"Noverios, who was he?"

Noel asked like an idiot after drank a tea. Falecia and Clara who saw this couldn't help but think that Noel clearly lacked in history. Right now, they are in VIP ground of certain cafe. Ever since their meeting, Falecia and Clara somewhat became a friend, but hidden hostility inside Falecia is very hidden that Teronna praised her, "Such well-hidden blade! She is a good woman!" She said.

"Really, Noel, you must learn history well! It will be really important." Falecia scolded him.

"Sorry, but the history seems bland."

"Haa... anyway, Noverios. People might have forgotten who he was. Before Undead king, before the Dark king, before Osion, and before heroes’ arrival. Noverios was known as the great king of humanity. He is the one who made the decision to summoned heroes."

"So... why he is important?"

Once again Falecia sighed, currently, amongst three of them, Falecia is the most knowledgeable.

"In history, Novarios wasn't your ordinary king. He was very powerful but not comparable to the heroes or another legend. He participated in a war against Osion, he participated in a war against the dark army and at the end, he was killed."

"The question is why did he die? Novarios is strong and young king. He might not strong as the heroes but not really that weak. Yet, how did he die?"

"According to the ancient history. Novarios died after had a fight with the Dark king but why would a king risk his life in a fight that he couldn't win? He holds an important power and why would he choose to run into death?"

"Because..." Noel tried to put a word but couldn't find a suitable thing to say.

"It was unknown to everyone and why would he do that. As for why he is important-"

"I believe it is the best thing to stop the story." A clear and stern yet high-pitched voice spoke out.

"Master." Clara spoke once she saw who comes to them.

"Falecia, I didn't know how you able to obtain such information. But it is something that children like you shouldn’t speak about."

Falecia staring at her with doubtful eyes and silently drinking the tea.

"Master, why we can't?"

"Because..." she stopped and looking at the three grown up children in front of her. With a huge smile, she says, "There is nothing important on it."

"What?" Noel almost got choked. He was very serious listening to her that he forgot he is on his way to drink his tea.

"Master, that's a joke, right?"

"Of course she isn't joking. There is nothing important about it." Falecia spoke up.

"Then why we suddenly talking about him?" Clara asked.

"Isn't that obvious to teach Noel about a little bit of history? I can't believe she ruined everything."

The reason why they came to this place is actually for normal conversation but then the topic brought to Noel being bad in history. Thus, they start talking about history and to the point it was related to Novarios. Falecia already prepared so much thing to make Noel at least bit interested to hear about Novarios but then Teronna came and ruined her plan. But when Teronna spoke up, she was looking at her with doubtful eyes. She felt that the old witch(Teronna) knew the history well and more of it but throw that idea away once Teronna spoke again.

"Noel, you should clean your clothes. Although you were shocked, please get shocked with a manner. Don't spit out the tea." Teronna mocked him. Obviously, she was speaking nonsense, but Noel already thought of how to get shocked with a manner.

"Really... you already starting to make a harem." She sighed.

"Clara, your father might like him. A harem king meets a harem son of viscount! Bam, he would be very excited."

"Master surely joking, that father... why he is always trying to have fun with others. He even doesn't care about-" me, before she said that, Teronna already closed her mouth and smiling.

"Shh, he is your father. The way he treats you and others are different. If you want to know, quickly get married to Noel."

Instantly both Clara's and Noel's faces reddened. Falecia who saw this had grim expression and slapped Noel. Though her slap was relatively weak, it was enough to make Noel prostrate to her at once.

"Aah... this girl. You shouldn't restrict man like that." Teronna directed it to Falecia.

"If man were not behaving properly like the wife's wish. He would become a wild animal; such a thing isn't a man anymore." Falecia replied with a smile, but her smile bringing so much hostility towards Teronna. Yet Teronna only smiled at her too and patted Clara's head.

"The tournament soon will begin. Are both of you ready?" She referred to Clara and Noel only. Both of entered the tournament but not with Falecia. Her body had been weak since birth, so she couldn't participate and only wish Noel for the best.

"We are certainly ready. But I’m afraid we're not very strong." Clara agreed with what Noel said. Both of them strong, but compared to others, they are weaker. Even if Noel had the seed of fire, it doesn't mean he is special. There are far stronger people than him and the land is vast, who knows a black horse might suddenly appear.

"Don't worry, just focus and do the best. Of course, the victory is worth it but what you two need is an experience to temper yourselves."

Teronna's words were true. It doesn't matter if they are the champion or not. There is so much time for them to improve. By fighting against different people, it will allow them to learn through experience against fighting different opponents. Enlarging their knowledge for what they must do against different opponents. This is an important factor to develop better.

Afterward, they parted away. Noel and Falecia went home together while holding hands. Two of them smiling to each other and ignoring the look of people.

"Oh? The second best is actually dating. What a surprise." A mocking tone and familiar one, of course, it was Glein.

"Glein." Noel said it coldly.

"Glein, can we help you? If not, please excuse us." While on the other hand, Falecia answered quite calm and friendly. But Glein clicked his tongue.

"Right, Noel, do you want a piece of good news?"

"A good news?"

"Yes, you probably won't believe this but... I'll say it." He smiled happily, "Evan is alive."

Noel instantly stiffened. Certainly, the good news is good and very good. But how did he know? How Evan reached this place? And where is he? He wanted to ask so much.

"First. I saw him a few days ago. I know his face well even one time only. Second, I don't know where his whereabouts, he might be in this city but where? Third, he is here but he didn't come to you, why? What's his reason? Fourth, is he really Evan?"

"What do you mean by fourth?"

"Idiot, by outside. He has resembled Evan but what about inside? What if he was dead and being possessed? I found him by coincidence and unable to found him anymore. So, this is the piece of good news." Glein said and was about to leave before suddenly Noel grabbed him.

"Where did you see him? How?"

"Hmm... where... I don't know. But I know who talked to him." He said with a grin.

"Who?" Noel urged.

"Tch, idiot. Aren't you just too happy for your dog?"

"Glein! Do not speak like that!" Falecia glared at him which makes Glein clicked his tongue.

"I don't know what so good about him." His words obviously contained jealousy and anger, it was really ambiguous where his words directed at.

"He met with a girl. From the academy, her name is Laiya. Friend of Sarah and Aina. She is first year."

"You know so much." Noel slightly astonished, “Are you perhaps a stalker?"

"Damn shrimp, I’ll beat you up at the tournament." He said while walking away. But then, from afar a stone flew at Noel which hits Noel's head quite hard.

"Ow, he really crazy..." Noel looking at Glein distastefully. As for Falecia, she is looking at him with worry.

"Why him?! I could protect you better than anyone else! I could even kill the-"

"Don't speak like that!"

She remembered about the past and shook her head. Changing her face with a refreshing smile and pulled Noel to keep walking.

The next day. Noel starting to search Laiya and found her at the academy.

"What do you want with Laiya?"

But it turned out to be quite hard. Noel was blocked by Layna's two friends, Aina and Sarah.

"I would like to speak with her."

"Huh? Are you trying to hit on her?" Sarah asked in disdain.

"No... it's-"

"Aren't all men same? I heard you have a fiancée? Now you want more?" Aina spoke up. Clearly, her words were full of hostility.

"It's about Evan!" He spoke up right away. Sarah and Aina frowned then looked at Laiya who reading a book.

"Laiya." Aina called.

"Yes?"

"He wants to speak with you."

"Oh? Is he not a bad guy?"

"Who knows? But just talk to him. We'll follow."

Layla slowly nodded and they went to another place to talk.

"Evan?"

"Yes, he has white hair, blue eyes. His body is tall and looks older than us but he is actually sixteen years old."

"Friend of you?"

"Yes!" Noel spoke with eyes shone.

"We met, twice by fate. First we bumped each other and second, we met near the registration for the tournament."

Noel somewhat shocked by Laiya said by fate but he didn't mind it and asks, "Is he going to join the tournament?"

"Yes."

Noel didn't hide his joy and smile widely but it was for a short moment.

"Do you know where he lives?"

"No, I don't. Rather, is he very important to you?"

Important? Yes, to him Evan is an important friend but it could be said that Evan is irreplaceable friend. Though their times is short, they are quite close to each other.

"Yes, an irreplaceable one."

Hearing that, Laiya smiled and walks away along with her friends. When she far away that Noel suddenly remembered about the girl who defeat him in the exam. She is very alike with Laiya.

"Could it be her?"

After school. Noel decided to search for Evan's whereabouts. In such a large city, him alone isn't enough. One day, isn't enough, not two days or three days. Eventually, the tournament is came nearing and he couldn't find Evan at all.

"You so desperate to find him. It will affect your health." Clara said with worry. She is also helping Noel to find Evan but got nothing so far. She was worrying f about him because Noel almost pushed away everything just to find Evan.

Noel didn't answer but smile only. It is true that he is not in good condition, tirelessly looking around but found nothing. Even with his current strong body, he will gain fatigue.

"Noel!" Suddenly Falecia called, she had a bright face and says, "Evan sent a message!"

"What?"

"He said he wanted to meet you outside the city!"

"What?" Noel still couldn't believe. He had been searching all the time and then Evan sent a message to meet him outside? It felt like his effort is wasted, but Noel didn't think so.

"Where?"

"South gate but he said you must go alone."

"Got it!"

At once he departed to the south gate. Leaving everything else. He used magic to run fast and arrived at the south gate. Outside the city, stood a man wearing a casual white shirt and black trousers. His body is tall and well-built, his blue eyes staring at Noel intensely.

"Evan!" Noel happily cheered and runs to him.

"Come follow me," Evan said with a smile.

Happiness in Noel's face erased with confusion. They just met and seems like Evan didn't care much. Nevertheless, he follows Evan.

They went quite far from the road and people. Evan suddenly stopped and looking at Noel.

"I didn't intend to meet you this early." He said which left Noel puzzled.

"But I fear for the future. Anyway, it's nice to see you, Noel."

"Evan where-"

"We don't have much time, so let's go to the point. Later, after the tournament, we can talk as much as we want."

"Evan..."

"Noel." Evan's tone instantly changed to heavy one. His eyes gazed at him like a hunter. Noel froze up for a moment since he didn't expect for Evan to look at him like that.

"Show me your green fire."

Noel shocked, how did Evan know he got green fire? But seems like Evan wouldn't answer that and he must show him.

"Show me your strongest attack."

After much hesitation, Noel inhaled and took a ready stance. He is determined, he will use his strongest attack at once.

Green fire burst out and engulfed his both hands, a pair of wings appeared behind his back and flapping.

Evan knitted his eyebrows and softly sighed.

'So you really...'

"Here I come!"

Noel burst out, his foots boosted by green fire and flew towards Evan at high speed. With his mana gathered on his right hand, he thrust his right hand and the fire formed a lance shape.

Evan only stood there without moving, he is calm and that makes Noel worried. He worried if Evan didn't dodge, he will injure him. But, the next action Evan took blown him up.

An ice suddenly appeared in front Noel and blocked his attack, then the ice launched a block which hit and made Noel flew away.

Noel rolled on the ground and slowly stood. He didn't expect for sudden ice to appear. But he didn't expect that the ice able to stop his green fire. From his experience, normal ice is melted instantly by his green fire. But then he realized that the ice appeared out of nowhere is a white ice.

"Evan... you..."

The first thing came to Noel's mind is instant cast paper. He thought Evan had the paper but then he shook his head in disagreed.

On the other hand, Evan looking at Noel with conflict.

'Now... you must realize my presence Osion.'

'You fooled me once, but you can't escape against. I will come for you.'

'Osion...' Evan grew grimmer.

'I'll kill you for real and I won't let you hurt my friend.'

The resolution he made. What he couldn't do in the past perhaps bring disaster and fortune to Noel. Now, he must erase that disaster.

Evan isn't the genius of this era. He wasn’t the hero of this era. He is the old timers; he isn't supposed to shine in this era. He wasn’t a hero anymore.

"Evan, you used ice magic."

"I did."

"That's amazing! You blocked my green fire!"

"Nothing much. If your green fire were stronger, I wouldn't able to block it."

What he said is true. But there is another way to stop Noel even if his green fire became strong. Because Noel is human and mortal, he is easily killable.

"Now... your girls must be worried, Noel. I didn't expect for you to have another girl except for Falecia." Evan grinned.

"Wha- how did you- no! That was- we're friends!" Noel flustered. He didn't think that Evan would say that, so different from the past. Back then, he would be the one who forced Evan to get near a girl and teasing him but now, seems like he is the one who gets near a girl and got teased.

"Anyway, glad you are okay."

After short of calming down, Noel smiled and reply, "You too. Evan, you should-"

"No, I can't. It might be hard to understand but I had other matters to do. You might be confused, but you don't need to worry. No matter what happens, I’ll be fine."

"That doesn't sound assuring at all."

"It is."

For a long time, they are staring each other. There is so much that Noel wanted to ask yet he knew that Evan wouldn't answer them.

"We will meet again right?"

"Yes, we will."

They will meet again in the tournament, surely, but that's not what they meant. Will they meet again after the tournament? Hearing Evan answered positively, Noel nodded in satisfaction and bid his farewell.

After Noel left. Evan sighed and left too.