Hizashi No Kage
Chapter - 29 ( Last Second Chapter )
After the familiar tournament, classes returned to normal. The fight between Manjula and Zavier still hadn’t been resolved. Because of this, Manjula had become quite sad and gloomy.
Akash was happy that there was tension between Manjula and Zavier, but he was upset that Manjula was feeling down.
Meanwhile, an important announcement was made. The world’s top 15 Knights were coming to the academy, and they were going to select two students each from the first-year Knights class. The selected students would then get the opportunity to go to those Knights’ respective countries for three months to live and train with them.
This process happened every year and was only for second-semester students. Sometimes more than 15 Knights came, sometimes fewer. All the students were excited.
Finally, those 15 Knights arrived at the academy.
The method was very straightforward. One by one, students would go and give an interview in front of the Knights. In the end, the Knights would announce their decisions.
All the students were seated in the classroom. One by one, students were being called.
Akash’s turn came. He walked up to the examiners and greeted everyone.
At that moment, so much mana was flowing in the room that Akash couldn’t help but be affected by it. Powerful energy was radiating from each Knight.
Akash’s attention went to one woman. She was very beautiful and looked young, around 20-25 years old. But what caught Akash’s attention was that she was also a Light Magic type user. For the first time, Akash had seen another Light user besides himself.
That woman also sensed that Akash was a Light type user. She immediately said, “Boy, tell me your level. Quickly.”
“87,” Akash replied.
The woman became even more excited and said, “Excellent! That means your body can handle my training. Now just answer one more question, and tell the truth. Why do you want to become a Knight?”
After thinking for a moment, Akash said, “Because I want to impress a girl.”
Some examiners burst out laughing at his answer, while others looked annoyed. But the woman stood up from her chair and shouted, “This boy is mine! Listen up, everyone — no one else is choosing him.”
A male examiner objected to this. In the next instant, the woman appeared behind him at light speed and threatened, “You didn’t say anything, right?”
The man gritted his teeth and sat back down.
“Wow… what stage of Light Speed was that?” Akash thought to himself.
Anyway, his interview was over.
All the interviews were completed.
Max Sir entered the class with a list and began announcing which Knight had chosen which students.
“Lily and Zavier, both of you have been chosen by Knight Vulcan.”
When Max Sir made this announcement, Zavier and Lily were filled with excitement. Vulcan was currently the strongest Fire type Knight. Zavier had wanted to be chosen by him.
But Manjula burned with jealousy upon hearing the news. She didn’t like the idea of Zavier staying with another girl for three months. Still, seeing Zavier’s happiness, she controlled herself.
“Manjula, Akash, both of you have been chosen by Knight Rebecca.”
When Max Sir announced this, Akash was overjoyed.
But just then, Zavier signaled something to Manjula. Akash noticed it and understood everything.
The very next moment, Manjula stood up to say something, but before she could speak, Akash said, “Sir, can I reject their offer?”
The entire class was stunned. Max Sir, and especially Manjula and Zavier, were the most shocked.
Knight Rebecca was no ordinary Knight. She was among the best magic users in the entire world and held countless titles.
“Think carefully. You might not get a chance to train with any Knight,” Max Sir said.
“Yes, I understand,” Akash replied clearly.
When Max Sir went and informed Knight Rebecca, she shouted, “What? He rejected me? Me?!!!”
In the end, no Knight chose Akash. A Knight could only select two students.
Now Akash had to spend the next three months alone in the academy.
When Manjula was packing her belongings and leaving, she met Akash once. She simply asked, “Why did you refuse?”
“Just like that,” Akash said.
Manjula left.
---
Akash had suffered a huge loss, but he wasn’t sad about it. While the other students were going out for three months to train with Knights, Akash trained with the Knights who were present inside the academy. The other students may have moved ahead in experience, but Akash was fine with this deal.
For three months, he studied under three teachers. He started his day with 4 hours of weapon practice with Jacob Sir. After some rest, he learned Healing Magic from Tara Ma’am, and finally studied Magic Theory with Sapna Ma’am.
No first-year students were left in the academy, nor were there any Knights or Mages. The Mage students had also gone out for three months for training with Proper Mages.
Ramya had even taken Neelu with her.
Because of this, the teachers had a lot of free time.
Akash completely immersed himself in training for three months. At the same time, he continued learning the Light Speed skill and Blood Ritual.
He missed Manjula, Zara, Neelu, and the others a lot, but he comforted himself with the thought that when everyone returned, they would find him many times stronger.
---
Three months were almost over. Akash’s level had now reached 88.
He had become a master at wielding the axe.
In magic, he had also started understanding many things that he didn’t understand before.
And the biggest thing he had learned was the High Heal spell.
Besides that, Akash had almost completely learned the Blood Ritual. He just couldn’t use it inside the academy. Blood Ritual was generally prohibited within the academy premises.
And… Akash had also achieved Stage Two of Light Speed.
---
All the students returned from their training. Akash was eager to see Manjula, but he couldn’t meet her because she had gone to meet Zavier.
The next day, Akash saw her in class. Manjula had become so powerful that even her aura had changed. Akash was stunned when he saw her.
In fact, the entire class atmosphere had changed. Zavier and Lily had also become quite powerful.
Akash, who had been happy with his own growth until now, suddenly started feeling small.
Though he couldn’t talk to Manjula during class that day, in the evening, while Akash was training, Manjula came to meet him along with Zara.
“You have one hour, Zara, not more,” Manjula said. She didn’t even look at Akash.
Zara had grown quite big now. Akash wanted to talk to Manjula for a long time, but she wasn’t in the mood to talk.
“Hey, wait, Manjula! Why are you behaving like this with me?” Akash asked with a smile.
Manjula stared at him for a few moments, then said, “Let me tell you clearly. My marriage with Zavier has been fixed for next year, and Zavier doesn’t like you at all. I also feel that you keep trying to come between me and Zavier. So I’m telling you clearly today — never talk to me again. Understood? You can meet Zara once in a while, that’s all.”
Akash was stunned. He thought that he and Manjula have become friends, but what had suddenly happened? He couldn’t say anything.
Manjula left. Then Zara immediately told him, “Papa, all this was done by that red-haired guy. Yesterday when Mommy went to meet him, he kept badmouthing you for a long time. He was also trying to turn me against you.”
Akash understood everything. Zavier was now fully taking advantage of Manjula. Manjula loved Zavier very much. Zavier must have used this love as a weapon and trapped her in a web of promises and oaths.
Akash sat holding Zara in his arms for a long time, feeling sad.
---
Only about 15 days were left for the second semester to end. Along with it, the first year was also coming to a close. All the other students were preparing for the end-of-semester competition. Poor Akash was drowning in sorrow.
Exactly one week before the semester ended, the students were informed that the theme of the end-of-semester competition would be — **Knights Duel**. All kinds of weapons were allowed, but familiars and armor were prohibited.
Another big announcement was made: Some people from the Omalia Knights Academy on the Omalia continent were coming here. Students who impressed them would get the chance to go to OKA. OKA was an academy exclusively for Knights. The Knights from this academy were world-famous. There was always intense competition between Wand and Sword Academy and OKA.
Anyway, the day of the competition arrived. Today only the first-year Knights students were competing. The match would take place in an open field — just a wide ground and nothing else. The rules were clear:
- Either when someone accepts defeat,
- Or when someone is no longer able to fight,
- Or when someone dies.
In these situations, that person would be considered defeated.
An invisible shield had been created between the spectators and the arena walls so that no attack from the fighters would hit the audience.
Finally, Max Sir announced the first match — **Akash versus Zavier**.
From one side, Akash walked in holding his axe. From the other side, Zavier came holding his Flame Sword.
They looked at each other, and in the next moment, they began exchanging blows. Neither of them was waiting at all. From the very beginning, they started fighting with full power.
Zavier was surprised because Akash was also using Mach 50 speed just like him. The clash of their weapons was so intense that sparks flew and the sound was so loud that the spectators went crazy.
Everyone was also shocked by Akash’s axemanship. He had truly improved himself a lot.
After exchanging blows for a long time, Akash used a surprise attack and disarmed Zavier.
The spectators fell silent.
Zavier was furious. He immediately created Fire Mana Swords in his hands and attacked Akash at Mach 100 speed.
Akash had been waiting for this. He instantly dropped his axe and created Light Shield Domes around his hands. Zavier’s speed was still higher. To stop him, Akash began raising Walls of Light one after another. Yes — two spells at the same time.
Zavier couldn’t move forward at full speed because walls of light kept appearing in his path.
Akash maintained a safe distance and kept defending.
Zavier’s long-range attacks were also useless because Akash’s shield had become very powerful.
Zavier realized that Akash had come fully prepared. He tried to go behind Akash, but a Wall of Light appeared there too. By the time he broke it, Akash rushed in to punch him. Just as Zavier was thinking of dodging the punch, Akash landed a Light Kick in his stomach instead. Zavier flew back and fell. Blood started coming from his mouth.
The spectators were going wild. Everyone felt that Akash would finally take revenge for his previous defeat.
But then Zavier spat out the blood from his mouth and shouted, “Very good, Akash! Very good! You show nice tricks. Now let’s see what the real power of a Knight looks like.”
Saying this, Zavier activated a new spell — **Mana Manifestation: Wings of Fire**. Large, burning wings of fire emerged from Zavier’s back, completely made of his Fire Magic.
All the spectators, even the teachers, were stunned. Because such high-level magic could only be used by third-year students. Zavier had learned this spell during his three months of training.
Zavier flew up above Akash’s head. Akash understood the moment he saw him that things had just become very difficult. Then Zavier began attacking relentlessly.
His speed had now reached Stage Fourth — Mach 500. There was no way Akash could dodge him now.
The first strike landed on Akash’s back. A large burning mark appeared there. Akash screamed in pain. The next strike hit his stomach directly. A big burning mark appeared there too. And then, out of nowhere, a flying knee struck Akash’s face.
Akash’s nose broke. Blood flowed heavily. Akash fell down.
Now Zavier picked up his sword and raised it high in the air. But Akash was not defeated yet. While lying on the ground, he used High Heal on himself.
“Oye!” Akash shouted as he stood up. Zavier looked and was stunned.
Akash’s entire body was glowing, but it wasn’t Mana Overflow. It was something different. It looked like Akash’s mana had also become angry.
From the spectators, Manjula uttered, “Rage State!”
(Rage — It gives a powerful boost similar to Overflow, but it activates through anger. The more anger, the greater the power and the more dangerous the side effects.)
Because of this Rage State, Akash’s power increased several times. He charged towards Zavier at full speed. His speed had also reached Mach 400.
Fire erupted from Zavier’s wings again, and he too rushed towards Akash with his sword.
Both of them pounced on each other like wild beasts.
Zavier was attacking with his sword repeatedly. Akash was fighting bare-handed.
Some punches landed on Zavier, and some strikes hit Akash.
But suddenly Zavier increased his speed several times over, and in the next moment, his sword pierced through Akash’s chest.
Akash fell backwards.
The match was over.
Zavier had won.
Whether anyone else noticed or not, Manjula saw it clearly — Zavier’s sword had been aimed at Akash’s heart. But Akash moved slightly to the side at the last moment.
Manjula couldn’t believe it. “Has Zavier’s jealousy grown to this extent?” she thought. But she had always kept her distance from Akash, so why.…
Manjula couldn’t think much about it because her own match was coming up.
Tara Ma’am and the rest of the medical staff were present ringside. Akash was given emergency treatment immediately. Ramya and Bob, who were sitting in the audience, quickly came down. Akash was being taken to the medical room. Both of them went with him.
Akash’s wound was so deep that it couldn’t be healed with any healing potion, and no one was going to use Elixir on him. So he underwent surgery. He received 16 stitches both in front and behind where the sword had pierced.
Akash remained unconscious even after the surgery. The healers had given up, saying they couldn’t say anything now.
Bob and Ramya were very worried. Ramya’s eyes were filled with tears. Zara and Neelu were also crying.
On the other side, the tournament had reached its final round. Zavier was facing Manjula. Everyone thought Manjula wouldn’t be able to defeat Zavier’s Wings of Fire. But when Manjula summoned her Shadow Wings, everyone went crazy. Manjula won the tournament.
After the match, she went to hug Zavier, but he walked away angrily. Manjula was tired of Zavier’s behavior, but she endured it.
After the tournament, Max Sir called everyone to the class and immediately expelled 10 students. It was also announced that if Akash regained consciousness, he could stay in the class, but if he didn’t, then there was nothing to say.
One month’s vacation began.
Before going home, Manjula met Ramya once. Ramya told her that she wouldn’t go home until Akash regained consciousness. Manjula was a little surprised. She couldn’t understand when Ramya and Akash had become so close.
Anyway, Manjula didn’t say anything about her decision.
When Manjula was about to leave, Ramya said from behind, “Didi, if I were in your place, I would never marry a guy like Zavier.”
Manjula couldn’t believe it. She turned around angrily, but Ramya had already left without waiting for her reply.
Manjula became worried. She loved Zavier. But No one seemed to understand this. Not even Zavier himself.
Another headache arose when Zara also insisted on staying with Akash. Manjula tried hard to convince him, but he refused. In fact, he even asked Manjula to stay. Finally, Manjula spoke strictly, “Do you think your papa is so weak? He will get up. He will definitely get up. But how will he feel when he wakes up and finds out how much trouble everyone faced because of him? If you still want to stay, then stay.”
This had a deep impact on Zara. He too left with Manjula.
The Mage students also had their tournament. Neither Bob nor Ramya performed very well because they were worried about Akash.
After the tournament, when Ramya told Bob about her decision to stay, he also decided to stay. But Ramya asked him to go to Akash’s parents and tell them that Akash had received an extra project, which is why he couldn’t come home during the holidays.
Bob didn’t say anything further. He quietly accepted Ramya’s words.
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