"Young Lord."
Noel came to me as I was wiping sweat off my face after an intense training with Sir Nicholas and Sir Aaron, he came with a lot of sandwiches, of course since it was my favorite it was inevitable that we had a whole supply of bread and condiments brought along.
"What is it."
"You've been training a lot more than ever, and there are no bandits nor monsters Sir Norn would like to request to be on his way back."
"Let him be, but please tell him to tell father to heed my requests in constructing this village, remember this village other than an evacuation route it can also be used as an outpost."
"As you wish, would you also like someone to fetch Elasia?"
"I'm fine, Elasia is my favorite horse, no need for her to join things like this when she should just relax home with me."
"I understand."
Noel left me and took one of the sandwiches he prepared, I heard some rustling from afar, it was a child who looked like he was of the age of six along with him were perhaps his friends or siblings.
"Come here, take one each."
"Thank you Mister Guest!"
The five children all came and took one, they had little smiles on their faces, as they were chattering and happily eating a familiar rabbit came forward once more.
"This is the fifth day, does your place not have any bread? Or does it lack condiments?"
I said towards the rabbit who was just staring at me.
"Its Mister Rabbit again!"
A girl picked it up, and like always she placed it on the center as the children began playing with it, the rabbit didn't do anything other than accept its fate.
"Take care of the rabbit alright? And when you're done give it one sandwich the rest are yours."
"Okay Mister!"
The children said as they began playing and I returned to where Nicholas and Aaron were, they were still sparring but when I arrived they stopped and bowed at me.
"Young Master, let's continue?"
"Ye-"
Without a moments notice the two jumped at me, I love and hate this training but damn why is this so tiring, I was blocking every strike, they tried to aim for my vital points including ones I couldn't see.
As I kept blocking they kept talking non sense about how I should maneuver myself.
It went on for another half day till I was really exhausted even with my new physique that has been improving thanks to Celestial Shadow.
"We're done for today, Good Job Young Lord, you've grown in technique you're now firm and even stable!"
Aaron said to me as he patted my back and left.
"You seem more focused than ever compared to a week ago, congratulations we will continue three days from now, you should rest Young Lord."
Nicholas nodded at me as I was left all alone again, as if on cue the small rabbit that was here earlier came forward once more.
"Didn't I already gave you one? Or did the children eat everything again?"
I looked at the side and there it was three sandwiches left, uneaten, the rabbit just went near and touched my feet.
I rolled my eyes as I already know what this meant.
In fact, a few days ago while Noel was out helping and administering the affairs of this settlement I made my own sandwich and this rabbit saw me, I made too much that time and I gave it one.
Ever since then its been like this.
"All right I'll make you two."
I stood up, well even with my tired body something this trivial could be easily done, I went into the kitchen inside the house that was constructed by my men and made it.
After five minutes I gave the two to the rabbit, I placed it on its mouth as usual.
That got me thinking, I already know the female elf was controlling this rabbit, but, how come she's not sick eating something that came out of the rabbit's mouth even if it only bit a few parts?
Or does she just eat the part where the rabbit didn't bit or touch it?
"Whatever if she's still alive then I don't need to concern myself with it, Elves do have different hygiene practices if presume."
I said it out loud, the rabbit tilted its head and right then and there I could hear a voice in my head.
"Thank you?"
It left, well what do I do now? I guess I should practice some sword swings no matter how monotonous it can be.
Perhaps I could feel a slight difference than before.
-
"So Alfred is just staying there?"
"That is what my brother had told me."
Lucia asked her maids that had gotten information about Alfred's whereabouts of course she will go to the Grand Duke to gain official information as well permission to come to Alfred but.
"Then good for him, maybe its a way for him to rest and reset his mentality, at first I was worried about how he would handle murder but I guess he has his own ways."
"Your Highness."
"It's okay Martha, death is a part of life everyone has their own way of accepting it."
Lucia said calmly, shortly after one of her shadows arrived.
"Your Highness, everything is ready."
"Thank you Maria, then let's start executing prisoners shall we?"
Lucia said as she steeled her resolve, if one thing she had to know how to kill, she was certain when she saw Alfred fought back at the banquet.
She did not want to be a liability anymore, she had began practicing swinging the sword and reading magic and right now was the time where she would learn how to kill.
If killing meant to protect what was important to her then she would do it.
"Don't worry Princess Lucia, these prisoners are the lowest of the low executing them wouldn't do anything to the world."
Maria spoke as they followed Lucia towards the dungeon specially prepared for her training.
"Maria is right Princess, we will teach you how to aim for vital spots, perhaps Alfred has already done this."
"I understand."
Martha spoke, and Lucia agreed, while the three of them were walking two more shadows appeared.
"Maeve, Madeline."
"Your Highness."
The two shadows bowed and joined the group, they decided that they would train her, as shadows specializing in assassinations they would teach her as well as basic swordsmanship to protect herself.
"Let us begin then."
Lucia said as she took a deep breath and opened the door, revealing the Imperial Guards as well as numerous prisoners ready to be killed.