Chapter 173: End of The Trial of Steel Arc

The exit doors slowly opened while the candidates began leaving the hall in groups, many of them immediately going to meet the family members and close people who had attended the ceremony for them.

The entire place became noisy again.

Different voices overlapped one another, some laughed loudly, others excitedly discussed the fights from earlier.

A few parents hugged their children tightly after not seeing them for a long time.

A warm atmosphere filled the hall completely even though it was naturally cold.

"All candidates need to come, receive their rewards before leaving!"

Two guards shouted loudly from the front.

The two men stood beside a long straight line of maids carrying space bags in both hands. The bags looked far better than the rough ones the candidates used during the trials.

The leather looked smoother.

The silver markings around the edges carried Ashenlocke’s crest.

And just from the Cognis flow leaking slightly from them, it was obvious these were higher-grade items.

Like that...

The candidates began lining up one after another to collect their rewards before returning to their families.

"So, what are we even supposed to use the old space bags for?"

A female candidate asked curiously while walking back with two male candidates after collecting hers.

Ezra, who stood quietly in line behind them, glanced at the old bag hanging on his waist.

I’m obviously going to find a way to sell this...Or maybe use it as extra storage.

He thought calmly while the line slowly moved forward.

After a few minutes passed, it finally became his turn.

Ezra opened the new space bag after receiving it and checked inside briefly.

"Sixth-grade Ese... and gold coins."

A faint impressed look appeared in his eyes.

The reward honestly exceeded what he expected.

He placed the new space bag over his shoulder, now carrying two bags at once, before calmly taking out a heat-stimulating pill from his pocket and swallowing it, then he began walking toward the hall exit.

The instant Ezra stepped outside...

A freezing breeze of snow swept across his face and clothes.

The cold wind carried traces of steam smoke and iron from the transport vehicles parked outside.

Ezra looked ahead.

The entire snow-covered field stretched far outward while white snow continued piling around the distant trees.

But what made his eyes twitch slightly...

Was the massive grounded Dirigible ahead.

The enormous airship stood like a moving fortress resting upon the snowfield.

Steam escaped from different sections of its body.

Its metal exterior reflected the pale winter light.

The giant boarding door had already opened while Highlines and Mainlines moved alongside their servants and guards toward it.

At the side...

Several Highline families and a few wealthy Lowlines entered steam carriages parked nearby while servants loaded luggage behind them.

Ezra quietly watched the moving crowd.

The leaving steam vehicles, the guards saluting and the exhausted candidates reuniting with people they missed.

Then...

He slowly turned his head back toward the large building behind him.

The memories of the trials replayed again inside his mind naturally.

The fights, the screams, the blood, the black room, the people who survived.

And the people who didn’t.

"Master Ezra."

A female voice suddenly came from in front of him.

Ezra’s eyes shifted immediately.

The maid standing before him bowed respectfully.

She wore the maid uniform of Ashenlocke, the black and silver design fitting neatly around her body. A medium-sized suitcase rested in her hand while two others stayed beside her feet in the snow.

Despite approaching quietly...

Ezra had already sensed her presence beforehand.

"Lucy at your service."

She lowered her head further.

"Nice working with you."

Ezra bowed slightly in return.

Lucy looked a little stunned seeing him return the greeting so naturally.

"I really appreciate you taking me in after our fight, Master."

Her voice carried genuine gratitude.

"Compared to the nobles I saw during the trials... I believed you were different."

She hesitated briefly.

"At least... you are among the good nobles that I saw in the place."

She bowed again.

"Thank you once more."

Ezra stared at her with his usual plain expression.

Honestly...

He still didn’t understand why she looked this grateful. He mainly accepted her because she would be useful.

That was all.

"It’s fine."

He replied calmly.

Meanwhile inside his head, Ezra was already planning how much work he intended making her do later.

"EZRA!"

Veda suddenly ran toward him from behind.

Nickolas, Linda, Tracy, and Bobby followed after him while several others walked behind the group.

Ezra narrowed his eyes slightly seeing the approaching crowd.

"Oh..."

Veda’s gaze shifted toward Lucy behind Ezra with a playful smile instantly appearing on his face.

"Ezra you playboy."

He teased shamelessly.

"Aren’t you supposed to be inside your transport already, Young Lord?"

Ezra replied flatly while completely ignoring the tease.

"I just came to say goodbye before we leave."

Veda pointed toward the massive Noble Dirigible behind him.

"Some of the Elders and Mainlines are still discussing things with the Highlines who didn’t arrive through the family airship."

Then Ezra looked toward the others beside him.

"What about you guys?"

He raised one brow while folding his arms.

"We followed the Young Lord."

Nickolas and Linda replied at the exact same time sharply while Tracy burst into laughter immediately afterward seeing both their reactions.

"I’m just here to say goodbye quickly."

Bobby pointed directly at Ezra while speaking.

"Are you leaving already, Bobby?"

Veda looked slightly saddened hearing that.

"Yeah."

Bobby nodded brightly.

"My home is pretty far from here, so the bus taking people toward the western main train station is leaving soon."

He smiled warmly.

"My parents are already waiting for me."

"Don’t worry Bobby, I’ll visit your place whenever I have time."

Veda rubbed Bobby’s hair naturally.

"Please do!"

Bobby smiled happily before suddenly turning back toward Ezra with a much more serious expression.

"Ezra!"

He pointed again.

This time Ezra genuinely felt awkward.

This was already the second time Bobby dramatically pointed at him during the conversation.

"You might not see me as your friend..."

Bobby’s voice became emotional.

"But I do. And I don’t care if you disapprove, you’re one of my dearest friends...And my teacher...And my sa..."

Tears suddenly rolled down his face before he even noticed.

"I’ll become stronger next time we meet!"

He cried openly now.

"And... and I’ll properly stand side by side with all of you!"

Veda, Nickolas, Linda, Tracy, and even Ezra himself ended up smiling faintly at him.

"Good luck."

Ezra replied calmly, then his eyes shifted behind Bobby.

"But who’s that behind you?"

Bobby quickly wiped his tears awkwardly.

"Oh! He’s my servant. Hehe... Hehe..."

He scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Ehn..."

The five spoke together with playful suspicious looks on their faces.

"Now that you mention it..."

Nickolas suddenly turned sharply toward the tall muscular boy standing beside Veda.

"Don’t tell me you also got a servant!"

He looked at Veda in disbelief.

"Well..."

Veda laughed awkwardly.

"I thought his combat style looked so cool, so I wanted him to join us."

"Huh?!"

Nickolas immediately pointed accusingly at him.

"Then what am I supposed to be?! Aren’t I your right-hand man already?!"

"It’s not like that..."

Veda laughed helplessly while getting nagged again over the right-hand-man issue.

"What do you mean it’s not like that?!"

Nickolas continued dramatically.

"Why didn’t the rest of you get servants too?"

Veda quickly tried changing the topic.

"I thought you said having one would help, especially if they’re Alchemists."

He pointed at the three like they betrayed him.

"Not interested."

Linda replied instantly, not bothered by Veda’s expression.

"Why would I need a private servant when I’m already busy serving you privately?"

Nickolas folded his arms proudly.

Veda’s eyes widened in complete shock.

"Wow..."

He blinked twice.

"I honestly didn’t expect that answer."

Even Ezra stared at Nickolas briefly.

That reply had come out way too naturally.

The tall boy beside Veda awkwardly stepped forward afterward.

"Greetings... I am Cole."

He bowed politely.

"Come here, Cole."

Nickolas immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulder before dragging him away while whispering nonsense into his ears.

"What is he doing now?"

Linda narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Forget him."

Tracy suddenly sighed dramatically, facing Linda a bit annoyed.

"I’m honestly disappointed in you, Linda."

"Ehn?"

Linda stepped backward slightly.

"I’m the only girl among us who actually got a servant."

Tracy folded her arms, staring at Linda as if she betrayed her trust.

"What about your main girl group? I’m sure some of them would’ve gotten servants too."

Linda pouted slightly while looking away from Tracy, clearly trying to avoid eye contact after being teased.

Cold white air escaped from her mouth because of the snow-filled atmosphere around them, while people and steam vehicles continued moving across the large field outside the hall.

"Lyra of all people wouldn’t pick anybody."

Tracy waved her hand dismissively.

"And Page probably would have, but remember..."

She leaned closer with a playful look.

"She killed her challenger, while Lady Priscilla already has loyal servants too, so she doesn’t need new ones."

Then Tracy narrowed her eyes at Linda, who still looked away stubbornly.

"What?"

A mischievous smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Are you jealous?"

"Of course not."

Linda immediately replied and started walking away faster through the snow.

Tracy instantly laughed before chasing after her again.

"Then why are your ears red?!"

"They aren’t!"

"You are definitely jealous!"

"Shut up!"

Their noisy argument slowly faded into the background while the rest watched helplessly.

"Well..."

Bobby waved energetically toward Ezra and Veda afterward.

"I’m leaving now, Young Lord and Ezra."

The servant behind him quickly bowed respectfully.

"Take care of my Bobby, you."

Veda pointed dramatically at the nervous boy using both his index and middle fingers.

The servant instantly stiffened from the pressure of being stared at by the Young lord himself.

"I-I will."

He nodded quickly.

"With all my strength and heart."

"That sounded way too serious."

Veda muttered under his breath.

Bobby laughed awkwardly afterward before running toward the steam bus parked farther ahead.

The large vehicle had already become filled with passengers heading toward the western train station of Metallica.

Several parents leaned out from the windows while calling for their children to hurry.

Steam escaped heavily from beneath the bus as workers loaded the remaining luggage.

Bobby turned around several times to wave energetically before finally entering.

"So..."

Veda turned back toward Ezra afterward.

"What’s your plan now?"

"Don’t know yet."

Ezra calmly looked toward the slowly emptying snowfield.

"I’ll figure things out once I get there first."

The noisy atmosphere around the area had already begun lowering.

One by one...

Steam carriages and buses departed.

The large snow-covered space that once felt crowded earlier now slowly became emptier.

"If it isn’t my little brother who tried to kill me."

Vera’s voice suddenly entered between both boys without warning.

Neither Ezra nor Veda noticed when she walked over, even Lucy behind Ezra became startled.

"V... Big-sister!"

Veda instantly looked at her awkwardly.

"Or should I call you Young Lord now?"

Vera stepped closer with her usual plain face.

Her dark eyes quietly stared at Veda without blinking much.

The pressure alone made Veda unconsciously step backward a few times.

"You may not, Big Sis."

He replied helplessly.

"Humph."

Nina suddenly popped out from behind Vera dramatically.

"Young Lord shouldn’t relax yet!"

She pointed accusingly at him.

"Like I already said before...The title will definitely return to my Lady in the future once she becomes way stronger than you."

Her smug expression became even brighter afterward.

Veda only chuckled softly while rubbing the back of his head.

"Where’s Bale?"

He looked around curiously afterward.

"I thought he would also come say goodbye to Ezra too."

"Bale got kidnapped."

Vera sighed.

Or more accurately...

She sighed in such a dry, uninterested way that it almost sounded sarcastic.

"By you know who. She cried while hugging him like she was about to lose her child forever..."

Vera continued calmly.

"Then dragged him together with Father into the ship."

The strange dramatic explanation left both boys, Lucy, and the servants staring blankly at her.

Even Nina looked slightly awkward afterward.

The image itself honestly felt ridiculous.

***

The woman Vera referred to was the white-haired lady with green crystal-like eyes.

After Aurora became unable to properly take care of Bale anymore, she took him in and raised him like her own child.

Now...

She treated Bale with frightening levels of affection and behaved like an extremely overbearing mother toward him.

***

"What about Gena?"

Ezra suddenly asked Vera flatly.

"Huh?" Nina blinked in confusion. "Why are you asking about her?"

"She probably already left."

Veda answered in Vera’s place.

"I think her parents came with their own carriage."

His tone came out calm.

"So..."

Vera slowly walked closer toward Ezra afterward.

"I guess we’ll see you more often at the Royal Academy."

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Lucy standing behind him.

Lucy instantly became nervous from Vera’s eyes landing on her.

Even though Vera’s face barely changed...

The pressure behind her stare still felt strangely sharp.

"I think we’ll probably meet before then."

Ezra replied calmly while dusting snow from his coat sleeve.

"Lady Vera. Young Lord."

An adult maid carrying Ashenlocke’s crest approached respectfully through the snow.

"We are departing now."

She bowed politely afterward.

"Okay."

Veda turned back toward Ezra while waving brightly.

"Bye. I hope when we meet again, you will become a bit more smiley."

"I hope when we meet again, you introduce your fiancée to me, Young Lord."

Ezra replied instantly with the same flat tone.

Veda froze briefly, then laughed loudly afterward.

"See you later, Business Partner."

Vera lightly waved while speaking in a sarcastic tone.

The moment she said the words...Her eyes narrowed just slightly.

At the side...

Nina stuck out her tongue at Ezra before quickly following after Vera.

Ezra watched them leave quietly through the snow.

Then sighed.

She’s still angry I called her a business partner.

His eyes narrowed slightly toward Vera’s back as she walked farther away.

"Bus to the East Station! Moving now!"

An elderly voice suddenly shouted loudly nearby.

"Lucy." Ezra turned calmly toward the voice. "That’s our bus."

"Yes, Master."

Lucy bowed immediately while trying to carry all three suitcases herself.

"Let me carry one."

Ezra spoke plainly afterward.

"Eh?! No... I can’t allow that, Master Ezra!"

Lucy panicked instantly, but Ezra ignored her protest completely.

He casually took one of the suitcases from her hands before walking toward the steam bus ahead.

Lucy froze briefly in surprise, then hurried after him quickly through the falling snow.

***

This marks the end of the Trail of Steels...

Here’s a polished version of your announcement:

I want to thank you all for following the beginning of Ezra’s journey. From here onward, things will begin to expand on a much larger scale.

The Royal Academy Arc won’t begin immediately, as there are still several things Ezra must settle and experience before the Academy Arc fully starts. However, it’s going to be highly interesting, as the world-building of Britannia will truly begin from there.

Please drop your reviews and let me know how you felt about this first arc, as well as your expectations for the future Chapters.

Also, my Discord channel is now out and ready!

Join to get more information, updates, and small details that I usually won’t post here.

Link: https://discord.gg/GYASYd4cDM