BPFP 65

Chapter 65

Winter monsters appeared at every checkpoint, attacking relentlessly.
But the group pressed forward without hesitation.

“Duke, if it’s too much, you can let me down.”
“I’m fine. This isn’t even close to difficult.”

After some time, the view in front of them grew hazy, and an illusion unfolded. At that moment, Zirck stepped forward and cast a spell—his dispelling magic, designed to break illusions.

Austin had said that when it came to dispelling magic, Zirck was the best, and he would be a huge help on this mission.

Dispelling magic was Zirck’s unique spell, capable of breaking evil or illusionary magic.

As Zirck formed a magic circle and moved his mana, a massive magic array spread across the snowy plain.
With a crisp crackle, every illusion shattered.

Even the blizzard stopped, and as the sky cleared, Elia blinked in surprise.
Zirck smiled and waved his hand.

“Lady Elia, it’s safe now.”
“That was illusion magic?”
“Yes, you almost fell for it all, but I dispelled it.”
“Wow, Zirck, you’re amazing!”

Elia ran over and hugged Zirck. His smile shot up toward the sky.

“Elia, come on, we need to hurry.”
Alexis pulled Elia from Zirck’s arms and lifted her. Elia had been hugging Zirck out of joy, so he couldn’t say anything—he just removed her.

Elia’s party pushed through the bitter cold and blizzard until they reached the edge of the snowy plain. A flag fluttered there.

A sign next to it read: “Pull the flag.”
Elia quickly pulled it.

Laughter and a voice echoed:
[Hahaha, impressive. You’ve made it this far. I shall grant you the final trial.]

Shaaahhh—

In an instant, the snowy plain vanished like dust.
A new door appeared before them.

The party passed through it. Inside was a vast room of mirrors.

The moment Elia saw the mirrors, she felt utterly alone. Looking around, there was no one—no one at all.

“Duke? Zirck? Uncle Dmitri, knights! Kazi!”

Not even Kazi was visible.

Suddenly, her reflection in the mirror stepped out. Elia faced herself.
The fake Elia smirked at the real Elia.

“Will you die for me?”
“What?”

The fake Elia lunged at her, choking her.

“If you die, I can become real.”
“That’s nonsense…”
“This is a reflective prison made by the White Dragon.”
“A reflective prison?”
“The ones inside don’t truly exist. But if I kill the real one, I can exist.”
“What…”

The fake Elia grinned wickedly.
“I want to be real. So die for me.”

Elia smiled slyly.
“Do you think anyone can just be ‘real’?”

Bam!

Elia struck the fake Elia on the head with the pendant Austin had given her. A blinding light shone from it, and an attack spell was unleashed.

She remembered what Austin said:

“If someone attacks you, strike them with this pendant. Magic will activate.”
“Does it only work when you hit?”
“Yes.”

Truly, a spell only Austin would think of.

“Kyahhh!”

An ice spear materialized and pierced the fake Elia entirely. She screamed and disappeared.

Elia dusted off her hands, looking at the spot where the fake had stood.
“Pathetic. That was weak.”

It wasn’t anything serious.

“But what about the Duke?”

Crash!

The mirror wall broke, revealing Zirck. He faced a clone identical to himself. The problem was that the clone could also use magic.

“Zirck! Finish it in one strike!”
Startled, Zirck glanced at Elia.

“Lady Elia!”
“Don’t get distracted, idiot.”

Grinning at her words, Zirck cast a powerful spell.
“Hell Fire.”

Flames erupted from Zirck’s hands, engulfing the fake Zirck.

“Are you unharmed? And what’s with the mark on your neck?”
“Oh, this? The fake tried to choke me. That’s all.”
“The fake? Where is it now?”
“Of course I dealt with it. That’s why you’re seeing me now.”

Eventually, Zirck’s mirror wall also shattered.

This time, Dmitri appeared.

“Hahaha, splendid! My reflection! Swing your sword properly!”

Dmitri, excited, swung his massive sword wildly. Elia and Zirck shook their heads at his antics.
“Pathetic.”

The battle naturally ended in Dmitri’s victory. He noticed Elia and Zirck.
“Oh, Lady Elia. Sir Zirck, you’re safe.”

Shsssh!

The mirror wall that had imprisoned Dmitri shattered immediately. Alexis still hadn’t appeared.

After Alexis and Elia left, Noah focused on training and classes.

As days passed, the corridors they walked every day began to feel eerily quiet.

Noah’s gaze naturally drifted to Elia’s room. He remembered her cheerful face opening the door in the morning.
She would grab his hand and pull him to eat if they met in the hallway.

But today, the hand felt empty.

“Maybe it’s because it’s morning… it’s cold.”

Though spring had arrived, the corridor felt chilly.

Noah went down the stairs toward the dining hall on the first floor.

Inside, a single meal was prepared. His eyes fell on the chair with the pink ribbon—the one for Elia.

He remembered how she always sat like a princess, eating the food Alexis served her.
When she was there, it had annoyed him. Now, her absence made him feel emptier.

“Prince, shall I bring another dish?”
Norman asked, worried, as Noah stared blankly.

“The dining hall is too quiet… I just couldn’t help it.”

Noah ate quickly. Norman, sensing his feelings, spoke:

“Lonely, aren’t you? It’s always noisy when both of you are here.”
“It’s nice and quiet now.”
“Really? Then enjoy your meal while it stays quiet for a while.”
“How long will that be?”

Norman smiled.
“I’d say quite a while… maybe about two weeks if it stretches.”

“Two weeks?”

So he’d have to endure this emptiness for fifteen days? That didn’t sound great.

“I should go train. Thanks for the meal.”
“Yes, Prince.”

Noah headed to the training grounds, where the Iron Eagle knights, including Campbell, were exercising.

“Prince, welcome. I’ll be in charge of training today.”
“Thank you.”

Without the rough-voiced Dmitri around, it felt strange. Alexis, who often bickered with Dmitri, was also absent, making the place feel unusually awkward.

“Prince, focus! Don’t slack off just because the captain isn’t here.”

Campbell strictly corrected him, and Noah assumed the stance, swinging his wooden sword.

Unlike Dmitri, Campbell taught very meticulously. Dmitri would start by knocking him down, whereas Campbell focused on posture first.

“Keep your eyes on the tip of the sword and feet shoulder-width apart.”

With such detailed guidance, Noah found it easier to learn. Training under Campbell wasn’t bad at all.

Focusing on training also eased the loneliness, especially with Campbell and the Iron Eagle knights around.

A small smile formed on Noah’s lips.

He thought about showing the Duke how much he had improved when he returned, and his heart beat faster.

‘I want to become stronger as soon as possible.’

Noah wanted to be recognized by Alexis as a swordsman and become someone capable of fulfilling his role.

Though he tried not to be impatient, anxiety crept in—probably from missing this expedition.

‘Next time, I’ll go too.
Next time, I’ll do my part properly, so I won’t be a burden.’

Noah continued striving today.