Ascension Of The Villain

Chapter 46 - 46: Doom In A Room

"You are barely on time, boy!" Theodore scolded, thumping his sword on the training ground as soon as Vyan sauntered into view.

"Sir Jacques, you wouldn't believe the storm I just came out surviving," Vyan huffed, annoyance etched on his face.

"Look at me, boy. Does it look like I care?" Theodore squinted at Vyan, who immediately straightened up, realizing he was in trouble.

"No, sir! My apologies!"

"Grab your sword and warm up," Theodore ordered with a glare sharp enough to slice Vyan into two halves. "Spencer, duel him after that."

"Yes, sir." Spencer, the second-in-command of the knights, approached with Vyan's sword and asked, "Good morning, my lord."

"Morning, Spence."

"By the way, I heard the daughter of Marquess Estelle has come to stay with us. It slipped my mind earlier, but should we assign her two knights as guards? I didn't see her bring any escorts."

Vyan chuckled darkly as he started warming up. "That woman is a one-woman army, Spence. She needs no guards."

Spencer's confusion morphed into realization. "Oh, you mean she is that daughter of the marquess? The one who is the vice-commander of the imperial military?"

"Yes, the very same," Vyan rolled his eyes.

"Oh, my! If she is here, you should duel her, my lord," Spencer chirped merrily. "I think you can match her skills now."

Vyan let out a humorless laugh. "Are you seriously suggesting I duel the human hurricane herself? Are you poking fun at my barely above-average sword skills?"

"You are not barely above average!" Spencer protested, as if he had been the one insulted. "You are way better."

"Oh, Spence, you flatter me. But I hate to break it to you, I am not exactly in the running to dethrone Iyana in a sword duel." Vyan glanced at the commander of his knights. "I wouldn't be surprised if she even bested Sir Jacques."

Spencer gasped, eyes wide as saucers. "Really? The only person who has ever beaten Sir Jacques was Lady Natalia! He is on par with the Imperial Aura Knights!"

"Well, then," Vyan's lips curled into a sly smile, "maybe Iyana can't beat an aura-user, after all."

Because, let's face it, anyone dabbling in black magic was not getting anywhere near aura abilities.

This was why Vyan was certain Iyana would never attain aura, no matter how skilled she became.

"I can't beat who?"

He nearly jumped out of his skin as Iyana appeared out of nowhere. Placing a hand over his heart, he yelled, "What is the meaning of appearing in front of me like that?"

Iyana shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe you should work on your spatial awareness, Your Grace. Not my fault."

She glanced between Spencer and Theodore and asked, "So, who exactly am I not able to beat?"

Spencer's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Lady Iyana, can I duel with you?"

"Spencer!" Vyan growled, clearly exasperated.

"But my lord, can't I?" Spencer pleaded, blinking innocently like an overgrown puppy.

Vyan let out a dramatic sigh.

Spencer was a perpetual ball of enthusiasm—not as much Clyde—but always ready for a good fight, despite being in his late thirties.

Where did people get that kind of energy? Vyan could never understand.

More baffling was why he still kept these misfits around. They were the sort of people who would invite the enemy over for tea and biscuits instead of lopping their heads off!

"My lord, please," Spencer tried once again.

Vyan sighed once again in exasperation. "Fine, fine. Do whatever you want. I will just be over here, practicing by myself like the loner I apparently am."

"Thanks, you are the best," Spencer chimed, turning to Iyana. "My lady, would you be willing to have a friendly duel with me?"

"Actually, Sir Spencer, I don't feel like it right now," Iyana replied, her tone polite but firm. "Though I would be up for dueling with you in the morning. I don't usually spar at this time of the day."

"Same here! All the knights train and spar in the morning hours. Of course, you are most welcome to join us," he invited happily, while Vyan cursed him in his mind.

"Thanks, but His Grace just ignores the morning training and comes whenever he feels like it?" she inquired, her voice full of disdain.

"Oh, no, no. Sir Theodore and I have a special training session for My Lord at this time. He needs proper rest in the morning, after all," Spencer explained.

"Proper rest in the morning?" Iyana's eyes narrowed suspiciously at Vyan. "Why does he have so much to work at night?"

"Uh, that's because…" Spencer fumbled, his usual confidence wavering.

The truth was, Vyan could only practice and re

She glanced back at him with a triumphant grin. "I knew there was a hidden room here."

"No, wait—"

This isn't my magic chamber! What is this room? I never knew this was here!

Anyway, that's not important! Who knows what in the world she might find here? What if she stumbled upon my family's secrets? I can't let that hap–

Before he could process the implications, Iyana stepped through the threshold, and he lunged after her, grabbing her wrist.

But it was too late; they were both inside.

The door vanished behind them, dissolving into thin air.

Vyan stared around the dusty, windowless room, then down at his hand still gripping Iyana's wrist.

Doomed.

I am so doomed.