The Start of a Journey

The next day.

Just like any other day, Lancell woke up early as he yawned and stretched his body.

He then looked around the still unfamiliar house of Arthur, and then went outside after washing his face.

Awakened by the cold water that he used to was his face, he went to the courtyard, or something that at least resembled one as there was barely any space in the Slum District as people were tight for space inside the Great Monster Repelling Barrier.

The Great Monster Repelling Barrier was a large scale Magic Barrier that covered the entirety of the capital, including the Slum District, and it had the power to repel and weaken monsters beneath the Third Step. As such, Warriors and Mages were always found near the borders of the barrier, seeking for prey.

However, it didn't have anything to do with Lancell as he still had training to do. Ever since the day the Great Shift began, he had never missed a morning's practice, except when he was cultivating.

Although he had already reached a level of perfection in his techniques, he did not give himself any leeway when it comes to getting stronger.

And when he reached the courtyard...

"Oh? It seems you had the same thought too." A voice reached Lancell's ears, and it was Arthur.

Arthur had woken up earlier than Lancell, and had already taken out her Divine Weapon.

Lancell was a bit surprised, but remembered it was Arthur who taught him the habit of training.

"Practicing?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? I thought you were gonna sneak into the dungeon too."

"..."

Lancell was speechless in her shameless behaviour. She was the only person who knew where it was, so why did she assume that way?

'Guess she still have a few loose screws. And it doesn't help that she's looking for 'True Love'.'

Despite Arthur's behaviour, she was innocent when it came to maidenly matters, so she was yearning for 'True Love' as she called it. With capital initials in each word.

She wanted someone who would accept her irregularities and love her back at the same time.

'Well, good luck with that, Arthur.'

Ignoring her oddities, Lancell materialized Arkenvalle as he started swinging his sword. He wasn't using the practice method for the Severing Blade, but instead, he was letting his mana circulate in certain pathways.

Arthur saw what Lancell was doing, and asked. "Oh? Are you forming Spellblades?"

"Yeah. Something happened and I lost all the Spellblades on Arkenvalle."

"What grade were those Spellblades?"

"I don't exactly know. I just kept using them for almost a decade."

Arthur got surprised at Lancell's answer. A decade of training was enough to take any Spellblades into at least 5th Grade.

Spellblades had grades based on their mana efficiency. It started from the 10th Grade at lowest, and 1st Grade at highest.

Grades were determined based on the percentage of how much they were able to make use of mana. 10th Grade had 10% mana efficiency, 9th Grade had 20%, 8th Grade had 30%, and so on until the 1st Grade's 100% efficiency.

Lancell's Spellblades actually managed to reach 1st Grade, but he no longer had any way on finding out.

Arthur sighed at Lancell's stupidity and wondered how he lost such refined Spellblades, but she didn't ask. She figured it might not be a good memory.

And so, along with silence, they started to practice in the tiny courtyard.

◇◇◇

"Well? Done preparing?" Arthur asked. Lancell got a bit pissed at her question and grunted.

"Why the hell are you acting like my mom?"

"Your mom? I am your master though."

"Nah. Never mind, screw this."

Lancell knew it was going to be pointless talking to her, so he just shut himself up.

'Yeah. Nothing good's ever gonna come out from arguing with her.'

"By the way, what do you plan on cultivating? Are you going the Tread the Heroic Path again?" Lancell asked, shifting the topic.

"Huh? Isn't that a given. I mean, if I try to cultivate any other Paths, I'm afraid I'll be losing Excalibur. In the first place, you're the strange one for still having Arkenvalle."

Lancell lowered his head as he suddenly thought of Arkenvalle. For some reason, he couldn't settle his mind now that Arkenvalle's he couldn't hear her voice. Lancell had already been listening to her voice everyday for a year, and now that she wasn't talking through their connection, something in him felt cold.

SIGH...

Lancell heaved a heavy sigh as he suppressed the cold feeling in his chest.

'That's right. I can't keep dawdling just because Valle's asleep. I have to at least be a worthy wielder for her.' Thought Lancell as he clenched his fist.

"Now then. Let's go!" Arthur chimed as she then moved outside with a smile beaming on her face.

"Yeah..."

And so, they began to walk their way to the dungeon.

◇◇◇

"Ah! It's the extortionist and the kidnapper!"

As Lancell walked, they were suddenly interrupted that accused them in the face.

It was a familiar voice for both of them, and it was the voice they least wanted to hear for the day. It was Aria.

Lancell glanced at Arthur as he questioned with his eyes, 'Now what?'.

Arthur glanced back as she conveyed with her eyes, saying; 'You deal with her like the usual!'.

"Huh? Why are you staring into each other's eyes? Could it be?! You two are—"

"No. We're not." Lancell cut her off.

"But you kidnapped her yesterday! So 'that' should have happened, right?!"

Lancell looked at her as if looking at an idiot as he continued walking, ignoring the eccentric girl.

"Hey! Don't ignore me! I'm definitely gonna follow you!"

Arthur and Lancell face palmed as they both knew this was gonna happen. They glanced at each other as they asked with their eyes what to do, but neither had any idea.

In that case...

'I see. So we have no choice but to use 'that' strategy.' Lancell conveyed with his eyes.

'Yeah. I'm not really fond of 'that' but we don't have any choice.' Arthur conveyed back.

And then, they nodded at each other, and then...

...they both broke into a run.

"H-Hey!! Where are you going?! Come back this instant!!" Aria shouted as she gave chase.

And so, their journey began...

...with a wild chase.