Previously
Damn.
Shocked gasps rang around the courtyard. Many people were shocked that a fragile, little princess like me was able to hold, and even lift up Prince Ivan's heavy, heavy sword, albeit with much difficulty.
That idiotic brother of mine! Is he always swinging this block of stone around?!
It was heavy, too heavy, and the only reason my hands hadn't already fallen from my arms was because I was using earth lightning to buff my strength up, and even then, I had to adjust my posture so I could carry it more properly, I also adjusted my grip.
"And. . .you. . .swing it right?!"
". . Ah, y-yeah."
"Crown Princess, I don't think you should be-"
"Hm!" I poured in more prana into my earth lightning, as I felt strength bubbling inside me. "Just. . .swing it forward!"
I tightened my grip, then I swung forward, slashing the empty air. However, with the amount of strength I have, the force of the swing with the motion of the sword carried me with it as the sword struck the ground.
Dammit.
"Crown Princess!"
"Sister!"
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This was not good at all. With muscle training I could do it better. That said, I don't like swords, they're too long and slow. Daggers would be much better, lighter, and faster. But, I wasn't a quitter.
I raised the sword again. This was a bit tiring already, since I disliked it, it would be pointless to force myself to go on. But I'll think about using the sword in the future, it might become useful. I swung again with a better stance and better footing, I stopped the blade before it touched the ground. It was a struggle in the arms. My body was not built for this.
"You're doing great, Eliza!"
Then, I threw the sword down with a gasp. "Indeed. . .*pant*. .the sword is not for me."
"You can have your sword back," I said, but my brother seemed to be staring intently at me.
"Say, sister."
"Huh?"
"Why don't you try sparring with m-"
"REJECTED!"
****
I waved at them goodbye. Of course, I also waved at my idiot brother as he glanced back at me a couple of times. When they left me, I looked around. They were working hard. This reminded me of the early times in the Tower under the apprenticeship of my demonic instructor of a master.
The training of the knights here was incomparable to what I've been through. It was hell and painful, if I might say. She trained me so hard when I was still a little girl, exercising my brain to the point I thought it would explode. Seriously, who dropped their apprentice in a wyvern's cave at the age of nine, and expected them to come out alive?! By the gods, not a day went by that I didn't have any wounds or bruises.
I even had plenty of broken bones. But, thanks to my excellent performances, I was not disposed of. Nevertheless, it was a painful experience. And how I was glad when I was freed from that moronic master of mine.
Holding the stupidly heavy sword of my brother reminded me of that one time, I'd had to hold off an Ogre Lord's consecutive club pound with my lowest skilled Earth Lightning. Seriously, what was up with men and their need for heavy, long weapons?! If it was me, I'd much prefer daggers or simple, elegant rapiers like the one my sister wields.
And, speaking of the devil, a knight caught my eyes. He was a middle aged man, black haired, brown eyes and brown complexion. He was muscular and had a long scar by the side of his face, showing the long years of servitude as a knight and hinting at what he went through. But that wasn't what attracted my eyes. It was the dagger in his hand.
When I looked closer, there were also a few more daggers by the table next to him. I became excited.
Daggers!
"Mera, come."
I beckoned Mera to follow me.
"Crown Princess, where are we going?"
"There."
I approached, and the middle aged knight turned to me with surprised eyes. When I got closer, he genuflected before me.
"Your highness."
"You may rise, knight."
"Yes, your highness," he said as she stood back up.
"What is your name?"
"Runeford, your highness."
"Sir Runeford, what an honor it is to make your acquaintance."
He looked quite confused as to why I approached him.
"Likewise, your highness."
I walked towards the table where the beautiful daggers were placed. Okay, not exactly beautiful since they were somewhat plain. But they were daggers nonetheless.
"You're training with daggers."
"Yes… But I also use a sword."
I smiled broadly.
"Of course, it is always better to have a secondary weapon, isn't that right? Sir Runeford?"
His eyes went wide for a moment, surprised by my words. Then he spoke again with a smile. He must be delighted by what I said.
"Indeed, your highness. If I lose the sword, I can use my daggers."
"Not only daggers can be used in melee, you can also throw them at your enemies."
"...Yes indeed."
"Can I touch one?"
I asked him for permission to take a hold of one. I shouldn't just take one, it was his weapons after all. Plus, this fits well with my character.
"Isn't it dangerous, your highness? You might wound your fingers."
"Oh, I'll be plenty careful."
He shifted his eyes towards Meera. He must be worried about what would happen if I got hurt.
"If Crown Princess wishes it so, I can say nothing but abide, and hope nothing bad happens." Meera said. "Do not worry. If an accident occurs, I will not report to the King blaming you, Sir Runeford."
"... Very well. But please be careful."
"Of course."
I took a dagger by the handle. A sense of relief and comfort instantly came surging into me. I touched the blade with my other hand, gently stroking it.
Ah, daggers.
I felt much better than before the moment I got hold of the dagger. I felt safer, you might say. The hardness of the blade was wonderful. The weight was satisfying. The deadliness was amazing.
A pang in my head. Memories rushing in. A flashback of how in this memory, I was a farmer, but at night, I worked as an assassin. How to hold a dagger, how to throw it, how to use it to kill as quickly as possible, everything rushed into me and right then, and there, I had a breakthrough.
I raised my eyes and saw a few knights also practicing their daggers, and some were throwing them at some target. But they were way off the bullseye. How disappointing, they must still be novices in this department.
I returned my eyes to the dagger in my hand. I sort of wanted to throw it. Throwing it at a living corpse would be more satisfying, but of course I couldn't do that. A target practice would suffice.
I held the blade of the dagger with my slender fingers on one hand. The weight was more than what I was used to, but it was fine. This was indeed manageable.
"Your highness, it's dangerous to hold it there."
I heard the concerned voice of Elson which I paid no heed to. I had a desire. Longing. Blood.
My whole life in my memories, I have spilled blood. I may have wanted freedom, but executing was engraved deep into me. Taking the life of my enemies was what made my life.
Execution. Assassination. Murder.
I lived for that.
It was my purpose. I embraced it.