"Ranav, come! Let's prepare lunch," Nanima called from outside the study.
"Coming, Master!" Ranav shouted, quickly finishing the section he was reading before heading to the kitchen.
Together, they began preparing the meal. Ranav carefully chopped vegetables while Nanima seasoned the dishes, guiding him with her precise instructions. The aroma of freshly ground spices mingled with the warmth of cooking food, creating a homely atmosphere.
Once everything was ready, they sat together at the table. As they began eating, Nanima broke the silence.
"After lunch, I'll be visiting the Count's house. You'll go with me. On the way, I'll stop by the knights' training ground. I sent a message to old Raman through his neighbor. He was once the best swordsman in the village. Though he's no longer young, teaching you the basics should be easy for him."
Ranav's face lit up. "Thank you, Master."
Nanima held up a hand. "Don't thank me yet. Raman is… peculiar. If you don't impress him, he won't bother training you."
"I'll try my best." Ranav affirmed.
"Good. Let's hope for the best."
After lunch, Nanima retired to her room for a short rest. Ranav returned to his own room and settled into a meditative position, practicing his Aikido breathing technique. The familiar flow of mana calmed his mind, and he focused on replenishing both Jessica's mana and his dantian.
"Ranav, get ready. We're leaving now," Nanima's voice came from the hallway.
Ranav opened his eyes and quickly stood, gathering his things before stepping out to meet her. Nanima was already prepared, her steady demeanor signaling that the day's tasks were important. Together, they walked toward the knights' training ground.
At the gate, an older man with a proud, well-groomed mustache waited for them. His posture was straight, his aura commanding. Upon seeing Nanima, he bowed slightly.
"Welcome, My Lady. It's been years since you last visited us," he greeted.
Nanima waved off his formalities. "Enough with the pleasantries, Old Raman. I'm here for business."
She turned to Ranav. "This is Tenali Raman, our former village chief and father of the current chief, Venkata Raman."
Ranav bowed deeply. "Thank you for meeting me, sir. I'm Ranav Limbekai…"
Nanima cut in, "Raman, this is my disciple. He wants to learn swordsmanship, and I thought of you. If you're willing, teach him the basics."
Raman observed Ranav with a critical eye before replying, "As you wish, My Lady. But first, I'll need to see him handle a sword. If he shows promise, I'll train him. However," he paused, "he's still a child. Are you sure this is the right time for him to begin?"
Nanima's patience was thinning. "You talk too much. You have one month. By then, he should be able to defeat your strongest trainee under ten years old in the village. If not, I'll withdraw him."
Raman raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I don't have students anymore, My Lady."
"Then find one," she said curtly. "Surely the village has a promising trainee who fits the age range."
Recognizing the firmness in her tone, Raman nodded. "Very well. Follow me."
He led them to a small office within the training grounds. Pulling out a chair for Nanima, he turned to Ranav. "Boy, choose your sword from the rack," he instructed, gesturing to a wall of wooden swords.
Ranav approached the rack, his eyes scanning the array of weapons. Among them, a curved, single-edged wooden sword caught his attention. Its resemblance to a katana was uncanny, and he felt a strange sense of familiarity with it. He picked it up, gripping the handle firmly.
Testing the sword, he swung it with one hand, then shifted to a two-handed grip, performing a series of precise, fluid motions. The sword seemed to respond naturally to his movements.
Ranav's gaze shifted again, and he spotted a smaller blade, like a wooden wakizashi. He picked it up with his free hand. Now wielding both swords, he performed a series of dual-blade maneuvers, the wooden weapons moving in harmony as if extensions of his body.
When he finished, he turned to Nanima and Raman, only to find the older man staring at him in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape. Nanima, however, wore a knowing smirk.
"Shit!" Ranav thought. "I momentarily forgot I'm only four years old. Gods, save me."
Nanima's voice broke the silence. "Vishvam to Raman, are you still with us?"
Raman blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Who taught you swordsmanship?" he asked, his voice tinged with amazement.
"This is the first time I've held a sword in this life," Ranav replied truthfully.
Raman's astonishment only deepened. "My Lady, this boy is a prodigy! I've always believed dual-wielding to be inefficient, but he wields two swords like they're extensions of his body. Boy, with dedication, you could create your own lineage of swordsmanship. You could surpass even mages in strength!"
Nanima cleared her throat pointedly.
Realizing his slip, Raman quickly added, "No offense to mages, of course, My Lady."
Nanima's expression softened into a sly smile. "One month, Old Raman. Make it count."
The old swordsman straightened, his resolve clear. "We'll begin tomorrow before sunrise. Tell your father to bring you here."
"I can come by myself," Ranav argued.
"That will be decided by your father and me," Raman replied firmly.
Ranav reluctantly nodded. "Understood."
With that, Nanima and Ranav left the training ground, heading back toward the village. Then they parted at the intersection, Nanima had to go to Count's house. And Ranav returned to his home.
As they walked, Jessica's amused voice echoed in Ranav's mind. "I'm convinced you've learned swordsmanship before."
Ranav sighed. "I told the truth."
"But you moved like a master. The way you handled those swords was flawless. What's the name of the technique you used?"
"Niten Ichi Ryu," Ranav answered.
"Aha! I knew it! You performed a practiced dual-blade art, yet you claim it's your first time holding swords. Who do you think believes that?"
"I was telling the truth," Ranav said with a shrug.
Jessica huffed. "You're annoying. Explain yourself!"
Ranav chuckled softly. "We're almost home. I'll explain some other time."
Jessica muttered something unintelligible, but Ranav ignored her, he was thinking about tomorrow's morning.