It was already the next day, and Seraphina stood in the center of her room, her body covered in sweat and her muscles tensed as she moved. She had already begun her daily training, her movements deliberate and fluid as she followed the intricate diagrams from the Shinster Knight Training Method.
She had thought about practicing the incomplete method but decided against it since it was still unpolished— maybe after she refined it a bit more she wouldn't mind switching to it. But in its current state, practicing it wouldn't help her in the slightest.
At least with the Shinster method, training wouldn't slow until she got close to Rank 2.
Her aura pulsed faintly under her skin, visible only as the faintest shimmer to her enhanced perception. Each movement of her limbs was precise, her aura guided with intent as she worked to hone her control.
The exercises demanded absolute focus, requiring her to channel the aura into specific parts of her body to strengthen and refine them— she had not even the slightest chance to be distracted otherwise it would fail.
The hum of aura within her life seed was faint but constant, a subtle presence in her chest. Though the seed hadn't yet fully formed, she could feel its potential growing with each session, the aura within her condensing and circulating more efficiently as she progressed.
She took a deep breath, steadying her stance as she transitioned into a series of quick thrusts and footwork drills. Her movements were swift and graceful, her aura bolstering her limbs as she pushed herself to the edge of her limits.
However, she made a slight mistake a few times— nothing major, just the slightest error in the movement she was supposed to follow, and that caused her to have to restart over, and over.
An error that happened various times throughout her training, but it never stopped her from redoing it again and again.
By the time she finished, her body ached pleasantly, her skin glistening with a sheen of sweat— and her muscles had become slightly more refined. She stood still for a moment, catching her breath and allowing her aura to settle before finally relaxing her stance.
After a quick wash and a change of clothes, Seraphina prepared to leave. Today, she had more than training on her mind— her sword, commissioned from the blacksmith in the market days ago, was ready for collection.
The streets of Vesta bustled with their usual energy as she made her way to the market, having grown accustomed to it over the course of their stay. Seraphina wove through the crowd with ease, her destination set.
The blacksmith's forge stood near the edge of the market, its warm glow visible even from a distance. The rhythmic clang of hammer on metal rang out as she approached, and the familiar smell of heated iron filled the air.
The blacksmith, a burly man with soot-streaked skin and a hardened face, greeted her as she stepped inside.
"Ah, you're here! I was wondering when you'd come by. Your sword's ready— just finished it this morning."
He gestured to a rack near the forge, where a sleek, elegant blade rested.
Seraphina stepped closer, her violet eyes taking in the weapon with a discerning gaze.
The sword was slightly longer than a traditional rapier, its blade narrow and sharp-edged but still lighter and slimmer than her previous weapon— it was much smoother to move around as if the wind simply didn't affect it.
The hilt was wrapped in dark leather, the pommel adorned with a simple silver emblem. Its balance felt perfect in her hand as she gave it a few experimental swings, the blade cutting through the air with a faint whistle.
"It's perfect."
Seraphina said a rare note of satisfaction in her voice.
The blacksmith grinned, clearly pleased with her reaction.
"I thought you'd like it. Took some liberties with the design based on what you told me— made sure it's light and sturdy. Should serve you well."
She paid him the agreed price, adding a small tip as a gesture of gratitude.
"Thank you. If I need anything else, I'll be back."
"Anytime."
The blacksmith said with a nod.
"Good luck out there. Oh, and be careful, heard some rumors lately that the undercity is getting dangerous."
With her new sword securely sheathed at her side, Seraphina nodded and took the man's warning to heart, she left the forge and instead of making her way back home, she decided to make her way toward the guild's arena.
The thought of testing her strength against a real opponent had been on her mind for some time, and the arena offered the perfect opportunity— it was a place she had heard about before, but never visited.
The arena wasn't grand by any means, but its modest size didn't diminish its popularity. Situated near the guildhall, it was a hub for adventurers and travelers seeking entertainment or a chance to showcase their skills.
The fights were non-lethal duels, overseen by referees to ensure fairness and safety, and participants often fought for prize money or simply the thrill of competition— with the population of Vesta and the constant flow of people, it was naturally a bustling place.
Seraphina approached the sign-up desk, her face partially obscured by a simple mask she had brought along the way— a white fox with a slight red marking along it.
She filled out the form under a false name, knowing the guild didn't require verification, ensuring her identity remained concealed.
The clerk, a middle-aged woman with a sharp eye for detail, glanced at her briefly before nodding.
"You're all set. The first match starts in an hour. Rules are simple— no killing blows, no maiming, and the fight ends when one side yields or is deemed unable to continue. Any questions?"
Seraphina shook her head.
"Good. You'll be called when it's time. Wait in the preparation area."
The preparation area was a small, shaded space adjacent to the arena, where participants could warm up or simply wait for their turn. Seraphina sat quietly, her new sword resting across her lap as she focused on calming her mind.
She could hear the distant cheers of the crowd as other matches unfolded, the roar of excitement building with each clash of blades.
When her name— or rather, her chosen alias— was called, she rose smoothly and made her way to the arena floor. The space was circular, enclosed by a low wall that separated the combatants from the spectators.
The crowd cheered as she entered, though their enthusiasm was more for the match than for her specifically— after all she was a new name they hadn't heard before.
Her opponent was already waiting— a burly man wielding a broad, heavy blade.
He grinned at her, clearly confident in his strength— but Seraphina could tell that the man wasn't even a properly trained knight apprentice.
"You sure you're in the right place, little miss?"
Seraphina said nothing, her expression calm as she unsheathed her sword and took her stance.
The referee signaled for the match to begin, and the man lunged forward without hesitation, his blade slicing through the air in a large arc.
Seraphina ducked under the incoming attack smoothly, her lighter weapon giving her the advantage in agility. She countered with a quick thrust upwards, forcing her opponent to step back and taking him by surprise with her strength.
The duel continued for a few more minutes, she didn't outright use her full strength, instead, she kept it modest to check her capabilities, rather than her raw strength.
As she moved, she could feel her aura responding inside of her body, moving to strengthen her muscles and lessen the impact of blows on her— she could feel her stamina rapidly refreshing.
It wasn't much— just a faint pulse of aura— but it was progress.
The fight ended with Seraphina's blade at her opponent's throat, the man frozen mid-swing as he realized he had been outmaneuvered— the total time taken for it to come to an end was no more than a few minutes.
The referee declared her the winner, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
As Seraphina sheathed her sword and left the arena, a small, satisfied smile graced her lips. It felt good to win. It felt even better to be cheered for, but most important was her progress.
But she wasn't done with the arena just yet— she signed up for another match.