Lady Melissa soon arrived at the knight headquarters of the Shayla estate for where she would usually practice her swordsmanship skills, and sometimes her lessons would be here as well if it wasn't occupied by the knights at least.
Surprisingly there was someone who was practising swordsmanship as well, though that someone didn't seem so good at swordsmanship as he kept using the wrong moves over and over again, seemingly frustrated at his mistakes.
Lady Melissa, without her realising, walked closer to the boy, who was trying his best. Lady Melissa gently whispered to his ear, "Try and position your right hand lower and your left hand higher."
Lady Melissa said, gently repositioning the boy's hands on the swords.
Suprised the young boy flinched back. However, he didn't turn and look at Lady Melissa, instead following Lady Melissa's instruction, this time doing the same move but with his now repositioned hands on the sword.
Though he wasn't completely correct this time, it was a big improvement compared to his previous try.
Lady Melissa once again gently whispered to the boy's ear.
"Straighten your back and put your right foot backwards and your left foot forwards, and try to do it again."
Lady Melissa said, guiding the young boy.
The young boy nodded his head, following Lady Melissa's instructions before doing the same move once more.
However, this time, the young boy succeeded, which let out a little celebration from the young boy, his face filled with joy and his eyes beaming with happiness.
The young boy looked back, curious to know who had helped him master the move.
And he was met with Lady Melissa happily waving to him.
The young boy suddenly bowed down to Lady Melissa.
"T-thank you, Lady Melissa!"
The young boy shouted out loud, stuttering a little.
Lady Melissa simply laughed at the young boy's antics, thinking that he was so cute.
Lady Melissa ruffled the young boy's hair, and the young boy smiled, seemingly enjoying what Lady Melissa was doing to his hair.
"Unfortunately, I have to go and practice my swordsmanship skills as well now."
Lady Melissa said, pointing to one of the dummy's used to practice swordsmanship.
The young boy who was reluctant to let Lady Melissa go eventually did let her go after some convincing from Lady Melissa.
Lady Melissa waved the young boy goodbye while walking to the dummy's; the young boy waved goodbye as well to Lady Melissa. However, he did not move even a single inch from his spot, staying still to practice some other moves.
Lady Melissa smiled at the young boy's attitude and dedication towards swordsmanship, he seemed as if he was barely seven, yet he had woken up so early to practise swordsmanship.
'He'd make a great knight.'
Lady Melissa thought.
'I wonder who's child that is, though.'
Lady Melissa thought, assuming that the young boy was one of the knights' sons, or perhaps even one of the maids'.
Lady Melissa brushed all her thoughts away, though, focusing on practising her swordsmanship now.
After a couple of hits on the dummy's, Lady Melissa snapped off one of the dummy's wooden arms, surprising Lady Melissa, who was very much focused on hitting the dummy's.
'I hope dad doesn't get too mad about this later.'
Lady Melissa thought, not wanting to get lectured and scolded by her father for accidentally breaking one of the wooden dummy's arms.
Lady Melissa quickly took the wooden dummy's broken arm, tossing it into one of the bushes, temporarily hiding it before she'd take it after her practice and dispose of it so no one would know her crime.
'Oh yeah, I still haven't retrieved back the rope from last time.'
Lady Melissa thought, remembering her outing with Duke Mason where she had to sneak out of her house to even meet with him.
'I'll retrieve it later after swordsmanship practice.'
Lady Melissa thought, making a mental note to retrieve the rope and the dummy's arms later after her swordsmanship practice.
Lady Melissa quickly went back into her swordsmanship practice, not using the broken dummy anymore but instead replacing it with one of the perfectly fine dummy's.
After many hours of Lady Melissa practising, it was now 9 AM, and as Lady Melissa looked up, tired from her swordsmanship practice, she saw the beautiful sky.
Lady Melissa went into one of the empty benches, taking a seat in it before grabbing her water bottle and finishing the whole bottle in one gulp.
'Water tastes good.'
Lady Melissa thought, putting the now empty water bottle on the bench, and putting her hands beside her body, looking up.
She didn't expect to see the young boy from earlier, looking right back into her eyes. Then they had a staring competition for a while before Lady Melissa, unfortunately, closed her eyes.
"You've been practising this entire time?"
Lady Melissa asked the young boy, her tone sounding monotone as she was too lazy to express her emotions.
"Yes."
The young boy quickly replied, nodding eagerly to Lady Melissa, while Lady Melissa just died inside at how cute the young boy was.
"Do you want to become a knight in the future?"
Lady Melissa curiously asked.
"Yes! I want to become like my dad! He's so cool!"
The young boy said, imitating some of his father's moves in front of Lady Melissa, which consisted of some kicking and punching and some sword fights as well.
"Your father's a knight here then?"
Lady Melissa asked.
"Yes."
The young boy replied, nodding his head.
"Well, for starters, I think you'd make a great knight like your dad; you're already working hard from now on; I'm sure you'll be working harder in the future as well."
Lady Melissa said, smiling at the boy while ruffling his hair once more.
"I hope I can become a great knight."
The young boy softly mumbled.
"How old are you?"
Lady Melissa asked the young boy, curious to know his age.
"I'm 8, Lady Melissa!"
The young boy cheerfully replied, putting both his hands up and all his fingers, indicating that he was ten years old.
"Ohh, I see."
Lady Melissa replied.