Daiki Greyrat
It had been nearly three years since my brother and I arrived at the mansion. And to be honest, I didn't regret it in the slightest. The house, which at first seemed too vast and silent, ended up giving me something I hadn't expected. New people to cherish.
First there was the cook, who insisted on preparing "special" dishes for me every time I praised his food, as if my words were the very fuel for his inspiration. Then there was Philip, who, ever since Eris's tenth birthday, had started addressing Eris and me in rather... peculiar ways.
He would say things like, "A future lord needs a strong wife," or "You two make a fine pair."
I didn't pay it much mind. Not only because I didn't fully grasp his insinuations, but because my attention was fixed elsewhere.
Rudeus had made impressive strides with his Shockwave spell. He now far surpassed Eris, who had reached the Advanced rank. For her, this became a strange mix of motivation and frustration. For me, it was two reasons to keep supporting her. Once, I tried to cheer her up.
"Eris, listen... My brother is talented, sure. No one can deny that. But you shouldn't feel bad about it. In life, there will always be someone with talent, but that isn't an obstacle. If anything, it's a reason to push harder."
"You've improved immensely, more than you realize. If you keep this up... who knows? You might one day master the Shockwave and end up surpassing my brother in speed and strength. And believe me, that isn't as far off as you think."
To my surprise, she hugged me. It was a brief gesture, almost awkward, but full of that strength so uniquely hers. Then she pulled away, raising her arms and clenching her fists. That could only mean one thing. She had accepted my words... and she was ready to move forward. She said nothing else, nor did she need to.
My brother and I also dedicated time to the languages of this new world. Beyond the Beast God and Demon God tongues, I ended up mastering the Fighting God language as well.
Languages here weren't all that complicated. Once you understood one, you could use it as a foundation to learn the others without too much difficulty.
Even so, I never managed to learn the Celestial God or Sea God languages. There was no written literature, nor any nearby speakers to practice with. Without references, studying them was next to impossible.
But I wasn't complaining. Speaking four languages of this world—in addition to the Japanese, Chinese, English, and Spanish I carried from my previous life—was already more than enough. Though, to be honest, the languages from my old world were of no use to me here. In fact, the Chinese was already beginning to fade from my memory.
If I ever needed another language, I would learn it when the time came. And if not, that was fine too. Here, I had more urgent problems to solve.
As for me... I was ready. Because Ghislaine Dedoldia was not exactly a gentle teacher. Well, a little, perhaps, but not in the way one might like.
I spent more time tasting dirt than breathing air, and I spat blood every time one of her lunges found its mark. The gap between us was a chasm. But I couldn't give up. Not after saying those words to Eris. Not after encouraging her to keep going.
Now it was my turn to prove I could do it too.
I tried to deflect her attack, tilting my sword to redirect the trajectory, but I reacted a split second too late.
Ghislaine was already on top of me.
"Slow!" she spat, never breaking her rhythm.
Her wooden sword came down in a clean arc. I barely managed to turn before it slammed into my ribs.
The impact lifted my feet off the ground and sent me flying backward.
I let go of my sword instantly. If I held onto it, I would dislocate my shoulder. I tried to regain control mid-air.
I landed poorly.
Inertia alone dragged me backward in a violent slide. I tried to brake by digging my fingers into the earth, but that only made my hand burn from the friction.
Still, the momentum carried me several meters.
I couldn't stop completely, though I managed to avoid the worst of the impact... until my heels slammed against the wall.
The blow shook me to my core. It felt like a whip-crack of electricity shooting down my spine, branching out through every nerve.
[CRITICAL IMPACT...]
[...Daiki...]
I ignored the strange error in the report. I focused on the mana.
Green light shone from my palm, healing me completely.
"Again."
I said it while wiping a thread of blood from my mouth.
The training had reached a deadlock.
"No!" Ghislaine shouted. "You're still hesitating!"
I panted, stepping back.
"I'm analyzing the trajectory..."
"Analyze before!" she corrected me. "The Sword God Style isn't stupid, Daiki. You must always think. But you... you analyze while you move. That makes you slow."
She adopted her stance.
"The 'Longsword of Light' admits no corrections. The moment your feet push off the ground, the decision is already made. Your mind and your sword must arrive at the target at the same time."
"I understand..." I murmured.
I didn't have to turn off my brain (Analysis). I had to accelerate it. I had to finish the calculation before my body even began to move.
Barely a few weeks had passed since that lesson, and I was still overthinking. Yes, it was necessary... of course it was. Even so, I always stagnated in that regard.
Right now, it was raining. I was in the courtyard, standing before the dummy.
I closed my eyes and visualized every variable. I only needed one in particular, and that would be enough.
I concentrated all my mana into my wrists and ankles. Not to move at the speed of sound. I had already done that. I needed something else.
Sword of Light...
My previous name was Light.
This technique... belonged to me.
I opened my eyes.
I didn't think, I'm going to cut. I simply released the energy I had held back.
SLASH!
There was a flash.
By the time I realized it, I was already behind the dummy, sword extended at the end of the arc.
CRACK.
The dummy split into two halves.
The wood wasn't just split. It was charred, burned by the friction of the blow.
I stood motionless, stunned, watching the smoke that still rose even under the rain, as if refusing to be extinguished.
Ghislaine stepped out of the shadows.
She approached and touched the burnt wood.
I expected a lecture, but she only looked at me with a savage grin.
"Congratulations. You are now a Sword Saint."
And just like that, I was officially Sword Saint rank. It felt strange. For a moment, I had believed I wouldn't make it out of Advanced, and that eventually Eris might surpass me. I often let myself get carried away by my thoughts, but this time it felt earned, and I was happier than I let on.
Because beneath this analytical gaze lay Hikari. My past self. The one who believed every achievement was unjustified. And the worst part is, back then, he was right.
But now I had the approval of an experienced warrior.
And the next day, as always, whenever Eris trained with Ghislaine, she challenged me.
"Today is the day I beat you!" she shouted, launching herself at me with her usual fury.
She tried to pivot, looking to confuse me with feints. Yes, she was strong. She had improved vastly since our first duel and had reached the Advanced rank. She was faster than my brother at close range now, though he still held the advantage of being able to create space whenever he wanted.
When I tried to dodge her thrust, I felt something strange... an automatic anticipation. I ducked and struck her palm hard, forcing her to drop her weapon. The moment it fell to the ground and she scrambled to recover it, I used the opening to move. I stopped my attack one centimeter from her face.
Her sword was in my hand.
Eris froze.
"H-how...?" she stammered, confused. "Yesterday I almost got you. Today... I didn't even see you move."
I handed back the sword she took with a trembling hand.
"I crossed the threshold, Young Eris." That was all I could say.
When she gripped the sword, the hilt splintered slightly. I expected her to scream... or throw a tantrum.
But she did none of what I anticipated.
The red whirlwind was, in reality, surprisingly calm.
What I called "the eye of the storm." Emphasis on the Eye.
"Dammit!" she shouted, but with a wild smile on her face. "Incredible! You're incredible!"
She pointed a finger at me.
"Wait for me! Don't you dare go any further! I'm going to catch up! And when I do, I'm going to win!"
"I know," I replied, smiling. "And I'll be waiting for you."
She marched off, leaving the broken sword on the ground. Her steps were so heavy that for a moment I thought the ground beneath my feet was trembling. Though, in reality, she was just heading toward Ghislaine to keep training.
"Rest," Ghislaine said, appearing at my side without paying attention to Eris. She needed a breather too. "Your body has to recover. Your muscles aren't made of steel yet."
"I know. Thank you, Master. When I heal, my muscles will grow stronger."
She gave me a brief smile before vanishing again.
I was left alone in the courtyard.
I looked at my callus-ridden hands.
I had achieved my goal.
I was now a Sword Saint.
I raised my eyes to the window of our room. Rudeus was there, giving a thumbs-up.
"We did it," I whispered. "I survived."
A small smile formed on my face.
"And now..." I closed my eyes, savoring that instant of calm. "Now there is only one week left until our tenth birthday."
A week to celebrate.
Or perhaps...