I started following her, and we walked past the mansion where we were staying when the guard spoke again.
"On behalf of the knights, I would like to thank you for saving our ladies and our lives."
Yeah yeah, I know why I really did it. "Sure, no problem." Oh, wait, I thought they were guards. Well, whatever. I guess they are knights.
It took a few minutes to reach the prison. It was built fully underground with only one entrance and exit. There were about 20 cells, but only 5 of them had people inside. It was like a box with very thick walls: 2 feet of cement reinforced with metal bars, 1 foot of metal, another 2 feet of reinforced cement, 1 foot of metal, and finally another 2 feet of reinforced cement.
It would be very difficult for even a pretty powerful vampire or werewolf to get out. The cell doors were like a vault, but the locking mechanism wasn't encased in the door but rather on the outside.
The weak point would definitely be the locking bolts that slide into holes in the surrounding metal, but it looks like they fixed that by having a giant slab of metal lower from the ceiling between two cell doors on opposite sides of the hall so they can't be forced open. That giant slab looks heavy and probably takes at least half a dozen of the stronger knights to lift it so a door can be opened.
At the end of the hallway, there was another room different from the cells as it had no door. Lady Nyx, Nova, and a few knights were inside, standing in front of a werewolf I had captured earlier today. The werewolf was chained to the wall in such a way that it would be very difficult to exert enough strength and break free.
It looked like they were having an unsuccessful time interrogating it.
The knight I was following stopped at the entrance of the room and motioned inside while bowing, "I will take my leave now unless there is something else I can assist you with."
"Nope, see you later."
I walked inside as the knight left. "You look like you're having a hard day, Lady Nyx. Want some help?"
Nova glanced at me with anger flashing in her eyes but quickly turned her face away trying to ignore me. Yeah, I still don't like you either witch.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Frost. He appears to be too strong for us to compel, even if I try with Nova."
I walked up to the werewolf, who looked like he hadn't had a pleasant time today. Pieces of skin were missing in various places, and burn spots covered his torso.
I looked into his eyes, "Why are you here?"
His eyes unfocused slightly as if he were under a trance and spoke, "To assassinate the wretched twins."
I specifically looked at Nova, "You mean this? It's really simple though. I'm surprised you couldn't do it on your own, let alone with help."
It's not surprising at all, werewolves are very resistant to compulsion. Vampires can't compel them unless they are significantly more powerful. My soul is extra strong so compelling this guy is super easy.
Rage flitted across her sour face and I knew if it wasn't so soon after being scolded by her twin she would have said something back.
"Who sent you?"
"Our team received a mission from an unknown person."
Well, he can't be lying. "Are you the person who leads your team?"
"Yes."
"Did you have any other objectives besides assassinating the Emrys twins you were supposed to achieve?"
"No."
I glanced at Lady Nyx, "What else you wanna know?"
"I don't think there is anything, thank you for your assistance Mr. Frost."
I walked through the door and waved over my shoulder, "Ok, I'm off now to the training grounds then."
A shout came from the werewolf behind me, "You damn monsters!"
I laughed and kept moving while shouting behind me, "Hahahaha, then the only ones who don't qualify as monsters are the humans!"
I made my way towards the training grounds where some knights were just beginning to appear while staying in the shade away from the setting sun. I think they will probably start training when the sun is completely down over the horizon.
If it were me, I'd make them train during the day when they are weaker and the sun is bothering them. That way they are training during their weakest point and will probably be stronger when actually fighting. But I am not the one in charge.
While no one was looking in my direction, I pulled a sword from my inventory and hung it on my waist, then walked to the edge of the training grounds.
I need to practice the next chapter that I can use at this world level and strengthen my sword intent. I also need to work on generating more aura which is best to be done while swinging a sword.
I'm glad I was able to get the swordsmanship manual and didn't have to use one of those other seemingly perfect ones from some random world. You can only see flaws in something that originally seems perfect after seeing something truly perfect.
I closed my eyes and began going through the simplest moves, just a simple straight swing that I'd already done tens of thousands of times, then flowing it into combinations used for both offense and defense.
I conjured up an image in my mind of an enemy using the same swordsmanship as me and fought my imaginary enemy in the real world to train my body and muscle memory. Although it was slow, I could feel sword intent and aura grow as I progressed through my training.
I separated the part of my mind running my enemies and the part I was using to practice so neither would be able to know in advance what was going to happen, it wouldn't be very good training if I didn't do this.
The sun had set and the knights were sparing with each other under the watchful eyes of instructors, in between each of their spars, I could feel them watching me with rapt attention.
Lady Nyx and Nova were slinking around in the shadows cast by the moon and watching me with curiosity, trying not to be noticed but they could not escape my divine sense.
I created more enemies in my mind to fight. I know life is unfair and it will usually be a fight against multiple people so I must ensure I am as prepared as possible. When the girls and I spar, we also practice with 1 against many.
Since my imaginary enemies were just as good as me, I "died" many times, but this is to be expected. I was also able to successfully kill several of my enemies which made me happy.
This training still wasn't quite as good as the real thing, but it is the next best thing.
I trained until it would be about time for supper and decided to call it a day. I think I'll take a bath in my room then get something delicious to eat. I feel like tasting something good as a reward for my hard work.
I sheathed my sword and flashed out of the training ground as fast as my feet could carry me towards the front door of the mansion. I pushed the door open and a servant instantly appeared at my side, ready for whatever I wanted done.
"I'm going to take a bath, what does the chef have to eat?"
"There is shrimp and chicken for tonight."
"Is the shrimp breaded?"
She flashed a confused look, "I have never heard of the kind of shrimp 'breaded', I can try to buy some."
I don't like shrimp without breading, and anything that comes from a chicken is usually not my favorite.
"No no, it's something you make. Take me to the kitchen."
She turned away slightly confused, "Please follow me then."
I followed her through a couple hallways till we arrived at a large kitchen with several servants and cooks busy preparing food.
"Please get me a mixing bowl, egg, water, flour, kettle, oil, and salt." Those are the only ingredients I remember and will have to do.
She soon returned with everything I wanted and I picked a place on the counter out of the way. We were noticed and got several confused looks but I paid no attention.
I cracked the egg into the bowl and added a little water then flour. I didn't know how much flour to add so I used less then I thought. I can always add more later.
I poured several inches of oil into the kettle over a fire and the servant looked like she was going to have a heart attack over the amount. There is no need for me to explain to her.
"I need a mesh type ladle."
She left to find what I wanted to while I prepared the shrimp and set a small pile next to the bowl with a little batter in it. The batter was too thin so I poured in a little more flour while she came back with the ladle that had holes in it.
After the consistency seemed nice and the oil was hot enough it sizzled when I put a drip inside, I dipped in a few pieces of shrimp and dropped them into the oil. I stirred them around gently until the breading turned a nice golden brown, then I pulled them out and put them on a plate. Immediately after, I sprinkled some salt on.
I held one out to the servant, "This is what I'm talking about when I said breaded shrimp. Try it so you know."
I picked up another and popped it in my mouth, biting it off at the tail. The servant hesitantly took the piece I offered and I started to leave, "Have someone make more and I'll eat that. Get my meal brought to my room."
"Understood." She placed it inside her mouth like I had and chewed a few times. I watched her with my divine sense as apparently she liked it; she yelled towards the cooks to come over and no one is allowed to make more shrimp before they try this.