The sun began to rise earlier than usual that day, it seemed like the first day of spring was finally coming. Birds sang, and the cool breeze shifted the morning dew. Maevus rolled over, looking at the window. He stretched until his bones cracked and let out a large sigh. Now that his time at the academy had actually started, he could work towards everything he had planned. As Maevus walked out of the bathroom, a faint knock could be heard on his door. But then the knock got louder as if someone else was at the door. Hands dampened, he put the towel down and walked to the door, twisting the knob as another knock began to come from the door.
"Took you long enough, we have a long day ahead of us. So get ready to go." Aurora said, with her arms crossed. She and Adeline were together, but it seemed they were gathering the class.
Maevus got ready to leave and walked out of the dormitory with them.
Students were out heading to class and other things, the rest of the class showed up to the academy's café. Maevus drank his coffee black with one sugar cube.
"How can you drink it like that?" Aurora asked.
"It's to wake me up, otherwise I'd still be asleep. Although, isn't today our day off? Why are we getting together?" Maevus asked.
"Well, we wanted to do something to really welcome you into the class, so..." Adeline began to say.
"Aurora stayed up all night trying to figure out the best way to make you feel welcomed to the class, it's not many people who can say they got to the top class at the Mage's academy." Brinna spoke as she walked over to the three.
"Good morning to you too Brinna, it's unlike you to show up so early." Aurora spoke.
"I didn't want to miss today, I know Merlin's feeling a bit out of place."
"Ah, you're all here already. Nice." Anso said, walking over with Sarai and Aelric.
"We're only missing Meinrad now, I wonder where he is." Aelric said, noting everyone present.
"He's going to be a little late, he let me know before leaving his room last night. He said something about his father needing him for something." Sarai said.
"Well, nothing we can do about that. Let's get the day started.
They all ate breakfast and left the café together. The sun was shining as bright as ever before noon even came around. Maevus became unusually close with Adeline as the day continued on. Around noon, they stopped in the city for something to eat but Anso convinced them to go back to the academy and have a picnic in the field. That way they could enjoy the gleaming sun and have a pretty view of the flowers as they were blooming.
"I'm so glad you all listened to me. You can't beat this view, not in a million years!" Anso said, stuffing his face with the sandwich after.
Maevus laid back looking up at the sky. Aurora, sitting next to him noticed the talisman around Maevus' neck.
"What's this for?" Aurora asked, speaking only so Maevus could hear her.
"A family heirloom. This was the last thing I've had from my family." Maevus said.
"That's so nice of you. I never took you for the type to be sentimental about your family."
"Yeah, there are things I wish not to discuss, but my family is and will always be something I care about. And that includes all of you now."
"So, after the picnic... What's next?" Aelric asked.
"We're going to visit the Knight's academy across the campus."
This puzzled Maevus, as to why she would want to bring them to the Knight's academy. They finished eating and relaxed for a moment before leaving for the Knight's academy. Swords clashing could be heard from outside the gates. Aurora approached the gates and they opened.
"Welcome back Aurora." One of the knights spoke.
"Good afternoon Knight Errant Bernard."
"Ah, I see you've brought new blood. Don't push him too hard." He said laughing.
Maevus looked around as they walked down to this stadium, several knights were sparring.
"I know where you stand with magic, but how do you fare with swords?" Aurora asked.
"Hey, Aurora's back and she brought new blood!" One of the knights said, they came over to the magic academy students.
They began sizing Maevus up and down, assuming he was not well-built and frail. They became doubtful of him.
"This is who you wanted to show us? You'd be better off throwing us Meinrad, speaking of.. Where is Meinrad?"
"He's with the headmaster of the mage academy. But, don't underestimate Merlin. He's no pushover.
"Wait a minute, I recognize you now! You took down those bandits by yourself some time ago! How could I forget, Merlin is legit." One of the knights said, realizing it was the man from that day.
"I'll be the judge of that, come down to the ring." One of the Third Rank Knights said.
Many higher rank knights began coming into the stadium to see Merlin. Some Paladin and Holy Knights were in attendance.
"This should be very fun. Do I need my own sword?" Maevus asked.
"If you'd like to use it, go ahead. But, I won't be responsible for shattering it." The arrogant knight said.
"Very well." Maevus rolled up the sleeves on his shirt and took off the cape draped over his shoulder. He pulled his sword from its sheath, all eyes were on him at this point and there was no way they would leave him. Maevus walked down to the middle of the ring and waited.
The arrogant knight, suited from head to toe in armor, walked down to the middle. His classmates began cheering him on like he was new to this. But they were sorely mistaken.
"Start!" One of the Holy Knights yelled.
"Don't worry about if you hurt me, I know you won't-"
Maevus closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Everyone's jaws dropped at just how truly fast Merlin was. The first strike Maevus swung was blocked, luckily for the knight Maevus was trying to see just how fast he was with his armor. The whole time they were waiting, he analyzed the arrogant knight's equipment down to the magic embedded into it. He had the advantage by a mere mile, but he scaled back.
The arrogant knight went on the offensive striking many times but Maevus simply parried his attacks. He danced around the arrogant knight, floating gracefully like the wind carries flowers on a spring day.
"Wait, is this? Is this Sword God defense!?" One of the Holy Knights asked. The others began closely watching Maevus' movements.
"It is! Only a handful of people know that form, that mean he's above everyone." A dark knight said, walking in to watch the spectacle.
"Sword God, huh? How interesting you are Merlin." Aurora said out loud siting next to Adeline.
"Merlin is very special, I think he can change the academy." Adeline said.
"I agree, he's really something." Brinna added on.
Merlin began yawning as he still danced around the knight's attacks.
"This isn't entertaining. Can we get more knights down here?" Maevus asked loudly.
More knights came down to join in. But it was truly futile. Maevus went on the offensive this time and began dispatching the knights. His hair began to flash white as he continued. He let off a flurry of sword strikes against the arrogant knight in such a way, it looked like a butterfly. He grabbed one of the downed knights' swords and began dual wielding. No energy lost, he only had one thing on his mind. Subdue the arrogant knight.
The knight got serious and began trading strikes with Maevus. He smiled, but struck the helmet off the arrogant knight's head. He looked angry as ever.
"I'll show you The Monarch, Saint style, and The Dance of the Sword God." Maevus spoke loudly.
Everyone went silent.
"The Monarch is a simple style, but the average swordsman cannot grasp the concept of moving freely as a butterfly but stinging like a hornet. A balance of grace and brutality. Pacing and strength, made into a move set even a Holy Paladin could be taken down by. Maevus began slowly attacking the knight's right side until he blocked the right every time then went for his legs. Spontaneously aiming for the knight's body parts specifically every few strikes. Then he backed off.
The arrogant knight seemed tired. But This didn't deter Maevus in the slightest.
"How is it someone like you have come to know these things?" The arrogant knight asked, frustrated.
"Sword Saint was given to me when I was only a teen. I embodied every facet of the sword. I am my sword, and it is an extension of me. However, the Saint Style isn't a style at all. It's only a title given to those who get what it means to use a sword. Assuming from your armor, you're only a Bachelor? You have so much more to learn, so I will teach you one more thing. The Dance of the Sword God is everything you will ever come to know about swordsmanship. Now, let's finish this lesson." Maevus spoke as he sheathed his sword and threw the other to the side of the ring.
Maevus planted his feet in the dirt and began shifting his feet through the dirt leaving tracks, while also leading with punches to where the sword strikes end. He continued until he got to the other side of the ring. He mumbled a phrase and the tracks he left hardened.
"This is the dance of the Sword God. Magic has been heavily censored, but the way of the blade will always be absolute. for. Learn this and become the greatest swordsmen this country or this side of the world will ever know. There's something much more dangerous in store for all of you."
The knights clapped in astonishment on Maevus, the arrogant knight's jaw dropped realizing he was using him to teach everyone a lesson.
"Wait a minute, who are you?" The arrogant knight asked.
"I'm Merlin, guest of the Lionheart house currently."
"You know my dad?" One of the knights asked, rushing down to the ring.
"Darrius Lionheart? Yes, we met earlier this week. You must be the one from the family portrait." Maevus said.
"Yes, that's me. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Maximus Lionheart, I hope to see more of you around here. It's been sometime since someone displayed the dance of the Sword God.
"Someone before me showed you all this?"
Max leaned back on the gate, "a few years back, there was an attempted invasion of sorts.. The swordswoman used dance of the Sword God on much of Tailin's army and they perished, but some crazy mercenary ended up fending her off. It was a battle of who could use the Sword God style better. Truly a spectacle to behold."
"I need to catch up with my classmates, excuse me."
"So the rumors were true. You're truly something Merlin Viviane." Aurora said, with his cape in her hand.
Maevus smiled and walked back up the stairs to his sitting classmates. There were only twelve other people who had reached the peak of Sword Saint in legend but only two broke the ceiling to Sword God. One of those people was Maevus originally but now under the name Merlin, he once again had been recognized as a Sword God.
Meinrad and his father watched from a distance looking down at his classmates.
"That's Merlin, he's somethin interesting truly. But I don't know how long this country has until that woman shows up again. They called her the shadow of Mount Gilliard. Go join your classmates, I have a meeting to attend." Headmaster Klaus of the Knights Acacemy spoke.
"You're amazing, Merlin. I'm glad to have you in our advanced class." Meinrad spoke, coming over.
"Where have you been?" Aurora asked.
"I had to meet with my father again. He still thinks knights are better than mages."
"Are we done here? I have some catching up of my own to do soon. While it has been fun with all of you today; I'll be beginning my research soon." Maevus spoke.
"I'm with Merlin on this, I need to continue my research." Adeline added on.
"Same." Anso and Aelric commented also.
"Fine. Merlin, come by the club classroom later. You may all dismiss." Aurora walked off.
"Good, now I can question Maximus about these two people."