"Are you backing out now after coming this far?"
"Etgar, we don't have to go that far. I know we've lived a boring life being ousted from other territories but bullying a kid is not the fun we are looking for."
"Sir Den, I think you should watch your mouth. Bullying? We are merely training with the young master."
"How funny, you say you are training but I see no sword in the young lord's hand." An unfamiliar voice entered the conversation.
Immediately the knights began to alert their gazes shamefully. Seeing how they are not kowtowing and begging for their lives it's not the Duke. I turned to see who it was.
"Young Lord, the Duke has just arrived and urgently seeks your presence. Besides, it's late, you've been on the training ground for over six hours now." Alfred said, slightly bowing as I turned to see him.
'That long?'It was until he mentioned it that I notice the sky was beginning to darken. I picked up the sword and sheathed it. His eyes widened at the sight of me sheathing, I guess it is true that one can't unsheath a sheathed vassal weapon unless they have a core.
I glanced over to the Knight and smirked, I won't leave this place without breaking two or three limbs I vowed to myself as I saw the pretentious state. Alfred escorted me to the Duke's study.
***
He had just come from an outing and seemed very tired by how he had not even completely changed his clothes, he leaned into his chair with his eyes closed. Alfred left stealthily after opening the door for me.
I sat on the chair in front of him for a few minutes and he didn't notice I had arrived. I've never seen a strong man so vulnerable, perhaps my assumptions about him from the beginning were all wrong.
"Will you shut up, who asked you to talk."
'Siegfried, are you familiar with the Duke?'
'That young?'
'What about his mother?'
'Misfortune upon misfortune'
"I have a question Siegfried," Ana said, with a stern look, for some reason she has been hard on Siegfried even before now.
"How did his father die?"
There was a sudden silence, I looked at the sword in my hand and looked at Ana. 'Why did you have to ask him that?'
"Goshujin sama stay out of this"
Siegfried's voice trembled, it must have been hard for him to recall the memories judging from his trembling voice.
"So you failed to be a weapon...?"
'Ana...'
'What's fusion?'
"So you forced out of the fusion state in face of a mighty opponent and led your master to his death?"
'Ana that's harsh!'
"Stay out of this." She floated closer to the sword, "I will never leave Goshujin sama's safety to you, so don't ever think you will get used by him. You think you can hide your smell of excitement when you saw him fight the knights?"
Sounds like someone was declaring territories and drawing lines.
'That's okay, I don't plan to use any weapon so you should stop.'
She flew away from the sword that was by my side and sat on my shoulders.
"You are here..." The Duke said as he opened his eyes. "I must have zoned out, that journey was so tiring," He said as he sat up.
"How's training been? Alfred told me you've been at the training ground since I left."
"I've made a pact with the sword."
His eyes immediately widened. "What did you say?"
"Yes, Goshujin what did you just say?"
I suddenly felt like wanting to impress and make him proud.
"You made a pact with the dragon slayer? If so tell me his name."
"And who said we needed to know?"
'Thank you for telling me, Siegfried'
"Goshujin!!"
'But since I know your name does it mean we've made a pact?'
"That is impossible, it'd be a stain on my pride." She said making an irritated face.
'I see... I don't however understand what you mean by my soul is too big.'
"Obviously we are connected, you are me I am you. Having a connection to these insignificant existences is like picking dirt."
'Ana, harsh words.'
"Whatever..."
I looked at the Duke who was gazing with eyes full of expectations.
"Siegfried, his name is Siegfried."