A knock at the door startled me. "Miss Aria," the butler's voice called out from the other side, "the Duke wishes to introduce you to the knights."
Quickly regaining my composure, I opened the door and followed him to the training grounds. The Duke was already waiting there, alongside another man. Standing before them were four rows of knights, their postures rigid and disciplined.
The Duke gestured to the man beside him and introduced him. "This is Commander Theo. He will be training the knights and leading them in the expedition."
The man stepped forward and gave me a respectful nod. "It's a pleasure, Miss Aria. I'm Theo, Simon's older brother."
Ah, that explained the resemblance, I thought as I introduced myself. Commander Theo struck me as kind and approachable. Despite being a baron, he showed none of the condescension or ridicule that many nobles often displayed.
As the Duke departed, I stayed behind, watching the knights train. The energy in the field was palpable, but I couldn't help noticing how some of the knights glanced at me with discontent. Their expressions revealed their dissatisfaction with the treatment I was receiving. Others, however, seemed indifferent.
Despite their mixed reactions, I found myself intrigued by the rigorous training. My curiosity got the better of me, and I approached Commander Theo. "Commander Theo," I began, excitement bubbling in my voice, "may I train with the knights? I promise I won't be a nuisance."
Theo raised an eyebrow, but a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Of course, Miss Joker. But if you join, I'll make the training ten times harder."
I nodded eagerly, my excitement overflowing. This was the first time I'd be training alongside others, and I couldn't wait to join in.
The first task was running 20 miles around the training field. For me, this was a breeze. My past adventures often required me to run over 100 miles while chasing monsters. As we began, I quickly took the lead, my pace steady and effortless. By the tenth mile, most of the knights were visibly exhausted, but I was still running without breaking a sweat. By the twentieth mile, nearly everyone had given up, leaving me as the sole finisher.
Commander Theo looked around at the defeated knights and sighed in disappointment. "This is unacceptable," he muttered, shaking his head.
The next challenge was push-ups. I started strong, counting each one as I went. By the time I hit 200, I realized I had lost count. Stopping abruptly, I looked up to see the knights staring at me with awe. Admiration had replaced the disdain in their eyes, and I even caught a few whispers of astonishment.
Commander Theo seemed the most surprised. "You passed all the training with the highest count. Honestly, it feels like you should be the commander," he said with a mix of amusement and amazement. "How did you even do it?"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know," I replied, though my casual tone only seemed to add to their amazement.
Before I could say more, a knight stepped forward—a man with jet-black hair and striking purple eyes. He removed his gloves and tossed them at my feet, a traditional sign of a challenge. "Duel with me, Miss Joker," he said firmly, his voice brimming with determination.
I smirked and bent down to pick up the gloves. "Challenge accepted," I replied.
Reaching into my deck, I pulled out the Seven of Spades card. The moment I activated it, a sword materialized in my hand, its blade gleaming with a mystical aura. The card granted me unmatched swordsmanship knowledge and a weapon of unparalleled durability.
The knights around us gasped, their whispers filling the air.
"She can summon a sword from a card… no wonder she's known as the Joker," one murmured in awe.
The knight who had challenged me looked utterly awe-struck. "So, shall we begin?" I asked, a playful smirk curling on my lips. He quickly composed himself, gripping his sword tightly, and the duel began.
The clang of steel echoed through the air as our blades collided, sparks flying with every strike. Our movements were sharp and precise, almost like a perfectly choreographed dance.
"Is that all you've got?" the knight taunted, his blade sweeping upward in a graceful arc of silver.
I parried effortlessly, my expression calm. "Of course not, I'm holding myself back," I replied with a shrug, the words clearly pricking his pride. His jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with determination.
"Give me your all," he demanded, his voice edged with frustration.
I raised an eyebrow, questioning him as our swords clashed again. "Are you sure?"
He nodded firmly. "I'm sure."
Without hesitation, I unleashed my aura, letting my full-strength flow through me. With a single decisive slash, I disarmed him, sending his sword flying through the air. As he stood frozen in shock, I pointed the tip of my blade at his neck, my stance unwavering.
He sighed heavily and raised his hands in surrender. "I yield," he admitted, stepping back. "I'm Aiden. That was an incredible duel—it's no wonder they call you the Joker and the most dangerous woman in the empire."
Lowering my sword, I gave him a small smile. "Aria. That's my name. No need to call me Joker.
Aiden looked pleased, almost as if he'd discovered some hidden truth. "Aria… it truly suits you. Like a lioness," he murmured under his breath.
The other knights, impressed by my performance, began approaching me one by one to challenge me as well. Their awe at my skill was almost palpable, and I defeated them all with ease. My swordsmanship left them speechless, and as I glanced toward Aiden, I saw him sitting off to the side, drinking water and watching quietly.
I walked over and plopped down beside him. "Mind if I join you?" I asked casually.
"Sure," he replied, handing me a water flask. After a pause, curiosity gleamed in his eyes. "The playing cards you use… are you some sort of gambler? Using card magic, maybe?
I couldn't help but laugh. "You could say something like that, I guess." To amuse him, I pulled out my deck of cards and began performing a series of intricate tricks, the cards gliding effortlessly between my fingers.
"You're really talented," he said, admiration evident in his tone.
I glanced at him, a bit surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "Thanks," I muttered softly. It was the first time I had a proper conversation with someone my age, and to my surprise, it was… fun.