Currently, I'm just reclaiming what was once mine, my power, and I want more power. The entity waiting for me is beyond measure and stature.
The duchy wasn't a new beginning, but another stop on a journey I'm searching for its end, over and over.
Bodies change, ages repeat, but the will that crossed death once, twice, thrice... won't stop.
What happened under the waterfall wasn't an awakening, it was an acquisition, a progress... a reminder.
A reminder that this world doesn't give anything for free,
and that those who return from the gates of death... don't have the luxury of slowing down.
I smiled calmly.
"This isn't an ordinary training phase, but a reclaiming of what's lost, and writing my own ending..."
"I'll build my own ending, I am the chosen one, the one who returned from the depths of the past, the one who strives, call me what you will, the one and only chosen one who looks at his own ending."
Suddenly, Sylvia interrupted my gaze at the horizon...
"Oh! It seems you're back, Sylvia."
"Yes... Haaaah (yawn)"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did. Anyway, I knew you were talented and your development wasn't human, but to develop to this extent! I didn't expect that."
I chuckled mockingly. "Sylvia, haven't you learned anything from me by now? My grandeur is something you can expect the unexpected from."
Sylvia looked away and made a disgusted face. "What's with that? Have your hidden narcissism returned?"
"What's with that face? And besides, I'm only like this sometimes, and I'm not lying, am I?"
"Hah... logically, yes."
"Anyway, I'll go train. Want to come?"
"Huh? You're already strong. What do you need to train for? No, who's going to train you?"
"Did you forget? I'm training with the duke."
"Really? Time flew by quickly."
"Hearing that from someone who slept for that long is kind of weird."
Sylvia gave me a condescending look. "You idiot, I was recovering, not just sleeping."
"You call me narcissistic and then make that face? Sigh... Anyway, transform into your spiritual form. Someone's coming."
"What? I don't sense anyone coming."
Before she finished speaking, the door lock started turning suddenly.
"Good morning, Daniel. Oh, you're up already. That's good. Go have breakfast. It's time for training."
It was the duke, looking elegant with his hair styled, and Sylvia had already transformed.
"Okay, Grandfather. But you didn't have to come yourself."
"Don't bother with that."
Then he turned around and left.
"Hey, how did you know he was coming? I didn't sense anything."
"First, since you just woke up, your senses and perception are weak. Second, Grandfather hid his presence. It's hard to sense him even for you in your current state. You're still weak."
"Your grandfather is a master swordsman, right? How did you sense him?"
I smiled and said, "I didn't."
"What? Then how did you know he was coming?"
"I sensed his surroundings instead."
Sylvia's eyes widened, and she smiled slightly. "You know, your genius sometimes gives me goosebumps."
I closed my eyes, smiling. "Let's go."
We went downstairs and had breakfast. The servants were staring at Sylvia in amazement. This was because I let her show herself. Previously, I would ask her to hide.
I headed to the training grounds, changed into my training clothes quickly. The duke was already there.
"You're here, Daniel."
"Yes."
"Shall we begin?"
"Please."
The duke smiled and said, "Pick up your sword."
I chose a training sword and stood opposite the duke. I took my stance, but he didn't. His stance was unique, with his right foot forward and his left foot back, his body turned slightly, and his hand on the hilt of his sword. I knew the basic techniques of the duke's sword style, so fighting him wouldn't be too difficult, especially since he's going easy on me.
"Let's begin."
I charged forward at incredible speed, creating a loud noise in the hall. I aimed a deceptive strike, but it wasn't just a horizontal strike. It was angled from the right, heading towards the duke's abdomen. However, the duke didn't move. In an instant, he drew his sword and parried my strike with the back of his sword, then countered with a thrust towards me. I barely blocked it.
"Hah! Why is his tension so high? If this continues, I'll..."
Strike, two, three. I couldn't keep up at all. What was he doing? After that, I suddenly found myself flying.
"Hah!"
"Thud" I hit the ground.
"Ugh..."
The duke pointed his sword at me, his expression serious.
"Young one, do you think you can deceive me? You think you're on my level?"
Hahaha, he's figured it out. And he's serious. If I continue like this... I won't leave unscathed.
I swallowed hard, then pushed the ground with my hand and stood up, a slight pain running down my back... but it wasn't important.
What was important was that I understood.
I lowered my sword slightly, then raised it again with full seriousness.
"...I understand."
The duke looked at me without changing his stance.
"Understand what?"
I took a deep breath.
"That I entered this training with one mindset, and that's to rise and survive."
He didn't respond, but the pressure in the air eased slightly.
I took a step forward and said in a serious tone.
"I was fighting thinking you were unaware of what was happening, and I took your leniency for granted. I'm truly sorry."
I chuckled lightly.
"That was my mistake."
Clarence slowly turned his sword, the tip of the blade pointing towards the ground.
"Finally."
Then he said in a calm, yet heavy voice.
"You're not losing because you're weak... you're losing because you're arrogant in how you use your power."
I scowled.
"Arrogant?"
"Yes."
He raised his eyes to meet mine.
"You see fighting as a memory, and I see it as reality."
His words were followed by a moment of stunned silence.
"Daniel, forget..."
What?
"Forget who you are, forget who you were, forget who you'll be. Just focus on me, I'm your opponent right now."
I smiled. This man truly... was worthy of more respect than others.
I took my stance and prepared myself. Clarence smiled, pleased.
"Yes, this is what I expect from my grandson."
After a few moments of heavy silence, the two of us charged forward, and then disappeared, leaving behind a noise that seemed to emanate from the void.