Chapter 291 First And Foremost, A Mercenary

A few minutes later, Kyran and the rest were now gathered at one of the larger training rooms in the Tower of Conclave's training grounds.

This room was equipped with a restoration array as well as a magic limiter to ensure that Kyran and Rhys would not end up going overboard. The magic limiter also ensures that even if Rhys had a higher magic level than Kyran, there would not be a definite gap between the two. Of course, the conditions provided by the latter appeared to be Rhys giving Kyran a handicap, but Malek, Noir, and Sigma knew that it was the other way around.

They were aware of Kyran's battle prowess and even if he only utilized the recorded ability of Tyr, that did not lessen his chances of clinching a clean victory.

Inside the training room, Malek, Noir, and Sigma stood at one side, while Haylee and Vera stood at the opposite side.

In the middle of the room, there was a semi-transparent rectangular barrier where Kyran and Rhys were currently inside facing each other.

"My name is Rhys, one of the Brigadier Generals of the Royal Army's East Brigade. Currently, I handle the fifth up to the eighth battalions," Rhys introduced himself.

Malek's eyes narrowed. No wonder he did not recognize Rhys. Rhys was part of the Royal Army dispatched to protect the borders of the Ylfaen Empire. It appeared that the information they had within the army's borders was no longer accurate. There was also a good chance that the information they gathered had been intentionally leaked out to stop further investigation. Most likely, it was Deputy Marshal Mannick who ordered the leak, to mask the real military strength of the Eastern Royal Army.

Why the Deputy Marshal did it was obviously to deceive Grand Marshal Gael and the other Deputy Marshals.

The Royal Army might appear to function as one unit but in reality, there was four major power within. Apart from Deputy Marshal Ingrid of the Northern Royal Army, the other two Deputy Marshals had been working behind the scenes to oust Grand Marshal Gael.

When Rhys introduced himself, Kyran was also having the same thoughts as Malek. Although the information he had read from the record that Stella had once shared with him did not indicate the complete military structure, he more or less understood the power struggle three of its four major power were currently at.

'East. That's Deputy Marshal Mannick's jurisdiction,' Kyran took note of this information. He was getting more curious as to what had transpired during the meeting the emperor had with the Royal Army. Even more so, with Gael's group who had secret designs on him and his clan.

"My battle experience is far greater than you, but don't think I will give you a handicap because of this," Rhys warned Kyran.

Kyran scratched his head while tilting it to one side, "It's not like I ask for one. On the contrary, please don't use the magic limiter in place as an excuse for getting your ass kicked."

Rhys glowered at him at once, "It appears you have a serious case of egotism."

Kyran shrugged, "Say whatever you want to say. I'm just stating facts."

On the side, the three council members could not help but look at Kyran with blank expressions. If they did not know Tyr was not real, they would be convinced that Kyran was really Tyr. As a matter of fact, while they were listening and watching Kyran's words and actions, they found he was acting out of character. At least, compared to the Kyran they knew.

For one thing, Kyran rarely talks back. He prefer to speak with his action. He might be cheeky at times, but this... was too unlike him.

'Since when did he learn how to act,' Sigma wondered with a slight scowl.

"Enough talk!" Rhys barked, "Take out your puppet. Let me see if it is even worth the Crown Princess's time."

Kyran raised his brows, "I thought you want to test my ability? Why do you want to fight my puppet all of a sudden?"

Rhys snorted, "Humph. Isn't your puppet proof of your Array ability?"

"Oh, you mean that?" Kyran chuckled. Then he shook his head, "Sorry but I won't be using my puppet."

His declaration made Haylee frown slightly. She had been silently watching the exchange between the two from the start and found Kyran more and more unreadable. With her ability it would be easy for him to understand his real character. But for some reasons, she could not read him. It was as if everything about him was shrouded by an invisible veil that even her ability could not penetrate.

It was because of this reason that she decided to let Rhys test Kyran first. Haylee needed to understand Kyran's character better in order to layout terms that he would not be able to decline.

In this test, Haylee expected Rhys to destroy Kyran's puppet completely. This way, she could use it as a reason to ask him to come with her to the palace. She would offer to help fix the puppet at the Royal Family's own expense without bringing up the recruitment offer. Once they were back in the palace, she would slowly work to get on his good side or even trust her. This way, it would be easier to bring up the recruitment again.

Of course, that was not the only reason why Haylee wanted to bring Kyran back.

Once Kyran started working on his puppet, Haylee could have Aiden, the Head Royal Mage, keep watch on him and find information on the puppet's blueprint. She did not plan to have the Royal Family secretly mass produce the puppets, because there was a good chance that Kyran might be the only one who could really create the puppet. But knowing the puppet's blueprint would be beneficial to the Royal Army's Research Division. It might give them new insights when creating magic items.

As for why Haylee wanted to make Kyran an exclusive Array Specialist of the Royal Family; first, was to ensure no one else would be able to get the puppet technology. The Blacksmith Order might already have it, but that could be remedied easily. They just had to assimilate the whole Conclave of the East.

Second, regarding the ability to create array on the spot, Haylee had yet to confirm if it was an ability exclusive to the puppet or Kyran's, nevertheless, it would be a good addition to them.

And last, the Royal Family had a very special task to complete that would need a number of knowledgeable Array Specialists. Of course, if they could recruit an Array Master, it would be for the best. But since they could not, having the disicple of one was good enough. However, Haylee had to first determine if Kyran could be trusted. If he was, she would let him participate on it.

However, all of this would only be possible if Rhys destroyed Kyran's puppet.

For Kyran to say he would not use his puppet was practically cutting off Haylee's carefully thought of plan.

"Won't be using?" Rhys scowled at once, "Then how are you going to—!"

Even before Rhys could finish what he was saying, Kyran already made a move.

Stomping his foot on the ground, Kyran dashed toward Rhys. With his outstretched right hand, a long staff slowly materialized to which he grabbed at once. He whirled the staff on his hand as light-yellow magic arrays appeared and circulated on its shaft.

"This!" Vera exclaimed.

The staff and the color of the magic array Kyran had summoned was similar to the puppet earlier.

Creating a puppet based on something was not that surprising. That was how most puppets were modeled. That was the reason why most puppets looked like forest beasts or even weapons that had almost the same abilities or functions as the real one. But Kyran's puppet was different. It was in a human-shape. At such, to use a famous mage as its model was the wise thing to do.

But now that they were reminded that Disciple Tyr's weapon of choice was a long staff, similar to his puppet. They suddenly felt conflicted.

Was Disciple Tyr really that confident with his abilities to actually model his puppet after himself? Or was he simply an egotistic young man?

"Humph," Rhys snorted.

As he watched Kyran close in on him, Rhys spread out his arms and red magic arrays appeared on his wrists and ankles. The magic arrays circled up and down his forearm and lower leg as red-hot flames formed over them.

"Come!" Rhys shouted while he slammed his fists together which instantly erupted with flames.

He crouched down, building his momentum, before dashing to meet Kyran.

A smile tugged at the corner of Kyran's lips.

It was not the first time he met a mage whose innate magic was fire. In the Ylfaen Empire, most mages weilded earth, fire or light-base magic after all. It was rare to find a mage who used other types of magic. So knowing Rhys could use fire, even if he was a combat mage, was not surprising to Kyran.

As a matter of fact, the reason why Kyran smiled was because, he loved to fight fire mages. The reason behind this was simple. After finding out he could not get even with the fire mage who had relentlessly went after him the first time he escaped the Regis Estate, he wanted to take out his annoyance to every fire mage he met.

"Burst!" Rhys shouted as he prepared to punch out at Kyran.

Kyran, who did not stop in his advance even when Rhys charged at him, moved his staff in front. With deft movements, he met Rhys's fist with the tip of the staff.

Kyran's action immediately prompted a sneer on Rhys's face. After all, what could a wooden staff do against a punch amplified by fire magic?

Whish!

"What?" Rhys's eyes widened as soon as the tip of the staff touched the edge of his fist.

Right now, his fist was covered by flames, and anything it touched would have been incinerated. But the wooden staff remained intact as it finally reached his wrist.

"Such a weak flame," Kyran muttered as he pushed down the staff that had touched Rhys's wrist, instantly forcing the latter to lower his fist.

"Wha— Ugh!"

Before Rhys could fully react, Kyran flipped the staff in his hand and slammed the other end on top of the former's head.

To Vera and even Haylee's surprise, the strength in which Kyran had hit Rhys's head actually managed to force the latter to fall headfirst on the ground.

BAM!

Cracks formed on the ground as Rhys's head slammed on it with such ferocity.

Kyran's expression turned serious as he shifted the staff in his hand once more and hit Rhys on the back three times.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Each time the staff hit, Rhys ended up getting buried on the ground.

"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!" He screamed in pain.

The restoration array inside the training room that activated the moment Rhys landed on the floor the first time, worked in full force as it tried to restore the floor back to its original state.

"Don't think you're the only one who had battle experience. I am first and foremost, a mercenary, before being an array specialist."