CH47 — Reflection & Guidance

「 Let your blade be swift and your mercy true. 」

「 Let your blade be swift and your mercy true. 」

Shen starts with a wide swing and rushes into me. First to strike. Very much like her.

I already expected her to start with a swift swing but I still barely parried it. The impact is so great that my sword vibrates along with my arm. A testament to the durability of the sword as any normal ones would’ve been broken from that impact alone.

My sword almost flew out of the way. Only by a firm grip and anticipating it that I’m able to still get a hold of it.

It knocks me back slightly and forces me to retreat and give her space.

I reposition my foot work and before I’m ready for the second round, she dashes straight to me once more, with a wide swing nonetheless. Take me by surprise. Leaving no room for me to counterattack.

She swings fast. Left and right. In a flick of the eye. Speed that could only be achieved thanks to body tempering magic spells, was achieved by her simply due to her dragonic nature.

Her lithe arms carry the dragon strength she possesses. Her eyes full of sheer intent and a concentration of will — as sharp as a dragon.

So suitably aggressive. So suitably calculating. So suitably like a dragon.

If it weren’t for her direct textbook copy movement that I’ve taught to her, I wouldn’t be able to counter and definitely lose the first five seconds of the round.

In the myriad of her offenses, a blocked parry comes. Our blades stuck to one another. I push our stuck, jumbled sword to her zone. Shen retaliates by moving our blades upwards. A beginner's mistake. With her attention focused on our blades, her space down below leaves exposed. An exploit left in the open.

I swiftly kick her in the crotch. Pushing her backwards.

Shen squirms a little in both pain and shock.

With no resistance on my sword this would be the perfect time to strike her head. But of course I won’t do that.

I let her fall completely to the ground, bottom first. Her eyes widened, clearly out of shock and also pain. My heart twitches seeing her expression.

With her attention completely thrown out of the window and laying down on the ground, I thrust my sword. And the tip of the blade stays still closely to her neck.

「 I surrender. 」She let loose the grip of her swords and also let out a bittersweet smile.

Shen is much more agile and has more strength no doubt. But Shen at its current state is still a bit clueless regarding human’s nature along with its weakness and anatomy.

Careless swings and pure brute force might work against unintelligent monsters but against experienced humans that kind of technique won't stand a chance. Maybe it’s due to my fault for focusing her on textbook techniques and rigid training. However it should be something easy to fix with enough ample amount of time and experience.

There is no doubt however in just three weeks she’s already almost on par with something I must train myself for three years. Yes, time travels much slower in the time palace but it’s only roughly three times slower, so technically nine weeks, which is still a miraculous performance. She’s a genius in a way. She must not just be dragonic in body strength but also in the mind.

「 Did you notice your mistakes, Shen? 」

「 Yes- 」she coughs mid sentence. Shit. Looks like I kicked her with too much strength,「 I was so absorbed with our blades that I didn’t pay attention to anything else. I’ve never thought the feet could be used to attack as well. 」

「 You’ve done well, Shen. Let's take a break and sit down on the bench nearby. 」

I offer my hand and help Shen stands up, and carry her to the bench.

「 Are you alright, Shen?  」I ask her now after we sit down relax fully in the bench.

「 There is no reason for you to apologize, master. And I’m being honest when I say that this is nothing... Nothing compared to my previous life fights. 」

Seeing her being eager about it, I can only take her words of being truthful.

I let silence take place, to calm things down after the sparring match for a moment.

This Sky-Palace courtyard's humongous size, although appreciated, gives the impression of a desolate place. The only thing missing to liven things up would be butterflies laying on the diverse flowers and birds chirping in this courtyard. Although that kind of thing might be much more suited in the greenhouse as the greenery here is minimal.

「 Although our training is focused on swordsmanship without any magic in play, anything else is a free game. 」I start my lecture,「 What I just did, such as using a foot to knock you out, is considered by others as barbaric with no honor attached. But in a situation where it costs your lives, honor will be thrown out. 」

「 I understand, 」she responds quickly and tactfully, like a disciplined eager student,「 does that mean I should also use my feet to attack? 」

「 Not necessarily. What I am trying to say is that, don’t always focus on the swords too much. Focus on your surroundings. Others will use any tricks or hidden trump cards that you won’t expect. I am guessing your sense of perception in your human form is not as good as when you are in your dragon form. 」

She nods, and her expression is filled with understanding and contemplation.

「 There’s also the fact that swords are complementary to the user's magic ability. Other than trading sword blows, there’s obviously magic spells involved. That's why perception and the ability to multitask is important. 」

「 Indeed I’m still not used to swordsmanship, more so with perceiving my surroundings in my human form.  」

「 I still do not understand, Shen. If it’s about fighting in your human form, I’m sure you can still cast the same powerful spells as you before in your dragon form. In fact, how about you try to cast any impressive spells but not the harmful kind right now, Shen. 」

Shen nods, and faces towards the largest empty space this Sky-Palace courtyard can offer.

With no warning whatsoever, a wall of towering ice spikes soars from the ground. The glistening ice reflects the light sharply, as sharp as the thrones on it. Splitting the courtyard by half.

No incantation nor a magic circle rune. Not even the slightest hand gestures. It just springs out of nowhere.

I’m pretty sure even an expert would be hard-pressed to do incantation-less spells for  complex and grand-scale spells like this.

「 So how was it, master? This is just a tiny portion of my arsenal of magic spells, my magic ability in my human form is quite limited, so this is what I can only do. 」

Now I understand why humans never went to the surface back in the ancient times — Verum Shihi Era. Humans don't stand a chance against them.

「 Even with your limited magic capability alone, you are still a formidable foe for almost any expert. There’s not much need for you to complement it with swordsmanship. 」

「 Swordsmanship is interesting… It is a novelty for me who was once a dragon. The idea that this piece of steel is worked on and crafted to try to increase human’s strength to mitigate their lack of magic capabilities is quite amusing. 」

Her smooth hand unknowingly makes its way to me and holds my hand resting in my lap. She’s been training for quite a while and even progresses rapidly, but surprisingly no rough calluses have formed in her hand. Remaining perfectly smooth. As if she’s like a doll.

She leans towards me. Resting her head on my shoulder, like she always does if there’s a chance.

...This is not good.

「 And well… I have fun learning this art. More so when you’re here with me, master. 」She shakes with laughter.

「 I’m glad that you are having fun. 」I correct my sitting posture and with both of my hands placed on her shoulders, position her to sit straight,「 you have talent and potential in swordsmanship. With your swift, wide and fluid movement like a flowing river, your unique style of swordsmanship is as if you are dancing. Striking down enemies not just with your swords or magic, but also with your presence as you dance elegantly and beautifully. 」

I say, praising her, to what obviously is an over exaggeration. And well… an overwhelmingly positive feedback never hurts.

「 Hoooo… Is that so? Dancing…. 」

Ah, does she not know what dancing means?

「 I shall keep that in mind, my master. 」She says with a wide smile. Radiating the same elegance that just melts you into her.

「 That’s it for today’s lessons from me. 」I say suddenly, trying to stop myself from getting too chummy with her,「 we've been sparring for tens of times anyway. 」

「 Only one of them I’ve won… And even then it was due to you surprisingly slipping in the middle of our spar…. 」

She says a bit meekly. Dissatisfied with her result while simultaneously still eager and enthusiastic to learn and put more effort.

「 If you still insist on continuing your training then do you want to spar with the shadow minions again? 」

「 O-of course, master.  」

Without further ado, I summoned two shadow minions.

Have a sparring match with Shen. And remember, no lethal attacks.

Yes, my lord.

「 Have fun, Shen. And don’t be too excessive. It’s about time I head over to have lunch with the captain. 」

Shen rises from the bench and is already holding her sword. Heading towards the two shadow swordsmen on their knees.

The encounter also provides an interesting insight. Shen could command the shadow minions and were given almost the same authority as I. Although my commands always surpasses and prioritizes over hers and her commands cannot in any way be used to harm me.

I leave Shen in the courtyard accompanied by her sparring partners. The sound of the sword clashing starts ringing once more.

Let’s hope she won’t accidentally kill a shadow minion or two, like last time. I would like to not waste them more than necessary.

Thankfully after a few weeks passed by, I’ve never felt nauseous anymore but I make sure to stay up on the deck to make my presence known to the others and to not raise suspicion of being holed up down in the quarter. Lunch with Sir Aston and the adventurer being the time to go back to the deck and greet everyone with my presence.

However, it’s too early to head over lunch. An excuse to leave early, away from Shen. An important one to sort things out with what occurred in the spar with Shen previously. As I thought of something rather dangerous at that moment...

I enjoy seeing Shen squirming in pain.

When Shen falls down, my heart twitches not because I feel guilty, but because I was ecstatic. I became excited seeing Shen down on the ground.

It’s intoxicating seeing a beautiful girl such as her on her knees, defenseless…

Her once beautiful determined eyes change to a shocked, twisted one.

It all makes me feel very alive and excited...

I wish I did not have to keep thinking about it. But this moment for sure will always be stuck in my mind. Clenching to her image in that moment, rewinding it over and over again for days to come-

Bang!

Out of frustration I punch the wall beside me.

The slight stinging pain in my fist proving to be able to divert my attention out of her image...

I must force myself to think of something else.

Ohhh.. I know what it is…

The overall summary of this second life of mine. The fact that I acted like an idiot.

Immature.

I wish I could blame it all on the raging hormones this body generates in its youthful age that was originally wasn’t mine, but blaming things you can’t control is in itself an immature act.

This is what happens when I get my feelings and emotions way too overboard. I shouldn’t let my emotions and feelings get ahead and carry my reasoning away...

This is what happens when I can’t get a tight grip of my emotions…

It is so unlike me to be so full of emotions. I remember in my past life, I always took it like a man with a steel of heart. I never complained and always accepted things as they were.

I accept and never retaliate to my father’s enraged anger for not getting first place in some instances throughout my school experience. To the point of being punished by being starved for three days.

I accept and never retaliate when my wife shouts angrily at me for any little inconveniences or when things doesn't go the way she wants.

I always accept it and never let these things make me emotional or make an impact on me.

The only time I didn’t accept things the way they were and let emotions get the hold of me was when my wife cheated on me.

And then I forgot my principle and always let my emotions get the hold of me throughout this second life of mine.

I guess I indeed somehow changed in this second life of mine, although for the worse.

I continue walking again. Towards the throne. As I plan on what to do when that adventurer will tell another tale of his bullshits. Leaving this sky-palace and hopefully, forgetting what transpired in today’s sparring match with Shen.