Chapter 16 swordmaster (4)

In the Empire, there was a tacit law that nobility should never bow to anybody but the Emperor himself. He was known as the Sun of the Empire and the nobility should only ever bow to this man alone.

But… Here was Lord Halvark, bowing to the man known as 'Van Ester'. However, nobody would be surprised to see such a sight.

This man was a swordmaster. The amount of swordmasters within the Empire counted no more than 10. They had mastered the way of the sword and were pivotal existences to maintaining the current peace and wellbeing of the Empire. They deserved respect beyond their titles and rank.

"How come…"

Charon looked up at Van Ester with clear admiration in his eyes.

High Count, Van Ester. He had been a swordmaster long before Charon was even born and was the known Family Head to the Ester Family.

"How come you're here….?"

"Hmm? Oh, I don't know since it's been about 20 years."

Van Ester nudged his head to point to Lord Halvark when he was asked by Charon.

"I was his guardian for a while due to his father."

"What?"

Charon looked at Lord Halvark with a confused and shocked face. He had never heard such a thing before in all his time serving as a knight for the Halvark Family. Lord Halvark just laughed bitterly.

"Because I didn't have a need to say around saying such a thing. Being his guardian didn't mean it was such a close-knit relationship. It was just that I came to check up on him, since it's been 20 years and all."

"Your father's friend…", Charon muttered as he looked at Lord Halvark.

"You'll never know who his father was even if I told you. He wasn't that famous. Only people like myself know, and people like yourself wouldn't even know he existed."

Van Ester's face looked bitter when he spoke the words. Lord Halvark lowered his head in sadness as if he had guessed why Van Ester was truly here.

"I'm sorry for your loss.", Van Ester smiled bitterly at Lord Halvark.

"Huh? No. It's alright. It's already been 20 years since he died. And you would have visited the funeral had you not been undergoing missions for the Emperor. But…"

Lord Halvark frowned. There was a separate reason why he didn't talk about his relationship with Van Ester.

"Where the hell have you been? You suddenly disappeared twenty years ago, so I thought you were dead."

A few months after the funeral, Van Ester disappeared. There were rumors circulating in the Segan Empire that he went to find a place to die, or to find a new place to practice and train with the sword, but Van Ester did not appear anywhere else and completely fell off the map. And so… he was gradually forgotten.

"I needed time to myself."

"…for twenty years?"

"Yeah, I've been all the way to the edge of the continent, and I've traveled all over the world. I didn't find out everything I wanted to see, though. But, my God. The world is a mess."

Van Ester laughed in vain. The laughter was so bitter and depressing that even Lord Halvark could tell that Van Ester was still mourning the loss of his friend, Lord Halvark's father. Van Ester's eyes then shone, as he carefully opened his mouth.

"Let's just say that's the end of that story, but why don't you just finish what you were talking about. A boy that has been practicing the sword for 2 months beat him?"

"Yes…."

Charon replied solemnly. Van Ester suddenly grinned.

"Tell me the details."

***

"Hmm."

The story was over. Van Ester slightly smiled as his eyes shone with excitement and wonder. He slowly opened his mouth.

"Oh, my God."

The corners of his mouth were slightly curved upwards. His voice had completely changed from the solemn tone earlier, to one of pure curiosity, admiration and wonder.

"That's interesting."

"Yet, I have a headache about it…."

Lord Halvark clenched his forehead with annoyance. Van Ester laughed with joy.

"But it's actually an interesting story. Did you say your name was Charon?"

"Yes!"

Charon replied, holding a close attention to whatever Van Ester's next words may be. Van Ester did not stop his laughter and continued.

"You're strong. It would be hard to even fight you unless one was a first-rate swordsman. But you couldn't use your hands properly against this child? A kid who hasn't even practiced the sword for more than two months? Oh, boy, let me ask you a question."

Van Ester pushed his face closer towards Charon's. His deep black eyes approached Charon who was nervously fidgeting with his fingers.

"What did you feel when you fought with the child?"

"...."

Charon was silent.

Asher was strong, Though Charon did not want to admit it at first, he did know Asher was good with the sword. But the strength he faced in the 'spar' was something completely different than what he saw from the sides when he spectated him. The swordsmanship Asher practiced was only the imperial swordsmanship, but it was disciplined to the limit, and whenever Charon showed a gap, Asher did not miss it and struck like a vicious snake. It was if…

"It was like seeing a trained veteran."

"A veteran. A child with the looks and build of a boy, but the instincts and swordsmanship of an old man."

At the same time that Van Ester raised the corners of his mouth and spoke, suddenly his aura gushed out spread around him in excitement. Lord Halvark stepped back and Charon held the sword with a pale-white face. Van Ester waved his hand apologetically.

"Oh, It's not for you, so don't worry."

"Yes…."

Lord Halvark swallowed his saliva. Wasn't the target obvious if it was not directed at them? He didn't know why Van Ester was going to kill the child.

"I'll have to meet him somehow, we'll need to make up an excuse for me to be here."

"Are you going to try and meet him?"

"Yep. Oh, and I'll see your daughter before that. If she's really that talented, she'll enjoy being taught by me."

"Oh, my…!"

Charon shouted without realizing it. A Swordmaster's direct teaching. Charon knew Reika was talented, but he didn't know she was that talented. Van Ester then clapped his hands.

"Guide me."

***

"Wow. So refreshing."

Reika smiled as she shook off the drops of water in her hair. Nothing was as refreshing as a bath after training. She had been in a good mood lately. It was because Asher's training became more comfortable for her.

After meeting with her mother, Venicia, Asher had been refraining from directly violent and arduous spars. He still stabbed her in the heart with his words, but so what if he did? As long as it didn't hurt her or degrade her. She wasn't weak enough to fall apart over harsh, but constructive criticism.

'I think I'm improving, too.'

She patted her arm with delight. It had already been a month since she had started training and she had gained a little muscle. She realized that she was getting stronger.

'I can hold on for a minute now!'

It may seem shabby to others, but it was a great improvement for her. It was the moment she walked lightly down the hall. Her eldest brother Luke, was walking from the other side.

"Bye, oppa."

Reika waved nonchalantly. She wasn't interested in Luke at all. She didn't like her brother's personality, and when he would become the owner of the estate, she decided that she would leave. She wasn't going to be under such an ignorant and arrogant idiot anyway. Luke crumpled his face at her.

"…did you play with him again?"

"It's not playing. It's training."

"Pft, what training?"

Luke jeered. He didn't like Reika being around with Asher.

"Is it now called training when men and women frolic around together? That's great then!"

"Think as you please."

Reika ignored him and continued to walk away. She was too lazy to talk to him. Luke's face contorted in disgust with her attitude.