Chapter 9. Training

I sat under the eaves and watched the raining training ground.

“Still a long way to go.”

I recalled the moment I had exchanged swords with Rodrigo. It was a duel where I was consistently pushed back. I managed to land one blow by catching an opening, but that was it. If it had been a real battle using mana, it would have been difficult to even create an opening.

“If only I could use my own sword…”

I let out a sigh-filled remark. Then I snorted at myself for being pathetic. Because my sword, Leonhardt’s sword, could only be used after reaching at least 4-stars. Right now, not even having achieved 1-star, I couldn't even imitate it. No, I shouldn't even imitate it. If I clumsily tried to draw it out, all my mana could evaporate, leading to death.

Leonhardt’s sword is based on the saga engraved on his soul.

A saga is the story of a knight. It is a report of survival that has endured death and a narrative of praise for rescuing someone. It is a record of achievements that sets the world ablaze. It is one’s own pride. A vast amount of mana is required to summon this saga.

Because mana is the vessel that contains the saga. That is why pure mana is necessary.

The cleaner the mana, the more purely the saga can be contained without being contaminated.

“When will this thing grow.”

I placed my hand on my right chest where the Mana Heart was located. I could feel the Mana Heart beating cleanly. It had grown larger than before. From the size of a grain of rice to the size of a pinky fingernail. It's slow. If it were Leonhardt’s Mana Heart, it would have been the size of a baby’s fist…

“Let’s not be impatient.”

It was the cleanest Mana Heart I had ever experienced. So, its growth was bound to be slow.

Because it was polishing and polishing the absorbed mana to settle it into the primordial power. Because it didn’t allow for even a little bit of impurity. So, the power it could pour out would be stronger than anything else.

The beginning is humble, but the end will be glorious.

“To become glorious, I have to train hard. To the point where my body shatters.”

I put on the prepared weights on my arms and legs. I also put on a weighted vest. I plan to push myself to the point where my whole body screams. A strong spirit dwells in a strong body.

“Hoo.”

I stood in the middle of the training ground with my sword.

After unfolding Philip III’s sword, my whole body ached as if it were shattered. It was because my body wasn’t built up. If I had done it one more time, it might have actually shattered. So, I have to build it up in advance.

“But this is really heavy.”

It feels like my whole body is being dragged into the ground. It’s not even easy to breathe. Yes, this is what you call training.

Breathing slowly, I raised my sword. I squeezed out all my strength to stop the trembling.

Plink, plink, plink.

Raindrops fell on the sword held parallel to the ground. Watching this, I thought of Philip III’s sword.

Vooom!

The speed of the outgoing sword is slow. If I can’t withstand the weight, I can’t properly use the power of the sword.

Taking a deep breath, I took a step forward. I gripped the sword with both hands and struck down with all my might.

Voom!

This time, it cut through the air cleanly. But I didn’t like it. The feeling that my body was being dragged by the sword was still there.

Swoosh.

The rain grew stronger.

I took my stance. I collected my breath and unfolded Philip III’s sword in sequence. My muscles twisted and stretched, whispering pain. I wanted to shake off the weights and play with the sword lightly. But I firmly rejected that trivial desire. If it’s comfortable, it’s not training. It’s play.

Thwack!

I kicked off the ground and swung my sword. The water droplets shattered like sparks. I kept moving to see that scattering endlessly. My muscles ached as if they would burst. The trembling of my hands, feet, and body didn’t stop. A smile formed on my lips. Because this pain would make me stronger.

“It looks like an aura.”

The rain-soaked sword was emitting a faint light. To be precise, it was reflecting the light peeking through the clouds.

I missed the aura. It was an ability that manifested when one who understood the principles of the sword achieved 3-stars, a basic ability required to become a Sword Master. To me, who hadn’t even achieved 1-star yet, it was just a glory of the past.

Whack!

I raised the blade and drew a long line. The raindrops were cut apart.

I have no intention of just longing for the glory of the past. I will surpass that time. I will definitely achieve the dream I couldn't fulfill this time.

“Haat!”

I let out a shout and cut the empty air. Blood drops scattered among the raindrops. Blood flowed down my arm. I felt a sharp pain in the palm of my hand.

“It would be best for you to stop.”

Chris, who had come at some point with an umbrella, was watching me.

“Long time no see.”

“I’ve been busy. I’m a person with a lot to do, you see.”

“Did you go to the border?”

“The border is quite far away. It's impossible to go and come back within a fortnight.”

“I thought mages were different.”

“Mages are people too.”

Chris wore a displeased expression. Then he came closer to me.

“The duel is just around the corner, are you okay with your hand like that?”

“This?”

I looked at my blood-soaked hand. The skin was peeled and torn, and it hurt even when just rainwater touched it.

“What is it?”

Chris asked, as if absurd. It was because I had held out my broken hand to him.

“You know how to heal, don’t you?”

“I haven’t sworn an oath to the God of Healing.”

“Then the healing you’ve done so far, you did it by calculating the formula?”

“I’m not an ordinary mage.”

“That’s great. Here! The mage who is better than ordinary.”

Chris wore a dumbfounded expression. Then he took my hand. A green light enveloped my hand.

‘He’s amazing.’

I know that it's very difficult to use magic by memorizing formulas. Especially healing magic, I know it's even more difficult because its properties are different from other magic.

-If everyone could use magic just by knowing the formula, who would swear an oath? I can do it with formulas because it's me.

I feel like I can hear Alfred’s boastful voice.

Formulas are not a master key to using magic. Each person’s Mana Circle has different properties. That’s why there are differences in the way formulas are solved. If solved incorrectly, the magic can backfire and the Mana Circle can break. Mages said that this was due to incurring the wrath of the gods.

‘He didn’t become a Margrave just because he’s the Second Queen’s brother.’

My messy hand was becoming normal. If his magic using formulas was at this level, he must have a magic proficiency of 3-circles or more. He might be stronger than a clumsy 4-circle mage.

“It’s done.”

Chris said, looking at my healed hand.

“You’re really a better-than-ordinary mage.”

Looking at Chris, I gripped my sword again.

“Are you going to continue?”

“I’m fine now, so I have to continue.”

After showing a forced smile, I walked to the center of the training ground. I still hadn't mastered the sword. Swordsmanship where you are dragged by the sword is nothing more than an act to listen to a requiem. So, I have to move even a little more. I have to do it until my muscles don't listen and I'm crawling on the ground.

* * *

‘Did he experience something beyond consciousness?’

Chris, standing in the rain, thought as he watched Maxim practicing his swordsmanship.

Maxim, covered in weights and breathing heavily, moved without rest, relentlessly and fiercely. It was as if he were fighting for his life against an invisible enemy. That’s why it was so strange. Because it was a side of Maxim he had never seen before.

Maxim was young. That’s why, even though he was consumed by anger, he remained within the framework of anger that a child could express. It couldn't be helped. Even if it was an intense emotion that transcended experience, the act of expressing it was within the scope of experience. But now, it wasn't like that.

‘It’s not that of a 15-year-old. Why is that?’

Chris found the Maxim in front of him very strange. He tried various ways to understand that strangeness. He thought of the heroic tales in myths where one experienced something beyond consciousness and surpassed oneself. But he did not accept it. Because in what he had studied and experienced, myths were just myths.

Swish.

Maxim cut through the raindrops. Chris was surprised. It wasn't just a simple swing of the sword; he had cut so cleanly that not a single sound was made. He had done it solely with movement, without using mana. This was the quality of a Sword Master.

‘It must be a coincidence.’

If Maxim had the qualities of a Sword Master, he would have created a Mana Circle himself before the age of 10. Not barely creating one at the end of 13.

‘Even if the pain like death changed his personality, it couldn’t have changed his qualities.’

Chris denied Maxim’s talent. Even though Rodrigo had told him otherwise, he didn’t change his mind because of what he had seen. But he couldn’t erase the thought of ‘what if.’

Because the awakened Maxim was so different from the Maxim he knew.

Paang!

It was just a simple cut, but the air exploded. The raindrops swirled. Chris swallowed dryly.

His head was in chaos. Because it was a sword that couldn't have come from Maxim’s level.

Only by reaching the peak of 2-circles could one see the path of the sword and unleash an impact. Even a genius was like that. It was a sword that even Albrecht, who was called the greatest swordsman of the current generation, had shown after achieving 2-circles.

‘What on earth happened?’

Chris bit his lip. Watching Maxim made him feel like everything he knew was being denied.

“No?”

Maxim, who had shown an unbelievable sword, dropped it. And he collapsed like a paper doll. Chris threw the umbrella he was holding and ran to Maxim.

“Your Highness!”

Maxim was unconscious. The hand he had treated was a mess again. His entire body’s muscles were convulsing.

Chris quickly removed the weights that were tormenting Maxim. He carried him on his back and ran towards the room. Hoping that he would stop this painful work and return to his former bright and pure self.

* * *

The fortnight promised with Chris was over.

“What? He's a kid?”

The swaggering guy looked at me and sneered. I stroked my chin and looked at Chris.

“He's a 1-circle. If you think it's too much, it's not too late to back out now.”

“What’s the big deal with 1-circle. By the way, does he know who I am?”

“Of course not. He'll probably just think you're some rich, spoiled brat.”

At Chris' words, I turned my head and scanned the place I was staying. It was a decent-sized mansion. But it was shabby to the extreme. If I grabbed someone on the street and told them this was the prince's palace, they'd probably call me crazy.

“How absurd. So absurd. I have to fight a kid like that? Really.”

The guy snorted loudly.

“That's what he said.”

I meant that the opponent would probably go easy on me. To this, Chris showed a relaxed expression, saying, ‘Isn't that for the better?’ It was an answer that meant he wouldn't be easy to deal with.

“Hey! Kid, what’s your name?”

It seems the custom of stating your name and epithet before a duel still exists. The cheesy and embarrassing stuff like, ‘I am so-and-so of the Demon Sword from wherever! So-and-so of the Swift Sword!’ I wondered why they did it back then, and I still do now. Is it because they want to remember who beat them up like a dog? As if knowing that would change anything.

“What would you do with it?”

“You’re a rude little brat, aren’t you? When an adult asks, you should answer.”

“What’s your name?”

“Gavis Bethel. Now! Since I, with my generous heart, have told you my name first, you tell me yours. What’s your name?”

“What would you do with it?”

Bethel’s face contorted greatly.

“You're in desperate need of some etiquette lessons. Consider yourself lucky to have met me.”

Then he drew a cruel smile. Though I don’t know how long that smile will last.