We exchanged blows, one, two, three. The initial clashes were ordinary, at least for us. But as time went on, the attacks became faster and more intense. I was unleashing around 50 strikes per second, which was extraordinary, of course. Clarence did the same, and we were fighting using our auras, shaping them without conscious thought.
The sword taught me something I only recently understood: that power isn't measured by what you can display, but by what you can produce. Fighting is about results, not about what you can carry, but about what you can sense.
With each exchange, I felt like I was getting close to something, but close to what? I started thinking about the past... I shouldn't forget the past, shouldn't run away. I should use the past, and also, fate... I'm not bound by fate, I'm forging my own path. I'm the one who weaves my own destiny, no... I'm the destiny.
I was completely focused on the fight. We broke apart for a moment, and I started sweating profusely. I wiped my forehead and grasped my sword lightly, as if it was about to slip from my hand. Clarence's demeanor hadn't changed. We clashed again, and this time, I let him take the initiative. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, and I took a defensive stance. My body was being driven into the ground, and I felt like my sword was about to break. Suddenly, I saw an opening. My grandfather's elbow was bent back more than before. In a flash, I disappeared from his sight and reappeared behind him. I spun my sword, and it seemed to flip in the air. I managed to do that because of my previous stance, gathering power for this strike. I aimed for my grandfather's blind spot, expecting to hit him. But... Clarence parried the strike without even looking at it.
"Hah?"
But Clarence didn't emerge unscathed. He was sent flying backward but managed to regain his balance. However, it seemed like our wooden training swords were about to crack. Mine and his.
My grandfather suddenly said, "Are you surprised? How did I parry that strike?"
I looked at him for a moment, then said, "Not really. You intentionally left an opening, didn't you?"
He smiled.
"Yes, I did. So, why did you attack me despite knowing it was a trap?"
I didn't have an answer, but then I said, "Until you asked me, I didn't think about it. Let's call it... the moment."
"The moment? What do you mean?"
"You know, when you're fighting and you're having fun, it's not like you're thinking about anything. You're just enjoying the moment. That's what it was like. I wanted to enjoy the moment."
His eyes widened, and he burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! As I expected, you're interesting, young one."
Was my answer that funny? Then, Clarence's expression turned serious and cold.
"But, do you think you're confident enough to enjoy yourself like that against me, you insolent one?"
The atmosphere changed, and he unleashed his overwhelming aura. But I stood firm.
"The moment doesn't care who you're with or against. When the moment comes, you have to enjoy it, even if it's against a ruler."
The pressure eased, and he burst out laughing again.
"Hahaha, I think you're right! Hahaha."
Why was he laughing so much? Wiping away tears of laughter, Clarence said:
"Anyway, let's end it here for today. Our swords are about to shatter."
Although we didn't train for long, I was exhausted, and my muscles ached. I was going to head to my room to sleep, but my grandfather called out to me.
"Where do you think you're going? Your training isn't over yet."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, you haven't finished yet. Come here, stretch out your arms to the ground, lift your hips up, and face forward. Stay like that for two hours."
Is that all? That would be easy... But wait, what?!
"What?! Two hours?!"
"Yes, didn't you hear me?"
"I heard you loud and clear. That's why I'm asking again!"
"Didn't you come here to get stronger? If so, do as I say and shut up."
Before I could object, he had already left.
A quarter of an hour passed, then twenty minutes, half an hour... an hour. My muscles, no, my whole body was screaming in pain. Even my mind seemed to be malfunctioning. I couldn't think clearly. Veins were bulging on my face and body. My face felt like a tomato. Despite only half the time having passed, I felt like I was dying.
And after another twenty minutes, I lost consciousness.
I slowly opened my eyes, and when I did, I saw that I was in my room, but in my home. There was no one in front of me, not even Sylvia. The curtains were closed, but they couldn't block out the bright light from outside. I quickly got up to see what was happening outside. Suddenly, I saw it... that accursed sight. The empire was ablaze, with countless bodies lying on the ground. There was a sea of blood, and that ominous, bright light. I rushed downstairs, gasping for breath, but for some reason, I was moving in slow motion.
"Damn it! Faster! Faster!"
My voice was hoarse and empty. I rushed out of the house to see... my sister, my mother... my family. They were all dead, their faces disfigured. And in front of me, my father was fighting that accursed, fallen ruler. Jan was kneeling on the ground with one arm. When he noticed me, he smiled. My father smiled. And then, his body was cut in half...
"Hah-hahaha! What's happening here?!"
I shouted hysterically. Had I made a mistake? Had I done something wrong? I was sure I was on the right path. So why? As tears streamed down my face, I couldn't breathe. Suddenly, the sea of blood started rising, slowly engulfing everything beneath it. I was in a state of shock and helplessness. Then, I heard that voice.
"...Chosen one... you're on the right path..."
This time, his words were audible, and his presence was closer. It was terrifying.
"Wait, who are you? Explain, please."
There was no response. Then, he continued, "Continue..."
Without giving me a chance to ask questions, the sea of blood engulfed me and everything around me.
I woke up with a start, gasping for breath. "Hah-hah-hah!"
Sylvia was standing beside me in her human form.
"Daniel! Are you okay?"
"Huh? Where am I..."
I was in my room in the duchy. I sighed in relief. It was just a dream.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. What happened to me?"
"You were sweating and gasping for breath while you were asleep."
"Oh, not that. How did I get here?"
Sigh... "You fainted during training."
"Training?"
Ah, right. That accursed exercise. Ugh, my body still hurts.
"Anyway, Sylvia, what time is it?"
"It's 4 pm."
"Oh, good. Anyway, I'll go back to sleep. I'll wake up for dinner."
Sigh... "Do what you want."
I woke up half an hour before dinner, took a shower, and went downstairs to meet my grandfather.
"Oh, you're up. Come sit here."
"So, how was your first day?"
I said honestly, "It was exhausting. And that exercise was ridiculously hard."
"Daniel, there's nothing easy in this world. And I didn't expect you to last this long. I thought you'd make it to half an hour, but you exceeded that. That's impressive."
Is this old man using me for his amusement?
"And, Daniel, you're leaving in a month, right?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"A month? Didn't we agree on two months?"
"Yes, we did. But, Daniel, you're strong now. Really strong. Despite my telling you not to hold back, you did."
I didn't respond.
"Do you understand? There's nothing more I can teach you about swordsmanship. You're good at magic, aren't you? Why not train in that?"
Well, his words made sense. But...
"Sigh... I don't want to train in magic until I enter the academy."
"Hmmph. Do what you want."
Dinner went smoothly, and I went back to my room to bring food for Sylvia. Then I went straight to sleep. I was still tired. And that's how the first day went.