Spitting out bitten fingernails was how Knight Asterix processed his thoughts.
And when the fingernails were all gone, he went for the skin on his fingers.
'Why is she so worried about Liam?'
He didn't know why Lady Rhyla had suddenly paid so much attention to Liam.
She was not a paranoid person at all. She knew when to worry and when not to.
So if he were to apply her track record to this situation, it could only mean one thing.
That Liam Maddach was a legitimate threat.
"Impossible." He shook his head as he wiped his wet fingers on his clothes.
He had handled Liam Maddach before—forcing him out of his room.
It was strange how Liam had changed, but it shouldn't mean much.
At least, not to him.
"Alright, enough." He told himself to stay focused as he continued walking, following his orders.
Rhyla had trusted him to manage this situation so she wouldn't have to worry about it.
And there was one person he needed to be 100% certain could do the job.
Lord Jorvik Maddach.
As he reached House Maddach's training area, he saw Liam's upcoming opponent exchanging punches with his sparring partner.
Jorvik's build was no longer on the skinny side, it was fuller now, more defined.
He looked better than before.
Stronger.
Tougher.
More durable.
A stark contrast from his previously leaner physique.
"I guess that's what the product does to everybody…"
However, in the sparring match, he was still getting beaten.
He tried blocking the punches aimed at his head.
Seeing this, his partner switched tactics and kicked him in the abdomen.
Jorvik instinctively lowered his guard to protect himself.
'Another mistake,' Asterix thought as Jorvik took a direct punch to the chin.
Wobbling, his partner lunged at him, grabbing both his legs before pulling them out from under him, slamming his back onto the floor.
"You have to stop getting tricked by my feints. Improve your blocking. Do not leave any openings for me to exploit."
Jorvik massaged the back of his head as he struggled to stand.
His mistakes were bad, but they were also understandable.
If someone kept punching your head repeatedly, you would naturally protect it.
But if you sacrificed your defense for the rest of your body just to guard your head, your opponent would easily take advantage.
As the Knight paced toward the recovering Jorvik, he felt a stare from behind.
He turned, scanning the area to see who was watching.
Liam stood there, looking at Jorvik from afar as he wrote notes in his book.
But as his eyes met Asterix's, he quickly left.
'He was studying him?'
Jorvik stood up and approached him. "Why is the Knight of the Lady of House Maddach here?"
"You will play an important role in just a few days. I am just here to see if you are ready."
"And why would you care?"
"Because you are a descendant of House Maddach, and you aren't being considered for exile. Your opponent is. If you were to lose… wouldn't that say something?"
Jorvik smiled. "I am training not just to win. Everybody knows I will win."
It was true.
Nobody in House Maddach truly expected Liam to beat Jorvik.
The result was already set.
And until yesterday, before seeing Rhyla worried, Asterix had been sure of the outcome.
"I am here to make sure that I beat him completely." He stopped before adding, "But I can tell you are not concerned about whether I win or lose. You are here because of Valen."
Jorvik couldn't see how this situation was related to Valen at all, but if Asterix was here, then that had to be the reason.
"Sir Asterix, I am busy. So if you will." He pointed toward the doorway.
"You think you can beat him completely with those skills?"
"What?"
"Even if you win, you will make a fool of yourself."
Jorvik shook his head. "I will not."
"You know this yourself. After Liam and some others, who else can you beat?"
Jorvik took a while to answer.
"I am the way I am because the House puts all their resources into Valen… The only thing he did was be born of the Baron's wife. And that is why he is chosen to be Baron."
Biting his teeth, he continued, "And that is why they will never let someone like me ever touch the seat of the Baron."
The Knight smiled. "That… is where you are wrong."
"We can make you Baron."
Jorvik squinted. "How can you say that?"
"Because Valen is no longer in the Baronship race. Not for long, anyway."
"The Imperial Throne…" Jorvik muttered.
"Now you get it."
"You're saying I can be Baron while he gets to be Emperor?"
"It won't be easy, but it is possible."
He had expected a smile to form on Jorvik's face, but instead, his expression remained sour.
'I shouldn't just be Baron… I am meant for more. Why can't I be Emperor?'
His mind wandered.
But then he remembered that he had just been beaten by his sparring partner.
A realization struck him.
He wasn't even at the level of an heir.
How could anyone expect him to be Baron?
Much less Emperor?
He had to be realistic.
Or at the very least, take baby steps toward his goal.
Now, beat Liam.
Then, become Baron.
Lastly, become Emperor.
He stretched out his calloused hand toward Asterix.
The Knight shook his hand, smiling.
Anyone else would have just taken the match lightly.
It was Liam, after all.
But despite all his confidence, Jorvik was training as if Liam was a real threat.
'He will be fine.'
"What must I do?" he asked.
Asterix was not offering something small.
He was offering support for the Baronship.
Nothing came without a price.
Or at least, nothing worth that much.
Especially to the likes of him.
"Not much. Just win the match, completely. But to do that, we need to see just how good… or how bad your opponent really is."