Free Web NovelChapter 58: Chapter 58: Court no more
It’s never been about good or evil. Right or wrong. Valentine knew this.
This was a card he was always going to play. He was always going to resort to the Code of First Combat.
The only reason he pulled that stunt earlier was because he acknowledged Ruben.
He tricked Ruben into thinking too much about their little encounter only because he wanted to expose him to the possibilities. He was telling him something.
He was telling him to keep an open mind. He would have to, no matter what. He needed to.
They had expected Solomon to show up.
They thought it might be a contest. With Lot, no one expected a contest.
Both were viewed as S-ranks, but one was clearly superior.
Lot wasn’t thinking clearly, and how could he?
He was set on this path just minutes ago.
His sister and father had played him.
His loss would be seen as inevitable rather than something surprising.
"I’m Lot. An S-rank mage wielding the Time Talent," he said.
Vlad had already introduced himself earlier.
All that remained was for them to state their intentions.
They couldn’t fight for both.
They could have only one, and they had the right to choose.
"Let’s do this for possession of the SSS-ranker," Vlad said.
Realizing what this was, Lot disagreed. He was arrogant, but not enough to bet Roe away just like that.
"No. I’m doing this only if the winner comes to possess the S-rank mage," he said.
Vlad didn’t argue.
He seemed to know what he was doing.
He accepted.
It was simple to him.
He didn’t want to sully his possible relationship with Zach and Roe. He wasn’t going to be forceful, especially not in their presence. Right now, he was basically just doing his daughter a favor, so it didn’t matter that much to him.
Ruben was offered the role of referee.
He would be the one to call the start.
He did.
Both parties assumed their positions.
The Code of First Combat required the mages to do only one thing. They were required to launch a single all-powerful spell at their opponent. The charge-up time varied. It could depend on the referee or the parties involved.
Both of them had already decided on the spells they wanted to launch.
Ruben alerted them that they could fire thirty seconds after he said start.
A timer immediately appeared, and both parties were teleported outside.
They were now in some sort of barren land.
Vlad summoned his staff, and Lot summoned his.
Vlad’s was unlike anything Roe had ever seen.
’It’s different from what Vlad flew on last time.’
The staff was as large as he was. It wasn’t as elegant as one would expect.
"Time Talent. No. 291."
"Instant Fire."
"Energy Type Talent. No. 800."
"Conversion Theory."
Lot didn’t know this.
No one really did.
But Conversion Theory was what Vlad always used when he took on mages one-on-one.
Conversion Theory was a spell that operated on the simple principle of energy conservation.
Energy could never be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one state to another.
No matter the attack, Vlad was sure its effects would be nullified.
Everything was energy.
Roe just didn’t know it yet.
None of them did.
Thirty seconds passed, and both spells collided as beams.
Only one of those spells progressed forward.
The other diminished.
The winner was clear.
It was barely a competition.
Lot had been affected by his own Time Spell. Its effects wore off immediately thanks to the magic governing the First Combat.
Merlin’s magic.
They were instantly teleported back to court.
Lot still stood tall.
He didn’t seem embarrassed.
He didn’t sob or anything.
He simply maintained his usual expression.
The Wise Men spoke.
"As per the condition set for the now-concluded Code Match, the Council of Mages will now solely possess the S-rank mage known as Ursula."
This came as a surprise to everybody on the council’s side but Valentine.
This was always in the cards.
Ursula was shocked.
She was striving to be a master on the battlefield, not some diplomat who didn’t know combat.
She was angry and disappointed.
That didn’t matter, however, as this was the will of higher powers.
"I guess that just leaves the question of the SSS-rank mage," Valentine said.
The Wise Men looked to Ruben, expecting him to follow through.
"I believe the First Combat has now sorted a possible feud. You’ve fairly and rightfully obtained a new S-rank. The council must be proud."
"I’m sure, since the balance hinged on the position of these two, that now they are no longer together, we can call it a day."
"The S-rank remains with you, and the SSS-rank remains with the Circle of Merlin," Ruben said.
"Well, no. You see, there’s another faction here. It’s not just the council present, but the Circle of Vlad as well."
"The balance may further be split, as you could consider Merlin’s presence in the circle to be equal to, say, having Vlad hold the SSS-rank in his circle," Val said.
’This is the final shot I’ll throw your way.’
Val thought.
"Well, no. You can’t consider prior cases in that manner," Ruben simply said.
Valentine was implying the split should have been three ways and that Vlad should also get a share.
He knew this was unlikely.
He just wanted to know how Ruben would react.
Claps were heard.
The hands colliding were Val’s.
He was thoroughly impressed.
"Good. You’ve done good," he said.
"I have nothing else to present."
He bowed before the court, and Ruben bowed as well.
He was surprised. frёewebηovel.cѳm
The Wise Men insulted Valentine for wasting their time, as always.
"This could have been resolved outside of court..."
All the parties were teleported out.
They would still need to decide how to proceed internally.
’I can’t believe that upstart played me.’
’We could have won Roe.’
’I was counting on Vlad.’
’I stopped my plans there.’
’It was all supposed to be a wrap.’
Val thought.
’However, Lot diverged from what I intended.’
’He calmed himself in the heat of the moment.’
’He’s different from what I heard.’
’I expected to take home one.’
’It’s just not the best one we got.’
Lot told Ursula she would go home with the council members.
She could go back to living at home, no longer with the others at the temple.
She didn’t shed a tear.
Lot turned to return to the others in the bus.
Then he turned back.
He hugged Ursula.
She didn’t get it.
Tears were flowing down her face.
He held her tightly as he hugged her.
"I’m sorry."
He simply said it.
Tears were flowing down her face.
She went to wipe them away, thinking they were hers.
Lot was no longer holding her.
He returned to the bus, his eyes clear.
She noticed her own eyes were dry, barely wet. free𝑤ebnovel.com
The tears were Lot’s.
He had used a Time Spell to dry them up.
’I’m sorry.’
’It’s my fault.’
’You had to go.’
’If it were him...’
’I suck at this.’
’Where are you, Solomon?’
’Where were you?’
