“Wouldn’t a sword be better today?”
As the Celestial Festival drew closer, Anne’s fervor for training only intensified, and I helped her with sparring sessions.
My skills have improved at such a rapid pace that distinguishing between victory and defeat has become meaningless at this point, but today the gap seemed even wider.
“Is that so? It does feel like the sword is sticking to my hand a little better?”
I couldn’t outright reveal everything to Anne, so I humbly replied, though truthfully, I could feel what Anne was saying the most deeply myself.
After only a single day since yesterday, the trajectory of my sword had advanced far beyond what a day’s time would allow—this despite there being no chance to practice with a sword yesterday because of the event rehearsals.
“Ugh!”
Anne, who had been lying flat on the ground, sprang up with an energetic movement.
“Next is Yuli and Linne’s turn!”
Anne, not showing any sign of fatigue, immediately called out the next opponent.
Although Linne’s power had noticeably decreased since leaving the Old School, she still possessed formidable strength thanks to Yuli’s talent.
KONG KONG KAENG KAENG
Under the guise of sparring, Anne was using her unique brute strength to wreak havoc on the arena—splitting it with a downward swing of her longsword or sending fragments flying by swinging the sword that was embedded in the ground.
It’s not an everyday sight, but seeing this makes the high tuition fees of the Academy seem a little more understandable.
“El.”
While observing the sparring between Yuli & Linne and Anne for reference to my own case, Selian, who had sparred with Anne first, called my name.
“Hm?”
I turned my head late, having been watching Anne’s sparring match.
“How about a quick sparring match while waiting?”
Upon reflection, it had been quite a while since I last sparred with Selian.
It’s because, outside of personal training, I’ve always been sparring with Anne in consideration of her being the sole participant in the upcoming tournament.
I briefly glanced at Anne again, but it didn’t seem like her match would end soon.
“Then, how about we do it after a long while?”
We moved to a separate arena, far from Anne’s match.
Seldanian and I stood facing each other.
“Lately, my skills have improved a lot, you know? If you underestimate me, you might just lose this time.”
“I do not underestimate you, El. However, I believe it’s still too early for you to defeat me, a Sword Master.”
Without exchanging any signals, the moment the words were spoken, we both charged at each other.
CHING
The metallic clash echoed as Selian and I retreated to establish distance—this was merely a preview of what was to come. It served as a greeting to signal the start of the sparring match.
From here on, the real attacks would begin.
KANG!
I could block the lightning-fast attack from Selian thanks to the tension I applied—enough to stay alert, but not enough to make my body stiff.
An attack so quick that the sound of it cutting through the air followed after I could see and block it.
Yet, Selian’s rapid succession of strikes continued relentlessly—whether I dodged, deflected, or blocked, the flow of her sword never wavered as she pushed me.
When recalling my sparring with Selian from the past, I can see that simply being able to block her now represents a significant improvement.
However, my growth didn’t stop there.
Despite an offensive approach that ignored defense, I managed to sneak a stab into the gap between Selian’s overwhelmingly fast sword strikes.
Originally, her sword would have struck me before mine could reach her, but by applying the footwork of an assassin,
TCHH!
The assassin’s footwork, which normally would clash awkwardly with the duel of swords, seamlessly merged into my movement, protecting me from Selian’s blade.
Selian’s sword narrowly missed, and shortly afterward, my sword reached her body.
PUK!
Clearly not expecting my swordsmanship to have improved from yesterday, I managed to pierce her abdomen.
While this would have been a fatal blow under normal circumstances, it was just a training sword without an edge, and Selian’s body was strengthened by the aura of a Sword Master, so no real wounds formed.
Even if they had, it would have likely only left a bruise.
TINGGLING…
But the sword slipped from my hand while I was thrusting.
The sparring came to a halt.
Watching Selian take a step back, I bent down to retrieve the fallen sword. My hand shook slightly as I reached for it, not because I had lost strength, but because the unexpected tension from sparing with Selian after such a long time caused stiffness in my hand, making it drop.
Looking over at Selian, I hesitated, unsure whether to pick up the sword and continue the sparring.
Apparently, our session had concluded, for Selian stood there, maintaining eye contact instead of taking a stance.
“El…”
Selian’s face was slightly hardened, as if she had realized my earlier strike was sharper than expected.
Even though I had dropped the sword, it was a decisive attack, nonetheless.
The blow to her abdomen was clean and perfect.
“Tsk…”
Suddenly, pain overwhelmed me.
It was the same icy blade-like pain I had experienced while bathing yesterday.
“El!”
Even more vivid than yesterday, I clutched my chest, finding it hard to remain standing as I knelt on one knee.
The pain that started with a stinging sensation evolved into something unbearable.
This pain would likely continue until I pulled out the sword from my chest.
So I needed to remove this sword in my chest quickly.
But trying to pull it out, aiming directly at my heart, my hands flailed in the air, unable to reach it.
As if I had lost too much blood, my vision blurred, and it grew increasingly difficult to breathe.
Damn, I need to pull it out quickly…
“El! Snap out of it, El!”
Through the unbearable pain, a familiar voice pierced through my ears.
But identifying the owner of the voice was irrelevant.
What mattered was removing the sword.
If I die here, what happens next…?
Next…?
“Selian…?”
“Yes! It’s me, your friend Selian!”
Ah, yes. It’s Selian’s voice, cutting through the pain just like the last time.
At least I’m relieved to know that Selian is safe this time too…
“Snap out of it, El! There’s nothing tormenting you! It’s all an illusion! Please, regain your senses!”
Illusion…?
What are you talking about, Selian?
Could this vivid pain coursing through my entire body be an illusion…?
?
“Gasping!”
As if to mock my previous difficulty in breathing, my lungs filled with oxygen in one deep inhale.
An unidentifiable liquid, sweat or saliva, dripped down my face and onto the floor.
Frantically feeling my chest with both hands, there was no sword embedded there, as expected.
“What exactly…is going on here…?”
What just happened?
I succeeded in landing an attack on Selian, the sparring paused, and then out of nowhere came the pain.
During my struggle in that pain, when Selian said something, the torment that had been squeezing me just moments before vanished as if it had never existed.
All that remained was the memory of the terrifying pain.
The sweat soaking my body shouted that the pain I just felt was no dream.
“El…”
The variety of emotions in Selian’s voice as she called my name could not be summed up in just one.
“El, look at me.”
Selian firmly said, gripping my shoulders with both hands.
Mesmerized by her words, I looked up into her face.
Though tears were not yet flowing, her clearly moist eyes were piercingly focused on me.
“Have you…noticed anything strange lately? Like a memory that doesn’t align with reality…?”
“Not really…? Nothing in particular…”
What’s Selian trying to say?
If I had to be precise, it’s less about memories surfacing and more like I’m forgetting something.
I’ve been having unsettling dreams frequently these days, but surely the question is more significant than just dreams…
How long did we silently stare at each other?
Accepting that there was no lie in my words, Selian exhaled and relaxed her hold on my shoulders.
“If anything comes to mind, please do let me know. It’s very important.”
“Is this… related to something about the Hero or the Holy Sword?”
“…If we’re precise, yes, something of the sort. So you must let me know if anything does occur to you, understood?”
“Got it. If it’s Hero-related stuff, you probably know more about it than I do.”
Though I complied readily, there was still a lingering question.
Why did that sudden pain I experienced connect to the Hero?
However, the question stayed buried inside me, unable to escape my lips.
