The next day. Evan starts his early morning exercise. Starting for warming up, he then going for a full sprint. After sprinting twenty times shuttle run, he rested for a moment and start a push-up and then squat jump.

"Haa...." Evan sits on the ground with full sweats. His clothes are wet because of the sweats.

"You really working hard." A gentle voice. It was Ariana who brings a towel and gives it to Evan.

"Thank you." Evan took the towel and wipe his face.

"You're more early than the young master," Ariana said while sitting down beside Evan.

"Noel?"

"Yes, he usually went exercising early but you are earlier."

"I'm not this early before. I just had a nightmare, so I went exercise right away." Evan smiled. He got another nightmare again, a nightmare where countless people trying to grab him to live.

"What kind of nightmare?" Ariana asked after saw Evan looks pale.

"Well.... it's a regret nightmare. It wouldn't be pleasant to talk about."

"Alright, I won't push you." She said while staring at Evan.

"What?" Evan felt awkward when she is staring at him.

"Nothing. It's just.... you're kind of lonely."

Evan became quiet. He is certainly lonely. Lonely because losing his parents and the villagers. Even though he got Noel as his friend, it still feels lonely.

"My mother said, every people in this world is alone and that is why they seek others to not be alone. But there is always people who feel alone even amongst the crowd. At first, I don't get it. But now I understand, that person doesn't have someone who can understand him, someone who will share his grieve and burden." She said with a faint smile.

"Are you referring to me?" Evan tilted his head and makes Ariana laughing.

"Not really. Your loneliness is because of something else? Your eyes showing......... the longing for the lost."

Evan shut his lips. Ariana really hit the target. Evan won't object that at least he glad that someone knows his loneliness, only know.

"Then.... what about you?" Evan asked.

"Your eyes also the same." He added.

Ariana smiled and looks to the sky.

"I am.... I longing for the lost. Living like this just to wait for him but there is unexpected turn you know. There was an impostor of him, so I might though..... it wouldn't be pleasant to tell about it." She laughed and then stood.

"I'll get back to work." She said and walks away. Evan looking at her before she went inside the mansion. He thought she feels familiar but he shook his head right away.

"Ah, Evan?" Noel coming towards him with training outfit.

"Morning Noel."

"Morning Evan, did you exercise?"

"Yes, I'm resting now."

"That's too bad." Noel sighed. "I want to exercise with you. Anyway, we're going to have spar again today." He starts warming up.

"Okay."

Evan watching Noel doing exercise, he isn't hardcore like Evan. He is just doing a run around the mansion and then pushes up, squat jump, sit up and etc.

After an hour, Noel resting beside Evan.

"Phew, that's was good." He said happily. "Did you know, you need at least good physical body and stamina to hold on without sleeping for one or two days to enter Rashburg Academy."

"Really? Why so harsh?"

"Rashburg Academy considered top academy, the scores to enroll is scary for physical and magic."

"The benefit?"

"If you become the best twenty, you might become one of Union master's disciples or if you best 100 you might get many attentions. Of course, high nobles would ignore that, they rather rule their lands." Noel said.

"So it's beneficial for lower nobles or commoners." Evan slowly nodded.

"That's right, but the problem is the scores to enroll. Higher nobles surely can hire the best teacher and good books, they also studied ever since kid while the commoner has great disadvantage."

"So, what's the bet for two of us to enter there?" Evan couldn't help asked.

"Well, I'm confident about myself, so it will be 60%? But you.... your physical is good while magic...." Noel scratched his head. He never saw Evan casting magic after all, even though he knew that Evan has good mana capacity. The progress of learning for each people is different.

"Don't worry. I'll show you my magic next week." Evan smiled. Evan could evaluate himself already, even if he not obtained full power of undead, he surely 100% passed. He might be overconfident but that is fine if he could show his might.

"How many students accepted each year?"

"Around 300, the people who try their lucks their almost from every country."

"Do dragon count?"

"What? Dragon wouldn't interfere our business." Noel laughed.

'So it's not changed.' In the past, the dragon became the ruler of the sky and enemy of mankind. But since the Dragon king, Rivast took over. They became not attracted towards lower being and staying at Dragon's land. If the dragon not interferes, then either Rivast still rules or his successor is same like him. After all, no all dragons are kind.

"Well, I got enough rest. Shall we spar?"

"Sure."

Noel called the maid to bring two wooden swords. After they got their own swords. Both of them facing each other.

"Same rules?" Evan asked.

"Yup."

After Noel answered, both of them become quiet and staring each other. Noel didn't rush like before since he knew that Evan is strong.

Few minutes passed, none of them moving. It's a battle of patience and sure is tiring down the concentration because they have to be alert every second. Lose concentration even a second results fatal.

Evan suddenly dashed. He lost the battle of patience but that what was he wanted. Noel reacted towards Evan and swings his sword, but it missed the target. Evan is out of his reach. The sudden movement from Evan caused Noel to jolted and attack. Evan wouldn't waste this opportunity and dashed again to him. He lowering his body and raise a thrust from below directing towards Noel's head.

"Guh..." Noel manages to sway his head and then retreated. Being closer to Evan is dangerous.

Noel tried stabilizing himself but Evan didn't give time to do so. He launched a thrust to Noel's stomach. Noel dodged to the left but Evan's sword follows him and he blocked it right away and tried to counter attack before Evan already moved away from Noel.

'Damn, Evan is different.' Noel felt the fight is more intense than before. Evan becoming more aggressive and his attack is like a snake.

Just after thinking about it, Evan ran to him and launched a thrust. Noel tried to block it but Evan's sword retracted and the launched again. Unable to block the second time, Noel twists his head away to dodge the attack and launch an attack from below.

Evan didn't move and then Noel remembered that Evan didn't afraid to get hit just to have a hit. Sadly, his thought was wrong. When hesitated to hit Evan, and looking at Evan's sword. Evan took steps away and pulled back his sword to do another slash from above.

Noel made a mistake if Evan dare to get hit again to achieved the win. In a fight, there is always uncertainty.

Evan's sword stopped near Noel's face and it retracted afterward.

Noel sighed and stood with a smile.

"You're really amazing. Battle of patience to made me too focused and caused a mistake. Then making me remembered what you did last time which turned to be false this time." Noel sighed once again.

"I'd never expected you to hesitate back then. You do really thinking a lot when fighting." Evan smiled and give the sword to Noel.

"Well, I'd never thought you will be that much different. But your fighting style is full of uncertainty. I wonder how will happen if we fought with magic." Noel laughed and Evan laughed too. If he able to use magic, then he won't move around unless necessary. He was mage before, using a sword or other martial arts they are just a cover.

After that, Evan and Noel took a bath and then have breakfast. The rest of time he spent by reading books in the library.