Chapter 22: Let's Talk

Kyran clenched his fist. His heart started pounding painfully in his chest and his hands were getting cold. He realized this woman was someone he could not deal with. She gave off the same vibe as Nolan. It really was a good thing he was wearing a cloak to hide his expression, else his nervousness would give him away.

"I am here for myself. Not for anyone," Kyran answered and was surprised to hear his voice did not break.

The magic fluctuations in the air suddenly froze and Celine started laughing again.

Her laughter this time did not send any strange sensation in Kyran.

"Very well, Mr. Regis-who-came-here-for-his-self, from your answer I can tell you, you did not complete the requirements that our Mercenary Hall had set."

"I see. Alright then," Kyran gave a small nod and turn ready to leave.

Celine almost fell off the couch, "W-Wait! Are you not even going to ask why and try to negotiate?"

Kyran stopped and looked back at her. He shrugged and answered, "If I did not meet the requirements what else is there to negotiate. Why waste time."

Celine was suddenly at a loss. She was the Mercenary Hall Master for crying out loud. This man should know that with her position, she could easily detain him just by acting in a manner she did not like. She was also above him in terms of magic attainments. How could he act undeterred in front of her?

When he managed to avoid Celine's searching eyes, she became determined to show some of her abilities and pressure him. Clearly, this man had another reason for coming here. He claimed to want to be a mercenary and emphasized his identity as a Regis, yet he showed his badge from the military school. Initially, she thought he was ordered by the Royal Family to come here. But his identity was very confusing. Everyone was aware of how the Regis Clan stayed far away from the Royal Family's business.

Celine was determined to expose his real motive. However, before she could dig further, he backed out as soon as she said he did not complete the requirements. She did not even say he failed.

What's really up with this man? Was she just overthinking?

Before Kyran could open the door, the magic fluctuations returned.

"Stop."

Instantly, Kyran's hand stopped midway of reaching the door's handle.

He frowned as he felt his body feel that strange sensation again.

"Take a seat and let's talk Mr. Regis," Celine's voice no longer had that sultry tone, but instead, a commanding one.

Kyran felt an uncomfortable weight taking over his body. His frown deepened.

This was no longer part of Nolan's scenario.

To be honest, they never planned to get a mercenary license. Being bound by the rules of the Mercenary Hall was not good for Kyran's situation. Their main purpose in coming here was to attract the attention of either the Hall Master or the President of the Mercenary Hall. Nolan told Kyran the things he had to watch out for once he met the Hall Master or the President. But after meeting either one of them, it was up to Kyran to keep their interest in knowing his 'story' and then negotiate. Only by doing this, would he be able to help his clan. However, Nolan told him that if he found either the Hall Master or the President hard to read, he had to leave. Then they would proceed to plan B: Expose Kyran's face inside the mercenary hall.

They did not want to do that right from the start because the Mercenary Hall might think Kyran was looking for trouble. But it would definitely get their attention for an entirely different reason and they would do everything to capture him. Of course, Nolan would be there to prevent that and then turn the tables. Then they would negotiate. The downside of this, however, the Mercenary Hall would end up being Kyran's enemy as well.

Kyran did not want to pretend he was up to no good by revealing his face, but knowing he could not handle the Hall Master's magic, he would rather do that and let them come after him. At least Nolan would be there... hopefully.

So Kyran decided to leave.

But...

'Nolan said he had ways to see if there's any danger, can he see my situation right now? Does he think this is not a dangerous situation?' Kyran wondered.

He wracked his brains for a quick fix to this. It was a good thing that after sensing Celine's weird magic entering his senses, his magic was able to negate it.

Celine frowned when Kyran remained standing in front of the door. She clearly used her magic, but this man only reacted to her 'stop' command. How was he able to resist?

"Remove your magic," Kyran finally said after deciding to observe the situation first. He looked at Celine once again. "We'll talk after."

Celine smiled, "Certainly. I'm sorry for using my magic. You just strike me as an impatient man so I thought this is the fastest way to make you stay."

Kyran remained silent.

"Okay. Alright," Celine lifted her hand and waved it once. The magic fluctuations immediately lifted and her eyes returned to their normal color. She looked at Kyran and gestured over the couch opposite her.

"Shall we?"

Kyran controlled his breathing. His heart was still beating furiously, but his body was no longer cold. He realized with his magic negating some of Celine's magic, helped him calm down a bit.

Without saying anything, Kyran finally walked over to the couch opposite Celine. He flipped back his cloak before he sat down, leaned back, and crossed his arms.

Kyran's every move was scrutinized by Celine. His voice gave her the impression that he was probably the same age as Marley at most. She unabashedly roamed her eyes and studied Kyran for the first time.

He exuded an inexplicable raw power. He had broad shoulders, strong arms, and long legs. He also had just the right amount of muscles, neither skinny nor bulky.

Celine smiled as her eyes stopped where Kyran's face should be. She could not wait to see the face hiding under the cloak.

Kyran tried his best not to flinch under Celine's probing look. This was one of the things Nolan told him to watch out for. The Hall Master had a habit of observing a person's body because she had a very weird 'appetite'. Nolan told him if the Hall Master did this, then it was almost as if they had already succeeded.

Kyran was not sure what Nolan meant, but he sort of understood it now. And he was not sure if he should be glad or afraid.

"And? What do you want to talk about?"

Celine shifted in her seat and rested her crossed arms on top of her leg as she leaned forward.

"You haven't failed yet Mr. Regis. If you answered my question earlier and said that you are here as the Royal Family's combat master, you fulfilled the requirements, but I am afraid we cannot accept you. You have the Royal Family's Platinum Badge, your existence is too special to be in our Mercenary Hall," she explained, her sultry tone had returned.

Kyran frowned a little. He had always thought the badge was issued by the Dean.

"If you answered you are here as the Regis clan's mage, yet you cannot provide proof of your magic attainments, then as the Hall Master, I can tweak how you can provide the proof."

"And why would you do that? You should instead encourage me to come back after I get my proof."

"Well, you are the son of the next patriarch of the Regis Clan, and we have always been in a good business relationship. If I doubt the Patriarch's recommendation, what will he think of us?"

'The Regis has a business relationship with the Mercenary Hall? What kind of business do they have?' Kyran wondered. No, this matter was unimportant right now, he first had to direct this situation to their intended result.

"How do you want me to prove it?"

"I'm actually going to ask your suggestion."

"Aren't you afraid I'll use a method to my favor?"

Celine smiled, "I don't care. What do you have in mind?"

"What else is better proof than show it in combat?"

"You're right. But combat is part of the next step."

"You're the Hall Master. Figure something out."

Celine laughed. Normally she would be annoyed if others talked to her like that, but right now she was too amused to care.

"I am starting to like you."

Kyran did not reply. To be honest, the situation was back on track. But he still had to act indifferent.

Celine just smiled when Kyran remained silent. She found his indifference, cute.

Leaning back, Celine took a deep breath and stood up.

"Alright. You seemed confident enough. To make things 'fair', I'll be the one to choose your combat partner."

"Please don't make it an easy win," Kyran said and also stood up.

Celine laughed, "I can't wait to see you regret those words. Follow me."

She went out through the door and Kyran followed her.

They walked down the hallway.

At the end of the hallway, Celine went in front of a beautiful landscape painting of a castle hanging on the left side of the wall. The frame of the painting had intricate writings on it.

The tip of Celine's left pointing finger turned red and she pressed some of the writings.

A bluish, three-meter wide magic array appeared on the floor where Kyran was standing.

Celine looked at Kyran and smiled, "I will now transport you to the combat stadium. Your combat partner will be with you shortly."

Kyran gave a short nod of acknowledgment. The array, bluish light erupted and enveloped Kyran.

In a flash, Kyran was transported to the combat stadium on the first floor of the Mercenary Hall.

After Kyran left, Celine took out her magic communication device.

"Dante. There is someone I want you to trash," she said a malicious glint flashed in her reddish-brown eyes.

=========================

Kyran appeared in a huge white stadium.

The whole room was brightly lit. He looked around and immediately noticed the galleries occupying all sides of the wall.

The Regis also had a similar stadium for combat practice. But they did not have galleries like the ones here.

'Are they treating combat practices like entertainment?' Kyran wondered with a frown.

He sighed and walked to the center of the stadium.

Although he managed to get to this point, he was still worried. He knew he acted too boldly in front of the Hall Master, and while she acted like she did not care, Kyran faintly felt her vengeful side.

He had enough of those when he was in military school.

Closing his eyes, Kyran tried to feel his magic. Nolan had not taught him how to properly control his magic yet. But he told him to feel his magic in every way possible. This way he would be able to understand more about his magic's 'traits'.

Kyran did not quite understand what Nolan meant, but when his magic negated Celine's magic, he grasped a new understanding of his magic.

'For now, it's too dangerous to fully use my magic. I might end up triggering the Mercenary Hall's defensive array. But how will I prove I am a mage without using it?' He wondered.

Before Kyran could come up with a solution, he felt a magic fluctuation. He opened his eyes and saw a bluish light appeared near the wall opposite where he was facing.

When the light vanished, it revealed a buffed tall man with short blonde hair and black eyes. He wore a black leather coat under leather armor, and there was a greatsword on his back.

"Regis, right?"

"Yes."

The man smiled. But his smile was not friendly.

"I am Dante. I will be the one testing your magic attainments."

Kyran just nodded.

"Then, are you two ready?"

Celine's voice sounded from the gallery behind where Dante was standing.

Kyran looked up and saw Celine walked over the gallery's rail looking at them.

"I am. How about you?" Dante asked Kyran.

"Just start. Enough talking," Kyran answered.

Celine smiled, "Then everyone, come in."

Suddenly all the doors leading to the galleries opened and one after another, mercenaries appeared.

Once the galleries were filled with spectators, Celine raised her hand.

"You may now begin."