After holding up in the study for the majority of my day I finally had time to test the new blade I got properly. I took the moonstone sword or the sword of hope and got on a practice stance.
I did a few swings in some of the beginner stances. It was light and sleek but also fast and precise making the cut clean and lethal.
Practicing without aura or mana shows just your body's flexibility and strength because even a novice with mana can hunt down at least a goblin.
I swing my sword and perfect my stance with each swing going into the flow of swordsmanship.
Rustle!
A foreign sound entered my ear. I turned around but saw nothing but a rabbit jump out. I shook my head and turned back to training.
'I am being too paranoid.'
As soon as I swung my next strike, daggers came flying for my arms and shoulders. I smirked and used the sword's falling trajectory, changed its path and hit both the daggers in one fell swoop.
'It's best that I was paranoid.'
More daggers came at different parts of my body. The blade's rain was intimidating but I skillfully dodged them.
"Thank you for helping me train before the war." I call out to the enemy.
My senses on high motion 'left foot and then right side, and left arm.'
I was dodging the blades like it was dancing in the rain but had fire on my feet.
My left foot came behind my right, right arm with the sword striking the daggers. I side stepped to the right and then using full clockwise rotation swiped the dagger rain.
And then that was it no more daggers appeared.
'They probably ran out of daggers.' I joked on the inside but someone suddenly appeared in front of me, a mask covering their face from below the eye region along with a hood covering the head.
A dagger came to my neck but I blocked it with the sword. I push them back and create a much needed distance.
'Defense 101: keep distance from an assassin.'
"Eric, stop it." I called out the masked attacker.
"Oh ho you know who I am, that means you know about us in the north then most do," he came at me again and I deflected his attack again "Commander and Duke Kaan Mabuz."
We went at each other again a few more times.
'I had experience fighting with Eric but I have to conceal my actual sword style so he doesn't notice I am the Ice king.'
Some more blades came flying while I had my hands full with Eric and my thoughts.
'I am quite in a pinch.'
I did a similar 360 spin and stopped for a breath but the assassins didn't and attacked me again.
But before they could reach me new daggers stopped the enemy ones.
"My lord, are you ok?" Skyler asked from above where she was flying with Ivey. I nodded and deflected another one of Eric's attacks.
They both came down and landed beside me and helped me clear some space.
"Just in time girls."
"Well it would have been faster if Herrick had just not decided to go to the hero's manor as soon as we arrived." Ivey complained mid-battle.
"Don't blame him, Ivey I was the one who sent him." I help Herrick's case before Ivey gets anymore misunderstood.
"Eric! retreat now you won't succeed now that we are here." Sky called out to him.
I saw Eric stop and look at us -them- in a way of a little betrayal but he didn't say nothing about it.
He and Sky had an eye to eye conversation and then he nodded and retreated. In the blink of an eye a camp of bats flew out from the woods and into the direction of the northern continent.
"I am sorry I could have prevented this." Skyler bowed her head.
I patted it and said "It's all right I got a much needed exercise thanks to them."
We entered the manor, I instructed Ivey and Skyler to go bring Haru down from his room while I went and changed.
When I walked down stairs after changing I saw the three of them having tea and laughing about something.
"You all seem to be having fun."
"Big brother, Sky just told me about how you defeated the monsters in the royal banquet."
"Yaa I did," I nodded and stood in front of the table I took Haru in and then turned my gaze to Skyler "Skyler."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Take Haru to the dragon land to my grandfather."
At my request everyone's eyes shooked.
"Big brother why?!" Haru looked at me with confusion and terror.
"It needs to be done," I grabbed his shoulders. "I need you to behave and stay safe by grandpa's side. If you are safe I will have nothing to worry about."
"I will stay safe here in the manor, we have Millard and Barman and- and Leo too. I also have Minh. Please let me stay here." Haru clinged to me in desperation.
"I am sorry Haru but no." I pushed him away and turned my back to them.
"Skyler makes sure he reaches there safely. Millard prepared the carriage, Ivey let's go."
Ivey glanced back at Haru being held by Skylar completely devastated.
"Ivey!" I called out and she followed me.
The carriage was ready as we stepped out the door.
"Will it be ok? Haru I mean, he is not that old yet."
"No, he is old enough. Dragons have a faster maturation rate and he just likes to act childish because he thinks I like it."
"What?" Ivey asked as we got on the carriage.
"He thinks if he acts childish I will not abandon him and always be his big brother."
"Then right now-"
"Yes he needs to learn that if he doesn't stop the act he can never help me or be by my side again."
"You are cruel my lord."
I just shrugged my shoulders and replied "well I have been called the worst."