The Moonlight Swordsman



Aizel and Daisy walked through the castle's hallways after leaving their rooms. 

They were just strolling around, mindlessly thinking about what they were going to do all day.

"Shouldn't we go and do some practice with others?" Daisy asked.

"Na... instead, we should relax and enjoy as much as possible. It will keep our minds calm, and you won't get nervous easily." Aizel replied.

"So should we head outside?" 

"Umm... we can, but it is also a little dangerous. Let's ask the portal sister for it." 

"Portal Sister.. hahahaha...."

"Why do you always make funny names for everyone.. hahaha,"

Aizel simply smiled at her. 

As Aizel and Daisy were wandering through the beautiful castle halls, they ran into Ashlyn by chance.

The upper-grade mage was casually chewing on a snack as she casually strolled around.

"Yu.. wht yu bth ding?" She asked while her mouth was stuffed with food.

"What are you doing? Are you free?" Aizel asked.

"Mmmm Mmm..." She nodded her head.

"Can you come with us? We are getting bored. Let's go somewhere else," He said.

"Hmmmm.... Ashlyn started to ponder for a while and then quickly swallowed the food.

"Okay, we can go for a few hours; there isn't much to do here anyway."

Both Aizel's and Daisy's eyes sparkled after hearing that.

"But... both of you have to obey me 100%. You won't do anything on your own. Promise me this first,"

"I Promise we both won't do anything on our own and will follow your every order," Aizel said, putting his hand on his chest as he made the promise.

"Okay good, follow me."

"Is there any way we can take Isabella with us?" Daisy asked.

"NO! Even though we have good relations with the Zulivan Kingdom, we still can't approach them right now because of the tournament." Ashlyn replied.

"After the tournament, I guess," Aizel said.

"Softieee.. where are you going?" Suddenly, Hazel came along with Seraphine.

"Well, we are going out; wanna join?" Aizel asked.

"Yessss... I was getting bored. Let's go Sera."

Seraphine simply nodded.

Ashlyn made a portal's opening appear quickly and gracefully, and one by one, the other people in the group followed her lead and stepped into the magical gateway.

As Aizel stepped out of the portal, his sharp eyes noticed that they had appeared in a small alleyway in the middle of the busy streets.

"Here, eat this everyone," Ashlyn quickly gave the jelly-type things.

Each person took their share and started to eat it. Aizel couldn't help but notice how the treat melted in his mouth, like delicious jelly chocolate.

"What does it do?" He asked.

"It will lower our presence for a day," Ashlyn replied.

"So, where do you want to go?" Ashlyn asked.

\Aizel looked towards Daisy, who seemed as lost as Seraphine and Hazel.

"How about we go to some nice place to eat...

"No, please, you can eat afterward. Don't you know any good places here?" Aizel asked.

"Ummm... there is my friend who lives here. She has a magic room where you can fight or talk with your own Cloney-type thing that has full potential. Do you all want to try it?"

"I am ready," Aizel replied, his eyes sparkling like an idiot. 

Daisy simply nodded along, the same goes for Hazel too. 

Seraphine also nodded, and Ashlyn quickly conjured another portal in front of them. 

When they emerged from the portal, a comfortable mansion was there to greet them. 

The group walked behind Ashlyn, who boldly led them to the front door of the mansion. As they got closer, the gate opened as if by unseen hands in response to their presence, letting them into the warm embrace of the house.

Aizel's attention was drawn to a woman gracefully making her way toward their group. She possessed a cascade of curls framing her face, a pair of spectacles tucked into her hair, and a complexion that radiated fairness.

Her dress was simple but beautiful, a flowing gown that moved with her as she walked.

"You finally got your sweet ass time to meet me?" She asked.

"No.. it's just that these guys were bored, so I brought them here," Ashlyn replied.

The woman's brows twitched after hearing her reply.

Her gaze shifted toward the assembled group, and a warm smile graced her lips as she greeted them, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, all of you. I am Fridola, Ashlyn's dearest friend."

"Ssup, I am Aizel."

"I am Daisy; it's good to meet you."

"I am Hazel, wow your hair is so gorgeous.."

"I am Seraphine,"

"Thank you for your compliment, Hazel."

"Come join me for tea." 

The group followed her to the hall, settling comfortably onto the sofas arranged there. The maid came right on time with a tray of tea as if she had been waiting for them.

Aizel's eyes fell upon the tea cups, each containing a delightful pink hue. 

A small cloud-like shape was delicately floating on the surface of the tea. It gave off an air of magic.

He brought the tea to his lips and took a sip with a calm sense of expectation.

In an instant, a strong burst of flavor hit his taste buds and gave him a boost of energy he hadn't been expecting. 

The feeling made him feel so good that he almost couldn't believe it.

Fridola, keenly observant, caught the change in his expression and asked him with a smile, "Did you like it?"

"Absolutely," Aizel replied, quickly taking another sip.

"Thank you, little war god, even I was impressed by your performance."

"Huh.. what?" Aizel asked, looking confused.

"The Interkingdom Tournament can be seen everywhere through magic screens," Ashlyn replied.

"So, everyone might have watched my battle; who has that magic screen?" Aizel asked.

Ashlyn nodded.

[That means Vespara and Shelly might have also watched your battle, Master]

"A three-core Grade III Mage, I am really impressed. Even those tools that you use are just brilliant. It was like you had been doing this for so long."

She is quite observant," Aizel thought.

"Thank you for the praise, but I still have a lot to learn."

"So Ashlyn, you must have been quite busy; how did you find some free time to meet me?" She asked.

"Haaa... the thing is that I told them that you have a room where they fight against their full potential."

"Is that so... so you just brought them here for that?

"If they hadn't wanted to come, you would have ignored me and gone back, right?" Fridola asked, staring right into Ashlyn's face, who was trying to hide her face from embarrassment.

"Hahah... no no, it's not like that. I would have come after the tournament. You can ask them how I was telling all the things about you," Ashlyn replied quickly.

"Hmm... so everyone wants to go in the room?" Fridola asked.

"No, only Aizel and Seraphine," Hazel replied.

"Okay, follow me."

Fridola got up from her seat and glided elegantly toward a nearby door that led to a chamber underground. The other people followed her in a quiet line.

The turning of an ornate key signaled the unlocking of the door, revealing a descending flight of stairs that beckoned them into the depths below. 

With each step, they went deeper until they reached a mysterious room. 

The old wooden door in front of them gave off an air of ancient magic, and even though it looked worn, it was radiating a magical aura.

"There are a few things you both should remember.

"First, inside the room, your full potential and true self will be revealed on their own. It will depend on what type of personality you might get.

"Sometimes it might help you to give some pointers, or sometimes it might be against you.

"Don't worry, you won't die inside... and one more thing, don't take anything seriously if you've got something nasty inside. Good luck." Fridola explained.

"So who is going first?" She asked.

"You go first," Aizel said, looking towards Seraphine.

She simply nodded and started to walk toward the door.

Seraphine turned the door's handle with a firm move, unleashing a radiant surge of brilliant white light.

Her eyes reflexively blinked against the bright light for a moment before she crossed the threshold and went into the room.

The passage of time seemed to stretch on as Aizel and the others lingered outside. 

Growing slightly restless with the wait, Aizel turned his attention toward Fridola and asked, "Did you create this room?"

"Who me.. hahaha... I wish I could have. It was my grandfather's creation." Fridola replied.

"What is the actual purpose of this room?" He asked.

"My grandfather told me that he wanted to create something that showed their true future selves who had unlocked their full potential.

"And in that way, maybe you might get help, tips, knowledge, and ask something that you might not know right now," Fridola answered.

"So is it accurate?" 

"In some ways,"

Aizel nodded after hearing that and started to ponder how and what should he do while interacting with his true potential inside.