Inside a garden of greenery where the sweet fragrance of fresh flowers of various kind permeated the air, two figures stood observing the scenery.
A woman whose beauty had transcended the imagination of mortals was observing the swaying flowers with her bright amethysts like pupils shining.
She wore a deep purple dressed that accentuate the outline of her curvy body. Her long, luscious silver hair swayed along with the cold wind.
Her tiny nose twitch cutely as she took a whiff of the scent of flowers, and as her lips that were painted in a bright violet color parted softly. She turned to the man behind her and asked, "The flower here is really beautiful, don't you agree?"
Standing behind her as though he was her guard was a handsome man with long inky black hair that reaches to his waist.
The man was dressed in a long black robe that oscillate in the gentle wind. His expression was stoic even as his deep crimson eyes reflected the beautiful scenery of plants and flowers before him. "... I don't understand why you're so rapt about those flowers, as far as I'm concerned... Flowers are just flowers." The man replied in a monotonous voice.
The man was the strongest knight of the goddess, Udea.
And a being known across the world as the "overlord" ruler of battlefield. As someone who had lived for so long and had ended the lives of countless existences his heart had become cold and empty.
The emotions he used to feel such as love and happiness were one, he had not felt since the day he had lost everything precious to him during that day when he had met the woman he now followed. His only purpose in existing is serving the goddess who had given him a purpose of living.
Udea looked at him deeply before sighing lightly. "Seriously, you're such a downer sometimes, you know? Instead of being so serious and uptight all the time, you should learn to relax and enjoy the simple things in life."
"Enjoy the simple things in life?" Ellard tilted his head in confusion as he glanced at the beautiful flower garden. Many butterflies with different and unique patterns could be seen flying around along with tiny insect.
They sometimes landed on top of a flower before they flew once again given the already picturesque scene a different kind of attractiveness. However, Ellard's indifferent expression didn't show any ripple as he observed it all.
"Aside from gaining more power and fighting stronger enemies... There is nothing more enjoyable in this world to me." He spoke as he removed his gaze from the garden.
Udea furrowed her brow in concern when she heard that. 'I seriously need to get him a hobby aside from fighting.' She secretly thought to herself.
Udea then knelt down and pick a flower that had leaves as golden as the sun as she moved closer to Ellard. "Look at this plant, tell me the first thing that comes to your mind while observing it?" She said as she held out the flower to his face.
Ellard narrowed his eyes as he stared intensely at the flower. "... I think it's a dead plant." He replied indifferently. "W-Well you are not wrong but, why is that the first thing that comes to your mind?! Don't you think the flower is beautiful or attractive?"
"Whether it's beautiful or attractive makes no difference to me, it's still a dead plant."
"Argh! Seriously I really should do something about that bad personality of yours! First things first you need to reconnect with your emotions you have been ignoring for so long, I hope the day will come when you'll be able to feel such wonderful emotions again." Udea said with a serious expression etched on her face.
...
Standing beneath a tree in the garden of the dragon clan estate, Alan gaze at the garden of greenery and sighed to himself. 'Reconnect with my emotions, huh. How strange... I wonder why I suddenly remembered that conversation.'
Alan gaze at the backs of both Trisa and Suzu who were attending to their duties in the garden and turned his gaze up to the vast blue skies.
"... In the past, I wouldn't have felt anything towards such words but now... Is it because I'm being influenced by Alan?" He muttered to himself.
[Are you okay?] Akane asked as she heard him mumbling to himself.
"Yes, just thinking about the simple things in life." He replied.
[Eh, the simple things in life. Since when have you ever cared about such things?] Akane asked in a show of both confusion and amazement.
"... Since now, I guess. Anyway, it's about time I start my training." As he said that, Alan tried to manipulate his spiritual energy. However, not only did the spiritual energy within his body not listen to him he also couldn't control it in any way.
[This is the consequence of using that physique. Your current body wasn't strong enough to endure the spiritual body physique, as a price of using a power beyond your current capabilities, you won't be able to use spiritual energy for some time until your exhausted spiritual force recoveres completely.] Akane explained as she sighed.
Alan clenched his fist with a frustrated look. "Sigh, I guess I'll have to train my swordsmanship then."
As he said that Alan took up a wooden sword and started swinging it around, each of his swing drew an arc through the air as he moved his body gracefully as though he was dancing.
In approximately five seconds he had performed roughly fifty slashes with his sword.
The sound of intense wind resounded continuously as he moved his hand with astonishing speed.
[Be careful you don't want to attract too much attention.] Akane warned.
As she notices there were many attendants and servants moving around. 'Although it would be funny to see their reaction of the young master swinging a sword so skillfully. I don't know what kind of excuse would be appropriate in such a situation.' Akane secretly thought.
"That's why I'm holding back, I wanted to perform one hundred slashes, but I decided to do merely fifty in just a second."
[That's still too much from the perspective of ordinary folks, you know?] Akane sounded exasperated.
"Hm, this is still considered too much?" Alan stopped his swing with a puzzled expression. Since he had lived surrounded by powerful individuals such as the "spear queen" and the "sword flash master" who could perform such things easily he lacked the common sense of mortals.
Alan frowned as he thought deeply about it. 'Should I hold back the current output of my spiritual energy as much as possible?' He wondered to himself.
Even though he was currently weakened the current Alan could easily destroy a small city if he ever decides to give it his all.
[Why not practice some of your sword techniques that isn't overly flashy?] Akane suggested.
Alan merely nodded his head as he once again began to swing his sword around, stirring the wind with each of his swing.
And like that four years had elapse in the blink of an eye, as Alan continued his training none stop. Currently Alan was now thirteen years old.
Over the past year his body grew older and the muscles in his body became more developed and prominent.
His slightly long luscious silver hair now reached his back as he had neglected it and had continued devoting every second to his training.
Inside a rather large room filled with expensive looking furniture and painting.
Beautiful chandeliers with a conspicuous looking magic stone inside it hung high on the ceiling illuminating the large room in a slightly blue radiance.
Many of the members of the dragon clan could be seen there seated as they observed two figures who were on a slightly large platform. Where the ceremony was currently taking place.
"Alan now that you have become thirteen it's time for you to awaken your own spirit sword." Cole said with a serious expression.
All members of the dragon clan are expected to use their own spirit sword as it is the sword that represents the clan.
Since Alan is the youngest grandson of the patriarch everyone expects him to obtain one of a really high ranked.
"I understand grandpa, as the heir to the dragon clan I promise that I won't disappoint you." He replied as he bowed his head courteously. Cole nodded in satisfaction.
"Now Alan, hold out your hand." Alan nodded his head and did as instruct. He stretched out his small hand and opened up his palm, Cole clutched his wrist and made a small cut onto his finger and collected a small drop of blood from Alan.
With the blood Cole dropped it on to a magic formation that glowed brightly with various patterns. The magic formation was a summoning circle. With the blood of the user, they could summon the spirit sword from the depths of their souls.
Through the summoning the user can officially form a contract with the spirit sword.
Of course, there are other ways a spirit sword user could summon their spirit sword. But this was the only way humans knew how to do it through the ritual.
'Akane it's up to you now, come out once the magic formation finish.' Alan secretly spoke to Akane from within his soul.
[Understood.] Akane response came immediate.
The magic formation shone with a dazzling light for several seconds until the light gradually receded. Seeing that Alan's eyes flash. 'Now!' Akane moved restlessly from within his soul when she heard his voice.
Swoosh!...
"Oh, this sword seems to be one of a very high ranked, how splendid." Cole remarks as he observed the long two-handed silver sword that hovered in the air while releasing a divine pressure.
Alan held onto the hilt of the sword as he observed the blade with a curious expression.
Even though he was already use to Akane's appearance he had to play the part.
[Fufufu... Now I can finally come out and meet master outside~.] Akane's voice resounded cheerfully.
As Alan was observing his spirit sword Cole approached him from behind and said in a serious tone, "Now you shall face me in battle, let's see how skilled your mastery of the sword is."