Aravel

Chapter 34

The first two fights helped to set the stage for the upcoming few fights.

Nothing much needed to be said from the two matches. While it was an admirable fight that certainly brought joy and excitement for the crowd, it was pitiable at best from Lunatea's eyes.

There was no denying the strengths of those chosen by Lunaria to compete, along with the abilities that 2 of the top 10s who showed up possessed. However, in the eyes of someone like Lunatea who was close to the pinnacle of the art of sword skill, it was only 'admirable' at best.

With each swing of the sword and each conjuring of magic, her eyes were able to carefully track each movement without fail while predicting ahead. Lunatea might not look like it from her courteous appearance outside, but she was also fighting at the same time as the real fight was ongoing. Based on their battle, Lunatea made a simple analysis in her head regarding the fighting pattern of the two opponents before judging them in comparison to herself.

Much like what Kaze was used to doing, which was shadow training, Lunatea elevated it to a higher level. Instead of picturing herself fighting against one opponent, she was facing both of them simultaneously, correcting their mistakes that she wouldn't have made while countering their attack at the same time.

Her pupils moved ever so slightly from place to place, depending on the attacks made and defences put up. Sure, she wouldn't be able to catch every single detail like footwork from where she was, but she could roughly make out their movements just a split second before they made it. The only way she could do this was because she wasn't the one fighting, allowing her to make a calm analysis without relying on her body movement.

"Lunatea-nee, what do you think?" Luniel asked her elder sister, feeling a little bored.

"Mm, the fights itself are quite good," Lunatea replied honestly, giving a single nod. "Well-picked, I suppose."

"I thought the two fights earlier were supposed to be one of the top 10 strongest in school?" Lunaea lowered her voice a little to join in with their light conversation. "They are very standard..."

"Well, that's because you are judging it from a dragonkin's perspective," Reginsleif merely chuckled at his daughters' remarks. "I don't blame you girls, but this is a good opportunity for you all to see the difference in strength we possess because of age."

"Unlike us, humans only have about 70 years on average to live, at best 95," Laevia added. "By the time they are 60, most of their bodies start to deteriorate from there. We should be thankful what our long lifespan has allowed us to achieve."

"I thank you for your humble praises towards the humans," Ethan, overhearing their conversation, joined in shortly. "We... make the most out of what we have. I can say for sure that they are very strong, considering their age. Your eldest daughter must not have chosen the strongest few, but perhaps the flashiest to put on a good show."

"The crowd is enjoying it, so I don't see why not," Reginsleif nodded in return. "I can tell that there are still a lot of potential for most of them to grow."

Ethan could only give a silent bow at the remark before turning back to the match.

It was as Reginsleif had said. Having the potential to grow, just how many were able to become capable fighters among the hundreds of students available? Ethan could not help but compare the state of their nation with that of Aravel.

He knew that it was rare for there to be childbirth within the race of dragonkins due to their very nature itself, making them a nation with a low birth rate. This was due to them being a race with very long lifespan, one of the longest among all of the species known. Their population, assuming the best-case circumstance, must have had a higher ratio of elder dragonkins over the new ones due to there being less natural death by age.