Last night was pretty tiring. After we excused ourselves, the two suddenly crept to our backs and held us. There needn't be words to be said as the eyes of the two already told us what we needed to do.
So instead of excusing ourselves, we had to bring the two along. Anna's leg was still injured, and although she's a quasi-blood attribute, her wounds aren't closing after activating her attribute, she instead needs to keep her attribute active for her leg to appear and work normal.
However, as all attributes are, it would be dangerous if she did that. Because of that, we weren't able to close the wound and simply covered it up with gauze. She also refused to see a doctor, saying that "it's fine."
The twins, being bound by noblesse oblige and pity didn't even refuse to leave her alone. Personally, I don't mind her staying or leaving, but it's as if the original White's telling me to not leave her alone.
With her leg injured, we requested a wheelchair from the woman who first guided us to the baron's mansion. I also took the time to ask for her name as a way to thank her, and her name is Carmella.
Carmella brought us a wheelchair which we used to stroll with Anna on the market. It was pleasant since the night sky shone a beautiful scenery and the scent of the ocean was pleasing. Still, though, I didn't expect our night stroll for 'dinner' to reach until midnight.
After our stroll, we headed to the baron's mansion. Since we didn't have any luggage because of our storage artifacts, there wasn't any need for any hassle and we settled at the mansion as if it was natural.
Then the next day arrived. I was used to waking up early regardless of the time I slept, so I woke up still feeling pretty exhausted. before I went to find breakfast, I decided to meditate first to raise my mana quality.
Before I left Bluoir, my mana quality was already at orange. Although Velxia said that my growth rate was outstanding, I still feel small compared to the world that houses creatures like that divine spirit, Galaxia.
Although Galaxia is supposedly an existence less significant than Velxia whose a Celestial, the thought of such a creature causing chaos and havoc renewed my sense of danger. And since I am to use my magic at Celestial reality, I figured raising it to be more powerful isn't a bad thing, especially since I have the time to do so.
The air in my room suddenly transformed into the icy winds of the arctic as the blue flame began blazing at the palm of my hands. At the same time, orange motes, formed from the coalescing mana in the environment, began appearing in my surrounding.
Normally, this would have caught the attention of other mages, since meditating causes fluctuations in the air, especially if the mana control is weak. This is another reason why I had to train deep inside the forest, but since my mana control is great, I am able to lessen the fluctuations.
I decided to end my meditation after a good twenty minutes. I could have gone for hours long since my resistance to my own attribute is already strong, but a fluctuation from the surrounding mana that's approaching my room prevented me from going longer.
"You awake?" A gentle voice with an indignant tone came from my room's door. It was Anna. She didn't knock, which I kind of felt unpleasant, but I didn't voice out my thoughts since it didn't seem like she doesn't mean ill of it.
"Just a few moments ago," I responded. It looks like she's restlessly observing my room, but since I was overly cautious of anyone seeing my magic, I'm sure she didn't see anything. But I guess this also means she's also strong since she noticed the minimal fluctuations of mana in the surroundings.
But her hand, which was clasping one of the rings in her finger caught my attention. "Are the rings in your fingers artifacts?" I asked out of curiosity. She eyed me observingly before responding with minimal words, "They are."
Her fiery attitude felt kind of annoying, but I guess I would have done the same if I'm with people I don't know about. I probably would have acted the same way if Sean didn't say that they didn't want something from me, and luckily they didn't.
I sighed mentally before changing the topic. "Is it time for breakfast?" I asked. Anna's shoulders slightly slumped, but she simply nodded at my question.
She wasn't in her wheelchair and her leg is looking fine, so I guess that's her trying to keep her attribute active. After she left, I took the time to do some light stretching before going for breakfast.
Although I say breakfast, I simply got tea before going to the yard where Sitri was watching Sean practice his sword. Since we strolled buying our "dinner" until midnight, I didn't really feel all that hungry.
"White! You're late!" Sean exclaimed when he saw me, then threw a wooden sword at me. I am holding a teacup in my dominant hand, so I simply caught it with my other.
It probably would have been heavier if I caught a real sword, but since it was a wooden sword, its weight didn't even compare to a real one.
The wooden sword is a simple shortsword model, and although I mainly use a smaller estoc with a cutting edge since my sword style is efficient with it, this would be a fine handicap for Sean.
Just as I was observing the sword, Sean suddenly called out, "Don't let your guard down!" He leaped with his usual aggressiveness, ready to strike me from the side.
He probably thought that I would block it, but since my sword style doesn't often use blocks and instead uses martial arts and redirecting tactics, I had no room to block.
As soon as he swung his sword, exactly at the moment where he cannot cancel his strike, I threw my sword upwards, redirecting his attention. With his confused state, he wouldn't be able to cancel his strike but instead weaken it.
With that weakened swing, I simply caught his wooden sword between my thumb and index finger which I strengthen with mana. "Don't be hasty. My tea might spill," I warned off, looking at the teacup on my other hand.
Truth be told, I didn't really bring many clothes along with me since I had my raincoat, and I didn't really think I would be stopping in different towns. So unnecessarily dirtying my clothes isn't really a good idea.
Sean looks confused, but he slumped his shoulders when he understood what had just happened. Seeing this sight, Sitri let out a chuckle before calling out to Sean, "Yes, Sean. Have some patience."
Sean blushed a little before collapsing and sitting down in the yard. "How are you so good with this?" he asked rather exhaustedly. I'll admit that my swordsmanship is pretty powerful against duels or against multiple enemies, but it's definitely hard to use against beasts.
On the other hand, the swordsmanship of this world is more catered to beast slaying and the likes, so it's not like their style is weak. Just incompatible with mine.
"Isn't the purpose of our sparring is so that you can learn my style?" I asked, before sipping on my tea. Sean raised his head and pondered for a bit before responding.
"Nope. I thought you're strong so I just wanted to see how I fare against you since fighting duels between fellow people aren't really acknowledged," he answered.
His answer reminded me of a certain guy from my previous world who also had a thirst for battle. Since the Florence House is known for its military strength, I guess that's reasonable. However, I think other than being thirsty for battles, he should have another drive.
I sat down in the grass along with Sean, still holding and taking sips from my tea. "So? Why do you want to get stronger?" I asked. "I don't really know. I guess because it's fun?" He answered with liveliness.
'fun' seems like a small drive because it seems too unreasonable, but thinking back, don't I also want to protect those people that are simply 'precious' to me against the upcoming war? And looking at the foundation of fun and precious, what you get is the will to act.
If so, saying that his line of reasoning, which is also a drive from emotions, isn't good enough is both hypocrisy and belittling his efforts.
"Then, why not learn my sword style?" I asked. His expression livened up, "Are you sure?" he asks back.
"I don't retract my promises, but it would be weird if a third person saw a young child teaching someone older than him. Are you fine with that?" I asked for confirmation. His lively expression turned to an embarrassed one, but he took a deep breath before aggressively nodding.
Well, I guess this would also be my way of thanking him for the almost unfair trade of toying with him for the carriage's luxuries, and also as a way to apologize because of my earlier thoughts.
Just as we finished our small chat, Carmella called out to Sean. "It's a pleasant morning, young lord Florence," Carmella greeted Sean then looked at me and simply bowed with a smile.
"Good morning too, Carmella. Also, just Sean is fine, no need for honorifics," Sean raised his hand as he greeted back, "what's up?"
Carmella raised her head before speaking up, "Lord Bellos is asking for your presence. It appears that the dungeon exploration team has been selected and were ready for reconnaissance," She explained.
"I see," Sean returned his attention to me then nodded, signaling me to follow after, "then please lead the way."