Redlion Arena.
Two young men stood in the arena. Prince Yuasa stood facing Adrian, one of the best trainers at Redlion Arena.
Adrian studied Prince Yuasa as he stood straight before him. His posture was good and well-proportioned, but there wasn't a hint of muscle in his arms or legs. His face and skin were clearly well cared for, but what made Adrian narrow his eyes was the color of his hair.
“Yellow crystal?” Adrian asked bluntly.
“Yes,” Prince Yuasa replied. He didn't think there was anything wrong with his crystal. Was it wrong for a yellow crystal to want to learn martial arts?
“Prince, do you see any soldiers with yellow crystals?” Adrian gestured for Prince Yuasa to look at the soldiers he was training.
Blue crystals, red crystals, and plenty of mixed crystals were what Prince Yuasa saw throughout the area. It was easy to tell them apart by their hair colors. Yet not one of them had yellow hair.
“There are no yellow crystals,” Prince Yuasa answered immediately, understanding what Adrian meant.
That feeling returned—the same condescending looks. The same looks from people who looked down on a yellow crystal for trying to learn martial arts. Just like all the trainers sent to the palace to train him.
“You'd better go home, Prince,” Adrian continued, turning his back on Prince Yuasa as he prepared to return to his soldiers.
“Wait!” Prince Yuasa shouted. “I can prove that I’m capable of training, so please give me a chance to prove it!” Prince Yuasa pleaded.
Adrian stopped and glanced back. Once again, he looked at the handsome prince standing beside Rosaline.
“Adrian, you can test him first,” Rosaline pleaded.
Adrian knew Rosaline. They had been friends since childhood. If she was pleading with him, then it was certain the young man beside her was no ordinary person.
“All right.” Adrian let out a long sigh. “If the Prince can scratch me, I’ll consider it,” Adrian replied.
“You promise?” Prince Yuasa asked, making sure Adrian wouldn't go back on his word.
“I promise,” Adrian replied.
Prince Yuasa took a sword from the weapons rack. He seemed to have trouble merely swinging it.
“Weak,” Adrian muttered. His eyes rolled lazily.
Although his words weren't clearly audible, Prince Yuasa understood that one word. He was physically weak, but his determination was incredibly strong.
“Just watch. I can do this,” Prince Yuasa murmured, swinging the sword again with resolve.
The match began. Prince Yuasa attacked, and Adrian easily evaded him without even using a weapon. Adrian simply moved to the side and dodged the sword's slash.
“Wait, his stance is good, but it isn't enough,” Adrian thought as he watched Prince Yuasa's feet. The foundation possessed by this beautiful prince was decent, in Adrian's eyes.
Adrian spun around, seized Prince Yuasa's wrist, and broke his attack, sending the sword clattering to the ground.
“It’s over. You can’t—” Adrian began.
“It’s not over. It’s not over yet.” Prince Yuasa didn't want to waste the chance Rosaline had given him. He had to prove that he was worthy.
“Prince, your sword is gone. How are you going to hurt me?” Adrian raised both hands. He hadn't expected much, especially not from a yellow crystal—the weakest crystal of all.
Suddenly, Adrian felt a strange sensation as the prince's blue eyes changed color. A golden gleam filled them, and at the same time, sparks of lightning surrounded his body.
“Lightning element from a yellow crystal?!” Adrian couldn't believe what he was seeing. The lightning element was rare enough on its own, and it was even more unusual for a yellow crystal to possess it.
“I haven’t given up!” Prince Yuasa shouted, running toward Adrian with a ball of lightning in his hand.
Stunned, Adrian didn't move as the ball of lightning flew toward him. At the very last moment, he deflected it with his greatsword.
“That was close,” Adrian muttered. His chest heaved as cold sweat broke out across his body. That ball of lightning would certainly have wounded him if he had been any slower to dodge.
“I failed!” Prince Yuasa whispered, hoping his final attack would yield results. His eyes remained fixed on Adrian, who was still standing straight. The smile on his lips began to fade. “I really am weak. I’ve disappointed Rosaline,” Prince Yuasa thought. His vision began to blur. His body started to grow limp; using the ball of lightning had drained his strength.
Adrian was still standing straight, staring at Prince Yuasa as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
“What is this?” Adrian raised a hand to inspect his left cheek. A thin trickle of blood ran from a small scratch caused by Prince Yuasa's lightning sparks. Adrian let out a soft laugh. He had actually lost.
“So you really can—” Adrian had just begun to acknowledge that the prince had succeeded when his opponent suddenly collapsed unconscious.
“Prince!” Rosaline ran toward Prince Yuasa, catching him before he hit the ground.
Adrian stood where he was and watched it happen. Awe and shock mixed together, leaving him unsure how to respond to the events that had unfolded so quickly.
“How is he?” Adrian asked.
“He’s fine. Just exhausted,” Rosaline replied.
The girl easily lifted Prince Yuasa's body and carried him to the shade at the edge of the field.
Adrian felt useless as Rosaline carried the young man away instead of asking for his help.
“What made him so determined?” Adrian asked.
Rosaline turned toward Adrian, smiled, and answered his question.
“He wants to become strong,” Rosaline replied.
Adrian let out a long sigh, then smiled and turned toward Rosaline.
“In that case, he can start training here tomorrow. I accept him,” Adrian answered.
Rosaline's expression changed, and she gave Adrian a gentle smile. “Thank you.”
Meanwhile, somewhere else far from the light, a grin spread through the darkness.
“Time to hunt!”