As Sena was practicing she discovered a little problem. While she does have the physical strength to execute the moves themselves she is not what you would call nimble and her movements are stiff. Her movements don't flow into the next but instead look like she changed her mind in the middle and did something else.
All her exercise since she received that fake manual have been pure strength training and cardio. So much for "using her weapons well". That said she has never fought or used a weapon before so she should have expected as much.
Sena still can't help feeling disappointed smiling a smile full of self mocking. She's still too naive it seems. She put away the khopesh training swords as well as their manual. Sena walked back to her bed she sits down heavily using both hands to rub at her temples trying to think of a solution to her newest problem.
After sitting there agitated for almost a half hour Sena sighed dropping her hands from her temples. Her stomach gurgles. Deciding to think about the issue after she eats, Sena hopes to improve her mood with good food. Maybe she'll be able to think more clearly when she is not hungry.
Sena made herself some grilled cheese sandwiches. One of her favorites growing up. While eating she thinks of her personal library. There is a slim chance she could find something useful in there. Slim because the library is so large and her they made it a point to remove anything that they think would be useful. It's just that she doesn't know what they think would be useful.
Once Sena finishes eating she makes her way to her library. As she gazes at rows upon rows of shelves listless, she dejectedly mutters, "Nothing in the whole world is free, so a little work shouldn't bother me. I'll just treat it as a type of mental training."
Like this she went to work, dragging the steady ladder from where it stood near the wall. Sena would first read the title of the book if she knew it she'd move on. When she didn't, she would take it out and read the book description. If the book didn't seem useful she would put it back continuing her search. Which has been the case for a few shelves so far.
Sena continues to search until he the sun had started to sink into the horizon. She had searched about a bit less than a fifth of the entire library. Tomorrow she plans to restart her search early. Sena eats dinner, then goes back to her room. She practiced with her weapons a bit before going to sleep. Even if she's not good at the moves there is no harm in getting familiar with them.
The next day Sena woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, beginning her arduous task at cockcrow. After the morning search she ate breakfast then went back to searching. More hours passed and it was lunch time. Sena ate and continued her search.
This time she found something useful. No to be politically correct she found a shelf of things that seem to be useful. Sena made a mental note of the shelf then continued her search. After all Sena is a fast learner, although her IQ can be questioned. Disappointment only needed to make itself at home twice and she already knows not to place her eggs in one basket.
Sena did not find anything else useful today but she looked through five tenths of the library. Sena went back to the useful shelf she found earlier, taking some books with her she left the library. She ate her third meal of the day and went to her room, along with the books.
Sitting on the floor in her training area Sena starts to read the books skipping to the parts she believes will help her. Reading through the 'helpful' parts Sena would mutter to herself feeling concerned for her future, "Can't do that." "That I definitely can't do.", "Human bones should NOT be able to do that."
The shelf Sena had found was a full of books about yoga. The books little Sena brought back to her room have advanced yoga poses. The kind that if someone performs them incorrectly, they might need an ambulance. Sena silently declared to pick the most basic least painful poses she can find and add them to her exercise routine. Sena goes to sleep hoping for more luck the next day.
Maybe Sena used up all her bad luck in her last life. She found another useful shelf after only three hours of searching. This one has books on dancing. This discovery is exponentially more helpful than the yoga books. After all some fighting styles look like dancing and some dancers look like they're fighting.
Sena took books she felt were the easiest from the yoga and dance shelves back to her room and made another routine for herself. One day for her regular strength training and cardio together with weapons training. And the day following with a bit of yoga and dancing.
Sena followed this routine for the rest of the month and the following month. Her sword moves becoming more natural as a result of her efforts. Long gone are the stiff, rigid and slow movements, she now flows through them.
As much as Sena would love to carry on with her 'seclusion', tomorrow is the day of the trip down and a surprise event in her last life. If she gets through it well this time it could prove helpful to her escape. This in mind she plaits her hair into thin braids, with this her preparations for the next day are complete.
The next day.
Sena put on her usual black with her braided hair untied and slicked back and went down to the hall. The day went on normally, but instead of being sent back to her room the mansion's butler said, "The Master and First Madam wish to see you." When she heard this last time she asked why earning herself a dissatisfied look and a short explanation. This butler is in charge of the whole mansion along with a mysterious head maid. Him having a good impression of her would be useful.
Sena simply nodded with a slight smile, "Please lead the way." He turned and started walking. For Sena a good impression to the people of this Seir clan is meek and obedient. Seeing as the butler already dropped whatever formality he had, she succeeded.
She followed him out of the mansion. They continued to walk until they reached a flower mansion. That is how big the greenhouse is. The butler opened the door for her, saw her in, pointed to a direction in the greenhouse and left. Sena narrowed her eyes and smiled. While this was her own idea she still hates this kind of treatment. Too many uncomfortable memories are attached to it.
Sena walked in the direction she was pointed in. After a bit of time she heard talking. Walking around the bush between her and the sound she arrived at a table with four chairs and three occupied. The ones seated were The Master, First Madam and Benjamin. Smiling slightly, gagging internally, "Good morning Father, First Mother. It's wonderful to see you again Benjamin."
The three ceased their conversation. The Master beckoned her with his hand gesturing to the empty chair between First Madam and Benjamin. Sena sat down and their conversation continued. Sena didn't bother listening and sat there quietly. There have been times she listened to their conversations but when something said gave her an emotional reaction that showed on her face she was called impolite or asked what her opinion was. Since more often than not she had no idea what they were talking about the latter ended with a scolding about her ignorance from all three.
After 30 minutes or so the three finally decided to address the elephant in the room. First Madam naturally took the lead, "Sena, how have you been recently?" Sena can't understand the way these people think. All four of them know that questions like that are just empty words. No one else is around too, so there really is no need to waste air. Maybe they think she doesn't know? Likely. Even though she's always known.
"I've been well, thanks for your care First Mother." The Master's turn, "How has your cultivation been going?" Smiling apologetically, "I still haven't made any progress." Internally rolling her eyes Sena comments on the blandness of this family drama script. Benjamin haughty as ever, "Come." Standing up he walks with Sena following down another path away from the table.
When they had walked to a part of the greenhouse that had roses in all colors, Benjamin stopped walking when they reached a bench. There was a box on the bench. "Sit down." Sena sat, Benjamin opened the box was a silver tiara with waves coming from its back meeting in the middle while surrounding two pearls and a simple pearl necklace.
Benjamin kneeled in front of her, fixing the crown to her head and putting on the necklace. When he was done he looked at her deep in thought. Nodding absentmindedly to himself he took the crown off of her head returning it to the box. He stood up dismissing her, "Go back to your room. Take the box with you." Sena stands up picking up the box, "Thank you, Benjamin." She walks away back the way she came all the way back to her bedroom heart beating out of her chest.
She put the box down on her dresser, taking off the necklace and putting it inside. She looked at her reflection in the mirror on her dresser, staring at herself. Her younger self. Sena sank to the floor breathing heavily, hands clutching the edge of the dresser, head against the cold wood, closing her eyes tightly.
Sena pulled herself together with positive thoughts and opened her eyes. As unpleasant as that was she now has a valid reason to leave the house. To buy a return gift. She succeeded and to celebrate she curled up in bed with a fairy tale. Besides the times she needed to eat that's how she spent the rest of her day.
This day in her last life didn't work out so well for her. When Benjamin tried to remove the tiara from her head it got tangled in her loose hair. Seeing that it wouldn't come off and he wasn't capable of such careful work as untangling hair, or just did not consider it an option. He took out a throwing knife and cut the attached parts of her hair off. No one bothered with this incident. The tiara and necklace were models for her wedding jewelry.
Sena never wore the real ones.
This time the models were given to her as gifts. Sena still won't wear the real ones. As much as she hates the gifter, she rather liked the crown's design. Maybe one day she'll make one for herself as a memento of her first step into freedom.
The next day Sena returned to her routine. Rest is for the dead after all. Sena practiced her swordsmanship and her dancing. The month trickled by and the day deciding her future arrived.