Chapter 457: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival: Debates & Anticipation II

Ezra could also remember the faces of most of the senior members of the Ashcraft Department.

He had already met many of them before, and he wasn’t the only one.

Both he and Vera had worked with people who held high positions within the Ashcraft department, as well as the family, during the time the new firearms were being created in the Ashcraft Research and Development Department.

"Everyone, gather around."

Mrs. Bianca Ashenlocke clapped her hands lightly.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it was enough to draw the attention of the First-Years scattered around the hall.

Two maids stood behind her.

One of them carefully carried her baby in her arms, keeping the child close against her body while the other stood beside them with her hands neatly folded in front of her.

"The Duchesses want to congratulate all of you First-Years."

Bianca spoke in a calm tone, and the gentle smile on her face added to the relaxed atmosphere around her.

"Aunt Bianca, you’re already back from your vacation?"

Priscilla Ashenlocke walked closer to her aunt.

Her eyes immediately moved toward the baby being carried by the maid.

"Yes, Priscilla."

Bianca smiled.

She reached out and placed her hand gently on Priscilla’s hair.

Priscilla’s hair shifted slightly beneath her palm.

Nate looked toward Priscilla, with a plain expression.

"Well, this is new."

He muttered to himself while calmly walking toward the gathering.

His eyes briefly moved toward Bianca and Priscilla before returning to the group of First-Years.

"Mrs. Bianca is Priscilla’s aunt as well as her master, so it’s expected for her to react like that."

Page Laverdale replied calmly as she also walked toward the gathering.

Nate turned his head toward Page.

His expression remained completely blank.

He stared at her for a moment before looking forward again.

He didn’t bother responding.

Everyone had already begun gathering.

Soon...

All of the First-Years of House Ashenlocke stood together.

"My beloved Children of Ash."

Duchess Regina spoke with a pleased smile.

She stood in front of the First-Years of the Royal Academy, her eyes slowly moving across each of them.

While Duchess Hailey stood a little farther to her left.

Bale and Keith were close to her.

Byron and Harlan sat behind them, watching what was happening without interrupting.

Duchess Regina looked across the First-Years.

"You all have done really well."

She said in a soft tone.

Many of the First-Years of Ashenlocke smiled with pleased expressions.

They had already gone through several rounds of the Combat Festival.

Some had advanced farther than expected.

Others had already been eliminated.

But every one of them had managed to show something during the competition.

"Although... there were some of you who lost."

Regina’s eyes moved toward Bess Ashforge, Tracy Ashforge, Linda Balor, Henry Ashenlocke, and Fay Ashenlocke.

The moment they noticed the Duchess looking toward them...

They all lowered their heads slightly.

Losing wasn’t something any of them liked.

They had been frustrated ever since their matches ended, and even though the competition had already moved forward, the feeling of defeat hadn’t disappeared so easily.

Regina’s expression remained gentle.

"Even though you lost, you all tried your best and were able to show the true strength of a Child of the Unfading Ash."

Her voice carried encouragement rather than disappointment.

She wasn’t trying to remind them that they had lost.

She was reminding them that losing didn’t erase everything they had already accomplished.

"I’m deeply pleased, and I know the Duke will be really proud of all of you."

Duchess Regina placed one hand against her chest.

A warm smile remained on her face.

"So, continue to do your best to stand above the other families in this Royal Academy."

The First-Years listened quietly.

Then...

"Thank you, Duchess."

They all bowed respectfully.

Regina nodded.

At that moment, Duchess Hailey stepped forward.

She raised one hand and waved toward the direction of a long table.

"We have prepared healthy feasts."

The long table was covered with different kinds of food.

There were fresh fruits, cooked vegetables, meat, bread, and several other dishes arranged neatly across the table.

The smell of the food had already begun spreading through the hall, and a few of the younger students unconsciously glanced in its direction.

"As well as massage and quiet rooms for meditation."

Hailey added.

"All of this will be for your quick recovery, so you can all be at your best when the next round commences next week."

She smiled gently.

"And the Medics of Laverdale will assist with all of this, so thank them well, darlings."

Hailey’s voice carried a light tone mixed with the warmth of a mother speaking to children she genuinely wanted to see recover.

"Thank you, Duchess."

The First-Years of Ashenlocke bowed respectfully toward her.

"Alright, have fun, kids."

Duchess Hailey waved her hand lightly.

Immediately after finishing her speech...

Duchess Hailey turned around and walked back toward where she had been sitting.

Bale and Keith had already gone to meet Fay.

They congratulated her and tried to motivate her not to feel too bad about losing before deciding to go and greet Veda, Vera and Ezra.

The conversations in the hall quickly increased again.

The formal gathering had ended.

Now everyone could relax.

"Tsk... If only I didn’t face Lady Sasha Burnwick as my first opponent, I could have gone a bit further."

Bess tightened her fist, looking down at her hand.

The frustration she felt hadn’t completely left her.

"It’s not about whether you faced a strong person."

Veda spoke calmly, while looking toward Bess.

"Instead of just beating yourselves up about losing to Sasha, try to push yourselves to grow stronger from here on out."

He gave her a small smile.

Bess looked at him.

His words were simple, but they were enough to make her expression soften.

"Well, thank the Scholars I was able to reach the fifth round before I lost."

Tracy said casually.

Relief was written clearly across her face.

She had gone farther than she had expected, and that alone gave her something to be proud of.

"Tracy!"

Linda smacked her shoulder.

Tracy turned toward her.

"It’s fine."

Bess spoke calmly.

"The Young Lord is right."

She looked toward Veda with a calmer expression.

"Frowning will not do anything."

Henry nodded.

His arms were folded across his chest as he agreed with Bess.

Veda’s words made sense.

There was no point remaining angry about something that had already happened.

"But... Young Lord."

Henry raised one hand.

He formed a fist.

Veda looked at him.

Henry held his fist out for a fist bump.

"You must win, as our Young Lord."

Henry said with a smirk.

Veda smiled.

"I will."

He raised his fist.

Tap!

Their fists bumped.

"Good."

Henry smiled.

The small gesture eased some of the tension that had remained in the group.

Although...

Not everyone seemed interested in joining the encouraging atmosphere.

"Urgh... look at those weaklings placing their hopes on another weakling."

Felix spoke in a low voice to Gareth.

His eyes remained on the group.

"Hahah..."

Gareth laughed lightly.

"But the Young Lord could actually win. Who knows?"

He said in a suggestive tone.

"Like hell."

Felix dismissed the suggestion instantly.

His expression remained confident.

Then his eyes shifted towards where Vera stood.

She was speaking with Bella, the Elders, several High-Board members of the family, Priscilla, the Count of Laverdale, Page, and Ezra, who had become the center of the conversation.

Felix’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You will be facing that bitch in the next round, Gareth."

He looked back toward Gareth.

"Do you have any idea how you will beat her?"

Gareth remained calm.

"I have thought of many strategies for my approach against Lady Vera, but..."

He scratched the back of his head.

His expression became slightly awkward.

"But?"

Felix waited.

Gareth sighed.

"No ideas."

He admitted.

"As expected of my Lady."

Lyra’s voice suddenly came from their side.

She was nodding her head, with her eyes closed, and a pleased smile resting on her face as if she had just arrived at the perfect moment to make an unnecessary comment.

Felix’s face immediately changed.

"What the hell are you doing here, you traitor?"

He pointed angrily at Lyra.

Lyra looked at him plainly.

"Don’t be mean, Felix... it’s already in the past."

She said in a casual tone.

Felix blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then a third time.

He stared at her as though he was trying to understand how someone could be this shameless.

"This..."

Felix’s eyes widened, while he gritted his teeth.

"Don’t you have plans to make against Logan Drakes, who you will be facing in the next round?"

His voice became colder.

Lyra simply smiled.

"I don’t need any planning."

She answered confidently.

"Lyra doesn’t move in that way. Hehehe."

She spoke about herself in third person.

Gareth looked toward her quietly.

"So, you think you will beat Logan Drakes of all people?"

He asked.

Lyra’s eyes immediately began to brim with excitement.

"I won’t know if I don’t fight his ass."

Her smile became wider.

There was no hesitation in her voice.

She wasn’t pretending that Logan would be easy.

She simply wanted to fight him.

That was enough for her.

The Sixth Round was next.

Finally, the main matches were beginning to take place, and the well-known names of the competition were starting to face one another.

The earlier rounds had allowed the stronger students to remain apart from one another.

But that was no longer the case.

Now...

The real matches were beginning.

Ezra had cruised through the Second Round, Third Round, Fourth Round, and Fifth Round much more easily than he had through the First Round, where he had faced Fatima Drakes.

He had continued moving forward without encountering another opponent who could force him to reveal everything.

But now...

The Sixth Round had arrived.

And Ezra was going to come against one of his own family members.

Someone he knew.

Someone who also had a mysterious display of strength just like him.

And someone who had ranked above him in the Trial of Steel.

Ezra’s next opponent was no longer a stranger.

It was someone from the Ashenlocke family.

Someone who had already proven themselves during the Trial of Steel.