Auren shifted slightly, his face twisting with disdain as he sensed the approaching figures through the darkness he perceived.
Auren frowned.
'How irritating... I didn't think I'd meet that runt this early.'
Just then, footsteps reached the ears of the others, causing Jasper's eyes to brighten.
"Oh, thank Passion! I think they're humans!"
Auren glared at the strange guy with irritation.
"You're in a trial for the Archon's shitty sake. Do you think every human here is your friend? Why in the sleeping Archon's shitty name are you happy about them being humans? Shouldn't you be more wary of humans than monsters?"
Auren then shrugged and turned away from the boy.
"Well, it's not like you act any differently toward monsters."
He stared ahead with a guarded expression. A vibrant voice, brimming with life, rang out from the darkness beyond.
"I hear a familiar voice. One I could never mistake for anything else."
Auren's frown deepened as the owner of the voice stepped forward.
A red-haired boy emerged from the shadows. His dark armor, crafted with precision, bore the emblem of a golden phoenix on his chest plate—a symbol hinting at a fierce yet noble spirit. His crimson cloak billowed behind him like a living flame, catching what little light there was and transforming it into dancing embers.
His eyes, sharp as daggers and unwavering as stone, burned with determination that refused to yield even to the most daunting challenges.
A stern expression hardened on his face as he stared at the black-haired boy standing opposite him.
"Auren?"
Auren smiled but remained silent.
The silence made the red-haired boy's frown darken, then his maroon eyes widened as realization struck him like lightning.
"Oh! Oh! That makes sense. The archons have finally given me another chance! A last chance!"
Auren scoffed silently.
'Pfft, so predictable.'
He had intentionally kept quiet, knowing exactly what his self-imposed arch enemy—Lucien—would say.
He had always been desperate to defeat Auren, after all.
Lucien touched the Phoenix emblem on his chest plate, his voice softening with unexpected emotion.
"Oh, good light, I was devastated, horrified when I heard of your death. The pain cut deep because I never got to prove I am your superior. But it seems Hope never forgot my prayers."
He looked up at Auren, his eyes brimming with fierce resolve. Then he raised his voice:
"Auren! In case you don't remember me from your real life, I am your arch enemy, Lucien Don Ryusmont!! And I will show you the difference between us today!!!"
He paused for a second, studying Auren, before adding:
"Don't worry if you've lost your memory. It makes no difference, as long as you have the same skill as before your death."
Auren scratched his head, looking at Lucien with a mixture of boredom and disbelief.
"At the very least outgrow the lines. How do you manage to use the same speech over and over again?"
Lucien frowned, then his eyes widened a moment later.
"You remember my lines?"
His voice fell silent for a few beats, then his eyes grew even wider.
"Oh, good Light! You have your memories!"
A broad smile spread across his face. If Auren didn't know the extent of Lucien's obsession with defeating him, he might have thought the valorous son of House Ryusmont was genuinely happy he was alive.
"Now, I can defeat you truly fair and square."
Lucien's eyes glowed with renewed determination, bright as steel catching sunlight.
But Auren just shook his head pitifully at the boy.
"Are you seriously that thick? This is the time and place you want to do such a thing? Can't you look around? Aren't you supposed to be in a trial?"
After Auren's cold, detached rebuke, Lucien finally took in his surroundings. A girl with brunette hair stood behind him to the left, a green-haired boy to his right, and a large boy with spiky brown hair standing behind him.
All four of them were staring intently at Auren. Three actually—the brunette-haired lady observed with careful caution, seeming more concerned about the silver-haired woman standing next to Auren than Auren himself.
Meredith barely acknowledged anyone, standing beside her spear with complete indifference. Jasper was lost in all of this.
Lucien, after surveying everyone, returned his gaze to Auren and said:
"Good Light, it seems you're right. This isn't the proper time. I won't push for our final duel now. But before this trial ends, expect me to be the one who delivers eternal slumber to you."
Auren nodded.
"Yes. Sure. I'll be waiting."
Lucien shifted his gaze to Meredith.
"And this is who you've chosen instead? A mere puppet? Who will vanish after the trial ends?"
Auren frowned.
'Look at this bastard. Who's really the puppet between the two of us?'
Meredith's cold voice cut through the dark air like frost.
"He's more competent than you are."
The most biting part of her words was how her face remained completely impassive as she delivered them.
Lucien gritted his teeth, teetering on the edge of an outburst before visibly reining himself in. Then a wide, smug grin spread across his face like spilled ink.
"Oh really? Alright! Let's see how that works for you! We've uncovered the hint to ending this trial and where most of the heretics are hiding. If we capture them? This trial will be over!"
At that moment, the brunette-haired girl standing to his left raised her hand and slapped her forehead in utter disappointment.
Auren chuckled, struggling to contain his laughter.
"That's great, Lucien. I wish you all the best. Come find me and kill me after you've dealt with the heretics."
Auren stepped forward and patted the young valorous scion's shoulder before calling to his companions.
"Let's go, guys."
Jasper timidly glanced at their faces before stepping forward, while Meredith simply moved with casual indifference.
The brunette-haired girl frowned and called after them.
"That direction you are headed is dangerous. It's crawling with high-ranking Cursed Creatures. If you go there, forget finishing the trial—you might not even survive a second."
Auren glanced back at her and smiled, a quiet confidence glinting in his eyes.
"Thanks for the warning. But that is exactly our destination."