asked me what would happen if I couldn't finish filling in all the regrets."

"If you can't finish filling them all, then keep filling them until you're sick of it."

"I think I think my thinking is different from ordinary people. I really like the tense and intense feeling in battle."

"After each event, I reflect on the process and look forward to using different methods to reverse the situation when I encounter a similar situation again."

“That was really refreshing, Mick.” He smiled faintly.

“Now I understand.” Mick shook his head.

"You really are just like your father, born with the blood of a warrior."

"But I'm different. I'm not actually obsessed with fighting, but I enjoy the results of fighting. Whether it's protecting my own life or helping others fulfill their wishes and getting rewards, I feel a sense of satisfaction."

After his brother Gero left, Mick spent a lot of time reflecting on his past and also went home to visit his mother. He finally began to understand his true self.

“Haha, that’s great too, Mick,” Thorin laughed.

"Yes, your determination and desire will eventually make you a powerful knight, protecting yourself and everything with sturdy armor and steel."

"Let's end it here for today. I hope we can both get what we want next time we meet and have another good match."

"At that time, I will torture you severely to see if you have given up your former ideals."

"Goodbye." Thorin picked up his shirt, which was placed to the side, and turned to leave.

With his back to Mick, he raised one hand and waved it slightly, as if bidding farewell between men.

"Goodbye, Thorin." Mick waved to him, took one last look at the sunset, and turned to leave.

(End of this chapter)