Chapter 823 (+25 Bonus)

Violet smiled slightly before lunging at Carissa, who sidestepped, grabbed Violet's arm, and pulled her back. In a split second, Violet executed a backflip, soaring through the air.

The two exchanged blows for what felt like an eternity, their movements so swift they were nearly impossible to follow. The sound of their strikes cut through the air like thunder; more than once, their flying kicks shattered nearby flagstones, shocking the onlookers.

Their match forced everyone to reconsider their earlier assessment—it felt like the true test was unfolding before their eyes. Based on what they were seeing, Carissa could have easily defeated them in a few moves.

After over a hundred exchanges, the two finally halted, stepping back to catch their breath. Despite the intense battle, their appearances were only slightly disheveled.

Barrett watched from the sidelines, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. He had witnessed Carissa and Violet's power on the Southern Frontier battlefield, where their skills had been tested in real combat. Back then, it was all about strength, agility, and speed.

But this sparring session was different. It showcased raw talent and dazzlingly effective techniques.

Seeing such formidable women made Barrett realize what a treasure he had let slip away. Recalling his words to Carissa after the expedition, embarrassment flushed his cheeks. How had he found the nerve to say such things? He still couldn't quite understand what had possessed him.

Michael was the first to react, immediately kneeling and declaring, "Sage Violet, please accept my greetings."

Max, momentarily taken aback, quickly followed suit, kneeling and echoing, "Sage Violet, please accept my greetings."

They weren't merely acknowledging Violet as a martial arts instructor; they were genuinely accepting her as their mentor.

Michael flashed a cheeky grin at Max. "Sorry, but I'm the eldest apprentice and your senior now."

Max sighed, "You sly dog! I was a step behind."

Alistair hesitated before asking uncertainly, "Do we really have to accept her as our mentor?"

"No need," Carissa replied coolly. "Whether she accepts apprentices is up to her. She doesn't take just anyone. She's only here to help you improve your skills, so calling her Sage Violet is sufficient."

"No way! We want to formally accept her as our mentor," Michael insisted.

For those in the Mystic Army, advancing their martial arts skills was crucial to their future.

Violet hadn't planned on taking on apprentices, but with both Michael and Max kneeling, she felt obliged to accept them.

"Well, if you're kneeling…" she began.

Before she could finish, Alistair quickly dropped to his knees, proclaiming, "Sage Violet, please accept my greetings!"

"I guess I'll just accept… What?" Violet almost stumbled over her words, their declarations overlapping. She had intended to take only Michael and Max and didn't want Alistair. The man was such an opportunist; he'd knelt just as she was speaking, catching her off guard.

Noticing Barrett stepping forward, Violet panicked at the thought of him also kneeling.

"Alright, I'll take three apprentices, and the rest can still learn from me. We'll hold the formal apprenticeship ceremony in a few days. I have to leave now; I have matters to attend to."

Barrett naturally wanted to learn martial arts. He had previously believed his skills were decent, but after witnessing Carissa and her companions' prowess on the Southern Frontier, he understood that there were always greater heights and more skilled individuals. However, he had no intention of accepting Violet as his mentor. She was just a young woman, headstrong and impudent. No matter how skilled, she was hardly suitable to be someone's mentor.

The thought of a Crown Guard commander kneeling before such a young woman was laughable. How could he face his subordinates afterward? Would he retain any authority?

Moreover, Violet wasn't even an official sage. The distinction between instructor and official sage was significant.

As Violet hurried away, she realized she didn't truly want apprentices, but Carissa was in charge of the Mystic Army. If Carissa's soldiers weren't skilled enough, the burden would fall entirely on her. Violet didn't want to see her friend overwork herself.