Shortly after, Marno re-entered the house, followed by three boys. The youngest was just 20, the oldest 25. They all knew their teacher and his daughter very well. However, they initially thought it was a big joke that they were only called here because of a spoiled boy.
None of them stood straight, as their teacher demanded of them, to present themselves as his best students. One of the boys was even slated to be admitted to the bodyguard of a nobleman, while the other two were intended for the army of their king.
One of the boys stepped forward. "Dude, we're not fighting against a kid!" The boy laughed. Already Marno could see how rough he was in the upbringing of his students.
Even the boy at the table, who had been handled with kid gloves by everyone so far, widened his eyes. Another reason for him to make a quick exit. After all, he was of noble blood. He didn't belong here, among these uncivilized barbarians. Because at this point, that's all peasants were to Ero. Servants, not comrades.
How much Alina would have liked to watch him leave.
No matter how much they needed the gold, she didn't like the boy, who wouldn't expect an easy life in a grand villa.
"Well, then you won't be afraid of losing against a child," Marno growled at the boy.
"I certainly won't lose to that young lad!" he was convinced. Shortly after, he turned his gaze to Alina, whose eyes sparkled with readiness for battle. "I just think you should let the little beast have his fun."
Oh yes, she should, and for moments like these, she had her own, rather small sword. It rested in the adjacent room.
And as soon as Marno's features softened, she hurried out to fetch it.
"As you wish," he conceded. "But Alina, hold back."
The swords were not openly displayed in the room but were kept in a chest, deeply hidden beneath various clothes, all of which she had to remove until a red cloth revealed itself on the floor. Wrapped within it lay a sword with a light blade. Perfect for the weak child and since her father acquired it last year, her greatest pride.
Only after she had stored away the clothes again did she step back into the room.
Here awaited her a boy who barely deigned to give her a glance. Not an opponent he wished for. And a man who was keenly observing the girl. Beldor was curious to see how it would all unfold. But this young girl he hardly considered a real challenge that his son would face.
Alina already saw herself surprising both of them.
"I'm not fighting against a girl!" Ero didn't even flinch. Defiantly, he sat at the table, his head resting on his supported arm.
"My exceptionally talented son surely won't lose to her," Beldor remarked, more in mockery towards Ero. "Now stand up and show the good man what you're capable of."
It took several grunts before he even attempted to lift his spoiled behind from the chair.
"But don't let her start crying," he grimaced at Alina, who merely puffed out her cheeks.
She wouldn't lose to this spoiled brat. If one of the students emerged as the winner, that was one thing. But being defeated by this pampered child was out of the question.
Her fingers tightened around the grip of the sword.
"Don't worry, she won't break," one of her students reassured, first turning to the concerned judge, but when his gaze fell on Alina, he seemed rather grim. "She's not a girl, she's a monster, more treacherous than many devils."
Many of them had treated Alina nicely at the beginning of her training. A sweet child who still waved the sword around as if it were a stick. And now they were so mean to her.
Alina swore revenge.
But first, she was satisfied after Marno distributed a portion of slaps to all the boys' ears.
Justified, as his daughter found.
Hardly did Ero finally stand before her, he wasted no further moment of discussion. He lunged forward, the sword in a deliberate swing towards Alina, whom the girl skillfully evaded.
She was used to the students. The older boys, with longer reach, faster and stronger movements, made this fight almost too easy for her.
A low swing, over which she jumped, then a thrust downward directly at the sword. She pulled her blade in a strong swing to the right.
The boy might be stronger than her, but this blow, which quickly disarmed him, caught him by surprise.
It slid across the floor until it reached the judge, who raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Didn't you say sword training wouldn't be conducted on children?" He bent down, his ringed hand reaching for his own son's sword. Shortly after, he raised his gaze again, interested in the girl who had now returned to the table. There, lying directly in front of her, was the sword.
"I'm just a concerned father who wants his child to be able to defend himself, whether with a weapon or fists." As he spoke, his scarred hand ran through the girl's curly hair.
Even though they weren't connected by blood, he couldn't be prouder of the child. He would have loved to hold Alina tightly in his arms, protecting her from all the evil in the world. But he knew that wasn't possible for him. That's why he considered it all the more important to nurture this talent.
Until she found a husband who could truly protect her from everything that could fill her heart with sorrow.
The students left the house with a polite word of farewell to their nocturnal guest.
"A truly exceptional girl," Beldor found. Even then, she noticed his interested smile. Examining every trace of her past life.
Neither today nor then did she understand what he was looking for in her.
"Train my son, and I'll take care of everything else. As for the kings and financial matters."