"I-it's an honor to meet you, S-sir—"
As soon as they saw the aide walking towards their location, the guards, trained to be composed and calm as they are, couldn't help but stutter their greetings as they stand in front of the head butler of this residence, not from the previous pressure this man is exuding, but rather from the excitement of someone who is meeting a person they look up to for the first time in their lives.
"This is not the time and place for this kind of greeting, gentlemen."
Hearing the words coming out of their mouths, however, the Head Butler of the Draconia Manor said in a gentle, reminding voice, his reminders snapping the young guards out of their fanatic gazes, feeling a bit embarrassed for themselves just for a moment before they finally managed to grasp some composure for themselves.
"The commotion is just as usual, no need to worry about scoldings and the likes, Master Arthur himself will report to His Majesty about this incident by himself…"
The trusted aide of the Sword Dragon said with respect and humility in his voice, yet even despite his humble tone, it does everyone great that they refuse to push around this man even with the stance he is taking right now.
After all, the man standing in front of them and informing of the manner of this incident in such a calm manner is also the same man who had fought together with the Sword Dragon through all the battlefield that he had been through in the north, the fierceness of the invaders coming from beyond the mountain ranges something that few, if any at all, of the people around here would hope to encounter in their lives.
"Now, forgive our rudeness, everyone, but it seems like we won't be able to entertain any guest today, given that Sir Arthur is already here."
Seeing the looks of the nobles and other onlookers, the aide revealed a helpless smile as he heard footsteps coming from the entrance of the manor, the door swinging wide open revealing two figures walking side by side, masculine figures both towering compared to their contemporaries, one among them the younger, the vigorous, powerful feel around him partnered with this mysterious air causing not only ladies, but even gentlemen's attention to be pulled towards him without any effort in his part.
As for the other one, despite the two of them appearing like split images of one another, it can be said that he's truly the older one among the two. The experienced gaze, along with that sharp, piercing air around him that made everyone feel terrified, making everyone well aware of the danger of clashing with him.
Even those people who were previously talking badly behind this war veteran's back couldn't help but silence themselves under his presence, some of the weaker-willed ones even having their knees shaking, while some already taking steps back as the duo starts approaching the populace.
"G-greetings to the Ever-Burning Sword Dragon!!"
Snapping out of a gaze even more fanatic compared to when they met the head butler of this manor, the guards who are tasked to find the nature of this incident couldn't control their own voices as they proceed to bow to the war veteran, bending down not only their heads, but their upper backs as well, an utmost show of respect second only to how they show respect to their liege.
Said guards couldn't help themselves anymore when they witnessed that figure nod at their courtesy, a sort of pride and joy welling from the depths of their being as they felt that even if it was the smallest amount, the Sword Dragon himself, one of the greatest of the empire, acknowledged their action one way or another.
"Just like Alaric had said, everyone, not to mention we're about to report this little incident to His Majesty, the manor is just not worthy enough to hold guests right now, so we have to apologize for not entertaining everyone."
With his powerful voice covering the entirety of the premise the observers of this incident are around, Arthur spoke, the authority something that even the dullest of individuals can feel, and realize that this man is the real deal, someone who holds both true strength and power within his grasp.
"There's no problem at all, Sir Arthur."
"It's an honor to just meet the legendary Sword Dragon, it's more than enough courtesy if anyone asks me, hahaha."
"That's true, that's true,"
"In fact, we hope that Sir Arthur doesn't find it rude for us to witness the commotion happening within the Draconia Manor."
Had it been any other noble, then perhaps these observers might joke around a little about said hobble being rude, but this time, the words coming from their mouths are nothing but the truth, and even if it isn't, it is, after all, a basic courtesy for nobles, even with all the negative emotions in their hearts, to not reveal any sort of ugliness, any sort of uncultured behavior, in the public.
While the older generation themselves are exchanging pleasantries, the younger ones, the people already student of the academy, along with this year's aspiring scholars of said academy, focuses more on the figure standing beside that legendary figure.
It isn't only the appearance, even the physique, the gaze, the stance and gait, along with the expression upon this young man's face, that is extremely similar to the Sword Dragon, making everyone easily deduce the identity of this individual.
'So he's the rumored…'
'How? I heard he's a frail bastard who couldn't even circulate mana at this point in life?'
'That's a great body, huh… sadly, there's no trace of mana around him at all.'
'Interesting…'
A great amount of thought filled the minds of the young people who went to this place to watch the commotion, most of them sizing up this young man, some in curiosity, while some in spite, some even wondering whether this rumored 'false dragon' would participate in the Lumencia Academy's entrance trials.
'Hm? There are a lot of familiar faces here…'
Feeling the gazes that is scanning him rather than his father, Argus couldn't help but pay attention to the young people sizing him up as well, a faint smile appearing on his face as he found some familiar people amidst this group, ones who were at the very least, truly concerned for him, even if it is just for the sake of his family's noble image, and ones who antagonizes him through each and every turn.
Still, now having the pride of the tens of thousands of years of experience meeting with all sorts of people, he just couldn't help but feel amused by the amateurish probing that they are doing on him, making the smile on his face a bit wider as he decides to play a little trick on them.
'It sure will be good to play the pig to eat the tiger, but it's not like I can't excel even when I'm hiding my true strength, right?'
He mutters to himself as he returns a scrutinizing gaze back to his peers, scanning him from top to bottom, making his peers flinch in shock as they just felt like some sort of terrifying beast had stared at them for a moment before the fleeting terror vanished as nothing happened at all.