Ch. 3 – Maiden Voyage: Inaugural Steps into the Unknown P.9

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(Grayscot village - At the training field)

He moved on to the next lesson.

"Alright, next lesson," Arnold said, guiding me to his backyard where a wooden practice doll stood ready. It was a simple structure, but its presence held the promise of learning and growth.

"Give it a good swing with your sword," he instructed.

I swung with all my might, but the doll remained unscathed.

"Now watch closely," Arnold said.

He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the straw doll. In an instant, his strike cleaved the doll in two.

"What?!" I exclaimed, my mind racing to process this unexpected demonstration. Who was this man I thought I knew? The image of the old, careless Arnold shattered before me. Clearly, he was a skilled expert, far more capable than I had ever realized.

Ellis joined us, walking over to where we stood.

"Enough showing off, Arnold. Teach him properly," she said.

Arnold chuckled. I can't help but be amused by his astonishment. Maybe I should play this up a bit more, he thought.

"How did you do that? Your movements were almost imperceptible," I asked, still in shock.

Ellis used her magic to mend the broken doll, showcasing her ability to repair and restore.

"That's because Arnold is a master of swordsmanship," she explained.

"Incredible! Please, I beg you, teach me!" I pleaded.

"You can't. At least, you need to have 10 years of experience for that," Ellis said.

"What?! Unbelievable. But how?" I protested.

"Hahaha, easy there. I forgot to mention that I was once part of the royal army," Arnold revealed.

"The royal army!!!" I exclaimed.

"Whoops! The cat's out of the bag," Arnold said, grinning.

I can tell that he's enjoying the chance to boast about himself, but I sense that there's something valuable I can learn from him. With that admission, he proceeds to guide me, encouraging me to channel my mana into the sword. My initial attempts are met with frustration, as I struggle to grasp the technique. I watch Arnold closely as he moves in slow motion, studying the way his mana flows. A subtle blue aura emanates from his body, merging seamlessly into his wooden sword. His strike is swift and powerful, cutting through the doll as if it were mere jelly. The display of skill is nothing short of breathtaking, leaving me momentarily speechless.

Suddenly, Arnold knocked me out of my reverie. "Are you paying attention or not?" he barked.

"I am... but that was crazy. Do you make the sword sharper with magic?"

"I already told you," he replied, exasperated.

"Alright, let me try again."

Standing before the practice doll, I take a deep breath to center myself. I recall Arnold's demonstration and focus on channeling my mana into the sword. As I release my mana, it surges out of me, creating a powerful force that threatens to blow everything away. I quickly reign it in, lowering the intensity to a manageable level. With deliberate precision, I transfer the magic into the wooden sword, feeling the energy strengthen my body and infuse the blade. Now, it's time to put this newfound understanding into action.

"Let's do this!" I said, concentrating on my task.

"All I must do is…." I concentrated on everything for this.

"Cut this stupid doll!". I sliced through it and was shocked with that ability. I have felt how it works and it is unbelievably easy. It just went through the air.

Although my technique may not be as refined as Arnold's, I've proven that I, too, am capable of utilizing magic in combat.

Ellis watched, impressed. "He managed to cut the doll using only the power of his wooden sword? He is only 6!"

My excitement overtook me, and in my jubilation, I found myself hugging Arnold without thinking. "Thank you, sir! You're an amazing teacher."

"Ahem," Arnold cleared his throat. "Oh, my apologies." I release my grip, feeling a bit embarrassed for my impulsive display of gratitude.

"Well, from now on, I won't be lending you any swords. You'll have to be careful on your own," he said.

"Hahaha, that's perfectly fine. As long as I've learned how to do it, I can use anything as an extension of my magic."

Ellis smiled warmly. "Well done, Oruvan. Let's head back home, and I'll treat you to something special for achieving your goal."

"Hooray! You're the best, Lady Ellis!" I cheered. It's a shame I can't show off to those kids what I have learnt. They might be impressed by my new skill.

… 

I was really excited and told everything to my brother as I got back home. As innocent as he looks, he gets excited to grow up and eager to learn it from me.

However, I cannot learn more about magic from them as I am already about to depart tomorrow. Despite that I'm grateful because I can learn it anytime from anyone that I could trust. As long as they know how to use it, anyone could teach me.

The day passed by when all the villagers had fallen asleep while Oruvan was still thinking about their journey to save their parents.

…

-To be continued-

The two brothers have enjoyed their best moment for the first time in their life to spend time with someone that they just barely know. But their instinct can tell they all are not bad people. From the bottom of their heart, they wonder if it is the best choice to leave or maybe they could just stay there forever with them.

…