The wind in the courtyard swept gently through the gap between red and white strands of hair.
Eris glanced at Sylphy's hand.
"Then why didn't you learn swordsmanship, Sylphy?"
Her reddish-brown eyes shifted slightly in their sockets and flicked toward the back.
Sylphy smiled softly.
She had originally become interested in swordsmanship because of Allen. She still clearly remembered the sight of him releasing that hand blade infused with aura beside the irrigation canal.
But later, when she realized her "talent" was more suited to magic, she decided to follow Rudeus and learn it instead.
It had been a choice made by her younger self, relying on instinct.
Now that she thought about it, it wasn't for any grand reason—it was simply the fastest way to become part of their "friend" group, just as Allen had encouraged her.
If she truly had no talent for swordsmanship, as Allen had said… if she kept failing to swing a blade properly or perform any of those clearly advanced techniques of his, wouldn't she end up "alone" again?
Looking back now, the answer was no.
Allen would never have let her keep being bullied by the kids in the village.
That had nothing to do with swordsmanship or magic.
But at the time, her choice was the right one for her.
So where did Eris' true heart lie now?
In that carriage under the curtain of rain.
Just like Sylphy's own heart once lay by the muddy banks of the irrigation canal.
The answer to persuading Eris to accept magic class… was right in front of them.
She just had to think a little harder.
This was something Sylphy had learned from Allen.
Her soft, gentle voice rode the breeze into Eris' ears.
"Because I understood the original reason why I wanted to learn swordsmanship… I no longer clung to it. As long as I can reach the goal I'm aiming for—whether through swordsmanship or magic—either is fine."
This slightly roundabout explanation left the young lady confused.
"Huh? Original reason?"
"Yes, the original reason. Eris, what was your reason for accepting us as your tutors in the first place?"
"You mean the reason I accepted you as tutors?"
Eris furrowed her brows and thought for a long while. By logic, she should've remembered the beginning—how the Boreas family had invited private tutors from Buena Village.
But in this moment, what popped into her mind instead was the image of the arrow streaking through the rain into the carriage, the intense clash between longblade and dagger just inches from her.
That moment was too deeply burned into her memory.
That was when she had truly accepted having tutors.
Eris crossed her arms, instinctively about to voice her thoughts—but then, her gaze drifted toward Allen, and what she blurted out instead was:
"It was… the Ryū secret technique!"
The proud tsundere of her childhood years.
Sylphy had been watching Eris' face closely. When she heard that answer, a knowing smile crept across her lips.
She gave a light clap, as if acknowledging Eris' message. At the same time, she turned to glance at Rudeus and Allen beside her.
Both of them froze for a moment.
Their two-plus years of shared life in Buena Village gave them instant clarity: Sylphy was trying to persuade Eris to study magic.
And the method? Leverage her familiarity with Allen's sword techniques, and Sylphy's own magic.
Allen and Rudeus exchanged a glance. Allen casually brushed his hand through the air—
Two leaves fluttered into his palm.
He stepped forward and stood in front of Eris.
He raised his hand and extended it in front of her face.
She instinctively looked toward it.
And in that instant—
The leaf in his hand floated.
It danced and circled in the air above his palm.
Like a fish looping gracefully in invisible water.
Eris' eyes lit up with interest as she stared into his hand.
Then Allen spoke.
"The secret techniques of the three major sword styles—at their core, they're all just different forms of aura projection."
"Water God Style's Ryū secret technique…"
"It's essentially a high-density aura coating over the skin, released in a way that mimics the flow of water, allowing you to redirect force."
"If you extend that process, constantly emitting aura to adjust the 'flow' direction, you get what you're seeing now."
Allen pointed at the 'fish' of a leaf gliding above his palm—not floating on its own, but guided by his densely compressed, constantly shifting aura.
"You want to learn this not because it's that powerful… but because it looks powerful, right? Visually stunning?"
The wild pup nodded furiously.
"Yes!"
"Want to learn it?"
"I do!"
"Then you need to reach the level of projecting aura. That's the foundation for learning the Ryū secret technique."
Eris raised an eyebrow.
"Aura projection?"
Ghislaine had quietly walked up beside them. She leaned forward slightly, staring intently at Allen's hand.
She was an expert and knew full well that Allen's little "trick" wasn't simple—it was built upon an incredibly refined and stable aura control.
As expected of the acknowledged top talent of the Water God Style's main dojo.
She narrowed her eyes and responded to Eris' question.
"The Ryū technique is based on aura projection. If you can't project aura, learning it is out of the question."
Eris panicked.
"So how do I learn aura projection?!"
"Keep training in swordsmanship. Once you reach advanced swordsman level, you'll naturally develop that ability. Or rather, if you can project aura, that means you've reached that level."
Eris' smile froze.
She knew full well she was still only a beginner in the Sword God Style.
Allen looked at her fading smile.
"No doubt it'll take a lot of time for you to refine your aura and polish your sword skills. Just to reach the level where you can start learning this technique… will take at least a year."
"And even after that, mastering the Ryū technique won't happen in just a few months."
Eris' mouth drooped in dismay.
"…How long then?!"
"At best, two years. At worst, five. Given your current level as a 9-year-old novice."
"…"
Allen blinked. Seeing the light vanish from Eris' eyes and her mouth curve downward, he knew she'd taken the bait.
He shifted tone.
"But—there's a way to shorten that path."
Eris perked up instantly.
"What way?!"
With that excited shout, Ghislaine glanced knowingly at the figure behind Allen, the corners of her mouth lifting faintly.
Allen delivered the line firmly.
"Magic."
Eris' fiery red brows shot up.
"Huh?"
"You can do something equally spectacular—not with years of training, but with just a beginner's level of magic."
Allen smiled at Eris.
At the same time, he stepped aside to reveal the person behind him.
Rudeus.
He mimicked Allen's posture exactly, raising his palm in front of Eris' face.
In his palm—
A series of leaves chained together by their tips twirled in a circle, rolling and leaping.
Playing in the hand of a Saint-ranked mage.
"No years of training required."
"Just low-level magic—Air Magic can do this."
"This… is the charm of magic."
Eris stared in disbelief at Rudeus' palm. After a long pause, she furrowed her brows and looked up sharply.
But unlike her expectations, Rudeus didn't have that annoying smug grin on his face, nor his usual sneaky smirk.
He simply looked down at his hand.
Calmly. Confidently. Carrying the same air Allen often had.
A quiet but powerful confidence.
Why?
Because Allen had told him many times over the past two years:
"Rudeus, stop shrinking back. When it comes to magic, you have every right to be confident."
"This is where your talent lies."
"This…"
"Is your domain."
(End of Chapter)
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