{∆}
As the other little royalties left the two boys were left alone and then the older one sat on the grass.
"How the hell did you find this place" Nathaniel asked coldly
"...I found this by chance don't worry"Yuu replied as he sighed
"I never believe on chances when you're from Euro's squadron cousin"
"I know you're very skeptical now, believe me I would as well as this is a heavily restricted area, but I honestly did... our team was ambushed as we had a traitor which casted a big scale explosive magis. The others were able to escape as I became bait to lure the traitor but I didn't even stood a chance" He explained
"Huh?! But you're the best of the best with stealth,assassination and threat control" Nathaniel asked as his face emotionless but his eyes are furious
"We are cousin, but...this new enemy...it's something far more intelligent and thorough with who they target" he said seriously
"I see...ok let's have this more further discusse in the soonest in a more private setting "Nathaniel sighed
" Okay...by the way...tell your sister thanks for saving my life but do advice her to knock me out ...I ...was concious when she did it" Yuu said as his face cringe and tremble a bit
"Ha...for some reason I think you deserve that" Nathaniel flatly commented earning him an eye roll from him
"Anyways, I may need to write to father soon, he's probably contemplating on where to start finding me. But I'm going to stay here for a few weeks for recovery purposes" the older boy said as he stretched
"Oi if you're going to do that do not tell father you're here!! Joie's safety is at stakes here!" Nathaniel warned him
"Why are you worried about that from happening? It's not like she's banned from going outside...wait why is she here?" He asked him
"That's something you shouldn't be caring boy, If you value your life" a deep voice came from behind the boys which was the tall ash haired butler
"Sir David,h-hello!!" Nathaniel nervously greeted
Yuu looked at him in shock as he instantly recognize the butler 'Why...why is a person like here dressed like that?!' he thought but he remained quiet
"Hello too your highness. Now will I politely ask who is this child?" He asked as he looked at the older kid
"Errr... he's Yuu a Noir...knight that got shot by a poisoned arrow" Nathaniel answered carefully
The butler looked at Yuu again squinting a bit then he sighed and went to the older boy and pat his head.
"Please leave once breakfast is over. We don't need more people knowing this place" he coldly told him before giving him a small smile
Yuu nodded as he watched the butler walked towards where Joie and the others went to.
"I've never seen him this annoyed before" Nathaniel comments as he stood up and patted his pants
The older boy did not say a word and eventually the two went ahead to where everyone was already at the dining room eating a heart breakfast.
{∆}
As the day went on the older red head and Nathaniel left.
Silva and Hugo went to the manor's library to find out more clues of the spell book and it's legend behind it.
Silva managed to gather the importance of that book since that spell book has the clues his family needed since right now , there's a crisis it needs to be resolved as peacefully as possible.
He also found out while in Joie's manner that his great ancestor carried the biggest amount of magis reserve that's why his spells are highly lethal if mastered and only magis with S or more can beat the spells within that book .
Upon researching he found a phrase from the Second king of Vearan on the records of their family tree that bothered him...its a message disguise as a last farewell "May the rightful cleanse this heart and peace come " Silva thought it odd that everything started after the real Vearan heir died but no record can clarify his death ...not even in his country...could that book have that answers....and if so ...why did Joie know so much when she just met him recently
As the two boys were on the way back from the library they saw Joie by the garden , in boy clothes with a wooded sword hitting what looks a scarecrow.
The two quickly went to the garden to get a better view of what is happening.
As they reach the garden they hid by a big tree with bushes by it's root, behind Joie, who still is hitting the scarecrow as the massive swings and strong stabs she does are oddly precise despite that sword being heavy.
Hugo noticed that she is not just aimlessly hitting the scarecrow but instead she swings her wooden sword that accurately targeted on the head, then the torso , then weirdly the wrists.
Then as she retracted after a swing she suddenly used her one hand to hold the sword and started to pace quickly as she stabbed the head and the torso rather gracefully and focused.
This amazes Silva because she's strong enough to swing a wooden sword one handed that fast and accurate she is quick enough to do so even with her leg injury.
As she was to do another swing a voice calling her name shocked her nearly hitting a red haired boy as tall as Hugo with pure shock on his face as the tip of the wooden sword nearly hit his nose.
"Damn it! Yuu! Why are you here?! I nearly hit you!!" She exclaimed as she angrily threw her wooded sword poking the ground
The boy simply smiled and pat the irritated Joie on the head who just looked at him frowning and unimpressed
"That's alright, I apologize for that. Anyways that was pretty amazing, where did you learn that" he asked curiously
"Uhhh...from sir Dylan" she lied avoiding his gaze
"Dylan...the sly guy that always trips? How when his swings are not even that fast? Besides the way you hold your sword was uncomfortable but yet you swung it like it's paper...it's pretty amazing" he praised Joie with a smile
"Well of course it's not comfortable to look at, because it's not the correct sword to use. But hey it's the only thing close to a sword that I can train for within this place" she candidly answered
"Ohhh so if we had a duel here you won't win because the sword" he teased
Joie was not in the mood for his jokes but a bright idea came to light with the young princess and took him on his light offer.
"Then can you spar with me?" She asked
Yuu looked at her and smiled widely
"Sure thing but I only have my steel sword. That wouldn't be fair to you , little girl" he teased
"Then a stick would be fair if we use that then" she answered as she handed him a long but sturdy stick which earned her an amused chuckle from Yuu
"Look at you being all persistent. Just so you know I will not hold back even if you're a girl" he said as he prepared for a stance
"Hold back? Who says I'm asking. Let loose man" she smugly said as she took a stance
Silva noticed that Joie is bending a bit lower than a normal stance
When the two started Yuu swung hard but Joie held her grip and as she did she quickly retracted her arm and swung low instantly hitting Yuu on his side however before he could even react she paced back and swung upward hitting his jaw.
Yuu stepped back as he held his jaw, surprised at how quickly that escalated."You done yet hot stuff?" She asked smirking
"Wo...wow that's the first time I was caught off guard like that....that was amazing!!" He happily said as he stood up well as his nose started to bleed
Joie bit her lip slightly to calm her down and anticipated the swing that Yuu who was smiling which by her experience as a former athlete is a sign of learning one's next move.
Regardless though, Joie remained focus as she changed her form slightly as she swung her stick but in just seconds to spare she twist the sword mid way which avoided the collision attack , step back and side swing her aim to Yuu's arm and leg then when Yuu manages to regain his balance he swung again but to her lower side which caught her off guard nearly tripping her as she dodged it
Hugo and Silva were too amazed on her sharp observation skill and battle sense but they noticed that she is trying to end the spar quickly with the quick succession of slashes she drew to Yuu who, despite receiving hard blows from her, is still standing and receiving her attacks tanking in her strong blows.
Silva more so is anxious because she might get badly injured if the opponent finds out her intention and would hit her badly knowing her leg has not healed yet.
The spar however was too entertaining to Yuu as he never felt so much fun sparing but to someone who he already sees the potential to be a strong swords master.
As a another quick stab was on his way he paused a bit timing it to the sword then side stepped and was about to swing his stick to hit her arm when Joie, out of desperation, twisted her torso quick enough to give momentum for her to land a punch on Yuu's jaw.
He was so surprised he started to laugh rather crazed which concerned not only Joie but also the two eves droppers.
"Duuude I am so sorry!! Are you a masochist?! You're bleeding very badly!!! Quit laughing like crazy!!" She screamed as she went to check on him dropping her stick as she ran to check on him
But to her shock Yuu took his stick and lunges forward,thrusted his stick attempted to jab her head nearly hitting it but she luckily stepped back and dodged it on time before punching hard on his face again then she pulled her arm did a spin kick on his side which made her flinched in pain feeling her wound throbbing
The guy however was still standing in awe as he wiped the blood from his mouth while smiling"I can't believe you got me to drop my stick and made me bleed like this when your guard is down... you're strong and smart that's very amazing" he happily comments as he rolled to his back while holding his side
This made Joie so angry that she went on top of him surprising him and angrily grabbed his shirt and stared at him "YOU NUTCASE !!I WAS GENUINELY WORRIED I MIGHT HAD ACCIDENTALLY HURT YOU BADLY!! YOU COULD HAD DIED FROM THAT!!" She screamed at him as her tears fell on his face which was stunned with his heart getting heavy and pained on how the princess was so distraught
Silva and Hugo on the other hand are fuming in rage as their friend is in tears but Hugo held his friend on his shoulder so that he wouldn't pounce so suddenly and wait so they can properly intervene.
Yuu slowly put his hand on her head and gently pulled her to a hug to which the shaking and angered Joie let him go.
"I-I am sorry. I was being a bad duel partner and a meanie for doing you dirty like that. I thought it would be fun but I guess I got carried away. Please stop crying" He said as he pat her head
Unbeknownst to the boys Joie felt bad as well for treating Yuu the way she did. It was a duel after all but the thing that made her snap was because of a past incident from her previous life.
So after a few minutes she got up patted her clothes, then took her collar and rubbed it on her eyes, which in turn Yuu handed her his handkerchief to clean her face.
"I should get back now. I apologize for over reacting Yuu" she said calmly as she picked her wooded sword and stick to clean up
Yuu's hands balled up as he looked down the ground as he felt so bad for going too far.
As she was cleaning though a beautiful white glowing bird with a long fluffy white tail majestically went down towards her.
She instinctively held her hands up for the bird to land. She noticed a small package and a letter tied with it dangling on its beak.
She took the little package and opened it to see it was a small round jar of round candies as a faint sweet smell was emanating from it and a letter
"It's a given that when one is sad offer them sweets to smile especially to a lovely lady"That made Joie blush as the bird flew off
Yuu wasn't happy that Joie was happy because of that bird but he can't do anything much as to help her clean up.
Yuu recognizing that bird and it meant to remind to keep his mouth shut as that bird is from a colleague he wasn't aware he knew about this place and her.
Silva and Hugo left as well and went back to the library to do some more research, Silva in particular wanted to know about he Noir group and how exactly they got to that level of strength.
As Yuu stares at the bird that flew though he can't help but click his tongue knowing he met her while he was ignorant about everything else surrounding her.
'Just who is she and why is she here to begin with'
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to be continued