Commander Joshua looked at the trio, his eyes filled with deep regrets. He didn't want to fight his student—or the princess, for that matter. These were not just faces in passing; they were people he had watched grow, people he had hoped would become pillars of the empire. But duty… duty always came first. That was the oath he had sworn, and he would uphold it even if it meant clashing blades with those he once held dear.
Unsheathing his sword, Joshua took his stance, ready to defend and stop the approach of Brian and company. His aura surged, heavy and resolute, weighing down the air around him like a storm about to break.
He waited for Brian to draw his sword, a small part of him—quiet but persistent—curious about how far his student had come. He wanted to see with his own eyes whether Brian had lived up to his potential. But the sight he anticipated never came. Instead, Brian raised his fingers with calm precision, as though tracing invisible lines in the air.
