Chapter 39: What?! You're Saying Magic Needs Chanting?!

After breakfast, I stretched my limbs alone in the courtyard. I pulled out the Crystal Dragon Horn and gave it three sharp shakes. "Rise and shine! The sun’s burning your butt, Dragon Princess."

"Stop—stop shaking! You brat!" A mental wave crackled from the horn.

"Wow~ I kindly woke you up, and you insult me~ Golden Ripple Dash~"

"Hold on! I get it—I won’t call you a brat anymore!" Panic radiated through the mental wave.

"Good. From now on, address me as… hmm, what should I be called?"

"Klath, who are you talking to?" Monaluna stepped out of the doorway, eyeing me curiously.

"Ah~ Nothing. Why are you up so late?"

"Ugh~ Her Highness was restless last night and still lazing in bed this morning. Not my fault~" Monaluna turned her face away, as if the homebody who’d lazed in bed daily before the princess arrived wasn’t her.

"Go eat. Cindira, Helle, and I already finished. I don’t know where your grandfather wandered off to. Call little Bobo and Her Highness for breakfast."

"Why do you always rise as early as Cindira? She needs morning drills—you’re a mage. Do you need them too?"

"Ahem, the day’s work starts at dawn~ Speaking of which, aren’t you a Swordmage? Why skip training?"

"I told you—it’s the princess…"

"Sigh~ Enough. Go eat." Discussing early rising with a homebody—I must be crazy. Why do noble ladies all have quirks? Helle’s much better~

"Excuse me! Is Mr. Klars Masha here?" A soldier from the Silver Scale Guard called at the gate.

"Ah! I’m here. What’s up, brother?"

"Young Master Klars, Young Master Stanis seeks you. He demands a duel and sent this challenge letter." The soldier looked awkward—I was the princess’s senior disciple; we were allies. Poor guy.

"Got it. Thanks, brother." I waved to disable the gate barrier, beckoning him inside, and took the letter. "Brother, eaten breakfast yet? Join us if not."

"No, no—I dare not!" He waved his hands frantically.

"Alright. Tell him I accept." I shook the envelope.

"Yes! I’ll report back immediately. Farewell, Young Master Klars." He turned and left.

Monaluna snatched the letter and ripped the envelope open in three swift motions.

"Hey! That’s mine!"

"Ah~ Just peeking. Harmless."

"What’s all this shouting? Unseemly at this hour." The Old Mage materialized from nowhere.

"Grandpa, morning! Look—a duel letter~"

"Duel letter? Whose?" The Old Mage frowned.

"Kimo Stanis. Son of the Imperial Capital’s governor," Monaluna chimed in.

"…" The Old Mage’s face darkened. "Monaluna, go eat. I need to speak with Mashang privately."

"But I want to see the letter…"

"Obey, or extra magic perception drills this morning."

Monaluna bolted. I yelled after her, "Bring little Bobo!"

I turned to the Old Mage, puzzled. "What? An old acquaintance?"

"Hmm…"

"Interesting. This dim-witted young master’s too young for past grudges. His father—the governor—was involved back then?"

"He was my son’s closest friend. And the one who stole my son’s Imperial Capital assets. His rank? Built on false accusations against Klath."

"I see! An appetizer~ I’ve got a plan."

"You! What do you intend?"

"Fight the duel. What else~"

"No killing! He deserves death, but his son is…"

"Innocent? Fine. I know your heart’s soft—I won’t kill him." I took the letter, scanning it. "Living is the cruelest punishment. I know that well. Eat breakfast. We’ve settled this before—leave the past to me."

"…Very well. This old man won’t interfere." The Old Mage shuffled toward the house, his figure heavy with sorrow.

"Hey, Master! Got a spare staff? The letter bans Rune Engraving Tools. I need to modify one, or I’m screwed."

*Whoosh!* A staff flew toward me. I caught it mid-air—solid weight, smooth texture. Three magic crystals—water, wind, earth—glinted in the morning sun from its head.

"Tsk! Quality gear!"

"This was my youth’s staff—‘Three-Headed Inferno Hound’."

"Huh? You have Inferno here too?"

"Naturally. Inferno, the Holy Hall, the Netherworld, the mortal realm—countless realms exist…"

"Save the lecture. I need your lab to modify this!"

"…" The Old Mage shook his head, retreating indoors. "He eats my food, lives in my home, wears my clothes, uses my tools, flirts with my granddaughter—and dares act so bold?! Am I too kind? No! This shameless brat’s skin is thicker than dragon scales!"

*Knock knock.* "Klath? Are you in?"

"Who is it?" I swung the ‘Three-Headed Inferno Hound’.

"Senior brother—it’s me, Komor."

"Enter." I dispelled the door barrier. "What brings you here, Princess?"

"I heard you accepted Stanis’s duel."

"Mm." I gripped the staff’s end, swinging it like a baseball bat.

"This staff! Master gave it to you? I begged for it endlessly!"

"This one?" I twirled it in a sword flourish, then gripped both ends for a batting stance. "I asked. Perfect weight—must sting on impact. Tsk! Needs a baseball cap. Helle should make one."

"You! You wield a magic staff like that?!" Komor looked devastated.

"Problem?"

"Everything! Listen—the staff is weeping!"

"Hallucinating. Get therapy." I stopped swinging. "Spit it out—why here?"

"It’s the duel. I apologize—my actions caused this. I’ll mediate with Stanis to cancel it."

"Heh. No apology needed. I’m grateful for a legit excuse to vent. I accepted to beat him up—not for you."

"But! Stanis’s master is peak Saint-level. Stanis himself is a Crescent Moon Seven-Node Mage! Senior brother, your Rune Studies are brilliant, but combat’s dangerous! He’s crippled—or killed—opponents with dirty tricks before."

"Don’t trust me? Test it in the backyard. I’ll break in this weapon." I mimicked another batting swing. "Win, and I’ll gift this staff plus one of Monaluna’s intimate garments."

"Serious? Let’s go!"

"This monk never lies, lady! After you!" Free punching bag—why waste it?

Komor and I faced off in the backyard clearing. The Old Mage stood by for safety. Monaluna—fresh from breakfast—dragged Cindira (post-training), Helle (mid-kitchen cleanup), and little Bobo to spectate.

"Your Highness, 加油! Smash that stinkard into a pig head!" Monaluna cheered. Silly girl—her undergarments were the bet, yet she rooted for Komor.

"Ready? Begin!" The Old Mage signaled.

"O dancing water spirits! Heed my plea. Gather at my fingertips, surge as a torrent. Guide my will! To the one before—"

*Thud!* My fist connected with Komor’s nose.

"Ugh~" She crumpled,捂着鼻子, water elements scattering. Even a low-tier spell backlash stung.

"What was that?!" She wobbled upright,捂着鼻子. "Why hit me?!"

"Uh… it’s a fight? Why not hit?"

"Why no magic?"

"Used it! Wind ‘Cloud Arrow Step’ plus earth ‘Steel Strength’ and ‘Iron Wall’. How else reach you so fast? What was that rambling anyway?"

"Magic chanting! That’s chanting!" Komor’s voice turned nasal. "You don’t chant for spells?"

"Uh…?" I glanced at the Old Mage. "Master—does magic need chanting?"

"Yes! Common sense."

"Why never tell me?"

"You never asked!" He stood firm.

"But I’ve never seen you chant!"

"Barriers and low-tier spells?"

"Yeah!"

"I’m a Legendary Mage. Spells below high-tier need only their name."

His words sparked a memory—Master did shout "Wind Blade" once. But Monaluna never chanted during drills!

"Why no chanting for Monaluna?"

"She’s a Swordmage. Magic’s engraved on her weapon—just input elements to trigger it."

"So I’m a freak for casting all-element magic without chanting?" Ten thousand grass-mud horses stampeded through my mind.

"What? You just realized that?!"