The Banished Prince's Survival in a Romance Novel

The White Elder maintained his usual calm demeanor as he addressed the Vermillion Princess. "Your Highness, it is an unexpected honor to have you here today. May I ask the purpose of your visit?" His voice was composed, yet curious.

The Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei, met his gaze with her sharp crimson eyes, her posture as poised as ever. "I came to seek your advice, Master White Elder, regarding the upcoming talent showcase for the Crown Prince's birthday celebration. I plan to perform a sword dance and require a partner who can match my skills and uphold the dignity of the event." She paused briefly, her gaze shifting toward Rin. "I've also heard from the Azure Princess that your apprentice here is a highly capable warrior. I wished to see for myself if he might be a suitable partner for this task."

Rin froze, his eyes slightly widening at her words. The subtle compliment wrapped in the princess's statement was unnerving, and he could feel the weight of her gaze on him. He cast a sidelong glance at the White Elder, hoping for a lifeline, but the elder simply stroked his beard thoughtfully, seemingly pleased with the high regard for his apprentice.

The White Elder gave a knowing smile, his calm tone carrying a hint of mischief. "Your Highness, while I understand your intent to evaluate Rin's skills, it would be... difficult for you to test him personally."

Rin felt a wave of relief, his admiration for the White Elder growing. *The old man understands me too well,* he thought, already picturing himself safely returning to the kitchen.

However, his relief was short-lived as the White Elder continued, "After all, if you were to spar with Rin, Your Highness, there's a significant chance you might sustain an injury. And we cannot risk such an incident before the Crown Prince's celebration."

The Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei, raised an intrigued brow. "Oh? Is he that formidable?"

The White Elder nodded, stroking his beard. "Indeed. Rin's abilities are far beyond what many might expect. However, as his master, I am better suited to test his skills without jeopardizing anyone's safety. Your Highness, if you wish to assess him, allow me to demonstrate his prowess through a sparring match between master and apprentice."

Rin's heart sank. *Wait, what?! That's even worse!* His admiration for the White Elder swiftly turned into dread, and he felt Harumi's barely stifled laughter from the corner of the room.

Rin, now visibly panicked, quickly tried to intervene. "White Elder... A spar with real weapons will be difficult..." He hesitated before continuing, nervously adding, "You know what happened last time I held my personal sword, right?"

The White Elder raised an eyebrow and gave a knowing smile. "Ah yes, I remember all too well," he said, almost amused. "The entire training grounds were nearly leveled when you wielded that sword last time."

Rin winced at the memory of the catastrophic result when he'd tried to use a real sword. His control had been so poor that the force he exerted had sent shockwaves through the ground, causing cracks to form in the training arena. It had been a disaster.

The White Elder remained unfazed, however. "But this time, there's no need for such destructive force. You'll use a wooden sword, Rin," he said with a calm but firm tone. "No need to destroy everything around us."

Rin's face drained of color, and his mind immediately went into overdrive. A wooden sword? he thought desperately. That might be slightly safer, but the destructive force when I hold anything, even a wooden sword, is still way too high for comfort.

Takigawa Rei, observing the scene with an unreadable expression, smiled slightly. "Seems like the White Elder has confidence in your abilities, young warrior," she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of challenge.

Rin's mind raced as he desperately tried to think of an escape. His eyes darted to the Azure Princess, and he seized an opportunity. "White Elder, shouldn't the Azure Princess be focusing on her psychic lessons instead? Surely, her training is more important than watching a sparring match..."

The White Elder raised a brow at Rin's obvious attempt to redirect the situation but answered with his usual calm demeanor. "On the contrary, Rin," he said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "This will *be* part of her lesson. Observing a high-level spar between two practitioners will help her understand the application of magic in real-time. It's a rare opportunity for her to see how we both utilize magic in combat."

The Azure Princess's eyes sparkled with interest, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I would like to learn by observing," she said, her voice filled with genuine eagerness. Her gaze, however, lingered on Rin, sending a silent but clear message that she was looking forward to more than just the lesson.

Rin inwardly groaned, his shoulders slumping as his escape plan backfired spectacularly. *Why did I even open my mouth?* he thought, feeling the weight of the impending spar settle heavily on his shoulders.

The training grounds shimmered under the midday sun, its heat casting long shadows across the sparring area. Rin stood with a wooden sword in hand, his stance firm yet visibly reluctant. Across from him was the White Elder, leaning casually on his staff, as if this sparring match was nothing more than a light morning exercise.

Under the shade of a pavilion nearby, the Vermillion and Azure Princesses sat with their respective head maids. Harumi stood at the edge, her sleeves rolled up and a cleaning rag in hand, ready to address whatever destruction the match might leave behind. While the princesses watched with interest, Harumi muttered under her breath, "They better not ruin the grounds again... I'm still finding splinters from last time."

The Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei, observed the scene with a calculating gaze. "The White Elder may look frail," she remarked, "but I hear his control over psychic magic is unmatched. This should be an enlightening match."

The Azure Princess glanced at Rei, her expression calm but her hands tightly gripping the folds of her dress. Her eyes never left Rin, silently rooting for him while hoping he wouldn't hold back too much.

Rin steadied his breathing, trying to steel his nerves. *If I lose quickly, maybe this will end without any more trouble,* he thought. But as if sensing his hesitation, the White Elder, standing relaxed with his staff, spoke with a sly grin.

"Rin, you make the first move."

The words echoed through the training grounds, and Rin sighed internally. There was no way out now. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, his wooden sword slicing downward in a swift, precise arc. It was a move designed to test the White Elder's reaction, but the counter came faster than expected.

The White Elder's staff moved effortlessly to block, but it wasn't just the physical resistance that stopped Rin—it was the sharp, suffocating wave of killing intent infused in the Elder's magic. Rin's instincts screamed danger, and he jumped back immediately, widening the distance between them.

*That wasn't just a casual parry…* Rin thought, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He glanced briefly toward the pavilion where the princesses and Harumi sat. The Vermillion Princess leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with interest, while the Azure Princess's hands tensed around her dress.

"Good reflexes," the White Elder said, tapping his staff lightly on the ground. "But if you hold back like that, this will be over before it even begins."

Rin looked like he was ready to bolt from the training grounds. His eyes darted nervously to the White Elder, who stood calm yet imposing. This is just a spar, right? So why does it feel like he's trying to kill me? Rin thought, his grip on the wooden sword tightening.

Before he could finish the thought, three sharp rocks shot toward him at terrifying speed, propelled by the White Elder's magic. Rin barely had time to react, his mind racing. He's not holding back at all! To anyone watching, it looked like Rin was about to be overwhelmed.

With only a wooden sword in hand, most would think it impossible to defend against the onslaught. But Rin wasn't most people. In a split second, he channeled his magic into the weapon. The wooden blade gleamed faintly as he cast sharpness and reinforcement enchantments on it, fortifying it to withstand even the most brutal strikes.

In one swift, fluid motion, Rin sliced through the rocks with precision, their fragments scattering harmlessly to the ground. His movements were controlled, almost effortless, yet efficient enough to show his skill.

From the pavilion, the Vermillion Princess's eyes widened slightly in admiration. The Azure Princess, meanwhile, clasped her hands together tightly, her expression a mix of awe and concern. Harumi, leaning against a nearby post, muttered under her breath, "Why do I feel like I'm going to be cleaning rubble after this?"

A barrage of rocks came hurtling toward Rin with incredible speed, each one infused with lethal magic from the White Elder. Rin's reflexes kicked in immediately as he dashed forward, his wooden sword slicing through each rock with precision. It was as though he was dancing—his footwork smooth and calculated, his blade moving in perfect harmony with his steps.

He didn't slow down. He kept his momentum, his wooden sword cutting through rock after rock in a seamless rhythm. The ground beneath his feet seemed to shift with every movement, and despite the barrage of projectiles, Rin kept his pace as he closed in on the White Elder, who was expertly dodging backward.

The spectators stood in stunned silence, eyes wide with awe as they watched the spar unfold before them. The Azure Princess observed closely, her eyes tracking the flow of magic from both Rin and the White Elder. It was a beautiful, almost mesmerizing sight—each move was efficient and perfect, a masterclass in magic and swordsmanship. The Vermillion Princess, on the other hand, was shocked. She had expected Rin to be skilled, but seeing him hold his own against the White Elder, inching closer with every move, was beyond impressive.

The spar continued in a rapid exchange, Rin's wooden sword clashing against the White Elder's staff, his magic enhancing every strike. Rin moved with the grace of a dancer, weaving between attacks and magic alike, his body and mind completely synchronized. Finally, with a swift, calculated move, Rin nearly sliced through the White Elder's defenses, his sword just inches away from landing a hit.

But the White Elder's response was swift and powerful. With a deep chuckle, he blocked the strike with his staff, and his eyes twinkled as he spoke, "Still holding back, Rin?" With a sudden burst of white light, he pushed Rin back with a force so powerful that Rin was sent flying across the training grounds, landing hard on the dirt. Dust swirled around him as he slowly rose to his feet, feeling the intensity of the Elder's power.

The air around Rin seemed to hum with energy as the dust settled, his eyes glowing a deep, luminous purple. His Quantum Eyes were activated. The change in his aura was palpable, a quiet but powerful shift that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the world around him. His breathing had slowed, now perfectly in sync with the natural flow of energy in the atmosphere. It was as if he had merged with the world, becoming a part of its rhythm, its pulse. His presence alone felt almost ethereal.

The onlookers, including the Azure and Vermillion Princesses, could feel the weight of the shift. They held their breath, sensing the surge of power emanating from Rin. The White Elder, however, was calm. His gaze never wavered. He had seen many things in his long life, but even he couldn't help but acknowledge the change in Rin. It was a dangerous power, but one that was still controlled. For now.

Rin's foot shifted forward, and before the White Elder could even react, a chain of lightning shot from the Elder's staff, aiming to bind him. But Rin had already disappeared. In an instant, his figure dissolved like dust in the wind, and when the Elder blinked, Rin was standing directly in front of him. The flash of movement was so quick, so precise, that even the experienced White Elder struggled to follow it.

Earlier, Rin had relied only on the sharpness and reinforcement enchantments on his wooden sword, but now, the magic had extended to his entire body. His movements were no longer just enhanced by his sword; they were powered by the very magic that flowed through him. Rin's magic-infused body moved with speed and grace, each step calculated and deadly.

The spar came to a sudden end as Rin delivered a final horizontal strike, his wooden sword slicing through the air with precision. The blade collided with the defensive barrier the White Elder had conjured, and with a sharp crack, it snapped in two. The sound echoed across the training grounds, signaling the end of the match.

Rin, breathing heavily but composed, lowered his stance, his eyes scanning the broken pieces of his wooden sword. Despite the intense battle, there was a calmness to him, as if the fight had been as much a meditation as it had been a display of skill. The White Elder, still standing with his staff, looked at him thoughtfully before smiling.

"Impressive, Rin," he said, his voice carrying a rare hint of approval. "If this had been with real swords, the match would have lasted longer. You've grown quite capable, even more than I expected."

The watching princesses were silent for a moment, both the Azure and Vermillion Princesses still caught in the awe of the display. The fight had been brief, yet it spoke volumes about Rin's strength and ability. The White Elder's words lingered in the air, confirming what they had witnessed: Rin had proven himself to be a formidable opponent, one whose skills could not be underestimated.

Rin's eyes returned to their usual state as he took a deep breath, the glowing purple hue fading from his gaze. He cast a cleansing spell on himself, the soft glow of magic washing over his body to clear any lingering exhaustion. With a calm and composed demeanor, he turned toward the White Elder, performing the same cleansing magic on him.

The White Elder, now back to his usual state, gave Rin a nod of appreciation before they both made their way toward the Azure and Vermillion Princesses, who were still observing from the sidelines. Rin couldn't help but notice the mixed expressions on their faces—admiration, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of awe.

As they approached, the Azure Princess gave him a subtle but appreciative nod, her eyes flickering with something deeper. The Vermillion Princess, still as composed as ever, merely raised an eyebrow but seemed satisfied with the outcome. Rin bowed politely, his usual calm returning, as he resumed his place next to the White Elder.

"That was quite the display," the Vermillion Princess remarked, her tone both impressed and contemplative. "Your skill is unlike anything I expected."

Rin could feel the intensity of the Azure Princess's gaze weighing on him, and it made him increasingly uncomfortable. Her eyes seemed to burn with something more profound than mere admiration. He could sense that she was falling deeper for him, and it was all too much for him to handle.

Wanting to escape the tension, Rin turned to Harumi and said, "Harumi, let's clean up the training hall together. I'll help you."

Harumi, ever eager to assist, smiled brightly. "Got it, Rin!" she said, already moving to gather some cleaning supplies.

Rin quickly joined her, hoping that by focusing on the mundane task, he could distract himself from the overwhelming presence of the Azure Princess. As they worked side by side, Rin couldn't help but glance back occasionally, noticing the Azure Princess's intense stare following him. It was as if she couldn't look away, but at least now he had some distance from her, even if only for a brief moment.