Legacy of the Dark Sage

Noir frowned slightly as he studied Millie's expression. He did not expect her forfeiture to be intentional.

One of the reasons he did not accept her as his disciple even though her Array knowledge was commendable was because he could not read her. She looked innocent and without flaw. However, Noir sensed underlying darkness around her. He could not put it into words before, but after today, he now understood.

Millie had a manipulative nature.

While her forfeiture was unnecessary, Noir could not deny her action saved them. Because if he had followed through with his intervention earlier, the end result would put the Conclave in a dire situation. He would have received the ire of both the Courtenay Family and the Royal Family and jeopardized their members' participation in the remaining competitions. After all, both families were part of the head committee.

Nevertheless, Millie's action ended up with them owing her a favor.

They could ignore what she did, but there was no telling what she would do afterward. Such was the nature of a manipulative person. It did not matter who they ended up sacrificing as long as they got what they wanted and still managed to get away with it.

If Noir had been privy to Kyran's past, he would realize how on point his intuition had been.

After all, Kyran had fallen victim to Millie's manipulation before.

When Kyran diverted from the scenario Millie had in mind, she acted like a victim and got practically every student in the military school to ostracize him. That incident made Kyran cautious around women not part of the Regis Clan. He also realized how crooked people's thoughts could be and swore never again to leave the walls of the Regis Clan. He would rather live the rest of his life in seclusion than be in the company of other people. Alas, fate had a different idea, and Kyran was forced to leave the estate.

"Please, don't make that face, Chairman Noir," Millie said, looking worried and somewhat offended. "I may have done something unnecessary, but seeing Disciple Tyr looking lost, I could not stand it."

Kyran raised his brows and fought back a snort. Even Hamish could not help but frown at her words. Owen, who seemed to harbor a special feeling for Millie, also looked a bit uncertain. They could not imagine Kyran showing a lost expression even when faced with an unexpected situation.

"That's why I decided to intervene. Of course, this is only a friendly exchange, and my forfeiture seemed irrelevant. However, you both know—," she paused and gave a meaningful look to Vaness and then to Noir, "—how the result of this particular competition will affect the relationship between our factions."

Noir's eyes narrowed, "You appear innocent, Lady Millie, but it seems I am mistaken about you."

Millie's eyes widened at once. With an innocent expression, she shook her head, "Oh no, please, Chairman Noir. Do not misunderstand. I may have demanded compensation for what I did, but I will not ask anything unreasonable."

"What is it that you want then?" Vaness asked.

Millie regarded him before answering, "As I said, I have a proposal for tomorrow's Solo Competition. It is still up to you whether you accept it or not. You listening to my proposal is enough compensation for what I did."

She looked at Kyran and smiled, "Disciple Tyr, I will also participate in tomorrow's Solo Competition."

Kyran tilted his head but did not reply.

"Please have a match with me."

Kyran raised one brow and asked, "I may not look it, but I don't fight women."

"'Don't,' not 'can't,' meaning you can fight, but as a man, your ego won't let you, is that it?"

"No," Kyran replied with a slight smile, "I am not good at holding back, you see. I don't want to end up disfiguring a woman's pretty face."

Millie giggled while the others looked at Kyran with black lines on their heads.

Just what in the world was Kyran even saying?

"So Disciple Tyr does say some silly stuff," Millie remarked.

"...."

"Anyway," Millie's expression turned serious, "Please consider it, Disciple Tyr."

"...?"

Instead of answering Kyran, Millie looked at Noir and said, "Chairman Noir, it is unfortunate I cannot learn from you. I admit feeling disappointed when you did not choose me as your disciple. However, after seeing Disciple Tyr's work and witnessing him in action, I realized how ambitious I had been. Disciple Tyr's talent in Array is head and shoulders above mine. Still...."

She lowered her head and said, using a louder voice, "Let me face Disciple Tyr in a match, Chairman Noir! If I manage to hold my own against him with my Array abilities, please allow me to become his disciple!"

"W-Wha?"

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"D-Dis- What?"

"..."

Owen, Hamish, Vaness, Noir, and Kyran uttered, respectively.

Millie straightened and continued, "You can only take one disciple, so I cannot ask you to take me in. However, Disciple Tyr doesn't have a disciple, right? Given his accomplishments, he can already accept a disciple, so—."

"B-But you already have a master..." Owen muttered.

Millie shook her head and looked at him, "I don't. I am indeed learning under Master Evan, but I am not his disciple. He taught Array to most younger members of our family, and that includes me. But at the end of the day, he only has one disciple, which isn't me."

"Be that as it may," Noir started, "Tyr is still learning and so—."

"Please, Chairman Noir! Please consider it!" Millie pleaded and lowered her head once more.

"Rather than talking to my master, why are you not asking for my opinion?" Kyran asked.

They all fell silent.

Kyran had a point.

Millie slowly straightened her back and looked at him bashfully. With slightly flushed cheeks, she said, "I... just thought it appropriate to ask Chairman Noir's approval first..."

Hamish looked at Millie with a somewhat blank expression. Seeing her flushed face, coupled with going to Chairman Noir first than to Kyran, she seemed to be asking the older man to become Kyran's bride instead of a disciple.

"Tyr is right," Noir said with a sigh. "He is my disciple, yes. However, I cannot decide for him to take in a disciple. It is a decision he has to make on his own."

"But—."

"I'm curious," Kyran said while looking at Millie intently. "Normally, one would challenge someone in a fight to win. But instead, you only said, 'to hold your own against me.' Do you lack the confidence about winning?"

Millie lowered her gaze, "I... cannot win. I know my limitations."

"Yet you want me to take you as a disciple. That is not very convincing—."

"I know my limitations, but that is under Master Evan's guidance. I-If you... If I learn from you, I know I will be able to break through my limits and grow!" Millie blurted; her eyes shone with determination.

Kyran fell silent as he studied her. He could feel Noir's eyes on him and knew the older man was waiting for him to decide.

Looking at Millie's olive-green eyes brought back unpleasant memories to Kyran. He was positive she had other motives for wanting to be his disciple, and he had a few ideas. None of which was pleasant.

Nevertheless, Kyran and Millie had a common 'enemy.'

The Crown Princess.

Knowing Millie's true nature, she would never get along with Haylee. Both had hidden darkness, and while the latter was more open about her intentions, both liked to manipulate others. Still, Millie's reasons were mediocre compared to Haylee's.

In Kyran's opinion, Millie's reason for manipulating others was to gain influence and power within the Courtenay Family. On the other hand, Haylee was doing it to gain loyal followers and an undying army to take on... well, Kyran was unsure yet, but whatever drove her was definitely not on a mere 'family level.'

It was definitely something bigger and might not even be limited to the Human plane.

Kyran sighed inwardly. He did plan on getting Millie's interest and used it to gain access to the Courtenay Family's higher echelon, so her wanting to be his disciple would make things easier.

However, taking in a disciple at this point in time might hinder his plan to infiltrate the Royal Family. Millie also went against Haylee's scenario, so the latter probably disliked the former. Kyran did not want to get caught up in their infighting.

"You said that hearing your proposal is enough to compensate for what you did," Kyran finally spoke after a long pause.

"Yes."

"And it will be up to us whether to accept it or not."

"That's right."

"Then the answer is no. We don't accept it."

Millie's expression instantly fell. She opened her mouth and was about to argue; however, Kyran lifted his hand to stop her.

"Let me finish," he continued.

Hearing his words, Millie looked hopeful and closed her mouth to let him continue.

Kyran took a deep breath and said, "Let's wager instead."

Millie's eyes widened in confusion, "Wager?"

"I don't like bullying women, so let's fight using Array only. If, as you said, you manage to hold your own against me within five minutes, it's your win. But if not, then it's my win."

"That's..."

"As to our wager. If you win, I'll teach you Array."

Millie's expression immediately lit up.

"Let me make it clear. I will only teach you Array. I will not take you as a disciple."

"Okay! That is more than enough!" Millie replied, nodding her head in excitement.

"But if I win..." Kyran paused and smiled.

However, Noir and Vaness saw how his smile did not meet his eyes.

"You'll have to do something for me. What do you say?"

Millie's expression remained the same. However, Kyran saw her eyes dim slightly.

If there was one thing a manipulative person did not like, it was being asked to do something.

"Can I ask what it is?"

"Don't worry. I will not have you do something you can't or don't want to do."

Millie giggled, "Don't get me wrong, Disciple Tyr. I don't mind doing anything you ask me to. But while I trust you will not let me do something unreasonable, I am still part of the Courtenay Family. I am afraid they will not be happy."

Kyran chuckled, "There it is again. Lack of confidence. You sound like I've already won the wager. Not that I'll lose tomorrow."

Millie pursed her lips. But then she took a deep breath and said, "I-If you agree to at least let me watch you work for a few days if I lose, then I don't mind doing anything you ask. I don't care what my family says."

"Deal."

"T-That's fast."

"What? You don't want to?"

"N-No! I'll wager!"

Kyran smiled, "Then let's meet in the arena tomorrow."

Millie returned his smile, "Alright. Just wait, I'll have you teach me Array!"