Three years ago, at the residence of the Talvi Family.
My name is Alicia von Talvi, the eldest child of the Talvi family that rules over the White Snow Palace. The Talvi family is a renowned swordsmanship family, so I was raised rigorously.
The head of the family, Count Talvi, who is also my father, had high expectations for me as the eldest child. I didn't want to disappoint the expectations placed on me. Therefore, I always trained tirelessly until mornings turned into evenings.
The Talvi family has a unique tradition passed down through generations. When a member of the Talvi family turns 13, they undergo a special test to demonstrate their qualifications as a Talvi family member and as the next head of the family.
The test is simple; the Talvi family member undertaking it must travel alone to Musrath Mountain armed only with a sword and basic equipment. They must camp and prepare their food in Musrath Mountain for five days.
During this time, they must defeat at least one C- rank or higher monster camp within five days. After five days, they will be picked up by knights from the Talvi family.
The day had finally arrived, the day I would never forget, the day I turned 13. As the eldest child of the Talvi family, I was the first to undergo this special test.
Upon hearing the news that I had turned 13, the head of the family instructed me to prepare for Musrath Mountain. He gave me the best sword in the palace's arsenal, and I accepted it, preparing other equipment and bringing enough food for five days. Then, I set off for Musrath Mountain.
* * *
Musrath Mountain, is one of the most dangerous mountains in the Chronus Empire, claiming about 5000 lives annually. This is due to the monsters on the mountain descending during winter and terrorizing the nearby settlements. The nearest settlement is 5 kilometers away from Musrath Mountain. The monsters range from E to A+ rank, but those that descend are only up to B rank.
Scientists suggest that the monsters descend because they cannot withstand the cold temperatures on Musrath Mountain during winter. The surviving monsters have better cold resistance.
After a lengthy journey, I finally arrived at Musrath Mountain. Although I managed to defeat a monster camp on the first day, I still couldn't return and had to wait five days for the knights to come.
So, I planned to set up a temporary camp on Musrath Mountain.
I searched for the nearest cave to use as a temporary camp. I planned to spend the first three days exploring and understanding the monster hunting patterns, then return to their camp. After that, defeat a C+ rank monster camp on the fourth day. Even if I failed that day, at least I would have damaged their camp and could try again the next day.
The monster camp I intended to attack was called White Ghost. White Ghost is a bear-type monster with white fur, red eyes, and a height of 2 to 3 meters. The White Ghost camp is a small branching cave in the middle of Musrath Mountain. They usually live in small groups, scattered in various areas in the middle of Musrath Mountain. A White Ghost group consists of at least 5 individuals, and they can manipulate their bodies to remain unseen, launching surprise attacks on confused opponents or prey. That's why they are called White Ghosts.
After three days of observing White Ghost camp habits, I was ready to hunt them on the fourth day. However, when I arrived at the White Ghost camp, all I saw were piles of White Ghost corpses. Upon checking one of the corpses, I realized it had just been killed, and the killer must not have been far. I tried to enter the White Ghost camp deeper, only to find a monster with a tall body and broad frame standing silently next to a pile of White Ghost corpses.
When the monster saw me, it attacked with a rapid horizontal slash. I barely managed to dodge it, planning to escape, but it was futile. The monster stood in front of me, and I attacked it with my ether.
I unleashed a straight sword-shaped ice attack. However, the attack did not affect the monster. I continued with the next attack.
Attack after attack, none could harm the monster. An entity unaffected by ether attacks stood before me. On the brink of despair, I couldn't hold my feet and fell, feeling a fear I had never experienced before.
'I don't want to die here! My journey is still long; I want to explore this continent before I die!'
As the monster was about to end my life, a sudden attack came from nowhere, attacking the monster. The attack also didn't work, but it made the monster thrown far out of the White Ghost camp.
"All attacks are ineffective against that monster. You should run away than die with me!" I shouted with a trembling voice.
"Well, even in a situation like this, you still care about others. I'm flattered!" said the person in a cloak that almost covered his face.
Then the person continued speaking.
"I appreciate your bravery, but I need to take down that monster. It's a win-win situation for both of us, isn't it? I can eliminate the monster, and you can report your victory in defeating the White Ghost camp!" I was tempted by the proposal, but then I thought about my current circumstances and asked again.
"But how will you kill a monster that is not affected by ether?" I asked with a hopeless expression.
"I have my ways!" the person said, briefly smiling but covered by the cloak they wore.
As I chatted with the cloaked person for too long, the monster returned after being thrown far by the cloaked person's attack. The monster then attacked the cloaked person at full speed. However, the cloaked person remained calm, preparing stances to counterattack the monster.
Smoke and snow covered the battlefield between the monster and the cloaked person. After the smoke cleared, I saw that the cloaked person had successfully defeated the monster by destroying its core.
The intense battle caused the cloak to fall off the person's head. I could see clearly that the person was at least my age, with slightly disheveled black hair from the battle with the monster and golden, no, hazel-colored eyes. I then dared to ask the person's name.
"You... What's your name?" But when I asked, the person just remained silent. After a few minutes of silence, the person finally said something.
"Name... Hmmmm... I seem to have forgotten." The person looked confused. I didn't know if I was mistaken, but the person seemed to be suffering from amnesia.
Then the person continued.
"Hmmm... You can call me The Wanderer Swordsman! Well then, goodbye!" After saying that, The Wanderer Swordsman walked out of the White Ghost camp. I, who saw that, didn't stay still and followed The Wanderer Swordsman. At least I wanted to thank them, but when I followed his footsteps out of the White Ghost camp, The Wanderer Swordsman's footsteps disappeared in an instant.
* * *
Back to the present.
Precisely when Ryan and Alicia's duel took place.
Thick smoke covered the duel area. Due to the thick smoke, the staff couldn't see the ongoing match between Ryan and Alicia. Panicking, the staff rushed out of the testing room to check the situation around Ryan and Alicia's duel area.
After the smoke disappeared, the staff could see the result of the duel. Alicia lay on her back at the edge of the area with outstretched hands and eyes looking towards the ceiling, while Ryan remained standing, holding the sword tightly and not moving at all. Then the staff officers checked the protective percentage of both participants.
[Ryan Arden: 0%]
[Alicia von Talvi: 0%]
The staff couldn't witness the battle due to the thick smoke, but they immediately concluded this match by looking at the protective percentages worn by both participants.
[This match ends in a draw! Congratulations and thank you both for putting out all the skills you have. For the medical team, please take them both to the medical room!]
"How is it? Are you now satisfied with the match you've been waiting for?" Ryan asked, exhaling heavily.
"It was a really enjoyable match!" I exclaimed, looking up at the ceiling as I lay still, unable to move.
"Thank you for everything!" I said with a warm smile, closing my eyes.
"Why are you thanking me? I was just your sparring partner, nothing more, nothing less," Ryan said with a puzzled expression.
"If you don't remember, that's okay. You will always be my hero, and I will always support you with all the abilities I have!" I muttered with a bitter smile, still closing my eyes.
"I don't know what you're saying, but it makes me uncomfortable," Ryan said, displeased.
"Ahahaha, sorry, sorry, I won't repeat it again!"
After that lengthy conversation, both of them were finally taken to the medical room and underwent recovery until the evening.