Free Web NovelChapter 192: Keeping her secret.
Ethan noted the moves ...
They were familiar ... very—very familiar.
His gaze sharpened with sudden interest. Without realizing it, he took a step forward in that direction, already moving to get a closer look.
But just as he was about to walk away, Edic stepped forward and blocked his path.
"Hey ... where are you going now?" he asked, pointing to the side. "The locker room is that way."
"I know," Ethan replied with a faint frown, shifting slightly to look past him in the same direction again.
"You know?" Edic turned toward him, confused. "Then why are you going the other way?"
His gaze followed Ethan’s; however, without his glasses, everything ahead appeared blurred, making it impossible for him to see clearly.
Meanwhile, Ethan’s expression subtly changed.
He tried to focus again —his eyes searching, narrowing slightly.
But no matter how hard he looked—
He couldn’t find her again.
It was as if she had disappeared into thin air, leaving nothing behind.
"Where did she go ...?" he muttered under his breath, his gaze still scanning the area.
Edic tried to look as well, though failed again.
"Who are you looking for?" he asked.
Ethan paused, then shook his head lightly.
"No one. I must have imagined it."
Edic stared at him, concern flickering across his face.
"Your eyes ... do you want me to book you an appointment with a doctor?"
Ethan pressed his lips together.
"No need. I’m not going blind."
With that, he turned and walked toward the locker room.
"Hey ..." Edic called from behind, still worried. "You can’t wait to go blind. Your grey eyes are your charm. Your fans love them. Take proper care of them."
But Ethan didn’t respond.
He simply walked ahead as if he hadn’t heard a word.
In the end, Edic could only purse his lips and glance toward Samuel.
"He really is my ancestor, isn’t he?" he muttered half-seriously.
Samuel merely scratched the corner of his brow, choosing not to comment.
After a while, Ethan came out, now changed into his casual clothes.
Seeing him, Edic immediately straightened.
"You’re done? Good. Let’s go."
Samuel also nodded toward Ethan.
"See you tomorrow."
Ethan returned the nod and walked past him.
But after just a few steps—
He paused.
A faint confusion lingered in his eyes.
As if something still tugged at his thoughts —something he couldn’t quite dismiss.
Edic noticed and turned back.
He was about to speak—
"Ethan—"
But before he could finish, Ethan turned around and looked at Samuel.
"Samuel," he said, "you’ve met Onyx, haven’t you?"
Samuel paused —not because he lacked an answer, but because he hadn’t expected the question.
After a brief moment, he nodded.
"We crossed paths once at the GSFF tournament."
Ethan already knew that.
But what he wanted to confirm was something else.
"How was ... she?" he asked.
Samuel looked at him, slightly confused.
When, even after a long moment, he didn’t speak, Ethan added more details to his curiosity.
"I mean ... her movements, her stances —was she really that exceptional?" he asked.
A faint smile curved on Samuel’s lips as he nodded.
"He was," he said simply —and that alone answered everything.
"Even though he appeared in the field only for a short span, his techniques are still talked about," he continued. "No one could defeat him back then ... and even now, no one believes they could. So yes—"
He paused briefly before finishing,
"He was exceptional. And perhaps, always will be."
Ethan nodded, absorbing the answer.
Neither of them spoke further.
Ethan turned again, ready to leave.
But just as he took a step forward, his gaze drifted back—
Toward the same direction as before.
This time, he didn’t search.
He simply looked at the empty space ...
And accepted it.
He must have mistaken someone for someone else.
"Are you staying longer?" Edic asked.
Ethan turned back to him and shook his head.
"No. Let’s go."
He walked past him without another word.
Edic followed behind.
Samuel watched the two leave, a faint, knowing smile lingering on his lips —one that he quickly and easily hid.
If she wished to remain hidden, who was he to reveal her?
It was already a rare fortune to have crossed paths with her once.
Even if that chance never came again, he would still honor it—
By keeping her secret.
——————
Meanwhile—
On the other side of the practice ground—
After finishing her training, Adelyn finally stepped into the shade.
The spot was near the stairs, and the structure naturally shielded the area from most angles of the arena, making it a quiet corner to rest.
Amelia held the towel in her hand.
Adelyn took it and gently dabbed her face, wiping away the sweat.
But as she did—
She noticed Amelia staring at her ... without blinking.
"What’s wrong?" Adelyn asked, glancing between her and Freya.
Freya smiled faintly before answering,
"It seems we don’t need to find you a trainer after all. You can manage on your own."
Adelyn nodded calmly.
"I told you. This level of practice is manageable."
Freya hadn’t fully believed her before.
But after watching her today—
There was no room left for doubt.
Nodding slightly, she said,
"Then from today onward, you’ll handle your practice yourself."
She glanced at Amelia briefly before continuing,
"Amelia will stay with you. As for me, I’ll drop by whenever I can."
Adelyn didn’t mind.
She simply nodded in agreement.
"By the way ..." Freya hesitated for a moment.
Then, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer, she asked, "Have you learned swordsmanship before?"
Adelyn blinked once. But she didn’t avoid the question.
"I’ve had some training," she replied.
The answer was honest—
Yet vague.
Freya noticed it, but didn’t press further. She simply nodded with a small smile. "That’s good. It will help you a lot. With a little more practice, you’ll reach perfection."
Adelyn hummed lightly in acknowledgement.
But beside them—
Amelia could no longer contain herself.
She blinked rapidly, finally snapping out of her daze, and grabbed Adelyn’s hand as if afraid she might disappear. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"Adelyn —tell me honestly ..." she said urgently, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Did you perform like this during your audition too?"
