Chapter 20: The Birth of a Leader
The sun blazed high above as the training camp entered its second day.
The instructors watched from the shadows, curious to see how the students would perform without direct supervision.
At the center of it all stood Synoh, no longer the cheerful troublemaker, but a sharp, commanding presence.
His voice rang out clearly across the field.
"Squad A, control the perimeter. Squad B, focus on defense spells. Squad C, bait and retreat if the enemy presses forward. Remember — protect the injured first, fight second!"
Everyone listened without hesitation.
There was something different about Synoh now.
He wasn't simply giving orders — he was seeing the battlefield, predicting moves before they happened.
When a surprise "mock enemy" unit charged from the forest, Synoh was already ready.
He had set up traps, flanking squads, and quick-response teams.
Within minutes, the enemy was overwhelmed without a single casualty.
Even the instructors exchanged looks of disbelief.
---
On the sidelines, Lux and Yuta stood together, both watching with quiet awe.
"He's... amazing," Yuta muttered.
Lux nodded.
A warm, almost proud smile crossed his face. "Yeah. He's not just strong with a sword. He's born for this."
Edward, arms crossed and usual scowl in place, stood a little farther back.
But seeing Lux and Yuta smile again, seeing Synoh command the field so brilliantly... it softened something inside him.
He muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for only himself to hear:
"Keep standing... keep fighting... You can become the greatest general this world has ever seen."
Edward smirked, then turned away before anyone could see the rare, genuine emotion flicker across his face.
---
That day, the entire camp — instructors and students alike — realized something:
Synoh Vindral wasn't just another knight in training.
He was something far greater.
And his legend was only just beginning.