The clattering sound of spoons and forks on dishes filled the dinning hall, ringing in my ears as I ate my dish of Bèarnaise sauce and skewered beef, dressed so neatly that it made me yearn more as I munched them down.
Strangely enough, this world was quite similar to Earth with only mostly, very minute discrepancies; it's weather and seasons, animals, food, buildings etc.
The existence of mana was the only major discrepancy I could point out and this made my transition to the role of Milo von Brithuels, much easier.
Jade was sharing tales of his academy days with everyone and the rest of the children's eyes lit up in excitement, except of course, Tasha.
Sometimes, when I saw her whenever I saw her around the house or in the lawn during the afternoon, I would often mistake her for one of the house servants.
It wasn't majorly my fault though, since even Milo had very few memories of her.
She only recently moved back to the estate from her mother's birthplace, where she had spent her entire life in.
Tasha von Brithuels was Frederick's fraternal twin, bearing very similar qualities to him but with a much more calm personality.
She had been separated from him at birth and made to grow up with her maternal grandmother, untill she was fifteen and finally came back.
It was a strange practice, native to the people of this continent because they believed in a superstition that, if left together one of both would die before they reach6 adolescence.
Just like every form of superstitious beliefs, I was pretty sure that someone had made this one up to prevent a personal scenerio but then, it somehow developed into such a huge deal.
"Is anything the problem Milo, you stopped eating" Vicky asked, staring at me in shock.
"No, not a problem, the food was delicious, thank you" I replied, getting up and making my way to my room.
I had lost track of their conversation, fully sunken in my thoughts.
"Milo!" The patriarch called out to me, setting down his cutlery as he formed a tower with his fingers.
I turned towards him, trying to wrap my head around why he had stopped me.
"Yes, father?" I replied, stopped in my tracks, frantically wishing it was nothing at all.
I had almost slipped in patriarch instead of father.
"Come over to my office tomorrow morning, I want to discuss something with you"
'oho..... I wonder what that could be' I thought, already knowing fully well what it was, but not bothering to indulge myself since I was already feeling sleepy from my full meal.
"As you wish, patriarch" I responded, offering a weird bow before turning away finally and heading to my room.
'Finally some peace and quiet' I thought, slumping tiredly onto my bed.
The next day was a hectic one for me and now the patriarch had somehow made it even more hectic.
Jake's homecoming party was also tomorrow evening but I had already planned from the start to miss it since, naturally I didn't do well with gatherings.
I looked over towards my window, watching night time approach swiftly as dusk passed.
The days had been flying by so freaking fast, I couldn't believe it had been two months since I got transmigrated into this body.
Milo's 14th birthday was a only fortnight from now, and the fact that I would have to go through my second- first growth spurt in his body was very discomforting.
******
"Morning young master, the patriarch called for you a while ago." Natasha reported, pulling off the bed sheets as I awoke.
I had dozed off halfway through my thoughts the previous day and I started recollecting the activities for today.
"Wait what did you say Natasha" I asked, turning to confirm what I had heard.
"The patriarch asked after you a while ago" she repeated, sorting out my dirty linens.
I jumped off the bed, rushing into the restroom beside my door, tidied up and headed down to the patriarch's quarters.
I knocked twice, before hearing the signal to move inside, feeling downcast by my tardiness.
The patriarch was at his desk again, as always, sorting through documents, but surprisingly this time he stopped as he looked up at me.
"Sit" He gestured, pointing at the chair in front of him. I moved forward, dragged the chair and sat, trying very hard to hold back my yawn.
"You know why I've called you here" he asked, definitely not expecting a reply but sadly enough, I was planning on giving one.
"You want me to join in on the meeting with the vassals tomorrow, right?" I enquired, staring at the quill he held in his grasp.
'I guess the fountain pen hasn't been invented here yet, huh"
I could tell without looking at his face that he was both surprised and suspicious.
Surprised of my very accurate deductions and suspicious about how they were so accurate.
I didn't intend to tell him the truth though, since I couldn't tell if there were any spys in the estate.
"How did you know that" the patriarch asked, a stern look on his face.
In a split second, a lie just came out to mind so I just muttered it regardless of the complications.
"It was a guess" I lied, staring him straight in the eye to lower my chances of getting caught.
"Oh, alright then." He shrugged, clearing his throat as he sat upright. I didn't think he would accept my reply so easily but couldn't complain since it worked completely well.
"When you sit for the meeting, you'll understand your role by then. Leave me now" he concluded, waving his hand at me to leave.
I had something else on my agenda that morning, that I needed to take care of, so I rushed off towards the training hall hurriedly.
The sound of wooden swords rattling as they hit each other resounded throughout the entire building, eventually reaching the outdoors.
'Of course you'd be here' I thought, as I watched Jade spar with one of the knights, giving him instructions along the way.
The reason I had come to the training grounds in such a hurry, was because I wanted to confirm if he rumours about Jade achieving swordmaster level, were valid.
Everyone stopped and looked at me, who was standing at the corner of the room.
I didn't want to draw any attention toward myself, since majorly I just came to watch.
So I tried excusing myself, but then....
"Stay Milo, why don't you have a spar with me" Jade offered, the gasping of everyone around him making a weird chorus.
Naturally, I would decline and lie to him that i wouldn't stand a chance. But for some reason, my blood started to boil in excitement, at the thought of fighting someone way stronger than I was.
I turned towards him, grinning wickedly from side to side.
"Challenge accepted" I bellowed, picking up a wooden sword from where it rested.
My arms were a little sore from all the sleeping and the fact that I hadn't done my calisthenics, but I ignored the details, stretching mildly before taking my stance.
The room had become extremely silent, to the extent that if even a drop of water fell, it would be heard by everyone.
Jake picked up his sword too, walking towards me slowly.
"Fight!" Secrust screamed at the top of his voice, moving back away from the fight zone.
The air around me stiffened, making it hard to breath for a while before it cleared again.
I dashed towards Jake, closing the distance between us in a second, as I launched my first strike.
He easily dodged though, walking away from me calmly and tapping my back with his weapon.
I repeated my attack again, hoping to get a different result, but it failed like the previous one, till I had used all my moves.
Jade still taunted me continually, hitting my back as he walked away.
'so this is the speed of a swordmaster' I asked myself, feeling the difference in our skill already.
Each time I got close enough to land my attack, he would react to it like it was not much of a threat.
Knowing that the charade would go on and on if we continued that way, I decided to switch things up a little.
I ran towards him, swinging my blade as usual and he responded equally, dodging the attack before it landed but unfortunately for him, I had prepared a counter.
With the entire force I could muster, I swung my back heel at him, hitting his block immediately.
Unlike now, he only needed to move faster than my first attack to avoid contact but since I had already seen past that and could not measure up to his speed, a surprise attack was necessary.
I didn't give him enough time to regain his balance, striking with another kick which he blocked again, this time swinging his sword in response.
I avoided clashing blades, stepping backwards immediately but he was already charging at me, his first slash directed at my neck, the other my chest, leg, neck again and finally my side which I could not anticipate.
The force of the attack made me cough up phlegm as I spat.
With my stamina now depleted from dodging and tanking his attacks, the fight was nearing a close.
I stood up once more, clutching the hilt of the wooden blade tightly, with both haands
Just like I had practiced, I closed my eyes, envisioning the mana surrounding my hand and blade and forcing them to cluster strongly to it, birthing a cloaked mana blade, beaming blue light.
Jade and the rest of the knights were shocked since I was the first time I had shown the skill to anyone.
Mana sensitivity Swordskill- hollow rupture
It was a swordskill that was barely used by swordsmen due to the instability of its form.
At most, I could hold out the form for three minutes before it became unstable but that was all the time I needed.
I charged at Jade, swinging the reinforced blade at his face and as he tried moving from it, I clutched the hilt harder, extending the cloaked mana, discharging it as it caused a mild explosion upon hitting something, smoke fumes surrounding my view.
"You'd have to do better" he sneered, descending down on me from above, his insane speed rivaling even my ingenious plan.
His blow hit my head hard, causing me to forcefully release the swordskill totally.
" I lost" I admitted, sitting on the floor with my legs sprawled.
'It was a good fight, but I guess I still have ways to go' i thought to myself watching the knights cheer for Jade in shock of my performance.