"So ti later!"
...
A steel rapier and a steel dagger collided fiercely.
The crisp sound of tal echoed through the training courtyard.
Shink~~
The vibration traveled up my arm to my shoulder.
— Eduard! You’re still no match for , give up!
Emily laughed, holding a dagger in each hand.
Her blonde curls swayed as she moved, light and confident.
— We’re not finished yet!
I shouted at the very mont my legs executed a strange footwork pattern.
My body lunged forward once more.
— Hah!
She spun her daggers.
The motion carried a sinister whisper of wind.
Her blade ca fast like a serpent.
I swept my rapier.
Steel t steel once again, scattering sparks of fire.
Shink~~
I managed to block the attack.
— Good!
— Your blocking stance isn’t bad!
I heard the praise, but I did not relax.
— Careful!
— My next attack will be at your right arm!
I prepared imdiately.
I adjusted my shoulder position.
I tightened my grip.
— Look at !
In an instant, the daggers traced a beautiful and deadly arc.
But the target was not my arm.
It was my right leg.
Retreating was instinctive.
I stepped back and raised my rapier, blocking the daggers midair.
Shink~~
The impact made my feet slide several centiters across the ground.
— You clearly said it would be my arm!
— You didn’t keep your word!
She laughed loudly.
— Haha... that’s called tactics!
— It’s to test your agility.
— My father always taught that if soone doesn’t know how to plan, then one day they will certainly be pushed to their death by others!
She lightly pulled her daggers back.
Then she sighed.
— Enough! Enough!
— You’re getting better and better!
— I won’t be able to defeat you after a few more days!
Intrigued, she scratched her head full of blonde curls.
— Eduard!
— My dagger technique was passed down by a Great Knight.
— I put in a lot of effort, training with blood and sweat.
— My instructor said my daggers are better than those of an average Knight!
She looked at with genuine curiosity.
— And yet, you can fight and even force a draw.
— How could you have been beaten by that group of idiots?
— After all, Charles, their leader, isn’t that strong.
I tightened my grip on the rapier.
I felt heat rise to my face.
— These sword techniques were taught to by my father when I was younger.
— Unfortunately, I forgot them.
— Now I’m trying to practice more to rember them.
I clenched my fists.
My face burned like that of a hot-blooded youth humiliated by his past.
— Once I have strength...
— I will definitely seek my revenge.
— And break Charles’s arms!
My breathing was heavy.
My heart burned with determination.
Emily watched for a few seconds.
Then she smiled gently.
— My dear Eduard, I believe in you.
— You will definitely fulfill your wish!
Emily patted my shoulder.
Her touch was light, but it carried an almost irritating level of confidence.
— With your current strength, it’s already enough to seek your revenge!
I smiled faintly.
After so many sessions as my sparring partner, she already had a rough idea of my true capability.
— Right now, I can handle one or two opponents.
— But Charles...
I lowered my head slightly, as if it still troubled deeply.
— The one who beat up just because I tried to confess my feelings to Lucy...
I took a deep breath.
— He always walks around with five followers.
I feigned concern.
I let my expression carry a trace of hesitation.
In truth, I was already confident in dealing with Charles and his small gang.
With my current technique and the assistance of the Biochip, defeating them would not be difficult.
But if I resolved everything now, what reason would she have to continue training with ?
It was better to appear cautious.
— Oh, right...
I raised my eyes as if I had just rembered sothing.
— You ntioned Great Knights earlier.
— What exactly are they?
Emily blinked.
— You’re talking about Great Knights?
She rested one of the daggers on her shoulder as she explained.
— They are one level above ordinary Knights.
— No matter where they go, they are regarded as great existences.
Her eyes shimred slightly.
— If soone is fortunate enough to beco a Great Knight, even a king would treat them with hospitality.
— And if they pledge loyalty, they would certainly beco the commander of the royal troops!
I felt a slight internal shock.
A troop commander holds a status equivalent to that of a count.
Even Viscount Saly would have to greet him respectfully.
Emily continued:
— Their physical bodies are pushed to the extre.
— There are rumors that, except for long-range beast formations, not even a heavy cavalry unit can stop them from advancing!
Heavy cavalry.
The pinnacle of military force in this era.
When they charge, even the walls of smaller cities can collapse.
And yet, a Great Knight could face them with nothing but his own body?
— So powerful...
I murmured, letting admiration show on my face.
Emily laughed loudly when she saw my expression.
— You don’t need to envy them!
She brought her face closer to mine, confident.
— A mage possesses power even more mysterious and stronger than that of a Knight.
My heart quietly accelerated.
— When you beco a mage acolyte, your status will already be comparable to that of a Great Knight.
She raised one finger.
— And if you beco an official Mage...
Her smile turned mischievous.
— Then congratulations.
— Killing a Great Knight will be easier than stepping on an ant.
— Interesting.
I replied, but soon changed the subject and smiled at Emily.
She wasn’t as beautiful and captivating as Lucy.
But she still had her charm.
She was quick and light as a feather.
Her legs were long and well-shaped.
Her dium-sized breasts balanced perfectly with her agile body.
Her yellow hair shone under the evening light.
And her blue eyes...
Blue like mine.
Without thinking much—or perhaps thinking too much—I stepped closer.
I suddenly held her waist.
Emily’s eyes widened.
— Hey! Hey!!
— What do you think you’re doing?
— Have you gone crazy?
I sighed.
I stared into her beautiful blue eyes at close range.
— Emily... would you like to be my girlfriend on this journey?
I tilted my face slightly, maintaining a confident smile.
— I know many techniques.
— I can satisfy you like no other man can.
She looked at for a few seconds.
Then she shook her head.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
She took a deep breath, removed my hands from her waist, and replied:
— Sorry, Eduard.
— I know this may sound strange...
— But I only beca your friend on this journey because we’re sowhat alike.
Her eyes softened.
— You remind of my younger brother.
— Hair and eyes similar to mine.
She fell silent for a mont.
I already anticipated sothing worse was coming.
— Besides that...
She took another deep breath.
— You’re very ugly, Eduard.
— Sorry, but you’re painfully ugly.
I felt as if a dagger had pierced through my chest.
I smiled.
Theatrically, I brought my hand to the pocket of my coat, as if holding my wounded heart.
— Wow, Emily...
— How cruel you are.
— How can you say such truths straight to my face?
— AhHAHAH~~
She burst out laughing.
My performance clearly worked as a joke.
I watched her laugh.
Then I thought to myself:
Damn.
I can’t deny that my face is a bit ugly.
The only saving grace is my blue eyes and my blonde hair.
Aside from that...
I’m below average.
I kept the smile on my face as I looked at Emily.
But inside, my mind was already issuing a cold command.
— Biochip, scan the person in front of .
[Beep!]
["Na: Emily Wood."]
["Sex: Female"]
["Strength: 1.6"]
["Agility: 1.9"]
["Vitality: 1.6"]
["Status: Healthy"]
The numbers glowed before my vision like an invisible layer overlaying the real world.
1.9 agility.
That was not sothing that could be achieved through ordinary training alone.
According to her, she had practiced the Knights’ breathing technique since childhood.
That was the reason she possessed such a refined physique.
Warriors who had begun cultivating the breathing technique and strengthening their bodies, but had not yet awakened their internal vital energy, were called preparatory knights.
And Emily’s physique...
Even among those preparatory knights, it could be considered at the peak in terms of agility.
That was also connected to her noble origin.
Only soone with resources could consu large quantities of expensive dicines to enhance the body from an early age.
— All right, we’ve rested enough.
She crossed her arms and looked at .
— Let’s head back.
— I don’t want to arrive too late and run into those servants patrolling the ship and staring at .
She turned her face toward the window along the corridor wall.
In the distance, the dark-blue sea reflected the white moon.
The water looked calm, almost hypnotic.
The silence of the night was occasionally broken by the sound of sirens diving before the ship’s prow.
I avoided training during the day.
I didn’t want to attract attention while we were traveling.
That was why I always scheduled our training sessions at night.
— Just one more ti.
I slightly raised the rapier.
— After this round, I’ll return this weapon to you.
— En... Eh?
Emily seed distracted, but her eyes soon lit up.
— You’re finally done using it?
— Tirel has been bothering about that!
I smiled faintly.
To train sword techniques, the basic requirent was to have a proper blade.
As nobles, many of the youths wore warrior attire with swords fastened at their waists.
But the previous Eduard...
Carried no weapon at all.
He said it was too heavy.
That it restricted his movents.
That it was troubleso.
So he had traveled without even bringing a dagger.
A ridiculous situation.
No sword.
No knife.
Nothing to practice with.
So I turned my attention to the first friendly person I found: Emily.
I used a small veiled threat—hinting that I could expose certain confidences about our friendship—to make her lend the rapier.
And since then, we had trained together every night.
— No, hehe... I’m tired and sleepy! she replied.
I didn’t insist much, and soon we parted ways.
As she walked away, I looked at her.
I can’t deny it, she has a charming beauty.
Perhaps in the future, when I beco a mage, I might have her in my arms.
And if she dares to reject even then...
Well, I will have to force her!
...
1801 Words
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