Read Novel Full Chapter 543: An Unexpected Reason
Chapter 543: An Unexpected Reason
Thak!
Thak!
Luvistar launched attack after attack at Nolan, but strangely, every single one was easily blocked.
For the first time, Luvistar—who had always been confident in his strength—experienced what could only be called helplessness.
Each strike was precise and fast. On the battlefield, such attacks would have crippled or even killed most opponents.
But now, Nolan dodged or parried them with ease.
Luvistar could no longer maintain his composure. He immediately changed his approach.
He drew his sword, then leapt forward and spun horizontally.
The blade shot toward Nolan’s collarbone. If it had landed, Nolan would have been temporarily paralyzed.
The strike targeted a specific nerve responsible for the body’s balance.
Unfortunately, to Nolan, the attack looked incredibly slow.
He ducked his head and avoided it. In the same motion, he raised the sword in his right hand and swung.
Luvistar was shocked. He hurriedly brought up his sword to block.
But Nolan’s attack suddenly changed direction. What had been aimed at his right shoulder shifted to his waist.
The sudden change caught Luvistar off guard. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Thuck!
Luvistar groaned in pain and collapsed, clutching his aching waist.
Nolan chuckled softly and said casually, "You lose, General."
Still groaning, Luvistar looked at Nolan helplessly. "Your Highness, you’re far too good at hiding yourself. I was completely... caught off guard."
At first, he thought Nolan was merely skilled. But it turned out Nolan stood far above that—he was extraordinary.
His ability to read movements, anticipate attacks, and calculate outcomes was truly remarkable.
It felt as though every move Luvistar made had been seen in advance.
That was why Luvistar was unable to land a single effective strike.
"Thanks for the compliment," Nolan laughed softly. He tossed his wooden sword aside and extended his left hand toward Luvistar.
Luvistar took it, and Nolan pulled him to his feet.
"I know you were holding back. Thank you for that," Nolan said with a faint smile.
Don’t be mistaken by Luvistar’s seemingly easy defeat—in truth, he really had been holding back.
Otherwise, their sparring match would have been far more intense.
After all, he was a former general of the empire. His strength was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Luvistar simply smiled without saying a word. His silence was proof that Nolan’s words were true.
"By the way, General, there’s something that’s been bothering me." Nolan looked at him intently. "Why did you give up your position as an imperial general and choose to stand by Elina’s side? Do you have some kind of plan?"
Ever since Nolan learned that Luvistar had resigned his post and chosen to side with Elina, he had been utterly shocked.
It seemed impossible for Luvistar to make such a choice. The position of general was one of great honor and prestige.
Its status was comparable to that of an imperial minister, granting authority over millions of troops.
Luvistar was not surprised by the question, as though he had expected Nolan to ask it someday.
Stretching his still-sore body, he replied, "Your Highness, do you believe in something called fortune-telling?"
"Fortune-telling?" Nolan’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "I do. Wait... don’t tell me you did all this because of a fortune-telling."
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. To his surprise, Luvistar nodded and admitted, "Yes. I did."
Nolan was left completely speechless. Of all the possibilities that had crossed his mind, none involved fortune-telling.
Noticing the change in his expression, Luvistar let out a soft chuckle.
"It sounds strange, but it’s the truth," he said calmly, gazing at the clear sky above. "To be honest, Your Highness, I never believed in fortune-telling. To me, the future is shaped by the past and the present. But that day, I realized how naive I had been."
His expression grew serious as he lowered his gaze and looked straight into Nolan’s eyes.
"On my way back to the imperial palace, I met an old man in the capital. For reasons I still don’t understand, he approached me and said I had to make a choice immediately. If I didn’t, my future would end in tragedy. Naturally, I didn’t believe him. After all, who would trust the words of a complete stranger?"
He let out a light laugh, whether to mock his past self or for some other reason.
"But then, the man demonstrated his power," he continued cautiously. "Right before my eyes, he predicted future events with astonishing accuracy. He said that in this era’s battle for the throne, Princess Elina would emerge victorious—an absolute certainty that could not be changed. So..."
He gave a weak smile before adding, "That’s why I did everything, Your Highness. It sounds foolish and absurd, but it’s the truth. And judging by what has already happened—the deaths of Prince Zarak and Cassian—the old man’s prophecy was most likely correct."
After hearing the full explanation, Nolan fell into deep thought.
Divination was a branch of magic. Yet mastering it required talent, skill, and years of effort.
Even with all three, seeing far into the future was considered extremely difficult—if not impossible.
However, Nolan knew of one figure who could do such a thing with ease—the Singularity of Stars.
Among the Seven Singularities, he was the most mysterious and unpredictable.
Unlike most Singularities, who remained in one place, he wandered the world, appearing in the most unexpected locations.
He was an old man, draped in a gray cloak that concealed his appearance.
Given Luvistar’s story and the old man’s extraordinary fortune-telling, only the Singularity of Stars fit the description.
Of course, Nolan had no intention of telling Luvistar. Otherwise, the general would probably faint on the spot.
"I understand. I won’t mock your choice or make light of it. Everyone has the right to choose their own path. And since you’ve decided to stand with Elina, let’s work together."
Nolan smiled and extended his right hand.
Luvistar returned the smile and shook it.
After exchanging a few more words, Nolan decided to leave. He was slightly sweaty and wanted to take a shower right away.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on two figures standing in front of him.
"What’s wrong with you two? Why are you standing there?" Nolan asked, puzzled.
Elina smiled and replied, "Earlier, a servant told me you were sparring with General Luvistar. I had to come and check. Thankfully, it was just a friendly match."
There was a clear hint of helplessness in her voice.
"Pfft!" Nolan couldn’t hold back his laughter. "Then what about you, Rafine?"
Rafine blushed, but she forced herself to stay composed. "I was just curious. I happened to see you sparring with General Luvistar, that’s all—nothing more."
After saying that, she turned her gaze away, her expression awkward and uneasy.
Watching the exchange, Elina narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
’Did I miss something? Hmph... It seems I’ll have to keep a closer eye on the two of them later.’