The courtyard of the Fontaine estate rang with the sharp clang of steel meeting steel, the crisp morning air filled with the rhythmic sounds of combat.
Aria Fontaine moved with precision, her silver hair flowing behind her as she executed a flawless sequence of strikes against her father, Cedric Fontaine. Her icy-blue eyes remained locked onto him, calculating every move. As she swung, her body blurred for the briefest moment—Chrono Requiem activating in a perfect burst of time acceleration. The speed of her attack nearly bypassed her father's defenses, forcing him to pivot and narrowly deflect her blade at the last second.
"Good," Cedric grunted, stepping back as he regained his stance. "But you need to regulate the timing of your bursts better. If you accelerate at the wrong moment, a skilled opponent will predict your movement."
Aria nodded, absorbing his words with her usual composure. She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow before shifting back into position, preparing for another round. Her ability had come a long way since its awakening, but she knew she still had room to grow.
On the sidelines, Eleanor Fontaine sat beneath the shade of a tree, observing the training session with her usual calm demeanor. Pride glimmered in her eyes as she watched her daughters spar against their father.
Or rather…
Her one daughter.
Because the other one was currently standing atop a nearby fencepost, cape billowing dramatically behind her, one hand covering her left eye as she pointed her blade at Cedric.
"The time has come! The Crimson Eclipse shall descend upon the battlefield once more!" Avia Fontaine's voice boomed with all the self-assurance of a self-proclaimed goddess of war. "Bear witness to my ultimate forbidden technique—Crimson Eclipse Style: Midnight Oblivion Phantom Slash!"
Cedric barely had time to sigh before Avia launched herself off the fencepost.
She descended like a comet, blade poised in an exaggerated overhead arc, scarlet energy crackling around her form as she aimed directly for Cedric's head.
With the reflexes of a seasoned warrior, Cedric raised his sword with one hand and casually parried the strike.
Avia hit the ground in a crouch, her expression one of complete shock. She gasped, stumbling back, pointing an accusatory finger at her father. "Impossible…! You deflected my ultimate technique with just one hand?! Such power!"
Cedric rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Avia."
The young girl wasn't listening. She had already spun around to face Aria, her red eye gleaming with exhilaration. "Did you see that?! The Eclipse Queen's power grows by the day! Soon, even the heavens will tremble before my might!"
Aria let out a quiet sigh, sheathing her sword. "Yes, Avia. It was very impressive."
"Indeed! But it was merely a test! A mere fraction of my true power!" Avia declared, striking a dramatic pose. "Had I unleashed my full strength, the entire estate would have crumbled under the sheer force of my attack! But worry not, dear family—I restrained myself for your sake!"
Cedric exhaled deeply.
"…Alright, that's enough for today," he announced, lowering his sword. "Come here, both of you. I need to give you some feedback."
Aria walked forward with perfect posture, standing attentively before their father, ready for instruction.
Avia, meanwhile, spun her blade around and dramatically stabbed it into the ground before crossing her arms.
Cedric ignored the unnecessary theatrics and looked to Aria first. "You're doing well," he said, his tone firm but approving. "Your ability is progressing, and your control over Chrono Requiem is improving. However, you need to limit your acceleration bursts to crucial moments. The more predictable they become, the easier it will be for an opponent to anticipate them."
Aria nodded. "Understood."
Cedric turned to Avia next.
His face darkened.
Avia smirked, tilting her chin up. "Well? What is it, Father? Are you simply in awe of my overwhelming prowess?"
"Stop naming every single one of your attacks."
A dramatic gasp escaped Avia's lips. "What?!"
"You do this every single time, Avia," Cedric continued, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can barely tell whether you're fighting or performing some kind of stage play. Every attack has a needlessly long name, every stance has a grand proclamation. You don't need to shout a monologue before every move. Just fight."
Avia reeled back in horror. "Are you suggesting I strip my techniques of their soul? Their identity?! Father, you wound me!"
"I'm suggesting you focus instead of spending five seconds announcing an attack that I counter in half a second."
Aria, at this point, had completely given up and was stifling laughter behind one hand.
Avia pointed a finger at her father. "You simply do not understand, Father. Names hold power. Every great warrior through history has named their techniques—an attack without a name is an attack without meaning! The legends shall remember Midnight Oblivion Phantom Slash!"
Cedric pinched his temples. "There is no such technique."
"There will be!"
Eleanor, who had been silent until now, finally stood and walked toward them, a serene smile on her face. "That's enough, all of you."
Cedric sighed in relief. "Thank you."
Eleanor placed a hand on Avia's shoulder, causing the girl to pause mid-rant. "It's time to get ready. The two of you start at the academy today."
Aria's eyes lit up, excitement flickering across her usually calm features. The academy. The very place where the novel's story would truly begin. She had waited years for this moment. Soon, she would be surrounded by the key characters of the novel. The plotlines would start unfolding. She could prepare for future events, ensure the right choices were made, and guide everything toward a favorable outcome.
Avia, however, had a completely different reaction.
She threw one arm across her chest, tilting her head back with a confident grin. "So the academy has finally summoned the Crimson Eclipse Queen. Wise of them. I shall grace them with my presence."
Aria shook her head fondly, sighing. "This is going to be a long year."
Eleanor laughed softly, leading them both inside. "Come now, girls. Your future awaits."