9 Wooden Swords

'I have gained enough knowledge, now it's time to absorb energy and awaken as soon as possible. At this rate, I can awaken in a year, if I push myself to the limits it would take 7-8 months at most.

"Nile" Darren entered without even knocking, interrupting his thought.

"Hey, Darren" Nile said while smiling. Nile was fond of Darren's easygoing attitude and straightforward nature. Darren was someone who would not even think twice, before saying what was on his mind.

"I heard you were looking for me," Darren said while sitting on Nile's bed.

" Yes, I want you to teach me sword fighting," Nile said

'It's been many years I have not wielded a sword or a weapon. It will be good to brush up my sword skills.'

Darren thought for a while and replied, with a straight face "Okay."

'Huh, he does not even consider the possibility that IF my mother finds out, he will be doomed'

Nile chuckled and said " Okay, let's go someplace where you can train me without anyone bothering us. "

Darren thought for a while and suggested "Let's go to my house ". His house was just some hundred meters away from the mansion, it was more of a training ground rather than a house. He mostly stayed in the mansion as he was allowed to enter and leave without any restrictions.

"Okay, meet me at the entrance of the mansion in 10 minutes, I have to inform mother before leaving" Nile said while picking a cloak from his wardrobe and left,almost running to his mother's chamber.

On his way he came across Kaya.

" Kaya I am going out, let my mother know" while thinking for a moment he continued "Tell her not to worry I will be back in an hour or two." He told Kaya almost in a single breath and hastily left even without waiting for her response.

By the time Kaya processed Nile's sentence, he had already left."But WHEREEE" she shouted, with a worried look.

' Kaya thought for a while and rushed to inform Elora.

On his way out to the mansion's gate, he could feel guards and maids gazing at him.

'I thought we were poor, and had only 2 maids and few soldiers. Thankfully I brought my cloak with me' putting on his hood he continued walking hastily towards the entrance, not realizing dozens of guards and maids who had seen Nile walking, were talking among themselves.

" Diiidd you watch that kid" guard-1 scratched his head while asking other guards around.

" Who was he, I have never seen him before " guard-2 replied with a puzzled tone

" Maybe he was young master, he even had silver hair. " guard-3 voiced out his thoughts with a cheerful smile

" Huhhh, but I heard the young master was paralyzed "guard-1 replied with a bitter expression.

" yes even I heard the same, but I hope he was the young master " guard-3 said while excited.

" Darren let us leave" Nile said, as soon as he saw Darren, who was having a chat with guards on duty.

"Bye guys, see you later" taking his leave, he started walking towards his house followed by Nile.

There were two guards stationed at the entrance, both were shocked when they heard the hooded kid talk to Darren so casually. Darren was looked up to by all the other soldiers for his expertise in battle and weapons, he was generally referred to as Sir Darren by other guards out of respect.

"Huh, you heard that kid talking so casually to Sir Darren, who was that kid ?" asked the first guard in a shocked tone.

"I don't know, he came from inside the mansion, he may be some distant relative of Lord Drake" the other guard replied who was equally shocked.

These types of conversations were taking place all over the mansion.

"So, how do you feel coming out of the mansion for the first time," Darren asked while walking beside Nile.

'Ohhh, I forgot it is my first time walking out of the mansion, and seeing so many people. In this life.'

Nile spoke while looking at Darren"Umm, it is fine."

Nile thought for a while and asked Darren casually - "Darren, who all are participating, in the tournament from Withlock fami- "

Before Nile could even complete his sentence, Darren replied with excitement "It will be me, Drake, Evan but we are still not sure about the other 2." He paused for a while and continued with a slightly somber tone "We were not able to participate last time, so we were fined heavily. If in this coming tournament we are not able to win all the 5 matches we will be stripped out of our Noble status, and the town will be given to some other Family."

Darren stopped and pointed towards a mid-size house and said-

"We are here."

Darren pushed the door and entered.

Nile was puzzled seeing the door not even locked "Darren why no lock, are you not afraid of someone stealing ?"

"Hahah, why will anyone steal. There is nothing precious in here, and if anyone wants any weapon they can ask me, I am more than happy to help my brothers and sisters." Darren replied while entering .

The house had 4 large rooms, each room was as large as a basketball court except the last one. The first one was equipped with all types of normal weapons, these weapons were kept neatly in different rows.

"Darren do you have any grade weapon", Nile asked while looking at the weapons.

Grade weapons were different from normal weapons they were more durable as compared to normal weapons, even though they could be wielded as normal weapons but they had different abilities which made them so special. These weapons had their own abilities which could be used by the cultivator.

Even the wielder can use their nature-element and channel it in those weapons. There were different rankings for these weapons-1,2,3,4,5. 1 being the weakest grade weapon and 5 being the strongest.

"No" while thinking for a moment he continued "I had one, the one I gifted you."

"HuHHHHHH, why would you give it to me, if you just had one of those" Nile was shocked

"I felt, you deserved it more than me and I do not like wielding daggers much, I prefer battle-axes" Darren replied plainly

'This guy, how can he give out the only weapon he had. Darren, you way too generous or just naive.'

The second room had a huge arena on it, which almost covered 3/4 of the room.

The third room had dummies of different shapes and sizes, this room was for target practice.

The fourth room had walls that were almost 3 meters thick and it was half the size of the other room.

Nile pointed towards the fourth room and asked "Darren what is this room used for? "

" This room is for trying out skills and sometimes for sleeping, " Darren said smiling.

Once they had seen all the rooms, Darren asked Nile " Do you want me to start from the foundation, or you have already read it in the books."

'I have not read about sword fighting or martial arts, but I cannot afford wasting time.' Thinking for a while Nile said lying "I know the basics, I have even seen father practice and I have even practiced using a stick as my weapon."

Darren then picked two wooden swords of different sizes , and gave Nile the smaller one. Then they both headed straight towards the second Room that had an arena.

" Let us have a spar first, so I could analyze where to start from. I will be using just basic movement so you need not worry."

Nile was in deep thoughts smiling and not even listening to a single word Darren said 'Even though this is a wooden sword, it feels so good. I cannot wait to hold that red dagger Darren gifted me.'

While moving a few feet away from Nile Darren said "Nile shall we start."

"Yes" Nile replied while smiling

As soon as the spar began, Nile charged towards Darren who was not expecting this. It took Nile a second to reach Darren with his small legs, Darren smiled and said while slashing down his sword "Before charging, first know your capabili-" he paused midsentence, realizing his sword just cut through the air and there was a small stick resting on the back of his leg.

'I, underestimated him. If it would have been a real battle my leg would have been cut. '

"Let us go again," Darren said while realizing his mistake of underestimating Nile.