Everyone’s eyes darted to the owner of the voice that had suddenly chimed in. The dark-skinned knight, who had been standing quietly with his arms crossed, shrugged and said, “Let her prove herself. If she is able to guard against our attacks, then she can defend herself against most monsters.”
“What a great idea,” said Gabel. “I agree with Edon. If her ladyship’s magic fails, we will put this matter to rest.”
Maxi hunched her shoulders. Although she had confidently vouched for her abilities in the heat of the moment, she was uncertain if her barrier was strong enough to block a blow from one of the Remdragon Knights. While she hesitated, the discussion continued with the logistics.
“And if her ladyship succeeds in blocking our attack, you must stop objecting, Commander. It would be foolish for us to depart for Livadon on our own when we have a healer capable of basic defensive magic. Please do not force us to take such a risk.”
Gabel regarded Riftan steadily. Left with no more reasonto object, Riftan grimaced and glared back and forth between Maxi and the knights. He held the silence for a while before speaking in a low voice. “Fine. Let us test her skills. Come outside.”
He spun on his heels and walked out the door. Hebaron gently patted Maxi on the shoulder when he saw that she was frozen to the spot. “Now is your chance, my lady. Please knock him down a peg.”
That was only if she succeeded. What would she do if she failed pathetically after all the commotion she had caused? Maxi swallowed hard.
No, it should be fine. My barrier…will not break that easily.
In a test just the other day, her barrier had withstood Melric hitting it with a metal hoe used for plowing the fields. However, a garden tool wielded by an emaciated old man was entirely different from a strike given by a trained knight in his prime.
As she followed the others out to the training grounds, Maxi noticed their muscular frames that looked as sturdy as a stallion’s. Riftan ordered the men sparring on the grounds to make way before he turned to Maxi. “Go ahead. Cast your spell.”
When the knights saw him grab the hilt of the sword strapped to his waist, they rushed forward.
“Hold on! Let us be reasonable, Commander! Only a handful of mages in the world can block your attack!”
“God! Where is your conscience? Even Ruth cannot block you!”
“Stop your whining,” Riftan snarled. “I was going to dull the blow.”
Everyone, including Maxi, looked doubtful. One wouldhave to be a fool not to know that he was hellbent on shattering her barrier to keep her away from the campaign.
“This is unacceptable,” exclaimed Hebaron. “We refuse to accept the result if the blow does not come from someone other than you, Commander!”
“As if I would allow that! It is obvious that you are all going to go easy on her!”
“So what if we do? Not many mages are able to withstand an all-out offensive from a Remdragon Knight! Would it not at least prove she can block a troll-level attack?”
“Come now, both of you. Calm down,” Gabel said, inserting himself between the two men snarling at each other again. “Instead of wasting our energy on pointless squabbles, why don’t we do this: we shall let her ladyship choose her attacker. Besides, we will all be able to tell if the blow is weak.”
Riftan turned to Maxi, his gaze imploring her to choose him, but she quickly looked away. She would be mad to select him. Instead, she surveyed each of the knights. Hebaron was bulkier and a little taller than Riftan, and the rest of the knights were broad-shouldered and well-muscled.
As she carefully assessed each of them, her gaze landed on Gabel. The young knight was lithe compared to the others.
“Y-You…want me to choose, correct?”
“Yes, my lady. You may choose whomever you wish.”
“Then…I would like you…to be my opponent.”
Gabel’s smile faltered slightly. After a brief silence, he said, “May I ask why you have chosen me, my lady?”
“B-Because…I find you the most trustworthy.”
Maxi could feel Riftan’s incredulous gaze boring into her, but she deliberately ignored it. Gabel regarded her with aknowing glance before stepping forward with a sigh.
“I understand. I shall test the strength of your barrier.”
He drew his longsword from his waist and settled into a fighting stance. Feeling overwhelmed, Maxi hastily gathered her mana. A light tremor fanned out from beneath her feet as she channeled it, and the earth shot up into the air a few steps ahead of her. Maxi drew the enhancement rune Ruth had taught her, and the barrier of dirt grew thicker.
“I am r-ready!”
