Ding!
[Name: Eden Hart]
[Main Talent: Swordsmanship]
[Sub-Talent: ??? (Locked)]
[Characteristic: A natural genius, unmatched in her mastery of any swords.]
Eden stood at the center of the training ground, her platinum hair tied back in a simple ponytail. In her hand, she held a silver-polished sword.
But it wasn't the sword that froze him in place.
It was her eyes.
Those same piercing ocean-blue eyes that saved him from the assassin.
"Sister…?"
Eden tilted her head, slightly.
"You're awake."
"...I heard you wanted to see me?"
Eden didn't respond. Instead, her gaze drifted past him and scanned the knights circling the training ground.
"Leave us."
The knights hesitated and exchanged uneasy glances, but their hesitation lasted only a moment before they obeyed.
Seven's gaze remained on Eden, who turned fully to face him. Her ocean-blue eyes locked onto his dusty-blue ones.
Step.
Then, Eden stepped forward.
"Seven…"
Before he could respond, Eden closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
His eyes widened. Eden wasn't the type to show affection, especially not in a novel where her nickname was the 'Ruthless Empress of the North'.
Eden didn't speak. She just hugged him tightly.
"Sister—"
"Don't."
Eden whispered, pulling him even closer.
Seven smiled. He couldn't remember the last time someone hugged him. Or truly hugged him.
Not even in his life as Seojin.
He didn't realize how much he missed it until now.
Finally, after what felt like seven minutes, Eden pulled away.
"Don't misunderstand. I… I needed to confirm it."
"Confirm… what?"
"That you're really alive."
Eden turned away and walked toward the center of the training grounds. She bent down to retrieve her sword.
"Show me."
Eden's back was still turned to Seven.
"Show you what?"
"That you're still you."
Seven's heart thumped. He knew exactly what Eden meant.
No.
There was only one meaning behind Eden's words.
"I don't need to show you, Sister. My seven strikes are enough against you."
"Good. That's the spirit."
Seven frowned, muttering the same cringe-worthy line the original Seven always said when sparring with Eden.
Slowly, he assumed a standard fighting stance and closed his eyes. As he did, the original Seven's memories flooded back to him.
Seven watched the original 'him' train with Eden.
Over and over.
Day by day.
Only then did Seven notice a pattern: the first strike was the same as yesterday.
The second.
Third.
Until the seventh in which he stopped right after.
'Fudge. He really didn't swing more than seven times.'
Seven opened his eyes. Sure, he said the exact same words as the original, but it would mean nothing if he couldn't mimic the seven "childish" strikes it did.
"First Strike."
Seven mimicked the first strike, swinging the sword in a wide, sweeping arc. His body moved in sync as he dashed forward, the blade cutting through the air just above the ground.
The movement felt familiar as his body already knew the flow of the strike, but he staggered and lost his grip, sending the wooden sword clattering on the ground.
Just because he knew how, doesn't mean he can do it perfectly.
"Slow… and sloppy. Do it like this."
Eden imitated the exact same movements he had just attempted. But unlike him, her stance was flawless.
The 'First Form' she performed cut through the air with almost musical grace as she dashed forward in a perfect straight line.
"Next."
Eden stepped back, giving him space.
"This time, don't drop it."
Seven picked up his wooden sword and reimagined to the standard fighting stance.
"Second Strike."
The strike came from above, slicing down in a clean vertical arc. Seven poured everything into it and hoped to force her back, even just a little.
But Eden stepped forward instead of retreating.
Her blade moved with a casual grace, tilting it just enough to deflect his strike to the side.
The momentum nearly sent Seven off balance.
"Too stiff."
Eden wasn't mocking him. She was dissecting his flaws.
"Your arms are doing all the work. Use your hips to guide the strike."
Seven grit his teeth.
"Third Strike."
This time, the strike came from below. It was smoother, with his body moving in sync with the sword. The angle was sharper, and the speed faster than before.
But once again, Eden didn't parry outright. Instead, her sword grazed his, redirecting it with minimal effort.
"Better."
Stepping back, Eden smiled.
"But your weight is off-balance. If I had countered just now…"
Eden moved before he could react, spinning her sword in an arc that stopped an inch from his neck.
"...You'd be dead."
Slowly, she lowered her blade.
"Next."
Seven took a shaky breath and stepped back to reset his stance.
"Fourth Strike."
Seven lunged forward, his sword carving a horizontal path aimed at her midsection. The strike was faster than the previous ones, but Eden reacted as if she had all the time in the world.
Eden's sword intercepted his with a loud clash, locking them together for a brief moment.
"Your movements are too predictable."
Eden pressed her sword against his.
"Predictable?"
"Don't just attack where you think I'll be. Anticipate where I can't move."
With a quick shove, Eden pushed his sword away, making him stagger backwards.
"Next."
Seven clenched his jaw and adjusted his grip.
"Fifth Strike."
Immediately, he dashed forward again, this time aiming low and sweeping his blade toward her legs.
But Eden leapt back effortlessly and landed on the ground with her gaze locked at Seven.
"Disconnected."
Eden brushed the non-existent sweat in her forehead.
"Set up a flow. Every strike should set up the next."
Seven nodded.
"Sixth Strike."
Seven's sword snapped upward in a sharp arc, a strike meant to catch her off guard.
But Eden intercepted his mid-swing. With a fluid motion, she pushed him back, forcing him to steady himself.
"Too much raw power. Control it."
Seven staggered, his grip trembling from the strain. The weight of repeated clashes pressed on his pale body, but he refused to stop.
Eden wouldn't let him stop.
"Unfair. You're—"
Eden tossed Seven her sword, and gestured for him to do the same.
'Fudge this.'
Seven frowned as he picked up the sword. He had always hated the idea of someone looking down at him, but he managed to calm himself down as it was Eden in front of him.
The one among the seven swords of the Sovereign in the coming future.
Instead, Seven took a deep breath and his left eye lit up gold.
The seventh artifact, Theia's Eye.
Seven activated it.