Chapter 60: Between Power and Pride
After accepting Julius and Termina’s request, Luna approached me, her expression serious. She wanted to tell me more about Julius and what kind of person he truly was.
Julius von Starlight—the second son of the prestigious Starlight family. With his golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and wearing small earrings, he looked every bit like the blond hero straight out of a manga. His longsword was his weapon of choice, and his strength was undeniable. It wasn’t surprising that all the students at Braveheart Knight Academy admired him. On the surface, he seemed perfect, much like his older brother, the family’s current hero.
But Luna’s expression darkened. She revealed that Julius’s flawless appearance hid a colder, darker side.
"When I was younger," Luna began, her voice trembling slightly, "I faced Julius in a friendly sparring match—part of a tradition between the Starlight family and my own, the Solarblade family."
She hesitated, her hands tightening into fists. "He defeated me with ease. I could tell his swordsmanship was on par with his older brother’s. But even when I admitted defeat, he didn’t stop. He kept attacking me, mercilessly. That’s how I learned what kind of person Julius truly is—cruel and heartless."
Luna explained how Julius harbored deep jealousy toward his older brother, the family hero. Losing to him in the past had left a burning resentment in Julius’s heart. "He dreams of becoming the Starlight family’s hero, but he despises being overshadowed by his brother."
I nodded, absorbing Luna’s words. "Thank you for telling me this," I said sincerely. "I’ll be careful. Don’t worry about me."
Luna seemed a little reassured and even managed a small smile.
Curious, I then asked her about Termina von Stormheim.
"Honestly, I don’t know much about her," Luna admitted. "Termina is the third daughter of the Stormheim family. She has green pony hair, matching green eyes, she has a good athletic build. Her weapon is bow, which is pretty rare in the Braveheart Kingdom. That alone makes her stand out."
Luna added that Termina didn’t seem particularly ambitious and preferred to live quietly at the academy. Her words eased my concerns somewhat. If I had to fight alongside Termina, perhaps I could trust her—at least a little.