Chương 279: Chapter 277 – Rose Gardens.

"That man seems powerful… too powerful." Rusty looked at the Headmaster. His presence was astonishing. His status remained blank because Rusty was unable to judge his level or learn anything about his classes. This suggested that the gap between them was so vast that his identification skill could not work, or that the Headmaster was using some kind of enchanted item or skill to conceal his status.

However, Rusty possessed one ability that could, to some extent, measure another person's strength: his Life Detection skill. The skill was usually used to identify life signatures around him, but it had another function. The life signature of someone with greater vitality was far more intense than that of someone weaker. Looking at Valerius through the lens of this ability, the Headmaster felt nothing like the other humanoids.

Some of them radiated powerful life signatures, but compared to him, they were like tiny embers before a raging volcano.

"Of course he is, Rusty. He is a Grand Swordmaster. Only a handful of people like that exist in the world!" Astrella commented as everyone watched the old man greet them. His speech was not over, and even though they were communicating through their Bond Bands, their teacher gave them a knowing look that made them stop.

"You are here because our empire believes in cooperation." Valerius spoke, his voice booming like thunder through the massive chamber without any visible magic.

"But let us be honest. Mages and knights have always viewed each other with skepticism. You rely on the world's mana to reshape reality, while we rely on the perfection of our own flesh and blood. During this joint exercise, you will learn to work together and combine these two forms of power." Gwen shifted slightly as she held Rusty. She seemed captivated by the speech and paid little attention to her surroundings. Even so, Rusty continued scanning the crowd, trying to identify the perpetrator.

No one was watching them suspiciously, so for the moment, he had nothing to go on.

"Tomorrow, you will be paired with our finest knight trainees and sent into the Thorny Rift." Valerius continued, a smile spreading across his bearded face.

"It is a rift filled with blood-drinking flora and territorial beasts. Your objective is simple. Survive, secure the designated outposts, and prove that your magical beasts are as powerful as they claim." Whispers spread through both classes at the mention of the Thorny Rift, and Rusty found himself equally curious.

"What's the Thorny Rift? Is it a dungeon?" From the description, it sounded like a massive dungeon filled with dangerous plant monsters. However, based on what he had learned, dungeons did not exist in this particular summoning scenario.

"A dungeon? No. A Rift is simply a much larger Void Gate, like the one we visited before, Rusty." Gwen's explanation only made him more interested. Previously, they had been trapped inside a Red Gate, and it had resembled a typical dungeon in many ways. This Rift, however, sounded far larger.

'So that's probably the main part of this mission. The Rift. I need to be ready.' Normally, this would have been the moment when he felt a spark of anticipation at the thought of facing new monsters and exploring unfamiliar places. Now, with Gwen's life on the line, all he felt was worry. If anything happened to her, he might never be able to return to this world again, and that was something he refused to let happen.

"That is all. Rest well, for tomorrow at the break of dawn, you shall march to the Rift Gate." Grand Master Valerius finished his announcement, his booming voice lingering in the quiet air of the massive chamber before he turned away and disappeared from the balcony. The intense pressure filling the room dissipated instantly, allowing the students to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"T-that was intense…" Astrella whispered, and for once, she and Syber seemed to agree.

"So that's a Grand Swordmaster…" The young man clenched his fist as though he had reached some kind of decision while staring at the balcony where the Headmaster had stood. Around them, the other students began chatting again, though it seemed they would not remain here much longer. Knight Major Philibert soon led them out of the immense hall and toward a separate wing of the castle reserved for guests of their rank. The contrast between the grand hall and the residential quarters was striking.

Here, the stone walls were more modest and the tapestries far less elaborate.

"Don't you think our greeting wasn't nearly as grand?" As they walked, Astrella voiced a concern that several of the students had been quietly thinking. Their treatment had clearly been different.

"Oh, you mean A-Class is getting all the good stuff?" Rusty answered without hesitation, causing the group to pause.

"You really are blunt, aren't you, Rusty…" Gwen said quietly while Aranea chuckled at Rusty's demeanor.

"Is it that obvious? Even summoned beings can tell?" Syber added with a shrug. It was obvious that A-Class had received a far grander welcome. The Headmaster had spared B-Class only a few words before leaving after barely five minutes. There were also no knights surrounding them the way they had surrounded the other class, clearly highlighting the difference in status.

"We shouldn't worry about A-Class. Let's just focus on completing the Rift!" Gwen tried to lift the group's spirits, and it seemed to work.

"Lady G…" Aranea caught herself before addressing Gwen so informally and quickly corrected herself.

"Gwen is right. We should focus on our own tasks and ignore them. We'll have our chance to prove ourselves." The others nodded as Aranea spoke, leaving Eldric and Aldric slightly jealous that they couldn't partake in this conversation. At this point, they were aware of the bond bands but were not given any of their own.

"Oh, we will? What do you mean by that, Aranea?" This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Rusty asked, sensing that their new friend knew something he did not.

"Oh, I know this!" Astrella interrupted before Aranea could answer. The noble lady did not seem bothered in the slightest.

"All of us will enter the Rift at different times, but that doesn't mean we can't outperform A-Class. Every class earns points based on how many monsters they defeat and how quickly they complete the trial. The class with the highest score receives the greatest rewards! We can totally beat them if we work together!"

"Is it really that simple? Does that mean both B Classes could work together against A-Class?" Rusty asked. When it came to numbers, the two B Classes vastly outnumbered their rivals.

"Ah... no. Each class has its own score. Besides, I'm not sure Bartholomew would be willing to help us after Gwen kicked his butt last time." Astrella laughed out loud, making their escort knights exchange confused glances. Soon, the group headed inside, where their quarters were assigned. Just like before, Gwen ended up sharing a room with the same roommate.

"What are we waiting for, Gwen? This is our chance. We won't get another one!"

"Uh... why don't we just stay here? We should get ready for the rift..."

"This is getting ready for the rift! What we need to do is find some handsome knights!" Astrella pointed out the window at a few young squires wandering through the courtyard. The students had the rest of the day to themselves, but there was more to it than simply relaxing. Rusty had been told this was the time for everyone to gather allies and protectors. Some knights had been ordered by their superiors to participate in the competition, while others joined groups of their own choosing.

He did not fully understand the custom, but he had learned that many knights saw this as an opportunity to secure the service of a high-ranking noble or a wealthy merchant.

"Gwen, your family needs a proper knight. Once they realize how talented you are and how strong Rusty is, they'll throw themselves at you!"

"I... I don't know about throwing themselves at me... and I'm not very good at choosing..."

"We pick the most handsome one, of course!" Astrella pointed at Gwen with a bright smile while her two fairies copied the gesture. Rusty saw the perfect opportunity to object.

"What do looks have to do with strength and honor? We should choose the strongest knight and the most loyal one. Looks don't matter at all!"

"Huh... you just don't understand, Rusty! It's every woman's dream to have a handsome knight or prince save her from danger or stand by her side at a grand ball!" Astrella crossed her arms and huffed at Rusty's practical way of thinking.

"Besides, looking at someone handsome makes dangerous missions pass much faster!"

"Does it really?" Rusty scratched his helmet with his tiny halberd. He knew humanoids behaved strangely from time to time. Perhaps having someone attractive nearby somehow improved their morale or even their fighting ability, though he was not convinced that was how it worked. Gwen blushed deeply and waved her hands in front of her face.

"Astrella, please! We're not here to find a p-partner. We need to focus on surviving the Thorny Rift tomorrow."

"Bah, you two are no fun. Let's just go!" Astrella shook her head, grabbed Gwen by the wrist, and pulled her out of the room. Outside, students wandered around the academy grounds while instructors pointed out the areas they were allowed to visit. One of them was a large garden where many knights relaxed and mingled with the mages.

"Come on, Gwen! Off to the Rose Gardens!"

"Ack." It did not take them long to find the gardens. A massive open gate stood at the entrance with the name carved above it.

"Look... It's so beautiful!" The Rose Gardens were a breathtaking sight. Endless rows of vibrant crimson and pale pink roses climbed across white stone trellises, filling the crisp afternoon air with a sweet fragrance. Paved walkways wound through the lush greenery, leading to quiet courtyards where pristine fountains sent sparkling water into the air. Several knights in training were scattered throughout the area.

Some were polishing their armor while sitting on stone benches, while others chatted or simply admired the roses. To Astrella's delight, they also spotted a few speaking with the magical students.

"See? I told you it would be amazing. Now let's find someone handsome enough to become your knight, Gwen!" Rusty was carried in by Gwen, who looked clearly uncomfortable. Some of the knights glanced their way and immediately recognized their school uniforms. They also knew why the girls had come, so they did little more than wait for someone to make the first move.

"Let's just sit here, Gwen. They say the knights will gather soon."

"How do you know all of this?" Rusty asked while Astrella led them to a bench beneath a wooden arch covered in blooming roses.

"It's just common knowledge, Rusty. Look, someone is already coming!" A lone young man approached them. His hair was quite long and an unusual shade of blue. He stopped a few paces away and offered a perfectly executed bow. His polished silver armor bore the emblem of a blooming rose, and his striking blue hair fell neatly over his shoulders. Up close, his features were sharp and elegant, exactly the kind of knight Astrella had been hoping to find.

"Greetings, ladies of Mystwood." His voice was smooth and pleasant to the ear.

"I am Julian, a trainee knight. I noticed your arrival. Are you perhaps seeking partners for tomorrow's excursion into the Thorny Rift?" Astrella practically beamed as she nudged Gwen hard enough to make the poor girl stumble forward.

"See? I told you, Gwen! He's perfect!" Rusty examined the young man with both his Identification and Life Detection skills. This confirmed his suspicion that the knights carried something that prevented others from reading their names or classes, as he still could not assess Julian's full strength. The only information he could rely on was Life Detection. From what he sensed, this youth was weaker than Syber during his transformation, but still strong enough to be useful.

"He isn't that strong. Are there any others? What about that guy?" As Julian finished introducing himself, another knight approached. This one was quite different. Rusty pointed his small halberd toward a massive figure walking down the paved path. The newcomer was a towering young man clad in dark armor that looked heavy enough to crush a boulder. Unlike Julian's pristine appearance, this knight had a square jaw and a harsh expression.

"He looks strong. I bet he'd be much more helpful as a vanguard for a mage than that other guy!"

"No, don't listen to him, Gwen!" While Astrella and Rusty argued over which knight to choose, Gwen's face gradually turned red as more young men gathered around their bench. It was not just Julian and the other knight who had taken an interest in them. Seven trainee knights had already surrounded the group, and every single one was trying to introduce himself.

"Fair ladies, allow me to introduce myself. I am Fe..." Before the young man could finish his sentence, another knight shoved him aside and stepped forward to introduce himself instead. A moment later, the first knight grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back.

"Hey, I was here first."

"What does that matter?"

"Are these people bothering you two ladies? Do not worry. I, Reginald, am here!" Another knight slammed his fist against his breastplate and placed himself between the girls and the growing crowd as though he were protecting them.

"Step aside!"

"I shan't! Your lack of manners is disgraceful!"

"Ha! You're only acting like this now, but you can't fool us!" The other knight trainees were not convinced, and it was obvious to Rusty that every single one of them was trying to make a good impression.

'This is good. I'm not sure how many of them can come with us, but some of them seem promising.' To him, this was an ideal opportunity. He was already planning to have Gwen choose the candidates he approved of so they could form a strong group of vanguards around him. But before anyone could continue, someone approached from behind, and a loud voice rang out.

"What is this? Make way for Lady Grandwell." The knight trainees fell silent the moment they heard the noble name, and every head turned. There, surrounded by young men dressed in fashionable clothes, stood Katherine Grandwell. Her gaze settled on Gwendolin and then on Rusty, whom she was holding in her hands.

"Hmmm..." No one dared to speak as Katherine glared at Gwendolin with open hostility. She did not have to say a single word. Everyone immediately understood what she wanted. The young knights bowed and quickly stepped aside, clearly intimidated by the blonde lady. As the path cleared before her, the frown on her face slowly gave way to a satisfied grin…