It had been a month since I started training under Master Challiope, and fortunately, there were no major conflicts during that time. In the training ground, Master Calliope sat at the back of the room, munching on grapes and watching me with a keen eye. She was always watching, always observing, always analyzing. It was as if she could see every move I made, every mistake I made, and every ounce of progress I achieved.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand, feeling a trickle of sweat run down my spine as I collapsed onto the cool, pristine floor, my chest heaving and my lungs burning with exhaustion. The training had been grueling, and my muscles ached as I tried to catch my breath. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to slow my racing heart
Master Calliope stood up and walked towards me. "Your body is quite amazing," she said, poking my bicep.
"It's only natural after being put through a torture regime," I replied. The training was intense, to say the least. Every day was a constant struggle, and I had to wear weights on my hands and legs, which made even the simplest movements a challenge. But the results were worth it. My mana had formed an even tighter bond with my muscles, and it felt like every fiber had a hint of mana in it.
"I think you're overreacting," she said nonchalantly, taking another bite of grapes. Her carefree attitude was a far cry from when I first met her. At the time, she had been cold and distant, but now I realized I knew very little about her.
"What's your story, Master Calliope?" I asked, hoping to learn more about her. She looked at me, puzzled.
"What prompted that question?" she asked, finishing off her grapes. I sensed that she didn't mind sharing her past, so I continued.
"Well, I was just thinking that I know so little about you, and since you're my master, maybe learning about your past could strengthen our bond." I had many questions about her. For instance, why she wasn't married or why she had joined the royal army when she was born into a noble family.
"That seems reasonable," she sighed, giving in. "When I was young, I had doting parents and a perfect family, but I always had a passion for fighting. I used to spar with the knights under my father, but it wasn't enough. By age 14, I was stronger than everyone in Silverglade except my father and mother, and my talents were noticed. The academy sent me an invitation that I rejected."
"You rejected the academy? But if you wanted to fight, wouldn't the academy be the best option?" I asked, confused.
"It's simple. At the time, the Second Demon War was raging, and I was eager to go into battle. So, I joined the royal army instead," she explained as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
"But surely your family would protest? I mean, you were their only child. There's no way they would allow it," I protested.
"Of course, they did. But I ignored them, and since the kingdom was losing at the time, I was given the right to disobey my father by the king himself, even though my parents protested," she replied, with a hint of pride in her voice.
"I'm sorry, did I hear that right? The king overrode your father's decision and allowed you to join the military?" I was completely flabbergasted. Just how strong was she to have the king override her father's decision?
"You heard me right," she giggled. "I was that strong. When I entered the battlefield, I left not a single demon in my sight alive. I was nicknamed 'The Devil's Terror' at the age of 15. This came after I managed to kill a demon commander. It was a close battle, I nearly died, but I managed to kill it," she said with a hint of smugness.
Curiosity got the best of me, so I asked, "If you had to compare yourself at my age versus me, who would you bet on to win?"
She laughed, and she didn't stop. It continued for a solid minute. "Isn't it obvious who would win? At your age, I was weaker. It would be more fitting to compare you with 12-year-old me, but even then, with the skills you show now, I would say you could manage to beat 13-year-old me, but it would be close," she said without a second thought.
'So I'm compared to a 13-year-old her. If I am that strong now, then how strong will I be at 12, 13, or 15? Will I be able to go toe to toe with the hero?' Besides that, I still had some other questions.
"Why aren't you married?" I bluntly asked.
As she went from a beaming smile to a fierce scowl, it seemed like she was going to order me to undergo more training. "Do you really want to know?" she asked in a more composed tone, her gaze fixed on me. I nodded in anticipation of her answer.
"It's simple," she began. "I only like men who are stronger than me. By the time I turned 25, only a few men fit that description, and all of them were already married or were simply 40 to 60 years older than me." She shrugged nonchalantly
Despite her straightforward reasoning, I couldn't help but wonder about the future of Silverglade. With no direct heir from her, the lower family members would surely fight amongst themselves, causing a potential crisis. "Are you not planning to get married? Silverglade needs an heir," I asked, trying to maintain a respectful tone.
"You don't need to worry about that," she responded coolly, refusing to provide any further information.
"I guess I don't," I said with a light shrug, trying to relax. But as I rested on the cool marble floor, a sudden thought entered my mind.
'What if I became the heir of Silverglade?'