Bernie and Griselda were still asleep when they were startled awake by a strange, shrill sound they had never heard before. They were still in bed, bewildered, when there was a loud banging on the door: "Bernie, Griselda, get up."
It was a woman's voice, but it was full of threat, like a drawn sword.
Bernie didn't dare to delay. He muttered "Damn it" and jumped out of bed. He quickly put on his clothes and shoes. Before he could even open the door, it was kicked open with a bang.
The door was kicked down, and the latch snapped in two!
"Get up, morning training." A beautiful young woman, dressed in bronze armor that accentuated her curves, stood straight at the door, looking heroic and spirited. Two fierce-looking, tall soldiers stood beside her, holding torches and looking at people like wolves looking at lambs.
It was still dark outside, not yet dawn.
Bernie was startled and hurriedly called out, "Griselda, get up..." Before he could finish calling out, Grezelda had already nimbly stood behind him, her shadow even stronger than the two tall soldiers at the door.
The girl at the door had a cold expression, looking at Bernie and Griselda as if they were enemies. She turned and walked away, speaking rapidly and coldly: "Bernie, Griselda, my name is Julie Clegane. Today I will be in charge of your training. You two are Lord Gregor and Lady Jenny's personal guards, so close-quarters swordsmanship will be your primary training subject. The first priority in swordsmanship is speed, the second is strength, and the third is offensive and defensive sword techniques. Today we will train your speed first, then your strength, and finally the basic movements such as gripping the sword for defense and thrusting. Please remember, I will only say everything once."
Bernie and Grizzarda followed closely behind the little girl, with two menacing soldiers staring at them from behind, which sent chills down Bernie's spine.
"If you haven't opened the door and come out within ten heartbeats since the military whistle blew this morning, your pay for this month will be deducted," Julie said coldly.
Bernie, who had been trembling with fear, suddenly flew into a rage and let out a sound. He immediately sensed something was wrong and heard the two thugs behind him pressing their hands on the hilts of their swords. He quickly changed his tune, speaking in a low, honest voice: "Oh!"
Bernie can mimic all sorts of incredibly lifelike sounds, and he can also hear all sorts of subtle sounds. His talent for ventriloquism and his ability to distinguish sounds are also extremely rare.
Grizelda remained silent, firmly remembering that the piercing sound was a military whistle. No one had told them beforehand, but that didn't matter anymore. Grizelda remembered it and would definitely not repeat the mistake of this morning tomorrow morning.
Julie led Bernie and Greta to the parade ground. It was just beginning to lighten, and hundreds of people were already training there. Some were practicing formations, some were running, some were practicing slashing, and further away, some were practicing horsemanship, some were practicing javelin throwing…
They were already too late.
Bernie estimated the number of people; there were about three hundred training in the training ground.
"Damn it, training so early, it's too hard." Bernie cursed inwardly, his first thought being to find a chance to slip away.
"Mrs. Julie," Bernie stammered.
"Speak!" Julie didn't stop. She walked quickly, her back straight, exuding an aura of unapproachability!
"I am neither Lord Gregor's infantry nor his cavalry. I am Lord Gregor's sommelier, my job is to pour him drinks, serve him things, keep him company, clean his armor, and sharpen his swords. I... am not a soldier who fights... I am Lord Gregor's steward of internal affairs... cough cough... I don't need training, do I?"
Julie stopped, turned around, and shouted sharply, "Guard Bernie!"
"Yes, sir!"
Julie was not actually knighted by her father Gregor; she was not yet a 'mature'.
"I'm training your swordsmanship so that you can protect yourself. Do you think Lord Gregor needs your protection?"
Bernie was speechless.
It turns out that Lord Gregor was afraid that he was too bad and would drag down the Lord and others, so he arranged for him to receive training.
Bernie felt only bitterness in his mouth.
In the eyes of the Mountain and his beastmen, he was utterly worthless! They simply wanted to train him better so he wouldn't be completely defenseless. The Mountain and his beastmen were too busy killing people to bother taking care of this worthless wretch.
Bernie thought he was training Bernie in swordsmanship so that he could protect Lord Mountain. He realized how ridiculous he was. He was wrong, terribly wrong!
Grizarda said, "...Julie...sir..."
"Speak!" Julie snapped, her brows furrowing. She couldn't stand Greizelda's timid demeanor. Greizelda, taller and stronger than most men, lacked even the courage of a little girl.
"...So...I...also did it so that...I could..."
"Griselda, you are being trained to protect Lady Jenny. You are Lady Jenny's first lady-in-waiting, personally chosen by Lord Gregor. You bear the vast majority of the responsibility for Lady Jenny's safety. Do you understand?"
Grizarda's mouth hung open, her heart pounding with fear and trepidation. She had been bullied her whole life, never able to even protect herself, and now she had to protect Lady Jenny.
"I can't!" Grizarda said in terror. Grizarda absolutely could not let Mrs. Jenny be harmed by bad people because of her incompetence; if she did, she would never forgive herself for the rest of her life.
"You can! I trust Lord Gregor's judgment," Julie said.
"No!"
Julie had already turned and walked forward. The two soldiers behind her extinguished their torches, and the eastern sky began to lighten, making the visibility of the huge training ground, which could accommodate thousands of people at the same time, clear.
A few hundred people were left in this huge training ground, and no matter how you looked at it, there seemed to be too few people, and the atmosphere couldn't even be lively.
Grizelda stood there, stunned!
Her mind was reeling. Mrs. Jenny needed her protection? Good heavens, how could this be? Mrs. Jenny needed to be protected by someone truly capable, like Miss Julie, who would be perfect, and it absolutely couldn't be her.
Julie stopped, turned around, and shouted, "Griselda, why aren't you leaving?"
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"I can't! I must go and explain to Lord Gregor," Grizelda said resolutely.
Julie's cold expression instantly turned icy: "Grov, give the training sword to Grizelda. She doesn't need to train speed or strength anymore. She needs to train the spirit and courage of a Clegane first. You spar with her."
"Miss Julie, she hasn't even been trained on how to hold a sword, yet she's already engaged in combat?"
"Throw the training sword to her, then knock her down. When she gets up, knock her down again," Julie said sharply, leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, Miss Julie!" A murderous glint flashed across Grove's face.
Bernie's heart skipped a beat, and his legs went weak.
Grove tossed the training sword to Grizelda, and it hit Grizelda's arm before falling to the ground with a thud.
"Pick it up, you sow!" Grove shouted, assuming a fighting stance. He gripped his sword with both hands, turned to face his opponent, and took a feint step forward while keeping his back foot firmly planted, the tip of his sword pointing diagonally at the bewildered Grizelda.
Grizarda waved her hands frantically, "No, no, no, I can't do it." It wasn't that she didn't want to train, but that she was afraid to take on the responsibility of protecting Mrs. Jenny. She was afraid that her stupidity would harm Mrs. Jenny.
"Knock her down and force her to pick up her sword and fight you!" Julie ordered Grove. "I want to see her enraged."
"Yes, Miss Julie."
Grove stepped forward and slashed at Grizelda with his sword. Grizelda instinctively dodged and raised her hands, but she was too slow. The training sword grazed Grizelda's right cheek, leaving a wound that gushed out blood.
"If she doesn't fight back, kill her!" Julie said coldly.
"Yes, Miss Julie." Grove was a skilled swordsman, ruthless, and merciless.
A bluish tinge flashed across his face!
"Pick up the sword! You...Grey, pick up the sword, or he really will kill you!" Bernie shouted anxiously!
Please don't skip this chapter! If you skip the chapter about stopping the bleeding, you won't be able to understand Jenny's 'extraordinary abilities' later on. The chapter contains foreshadowing and plot points, and the story flows smoothly from beginning to end. Don't skip it! Skipping it will ruin the cool factor! It's only been a few days since it was released.