21 The Young Miss’ Perspective (1)

"Father, why do you want me to be strong?" I asked my cold-hearted father who was currently teaching me how to properly cast our noble family's unique inheritance: Intrinsic Art- Infinite Swords.

"As a member of a powerful noble bloodline: You must also be strong! A weak Noble would just be eaten up by those cowardly, weakling trash who call themselves 'commoners'." Noble Father answered with displeasure as the hundred and twenty swords of Water Aura he conjured circles around me, taking advantage of any holes in my defences.

Father once praised me in the past by saying I was very talented in our household's Intricate Art- Infinite Swords, but the only thing I was rewarded after that was strict training from the age of six.

Father never moved a single step whilst training me. He manipulated the flying swords around him to attack me using their strong blunt spines, tripping me over, or bruising me whenever I was careless.

I also controlled the same number of swords as father. However, the intricacies of manipulating many swords at once was something Father was more familiar with the sounds of metal clashing resounded around me.

[Sword Formation- Dragon Wings]

The transparent swords that were clashing with the multiple Astral Swords I conjured returned to my father's side before changing in size and shape. All of them fusing together in a mysterious glow of brilliance.

They morphed into metallic wings on my father's back, allowing him to fly off into the sky at will. I, as someone who hadn't mastered the art of flight yet, could only use my swords to create makeshift shields as Father lunged at me with breakneck speed.

Once again, I was beaten down and bruised viciously. There was no mercy in father's eyes as he retrieved a sword from his ethereal wings and slashed towards me calmly.

As someone who had grown familiar with my father's tactics, I was able to accurately predict the trajectory of his attack while also countering it with a Astral Sword of my own.

Father seemed to enjoy training me as he seemed to like the feeling of fighting someone with the exact same style of combat as himself, but I didn't feel the same way as he did...

I never liked this kind of life I lead!

"I don't want to train...! I want to live normally like the others! I want freedom!" I roared towards my father who seemed to emotionlessly watch my tantrum. For whole five years, I've endured pain and suffering for a title I didn't even desire to have. Why should I care about my 'nobility' or power? I just want to live peacefully...

"It seems I've pampered you too much for some time now." Father's spoke as his cold voice before breaking the myriad of ethereal swords I conjured with a snap of his finger.

He didn't even need to use any advanced techniques to destroy my conjured swords. All he did was sacrifice an Astral Sword for an Asrral Sword, causing both my and his own magic to be destroyed in the process.

"You must think that you're the most pitiful girl in the world... that strength doesn't matter at all to nobles like the both of us, but... You.Are.WRONG!

So wrong in fact that it makes me want to punish you. Why can't you be more mature like Fredrick's son? If you had at least half that child's stubbornness and determination, you would have been able to unlock the third layer of Infinite Swords and earned glory for our Noble Household!" Father growled at me in anger, his eyes seemed to contain a blazing inferno of rage.

"I'm sorry." I gave up and apologised.

I don't want Father to hate me. I hate it when father looks at me like that!

Father hadn't been the same ever since mother died... Not even once had he smiled ever since we lost mother to those outside the borders.

I don't know what father feels when he makes such an angered expression on his face but I know that it's due to me making some sort of grave mistake.

I'm sorry, father. Your daughter will try harder. I won't ever complain...!

I didn't lower my head nor did I cry, I used actions rather than words to communicate what I felt. I closed my eyes for a second, and when I opened them, I felt more in touch with my Intrinsic Art. I first conjured a hundred and twenty Aura Swords before focusing more of my willpower into them... It was then that the myriad of diamond glowing swords hovering above me doubled their number to two hundred and forty before I unleashed a attacked!

This was my final ultimate attack! An interconnected chain of strikes that was essentially throwing a plethora of magical swords at father's chest.

There was a shift in the atmosphere as even my Fire Affinity was enchanted onto my swords to give them the ability to explode on impact.

All my blood, sweat, and tears were put into this last attack which held everything I learned over the entire course of my ruthless training...

An excited expression appeared on my father's face as he saw I was finally able to execute a technique even HE was unable to cast. A smile curved on his face as he casually blocked my strongest strike using multiple swords enchanted with his Water Affinity Astral Swords!

The Astral Swords he conjured were shaped into shields as they all blocked two attacks each. There was not even hole in my father's magical defences...

"Good! Good! You've grown. You may just be able to reclaim our Household's lost glory. Now that you've surpassed my younger self in all aspects, I'm sure Helen would be proud of you! Good girl!" My father praised as the fire in his eyes cooled down. A satisfied smile was still on his lips as he praised my talent.

"As a reward, name something you want and I'll give it to you. I promise to fulfil any of your wishes!" Father said generously as he gave me a hug.

"I want Simon to be my personal servant." I said with a blushing face.

I only noticed him after he beat Jack up with his strange Arts but I feel we're similar. He looked so cool~ He's like a legendary Hero~ I really want to compare notes about techniques and spar with him. I can't help but admit that he's even more of a genius than I am in magical combat~

The only difference between us would be our Magical Talents and our Heritage. I've even heard that he started training a year before I did!

Now that I think about it, I wonder if he'll be able to keep up in the future considering the massive secret regarding my family's grand lineage?

I sincerely hope he can!

"He'll naturally become your personal servant if he can create a Skill Root. In fact, he'll become much more than that if he is able to draw out his potential at an early age." Father's smile was a little scary as he said that.

Simon is going to become something more than a personal servant? What does me mean by that? I hope he isn't planning something like engaging me off to him or something. I might admire the strength of that servant named Simon but there's no way I would want to marry someone with such a low Magical Talent...

"Forget it, you yourself should be making preparations to create a Skill Root. A person with talent shouldn't be wasting any of their innate potential." He shook his head after declining to answer the question in my heart.

"I'm a little confused... How does a 'Skill Root' form?" I couldn't help but ask. Father never really shared much of an explanation regarding how to properly 'form' a Skill Root despite my advanced level of education. The only things I was taught are theories regarding them rather than actual facts!

"Skill Roots have been appearing all over the world after the passing of the Chaotic Era. They are the manifestation of a person's personality, thoughts, and even their resolution which are formed after fully mastering the control of the Internal Energy within one's body." Father patiently explained.

"You may not be able to understand right now, but you should keep in mind that the those without Skill Roots aren't weak. It's just that those without Skill Roots aren't able to be as 'Mystical' as a true Skill Holder." I wasn't able to understand father's warning very clearly, causing my expression to be unable hide my confused thoughts. Father could only sigh as he explained further.

"As I've said many times before, those who increase their mastery over the augmentation of flesh are classed as Warriors whilst those that focus heavily on the second level of Aura Manifestation are considered to be Mages." Father spoke while conjuring a Water Ball in his left hand and displaying a thick Aura on his right hand. Only after I nodded in understanding did he move on.

"These two professions might be weaker in extremely dangerous combat scenarios compared to those who became Skill Holders, but they are still extremely dangerous in their own right... Especially Warriors who were always dominate in close-combat!" Father informed while shaking his head.

"But what about Skill Roots?"

I didn't really have much of an interest in learning about Mages or Warriors because Skill Holders are cooler~! I've heard that some of them can teleport around without having to form any Spell Circles!

Father sighed he looked at me for a moment before answering.

"Skill Root, as in the 'root' of all your past and future skills fused into a single place. A very important foundation for your future development as a Skill Holder is knowing many techniques. My own 'Cloudy Blue Sword Eyes' is one of the few high quality Skill Roots that exist within this vast world of Sphera. Some Skill Roots are formed through arduous training in a specific field while others are 'found' by chance without any rhyme or reason.

However, you must remember that I'm unable to help you any further than giving you pointers in order to give you an easier time. A Skill Root isn't something that can be sought, it is something that's found. I want you to try to find your own 'root' through enlightenment. After all, those who are able to overcome challenges are the ones who will survive the upcoming Holy War..." A shiver ran down my spine as I saw the harmless expression on my father's face...

My father's great fixation with killing Barbarians was definitely higher than anyone else in the Kingdom. I nodded my head repeatedly as he continued by giving in-depth knowledge regarding how to become a Skill Holder once again...

"Train well." Father left after leaving behind those words. Only after I made sure no one was looking did I lazily lay on the grass of my own personal Training Grounds.

Father's 'Cloudy Blue Sword Eyes' Skill Root is amazing~! Just thinking about how he showed off his Skill Root a few days ago makes me feel excited about what my own will be like. A flame burned deeply in my heart as I looked at the cloudy sky...

I want a Skill Root as well! Father said he'll let me adventure if I'm able to create one before the age of fifteen. I want to see the outside world myself!

"Young Miss, what are you thinking about?" Anna suddenly appeared beside me before asking curiously towards my dazed eyes...

I wasn't really that surprised by her sudden appearance. Anna always liked to scare me like this when I was younger, but now it's just childish~

I'm not that same little girl anymore!

"I'm thinking about how talented you are in using your Dark Aura." I said sarcastically. I definitely wouldn't show this side of me to father, who knows how he would react after seeing me like this...?

Would he be disappointed in me?

"Young Miss, don't even mention my low 'talent'. I've never even heard of someone like you who could instantly learn every Ninja Technique I had so painstakingly mastered over the years..." Anna said dispiritedly. A smile couldn't help but curve onto my lips as I saw her mood dampen upon my shocking achievements. There's not many who would see this side of me other than Anna and a few others.

"I know~ I know~ I'm a talented genius, so praise me more~" I sung playfully before jumping and giving her a giant hug to comfort her! I had never be able to forget how easy it was to form 'Shadow Clones' were when I first tried Dark Arts out jokingly. Who knew I had such talent in using the mysterious Dark Affinity? I might not have even noticed this hidden talent of mine without Anna's help considering how there's no way to check a person's affinity with the Dark Ether of Sphera...

"By the way, have you invited Simon over? I want to meet him." My eyes brightened as I asked Anna with great enthusiasm! There's no way I would give up the opportunity to talk to him~

Someone who can fight so dextrously at the same age as myself is definitely someone worth creating a connection with. Who knows if he will become an important figure of humanity in future?

Father has always made it clear that I should always create connections with competent individuals and discard anyone without sufficient willpower...

He's never taken a liking to befriending other Nobles who didn't at least put their children through similar training hells... Perhaps only Simon is worthy enough to become my trusted aid.

"No worries. Martha should be bringing him here any moment." After hearing her words, I gestured her to prepare a table. It would be embarrassing if he saw me lazily laying on the grass this way...!