Merlin was still momentarily stunned, while Anson beside him, with a hint of envy, muttered, "Sir Perot just keeps getting stronger. The last time he demonstrated, it wasn't this intense. Looks like he's close to becoming a Level Two Flame Swordsman. People with strong elemental affinity really advance quickly; it's only taken him three years to reach this point, one of the fastest progressions in Blackwater City's church."
"Flame Swordsman?"
Merlin's interest piqued. He'd heard Sir Perot mention "Elemental Swordsman" several times but assumed it was simply a term for those who practiced swordsmanship. Now, he realized it was something more.
His memory had only partially fused; many key memories were missing, including details about elemental swordsmen. Eager to learn more, he knew he couldn't ask directly without arousing suspicion.
So, he subtly prompted Anson, who, not suspecting a thing and considering Merlin a close friend, casually shared much about elemental swordsmen.
It turned out that Sir Perot wasn't just any swordsman; he was a powerful Elemental Swordsman.
In this world, some people were born with elemental affinity, an ability to draw the surrounding elemental forces into their bodies. When enough elemental energy had accumulated, it could be channeled in a specific way to unleash great power. Such people were known as Elemental Swordsmen.
Of course, channeling elemental energy didn't necessarily require a sword. For instance, someone with a wind affinity paired with a strong bow could become a formidable archer. But swords were the most commonly used weapon, so they were called Elemental Swordsmen.
Sir Perot was already a true Flame Swordsman, while others, like Kadoron and May Snow, possessed elemental affinity but couldn't yet fully channel the energy within them or had insufficient elemental accumulation to harness it fully. Thus, they weren't true Elemental Swordsmen yet.
Still, with persistent training, they could become powerful Elemental Swordsmen with strength comparable to Sir Perot's devastating punch.
Learning all this filled Merlin with excitement. Such immense power—could he possibly achieve it, too?
But Anson's next words extinguished that hope.
"Merlin, Elemental Swordsmen are incredibly powerful with limitless potential! But we have no elemental affinity, so we're destined never to become one. At least you're the heir of the Wilson family, and your sister, May Snow, has a high flame affinity and could become a Flame Swordsman one day. As for me, I have two older brothers, so I won't inherit any titles…"
Anson's tone turned dejected, and he fell silent.
"No elemental affinity…"
Merlin felt as if he'd been doused with cold water, his excitement subsiding. From what Anson had said, elemental affinity was essential to becoming an Elemental Swordsman.
Sir Perot, for instance, possessed flame affinity, allowing him to draw flame energy into his body and become a powerful Flame Swordsman. Generally, the stronger the affinity, the easier it was to absorb elemental energy and become a swordsman. Different types of elemental affinity produced different types of swordsmen—Flame Swordsmen, Ice Swordsmen, Wind Swordsmen, and so on.
The most prestigious of all were the Light Swordsmen. Those with a light affinity who could draw light energy into their bodies would become Light Swordsmen.
Every Light Swordsman was typically recruited by the Church of Light as a Guardian Swordsman, receiving support and assistance from the church, allowing them to advance faster than other swordsmen.
But regardless of the type, elemental affinity was the foundation of all Elemental Swordsmen. Without it, one couldn't become an Elemental Swordsman, and Merlin, along with Anson, lacked this essential trait.
The people who came to train under Sir Perot fell into three groups. The first were commoners without any social status but who possessed elemental affinity. These were considered highly gifted and were allowed by the church to train here. If they became Elemental Swordsmen, they would be absorbed into the church's armed forces, with Kadoron being a prime example.
The second group included noble children with elemental affinity. Compared to commoners, noble-born Elemental Swordsmen had far better prospects. Once they became Elemental Swordsmen, their families would likely send them to larger cities for further training, offering a promising future. May Snow belonged to this group.
The third group included noble children like Merlin and Anson, who had no elemental affinity and limited potential. Although all three groups trained together under Sir Perot, they remained distinct, each with their own social circles.
After some time, Merlin asked quietly, "What about Kadoron's elemental affinity?"
"Kadoron? His talent is arguably the best among us; he has light affinity. If he successfully channels light energy into his body, he'll immediately rise in rank and become a Guardian Swordsman for the church. Even now, though he's not yet an Elemental Swordsman, he's already attracted the church's attention, and Sir Perot has taken him as a disciple. It's only a matter of time before he becomes an Elemental Swordsman."
Anson cast an envious glance at Kadoron in the front row as he finished speaking.
Seeing Merlin's mood dim, Anson added quietly, "Kadoron may be a genius, but your sister May Snow isn't far behind. She also has flame affinity, just like Sir Perot, so he's sure to teach her well. With May Snow, your Wilson family won't decline for decades, and you'll be better off than me in the future."
Merlin was surprised to realize how talented his sister truly was. And, just as Anson had said, Sir Perot's gaze occasionally drifted over Kadoron and May Snow, keeping a close eye on their training. This clearly showed how highly he valued both of them.