Day.
The rumbling train has just reached its last station. People began to get out of the transport one by one. Among them were the disguised Svyat, Chise, and Lord Horikawa and his retinue. They walked along the stone street of the capital. On the way, they met many people, from whom the boy was hiding behind a hat made of straw and bamboo. The heroes passed through a market, a square and through several houses, somewhere on the edge of the city they reached some small temple with other buildings and surrounded by a fence.
Inside, Svyat was immediately surrounded by a suspicious look. He and Chise stayed in the courtyard while Lord Horikawa entered the white stone building. The kid asked, displeased, but in a whisper.
— I hope we only dropped in here for 20 minutes?
Chise, turning his head.
— We're here for the rest of our trip, and judging by the fact that we left, it's for a long time.
Svyat sighed. After 10 minutes, they entered the building. Lord Horikawa was waiting for them in the room. He was sitting at a table that was much lower than the kid was used to, and instead of chairs, they sat on pillows. A moment later, wooden dishes were placed on the table, on which there were rice blankets, plates of soup and noodles, and rice balls along with dishes with sauce. Chise handed the chopsticks to Svyat. He was wondering how to use them.
As a result, the girl quickly explained with gestures how to use chopsticks and everyone started eating. At first, Svyat tried rice, but since he couldn't grab more than one, he gave up trying and moved on to soup. It was easier with him, but still Svyat ate so quickly and greedily that it looked as if he had stolen the food. Chise watched with apprehension while Lord Horikawa watched with curiosity. Next, Svyat decided to feast on rice balls. After trying them and learning that there was fish filling inside, he said.
— Your fish is raw. — but after eating everything to the end, he washed it down with soy sauce.
— And the tea is salty. — Then he said softly, — Ange would have liked it...
After lunch, Lord Horikawa and Chise were left alone while Svyat was relaxing outside with a straw in his mouth. The girl was trying to justify the boy's antics.
— He just doesn't know the traditions, he ran away from his village as a child, after which he walked half the world to end up here because of his stubbornness.
Lord Horikawa laughed a little.
— Well, doesn't it remind you of anyone?
Chise frowned.
— Still, I don't think you should blame him for anything.
Suddenly, a strange sound was heard from the street. They came out and saw two guys, the first lying on the ground holding his nose, and the other arguing in Japanese with a Svyat who didn't understand anything himself. Chise asked loudly.
— What's going on here!?
Svyat turned his head towards the girl and answered.
— It's not my fault, he came up to me and started muttering something in his own language and looked at me aggressively, I defended myself.
The guy helping the second one up said.
— Couldn't you just say that you don't speak Japanese?
Svyat wanted to object again, but seeing Chise's disapproval out of the corner of his eye, he calmly said.
— Okay, sorry for my outburst, I should probably introduce myself. I am a Sa...
Chise interrupted him.
— He's say he peculiar, he's from Aquitaine, but he studied with me in Albion, and his name is Glory Lavigne.
The guy, holding his friend so that he would not fall, sighed and said.
— Okay, thinking about it, you can consider this as a misunderstanding, I'm Okochi, and the one you introduced to your hand is Noboru.
They bowed reluctantly. Svyat looked at Chisa, who also bowed, and the guy sighed and followed them.
After the altercation, everyone dispersed. Svyat whispered to Chisa alone.
— I hope we don't see them again.
Suddenly, Lord Horikawa's voice came from behind him.
— I am glad to inform you that from now on you will be studying with Okochi and Noboru, the skill of the blade.
Svyat got a little angry.
— It's a stupid cliche, beetroot.
Lord Horikawa continued.
— And your first lesson begins... now.
After what seemed like a moment, Glory was already lying on the ground from Chise's blow. The girl, perplexed, said.
— It seems like you were more focused before.
The boy, barely getting up, sat down and spoke softly.
— Maybe so.
For the next 2 hours, they practiced hand-to-hand combat, but from a distance it seemed that Svyat was just being beaten.
In the evening, the girl took Svyat to his room for the time of their arrival. The room wasn't big, but the lack of bulky furniture didn't make it seem small. The kid saw the prepared futon and asked.
— And that it is necessary to sleep on...?
But Chise interrupted, saying.
— Good night, — and she closed the door.
The kid sighed. He moved the futon closer to the wall and dragged the found furniture closer, creating something like a fortress next to himself. Climbing in there and opening the suitcase, sorting through things, I saw a book with the cover "The Pauper and the Prince". After re-examining the bag, Svyat nevertheless decided to read the little book, which he took by chance, and so he spent the rest of the night at it.
Night.
Moonlight illuminated the temple. Svyat suddenly found himself on the street. He looked around and nervously walked around the courtyard. The kid was about to return, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed someone in the bushes. He came closer, and the silhouette abruptly moved towards the temple. He was moving so fast that he couldn't be seen. Running after him, Svyat tried to call someone away, shouting loudly in the courtyard, but no one answered. Before he knew it, the boy saw the temple on fire. He fell into a stupor and did not know what to do. But suddenly a silhouette abruptly walked out on him, knocking him down and immediately running away towards the forest. The guy, trying to get up and recover, noticed that he somehow had a katana in his hands. At that moment, the wooden part of the temple collapsed and a man began to come out of the entrance. Svyat narrowed his eyes, identified Richard's bodyguard and, pointing the blade at the man, spoke.
— And what are you doing here..? — before he could finish, a tomahawk flew at him at the same moment...
Morning.
Svyat woke up sweating and nervously, looking around, jumped up and ran out into the street. He saw that everyone was busying themselves in the courtyard, and some even looked at Glory in disbelief. And he sat down at the door with some relief. Chise came up to him and said.
— Good morning, are you ready for morning training?
Svyat spoke in a low voice.
—Yes, Captain.
For the next hour, the girl taught the boy the basics of using a katana. After that, Svyat was handed a wooden blade and, after spending another 30 minutes mastering it, he was offered a duel with the same novice.
The rivals bowed to each other and the duel began. They were watched only by Chise and the judge, because Noboru's battle had captured the attention of the public. Returning to a less enticing match, we can cancel out that both opponents look on equal footing. The guy attacked more, and Svyat tried to dodge his attacks, only occasionally making counter-attacks. Glory, who was a little tired, missed the shot, which successfully hit the target, but at the same second the boy was able to attack with the same success.
Over time, Svyat began to take more blows and, having waited for the moment, was seriously injured, but having grouped himself, he was able to grab his opponent and knock him to the ground, thereby winning.
The referee confirmed the victory of Svyat and ended the match. Chise came up to the boy and, crossing her arms, said sarcastically.
— It's not bad the first time, but try to show more honor in battle next time, okay?
Svyat caught his breath and looked at his opponent lying down, who was in pain. Glory helped the guy up, and he, in turn, thanked his opponent with a smile. Svyat asked.
— Wat did he say?
Chise picked up the wooden blades from the ground and replied.
— Congratulations on the victory.
The kid, helping his opponent to walk, said.
— And thank you. — the Japanese answered something in his own language, but Svyat just said it. — it's not fucking clear, but it's very interesting.
At that time, Noboru won his fight, which he was very happy about and, noticing Svyat carrying a novice on his shoulder, he said with a grin.
— Hey, Paris, have you already pierced a beginner with a katana?
Glory replied sarcastically without turning around.
— No, I'm just helping the defeated.
Noboru frowned, and the audience looked at Okochi, who was barely getting up. Then the guy talked to the whole yard.
— Well, if that's the case, would you like to demonstrate what they teach you in Albion besides "politeness"?
Svyat sat the victim down on the porch of the nearest house, made sure of the state of health, and, turning around, spoke.
— Come on. Just don't make a big fuss out of it, okay?
Noboru chuckled.
— In that case, tomorrow at noon, so be it, I'll give you time to prepare.
Everyone dispersed. And the inspired Glory asked Chise.
— And so how can I not lose face? — then he started scratching his chin.
Chise spoke up.
— You know, I can do it...
— Exactly! — Svyat interrupted her sharply, — You know almost everyone here. Can you find someone who is skilled with a sword and can teach me?
Chise looked at the boy with a stony face and after a short pause replied.
— Of course, but we have a long way to go...
Glory smiled.
— Okay, I'll pack my things now and let's go. — in an attempt to step over the threshold, he fell, dropping a flask and a book — otherwise it will do.
Chise sighed and our heroes went on a little trip. They walked through several streets, looking at the houses. The first stop was a large temple in the city. The girl entered the courtyard when Svyat decided to stay outside. There were hot springs on the edge of the road near the forest. It wasn't until Glory heard about them that he said.
— Hmm... Japanese "banya" ... Then I'll have to go. — Chise whispered sarcastically.
— What's serious? What did the mother give birth to? I thought we were weird... — said Svyat. Chise added softly, and the boy screamed.
—You're a total fu.. Are they crazy!? And the children?!
Chise, without saying anything, walked faster forward, and Svyat rushed after her in search of an answer. So after a while they climbed a small mountain. And suddenly it started to rain a little, which over time, mixed with the wind, began to intensify. Chise, walking almost by touch, made out a cave. They took refuge in it. Soaked and sitting in a damp cave, our heroes gradually began to freeze. Chise told Svyat to find something to keep warm, but the guy just said.
— The only warming stuff is this.
The boy took out a flask and drank a little, offering it to Chisa. The girl refused and looked deeper into the cave, found old rags. Glory advised her to make a fire with the help of things, and the girl slowly but nevertheless agreed. Svyat began to look for a substitute for brushwood and, remembering about the hat, took it off and tore off dry straw. With the help of a stone and a katana, they got a spark, thanks to which they lit a bonfire. The kid screamed with joy. Chise took an old stick and wrapped a piece of cloth and set it on fire, saying.
— Can you not scream? — And so I'm not in the mood.
Chise went deeper, lighting the way with a makeshift torch. Svyat followed. When they reached the end, they came across something that looked like a bed. Then the kid noticed.
— It looks like this cave is already occupied, look, a man lived or lives here...
Chise picked up a scroll and added.
— And more than one.
Suddenly, a woman's voice came from behind him. They turned around, and when Chise saw who it was, she dropped the torch.