Aldrich and Captain Duncan retreated to a corner of the training grounds while the rest of the knights resumed their drills.
The clashing of swords and the sound of grunts filled the air, but Aldrich was focused on one thing—circulating his Ki.
Sitting cross-legged on the bare ground, Aldrich closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
His body felt tense, the anticipation building as he prepared to harness his energy.
"When I start the circulation process, all I need from you is to direct me. You don't have to interfere with the flow, just guide me where necessary," Aldrich said, his voice calm but determined.
Duncan nodded, crouching beside him. "Don't worry. I've done this many times before. I'll guide you through it."
Aldrich took another deep breath, centering himself.
He was placing his trust in Captain Duncan, but he also knew this would ultimately come down to his own ability
Slowly, he began to circulate his Ki, feeling it stir from deep within his core.
As the energy began its journey through his body, Duncan ignited a faint cooling aura—a guiding force that helped navigate the Ki along its path.
With Duncan's guidance, the energy moved seamlessly, threading through Aldrich's muscles and nerves, flooding them with power.
He followed the cooling sensation, directing the Ki toward the crucial points in his body.
The process felt smooth, almost natural, as if his body had been waiting for this moment all along.
At last, the Ki breached the central nerves, the points where energy and power converge.
The moment it did, Aldrich felt an overwhelming surge of strength.
His muscles tightened, his tendons stretched, and his body buzzed with newfound energy.
"How do you feel?" Duncan asked, standing back, a satisfied expression on his face.
Aldrich flexed his hands, feeling the raw power coursing through him.
"Like a completely different person," he said, marveling at the sensation.
His body was stronger, more responsive.
Every fiber of his being seemed enhanced.
'So this is what basic body refinement feels like,' Aldrich thought to himself.
As expected, reading about it in books could never compare to experiencing it firsthand.
"Congratulations, kid. You are now a valid mystic. How about we put that refined body of yours to the test?" Duncan offered, a playful glint in his eyes.
Aldrich's gaze sharpened. "You mean like a duel, who's my opponent?" There was an eagerness in his voice, like a child ready to play with a new toy.
He wanted to see how this new strength would fare in battle.
Duncan chuckled. "Follow me."
With a booming voice, Captain Duncan called the knights over.
"Gather up! I need a volunteer for a duel!" he announced, turning heads across the training ground.
The knights began to assemble, their curiosity piqued.
But as they lined up, not a single knight stepped forward.
While they were impressed with Aldrich's archery earlier, the thought of dueling an eight-year-old seemed ridiculous.
Their pride as knights would not allow it.
Aldrich scanned the crowd, his excitement slowly dampening as he saw no volunteers.
He could feel the hesitance in the air.
If the knights won, they would gain nothing but mockery for fighting a child.
If they lost, the humiliation would be even greater.
Whatever outcome it turned at, their pride would underdoubtly take a huge blow.
"What's this? I didn't realize I had a bunch of cowards under my command," Duncan taunted, his voice thick with sarcasm, somewhat disappointed.
He glanced at the knights, clearly disappointed that none were bold enough to take up the challenge.
A few knights shifted uncomfortably, but none spoke up.
Then, from the back of the group, a hand rose.
"I'll do it."
The voice was firm and confident.
A young knight stepped forward, his presence immediately commanding attention.
"Well, well, look who it is," Duncan said, a broad grin spreading across his face.
"To think that among the list of veteran knights under my command, our rookie of the year would be the one to demonstrate courage." His eyes scanned through their faces.
"The rest of you should be ashamed," he added, shooting a glare at the other knights.
The young knight strode forward, standing tall at six feet plus.
He was lean but muscular, his stance exuding quiet confidence.
Aldrich, standing at 5'6, felt small in comparison, but his newfound strength filled him with confidence.
"This is Jacob," Duncan introduced. "He joined us two months ago and is the youngest knight in our ranks at eighteen. He'll be your opponent."
Aldrich appraised Jacob silently.
Despite the height difference, Aldrich felt no fear.
With his body now strengthened by Ki refinement, the difference in size hardly mattered.
Jacob's gaze met Aldrich's, sizing him up. "How do you want to do this?" he asked, his voice calm, but with a hint of amusement.
Aldrich smirked. "I'm a bow user, so naturally, I'll be using my weapon," he said, lifting his bow slightly for emphasis.
"And since this is a test of my newly refined Ki, I'll be using that as well."
Jacob nodded. "Fair enough. And how do we decide the winner?"
"First strike wins," Aldrich proposed. "Simple and straightforward."
"Agreed," Jacob said, readying himself.
Captain Duncan clapped his hands together. "Alright then! Since the terms are settled, let's get this duel started!"
The two combatants prepared, each armed with their weapon of choice.
Jacob held a wooden training sword, while Aldrich gripped his bow, a quiver of dummy arrows strapped to his back.
Despite the friendly nature of the duel, there was an air of intensity between them.
"I hope you don't mind if I go all out," Jacob said, his tone serious.
"Your archery skills earlier were impressive enough to have me weary of you."
Aldrich's grin widened. "Don't worry about me and you do you. I don't plan on holding back either."
The tension in the air thickened as they squared off, both of them focused, both of them ready.
Aldrich's fingers tightened around the bow, his muscles primed for action.
His heart raced in anticipation, but his mind remained clear.
He was ready for this!