14 Duel

Leo was forced to teach Adela his swordsmanship. Which made her father delighted to hear the news. Being the doting father that he is, Leo and Adela were given a large area to practice in. Bertram even gave Adela the best short swords money could buy.

The short swords he gave were supposedly made from the fangs of an aged earth dragon. Leo looked troubled as he didn't know how to teach swordsmanship. He never really listened to his father's lessons before. He simply understood how to do it simply by seeing it. Same goes for fighting barehanded he was able to learn it by fighting someone who was skilled at it. By now he was able to replicate all of Eli's and Rika's movements with a scythe and bow.

So how will he teach somebody if he himself is not sure on what to teach? "Well let's start with swinging the sword."

'I'll just teach her the basics of what I know.' Leo decided since he didn't know where to start.

Adela raised her sword but with difficulty.

'This is what I expected but isn't this a little bit too weak. It was obvious from the start that a girl from a noble family without any training would be like this. This is going to be as difficult as I thought.'

" Adela for now just use one of the swords and swing it. Afterwards tell me how many swings you were able to do. Here let me show you how to do a proper sword swing." Leo raised one of his swords overhead and swung it downwards.

"That's what you will be doing now. Repeat it until you feel like you can't swing it anymore." Adela nodded and swung her one handed sword like Leo. Though she doesn't have much physical ability. Her ability to learn seems to be good. A few minutes later Adela collapsed. Her breathing was heavy "so how many was it?" Leo asked nonchalantly.

"thi....thirty." Adela answered while breathing heavily. "Hmm better than expected ok from now on you will be swinging your sword thirty times every day, then after one week you will add another ten swings. You will continue adding ten swings every week." Leo seem to be getting a little excited in training Adela, on the other hand for just a moment Adela felt a tinge of regret.

†

A month had passed Adela's sword swings have already reached 70. At first Leo thought Adela would quit after three days but to his surprise she continued practicing. In just one month Adela grasped the basic forms of Leo's swordsmanship. Though she still can't do them properly, due to her lacking physical capabilities, but even so her growth rate was astonishing. At this point Leo found it fun to teach her, as he would demand her to do something beyond her abilities just to tease her but in the end she would still be able to do it.

"Hey Adela how about we take a break today and you can show me around town." Adela looked at Leo and started smiling. "Really?! Then allow me to show you around Leo. First just give me a minute to change." Adela suddenly run into the house. "Heh so she really wanted a breather." Leo muttered to himself without understanding a maiden's heart.

†

Leo was waiting for Adela outside the manor. It had already been about 30 minutes since Adela went to change her clothes. While Leo was getting impatient a boy with pale white skin like Eli's but had black hair and blue eyes, which indicated he was not a vampire approached him. The boy was accompanied by two large men. Most probably the two men were his guards. So this boy is another noble's son.

"Hey you! Are you one of the wingled's servants?" The boy asked Leo. "Hmm I guess you could call me Adela's sword instructor." Hearing Adela's name the boy's facial expression changed.

"You're simply a sword instructor and you dare call your master with her first name!" Leo looked at the boy confused "Huh?"

The atmosphere was starting to feel tense but Leo couldn't understand why. Before Leo could ask why the boy seem so hostile against him Adela came. She wore a stylish, dark-red miniskirt, thigh-high stockings, and leather boots . She held a parasol lightly in one hand. Adela smiled at Leo, she then notices the boy talking to Leo.

"Oh Dane what are you doing here?" Adela asked the boy who looked stunned. "Ahem... I was just passing by and thought I could greet you Adela. But then I met this rude servant of yours that dares to say your name so intimately." Adela looked at Dane a little miffed "how dare you! Leo is not a servant. Dane apologize now."

Dane looked perplexed he didn't want Adela to hate him so he glared at Leo and with great effort spoke "I'm s-s-sorry."

Leo still not understanding the situation answered "no it's alright." Adela nodded her head seeing Dane had apologized, "now that's done with. Excuse us Dane but I promised Leo I will show him around town." Adela looked at Leo with a little blush on her face. Dane being a boy who likes Adela didn't miss this reaction and proclaimed.

"Wait Adela before you go. I wish to ascertain the strength of your sword instructor. I wish to challenge him to a duel." Both Adela and Leo looked at Dane in shock.

Leo was the first to regain his senses and ask "Is a noble kid like you really able to challenge me?" Leo wasn't being arrogant at all as he said that. He was actually worried for the kid. When Leo fights no matter the opponent be it a spar or a real battle he would fight until his opponent surrenders, loses the will to fight, or dies. No matter the option Dane would get hurt.

Dane answered with a haughty look "Don't worry about me I'm stronger than I look. Actually I'm stronger than my guards here. I just bring them to scare off the useless rabble so that I don't personally need to deal with the small fries." Leo assessed the kid once more but still felt nothing. But with this much confidence he might be hiding something.

'Hehe seems interesting enough' Leo smiled his vicious smile as he answered "Sure let's have a duel."

†

The group went into the recently built training ground. Dane was given a wooden short sword and a shield. On the other hand Leo was given two wooden short swords. "Hmph, having two swords doesn't make you stronger it just makes you look childish." Dane snickered at Leo but Leo simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Well then let us see if my way is childish."

"Of course it is! Having two short swords without a shield proves you have given up on blocking. How do you expect to win a real battle if you can't even defend properly?"

"Hmm? It's better to see for yourself."

"Fool all you know is how to talk. Never mind I'll show Adela your true colors weakling."

"So both of you are ready?" One of the guards of the wingled's was the referee. He looked at both combatants and they nodded.

"All right the rules of this duel is simple. The first one who gains a clean hit will win. This is a one hit match. Let the duel begin!"

†

<The match in Adela's eyes>

The match began Dane suddenly threw his shield at Leo. The incoming shield was easily evaded but Dane was already beside Leo smiling. He slashed upward from below Leo's vision. Yet that too was easily evaded. Dane was shocked for a moment this was Leo's chance to attack but he didn't. Dane took that opportunity to pick up his shield. The look of shock in Dane's face disappeared and was replace by a confident smile. "Haha you're better than I expected too bad that was a fluke. If it wasn't you would have won already."

"A fluke, eh?" Leo shrugged his shoulders, seeing this Dane's face looked annoyed.

'This is the first time I saw Dane change his expression so frequently.'

Dane charged forward again, Leo seeing this had slashed his sword downward but Dane was able to block the blow with his shield and countered but Leo easily evaded.

'That was slower than Leo's usual sword swing why is it slower?' Adela couldn't understand why Leo was slowing down for his opponent.

"What are you doing!? Are you mocking me!? You already had three chances to win, but you only evade!" Dane was screaming out his frustration. Leo on the other hand simply smiled "Ha, so you admit that it wasn't a fluke?"

"Damn stop toying with me!" Dane charged forward but this time he was way faster. Adela couldn't even see him anymore. He suddenly appeared beside Leo and slashed him with blinding speed but Leo as usual evaded it with ease. Dane then moved at a speed Adela couldn't even perceive. The only person she could see was Leo who was dancing around evading something.

Leo then started laughing "Hahaha your pretty good! If you're the same age as Adela that means your six years younger than me. To possess such prowess at this age is pretty good." Leo was talking as he evaded Dane's attacks, proving how far apart their levels were. "You really are pretty good. But not as good as me. Adela watch carefully this is one of my greatest sword skills. This is a technique you can use if you're simply fighting one on one."

Leo lowered the two wooden short swords and pointed their tips toward the ground. He inhaled and exhaled softly then moved forward. Adela watched him intently but what happened next she only saw a portion.

Leo's hands seemed to disappear for a moment then returned back to its position. After that Leo stopped moving forward. Adela could finally see Dane again, he was standing back to back with Leo his sword arm was lowered and so was his shield. It was silent for a moment then Dane's shield started to crack and then shattered so did his wooden sword.

Dane collapsed to the ground not one of the people who were watching was able to react for a while, then the two guards of Dane rush to their master's side. The referee then shouted "Winner Leo!" Such an abnormal, overwhelming and incredible victory. After hearing the announcement Leo approached Adela and said "That was "Fangs of the wolf" A technique to shatter your opponent's weapon and spirit. If you master the basics of my swordsmanship to its fullest this the first technique you will learn." Leo smiled at Adela believing that she will certainly learn this technique. She too smiled back at him and promised herself that she will not disappoint Leo.