After we finished diner, Karl gathered us all in the backyard to show us something.
"So, what are we gonna do ?"
"Shaylee ! Could you please lend your sword to Jemuel ?"
Huh ? Sword ?
"Sure."
She threw her sword at me and I grabbed it with my right hand.
"Be careful", she said.
"Yeah, thank you."
"We'll have a little duel", Karl said.
"A duel ?! Again ?! Just so you know, I've never used a sword before."
"You said the same thing with the bow and yet you managed like a boss."
"Yes but still... It was unexpected-"
"Trust me", he said, interrupting me confidently.
I looked at him form a moment, then sighed.
"Ok... But I don't promise you anything."
"Nice !"
"Tch ! What is Karl thinking about ? This guy said it himself. He never use an a sword before", Lore said.
"Come on, there's no point in racking your brains about it. Let's just see why he's so confident", Bert said while Shaylee was watching our two duelists and Erna was drinking.
"First, we'll go at each other for 20 seconds, then I'll let you rest for 10 seconds and we'll finish by going at each other for another 30 seconds. Alfred will be the referee."
"Just 10 second ?"
"You'll understand why."
"Hum, okay."
"Are you ready ?" Alfred said.
"Don't worry, I'll hold back", Karl said.
"I appreciate the attention", Jemuel replied.
We were talking as we looked at each other with a smile.
"START !"
Karl disappeared from Jemuel's field of vision and immediately reappeared in front of him. He was aiming at his stomach but his attack was immediately countered. The power of Karl's attack pushed Jemuel back violently onto the tree that was a few yards behind him, and blood came out of his mouth.
AAARRRGGG !! What was that ?! I didn't see him coming... And this strength... That's what he called holding back ? He's kidding, right ?
I raised my head but Karl wasn't there. Where is he ?
"You shouldn't let yourself distracted so easily during a duel..."
HUH ?!
He was behind me to my right and ready to pierce my head with his sword.
As soon as he attacked, I dodged it him by rolling on the ground to the left, but it managed to cut me on the cheek.
"You could die."
Is he trying to kill me? This guy is as crazy as I thought he was. I don't have time to procrastinate, it's my turn to attack.
"Yaaaarrrrgggg !"
Jemuel launched successive attacks but Karl countered them all easily, and following it, kicked him in the stomach. It was so powerful that it sent Jemuel several meters away from him.
"He's too weak ! I don't even understand why he's there", Lore said.
"Ohla, ohla don't said that Lore. You'd be surprised of what he can do", Erna replied with a smirk and a glass of liquor in her hand.
"Erna ? You also think that he can useful to the squad ?"
"Well, Haven't you noticed that his aura is increasing too quickly ?"
"Now that you say it, yeah. I found it strange."
"Right ? At first glance he just looks like an average guy but after a few seconds of engaging in the duel you see something emanating from him growing steadily and rapidly."
'I really wonder how he does that?' Erna thought.
"End of the first 20 seconds ! Beginning of the 10 seconds of rest !", Alfred said.
I think I've figured out now how he's moving.
"I hope that's not all you can do."
"Don't worry, at first I didn't want to do this but..."
"End of the 10 seconds rest ! Beginning of the last 30 seconds of the duel !"
Karl immediately rushed toward Jemuel to crush him with a horizontal sword blow to the kidneys, but he managed to dodge it by jumping above.
"Now I'm really mad !"
He rotated in the air and launched a powerful sword blow at Karl who countered it. The power emitted by the shock of the two swords was felt all over the field.
Jemuel rotated in the air once again but in the opposite direction this time to deliver another powerful sword blow that Karl countered again.
Everyone was surprised at how suddenly Jemuel's movements had changed.
For a couple of second they crossed swords as if they were almost on the same level, and then Jemuel disappeared from Karl's field of vision and immediately reappeared in front of him; aiming at his stomach but Karl countered it immediately.
"No way ! He reproduced Karl's move after seeing it just once !", Lore said.
The shock was so powerful that the sword Jemuel was using shattered and to avoid Karl's next attack, he slipped under his legs.
"END OF THE DUEL ! Sir Künh is the winner !", Alfred said.
Huff, puff, *gasp*!
I was lying on the ground and Karl came to help me get up.
"Nice duel", he said with a smile on his face.
"Same to you captain."
Then, I saw Shaylee coming towards me.
"Come to think of it, we could have used wooden swords", Karl said.
"Don't say that now !"
"Sorry", he replied, making a cat face.
"I apologize for breaking your sword ! I'll buy you a new one !", I said while bowing.
"Are you sure you never used a sword before ? You did in seconds what most swordsmen struggle to learn for years. Few can resist Karl like you did", Shaylee said.
"Yeah, that was my first time, and we can't really say I did something. Karl is on a whole another level. "
"Still, that was impressive."
"...Thank you", I said while blushing.
"Now I think you understand a little better how your skill works, right?" Said Karl.
"Yes, I think so. When I use a weapon for a few seconds, I feel a heat gradually rising in my stomach thereafter, it begins to spread throughout my whole body . As a result, my movements start to change as if I were one with the weapon and, my opponent's movements become easier to read. Maybe that's why I'm able to replicate them. "
"I've heard of a few people who mastered different weapons but it took them years to get there, and they weren't always able to replicate their opponent's techniques, so your skill is definitely something new", Bert said.
"Like, a unique skill ?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"I see. I think I'll name it too."
"You might have something unique, but if you can't master it, it's useless", Lore said.
I can't say that she's wrong though. I'll have to practice.
Now...
"Karl. Did you know about that ?- No. How did you found about that ?"
"Well, when I first met you, your aura intrigued me, so out of curiosity I made you take the entrance test for the royal army as an archer. I could have sent you take it at the Knights section that wouldn't have changed anything."
"So it was just out of curiosity ?! What if you were wrong ?!"
"Well, you would just have failed and gone looking for another job, it's not that hard", he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"REALLY ?!", I exclaimed followed by a sigh.
"And, what is exactly this aura thing ?"
"It is an energy that emanates from your body. The more powerful the person, the greater their aura. Also, anyone can sense another person's aura or hide their own so as not to attract attention. That's an easy trick to learn. Most often people display their aura to intimidate their opponents. That's why sometimes, unintentionally, you can feel a mass of energy coming from someone."
"Oh, I see. Thank you."
Then, Erna came toward me.
"Jemuel."
"Yes ?"
"To be honest, your skill made me think of an old legend that I read about a long time ago, but I can't clearly remember it. "
"Really ?! That's unfortunate."
"Sorry, but if I find back the book I'll let you know."
"That'd be really appreciate. Thank you."
I should also do some research on my own so I'll definitely have to learn how to read and write. I wanted to asked Erna for help as she seems to know a lot of things but she's also a crazy drunk.
Instead of her, I asked to Pia to teach me how to read and write and she agreed with that. From now on after she finished her chores for the day we'll do that.
A few hours later, everyone were in their room while I was on my way to get a glass of water. That's when I saw Shaylee. She was looking at the stars in her nightgown on the balcony, and I decided to join her.
"Can't sleep ?"
She turned around.
"Ah, Jemuel. No, I just wanted to get some fresh air."
Her hair blowing in the wind and the moonlight making her blue eyes shine made her even more beautiful.
"Sorry again for breaking your sword. As I said earlier, I'll buy you a new one."
I say that but I don't even have a dime. I'll have to wait for my first paycheck, I thought sadly.
"Don't worry about that. I'll just go buy a new one tomorrow."
"No ! No ! No ! Even if you say that, I have to repay you somehow."
"You really don't have-"
"No ! No No !"
"You've already made up your mind, haven't you?", she said after sighed.
"Exactly !", I replied, smiling with my thumb up.
"Okay. I'll save it for later then."
"Nice !
By the way, you've said that you'll go buy a new sword tomorrow, right ?"
"Yes."
"In this case, can I come with you ? I haven't had a chance to visit the city yet and would like to see the price of some weapons to buy in the future."
"Huh ? Are you sure about that ? It might cause you problems if you're seen with me."
"Like what ? Some jealous guys because I'll be in company of the most beautiful girl in the world ?"
"Just so you know... I'm an half-dark elf."
"Oh, I get it now. No wonder why you're so cute. Elves are known to be beautiful, right?"
"Huh ?! Didn't you hear me ? I'm an half-dark elf."
"I heard you clearly."
She turned around and blushed for a while. As she was on her way to left the balcony she stopped for a moment.
"Do as you like."
"Okay !"
And she left.