Chapter 4: Relaxing Car Ride
A ripple of offense stirred among the students, what did he say? What? We are easy to frighten? Though none dared to speak up loudly, their pride was pricked, but fortunately, their teacher Granfire was with them.
Granfire's face froze, then twisted into a grin. "Really? Why don't you test them, then?"
His tone was confident, smug, as if daring Nolan to try.
"I already trained them using swords. They've been through simulated life-and-death situations. They won't break easily."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. "Did you say scare them?" But there was a hidden smirk on his lips.
"Yes." Granfire took a step forward and then, with all the performative grandeur of a man used to being listened to, he began:
"If you claim these students are easy to frighten, then you must live up to that claim. But don't think for a second it will be easy, Nolan."
He spread his arms wide, pacing slowly like a lecturer before a crowd.
"These students were trained under me. I spent personal funds—my own coin—to hire top-tier Novice Mana Knights from the Silver Blade City. You know how expensive that is, don't you, Nolan?
"Each of them has crossed blades with professionals who have fought in real warzones. They've been woken in the dead of night, forced to duel in pitch-black forests, dragged through bone-chilling rains, and made to meditate under extreme mana pressure until their noses bled.
"I threw them into rooms full of illusions designed to simulate death and agony. Some of them fainted. One almost soiled himself. But none quit. None. And now you stand there and say... they're easy to frighten?"