"That's it, how did you figure it out?" Jack looked at the yellow circle atop Nichole's palm.
"This senior helped me," Nichole turns off the circle, "she gave me some advice," Advice in the form of an elixir, but I don't need to tell him that, Nichole thought of it.
"I never expected to get this far in one day," Jack who was sitting beside her looked at her in amazement, "want to stop for the day?"
"Really? I could do more."
"It's good to be energetic, but I don't want you fainting on your first day."
"Alright professor, and um," Nichole hesitated for a moment, "I want to join the team for the Ascension tournament."
"You do?"
"Ah, forgive me, but it's just something I feel like I must do," Nichole bowed down, "can you help me professor?"
Jack pats her slightly, "It's good to have a goal, I'll help you get up there."
"You will?"
"Why do you think I'm a professor if I can't help you?"
"Yes sir, thank you."
"I guess I'll teach you about the basics of a sword," Jack stood up.
Nichole sat there, excited to watch the man about to demonstrate how to use a sword.
"Are you familiar with the basic movements of a sword?"
"Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, reverse slash and thrust or jab?"
"It seems you're familiar with the concept, and your right," Jack took a stance, keeping his feet shoulder width apart, his left foot slightly in front of her other, "see my foot? The front foot faces forward while the back foot angles a bit outward, this way you have a stable base."
Nichole focused on Jack's words, scanning each and every movement.
Jack extends his right hand, opens his palm outwards, and raises it up beyond his head bringing it down for a vertical slash, then brings this hand to his left shoulder and performs a horizontal slash.
Each of his movements were mesmerizing. They say art is most beautiful when performed by a master. Nichole could see the beauty behind each of his movements.
It's beautiful, each of his movements seem perfect, like there is no wasted movement, each gesture, twist and turn hold energy, Nichole watched the man dance.
He slides his right foot forward through the floor, his brown shoes barely making any contact with the floor in elegance, an elegance beyond his exterior, before thrusting into the thin air.
BOOM
The air around him shook, showering Nichole in small gusts, her brown hair floating from the force of his thrust.
Once again he shifts the thrust to a diagonal slash upwards to his left, before bringing it down in reverse and bringing the movements to a finish.
"Wow," Nichole looked at him in admiration, "that was amazing professor, why did Professor Thomas say your swordsmanship was unrefined?"
"Sword is not the only weapon I focus on," jack looked at her with a small smile, "I do a variety of arts revolving around all kinds of weapons hence someone like the General who has followed the path of the sword his whole life might feel like mine is inadequate."
"A multitude of weapons? But why?"
"Remember my talent? At the time I had a thought, Why limit myself to one when I can do everything? but it turned out to come back and bite me in the ass."
"Haha," Nichole laughs.
"Get your sword."
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"What do you think makes a marksman?" Victor asked the long black haired boy before him.
"Um... I don't know," Finn replied awkwardly.
"It's alright, I didn't expect any answer in the first place," Victor commented, yet his voice wasn't one of disdain, but rather a guiding voice.
"I use a bow, but the fundamentals aren't different," Victor takes a bow out of his subspace ring, a plain black bow.
"Oh, is it because the fundamental is making every shot count?"
"We don't shoot to hurt, we shoot to finish," he pulls back on the string in his bow. Energy takes shape and forms an arrow of light. He lets go of the string, the arrow shoots forward striking the dummy right on its head, the bullet piercing deep in.
"Oh, that was amazing sir," Finn watched the man fire with precision.
Victor turns to face Finn, "You should strive to end things in one blow, since we imbue each strike with mana, long battles will only be disadvantageous for us."
"And the sword?" Finn's hand went to the katana on his waist, "What about training?"
"I was thinking of having to teach it to you from scratch, but it seems you're already aware of it, beyond a basic level."
"Yes, sir, I did receive some training prior to joining."
"And that footwork you used, it's way too unstable for you currently, what is it called?"
"Blizzard step, I picked it up from this old knight."
"I assume it's part of a larger series of arts, the movements were simple but the flow of energy was quite..." Victor paused, recalling the exact moment Finn used the footstep, "interesting."
"It is, but how did you know, sir?" His insight is quite good, for him to figure it out after seeing it once.
"The energy buildup, it was gradual and rising, and the foot technique, it seemed similar to mine."
"What do you mean, sir?" Finn asked curiously.
"The technique revolves around manipulating mana to remove friction, I follow something similar, followed by a series of assaults."
"The core principles are the same, the manual follows something similar, the first movement followed by strikes but the strikes are based on precision rather than a flurry."
"Maybe the base of our arts are retained from the same one, either way you should get used to it, or the technique could end up doing more harm than good."
"Yes, sir," Finn replied with a resolute nod.
"And those threads, where did you get that?"
"The old knight?"
"And who is this old knight, I might know him," Victor glanced at Finn, his eyes demanding an answer.
Finn was ready with an answer, he knew revealing his techniques would raise questions, but he was prepared to tell the truth.
"Jonathan Raosa," Finn said proudly, expectimg his professor to question how they met, but what Finn encountered was something he hadn't imagined.
Veins bulged around his forehead, anger rising in Victor. His fists clenched together in rage, "Oh! So it was that bastards, huh?"
Old man, what did you do?! Why do have so many enemies, literally everyone hates you, Finn screamed internally, trying to hide his dissatisfaction.
_________________________
"Why is this hour free?" Daniela asked Houdin who was walking beside her.
"The professors are busy handling the first year stuff," Houdin said. "Anyways what happened to you?"
"I went exploring and had a few encounters."
"Encounters?" Houdin raised an eyebrow, "Where did you go exploring?"
"The Blood Moon forest."
"You're lying," Houdin pulled back her head laughing, "If you went into that you'd die for sure."
"Well then believe it or not, I went in and came back in one piece."
"You're barely One-Star, how do you expect me to believe you went there and came back with minimal injuries?"
"But I became a One-Star, and I'm no longer a weakling," Daniela proudly announced.
"Ah, your back with the new Daniela stuff," Houdin sighed.
"Huh? What's this about not being a weakling," a boy's voice came from behind, the tone filled with mock, "I thought the princess was scared of getting dirty?"
Who is the extra? Daniela thought before turning back to take a look. "Ah, yes, but I've decided to change," Daniela let out a remark before her eyes could fall on the boy.
MISSION ALERT
DEFEAT FRANCIS DIMITRI
ACCEPT/REJECT
Oh, a mission! And Francis Dimitri, from Daniela's memories, I have some beef with this guy, better to solve this than drag it on, Daniela taps on accept, ready for whatever was coming as she saw the boy. He had black hair, and a face worthy of being called handsome. He wore black uniform meaning he was part of the martial arts class.
"Oh, well princess or Daniela, what's with the red on your coat, spilled some ketchup?" the boy mocked her.
"Hey," Houdin's voice hardened as she stared at him, her teeth gritting, "who do you think you're talking to?"
Oh, her personality changed, Daniela watched it unfold, "Houdin, stay back," she put her hands on her shoulder, smiling, "I'll take care of this."
"Oh, the princess has put her dog on a leash, now what?"
"I'd rather have you badmouth me, leave her out of this, Francis," Daniela glared at him, but his eyes met back with her's. So, do I initiate the duel or will it happen on its own since the system told me?
"How about we solve this my way, since you're so brave?"
"What's your way?" I guess the system gave me a preview with the mission notification.
"A duel, so will you accept, princess?"
...
"Dani, you don't have any reason to accept, why did you do it?" Houdin watched Daniela get ready to fight, they were at the training halls.
Daniela turned to look at her, "What do you mean? He made fun of you, what more reason do I need?"
Houdin looks at her with puppy eyes, "That's so touching, but you'll lose."
"Way to go bestie," Daniela replied flatly.
"Anyways how are you going to win?"
"I got it all under control, just watch me," Daniela entered the ground.
"So, ready princess?" Francis stood there holding a sword.
"Ready?" Daniela taunted.
"As always Princess."
"Then shall we begin?"
A small crowd had gathered around to see the match. The students were curious to see how the sheltered princess would fare against someone better than her.
"Ren, be the judge," as soon as Francis completed his sentence, a boy in black suit came forward.
"I hope both parties have no objection," the boy said, his blue eyes meeting Daniela's for a moment.
"No," Daniela said.
"Let the match begin," Ren said as he took a step back.
_________________________