A Lineage Awakens

POV Arthur:

"WATCH OUT!" someone yelled from my right just before a heavy weight slammed into me, knocking me to the ground.

Blinded by the sun, I struggled to make sense of what had just happened. Laughing, I assumed a guy had just tripped and fallen on me. "Whoa there, dude, next time try landing on your feet, eh?" I joked, pushing what I thought was a man, only to have my hand sink into something soft.

I quickly pulled my hand back, still chuckling. "Oops, maybe not a man—sorry about that," I said hastily, raising my hands in a gesture of peace.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw a girl in gym clothes standing up. She had milky skin, white hair, a delicate face, and harmonious curves. She held out her hand to me, smiling. "It's my fault, I'm sorry. We shouldn't have been so close to the entrance."

I took her hand, still laughing. "It's all good. I'm Arthur, nice to meet you."

"Seya, nice to meet you too," she replied, leaning forward slightly.

A melodious voice interrupted from behind me. I turned to see a dark-haired woman with square glasses and a fringe, exuding an aura of confidence. She was slim, with elegant curves, and wore a thicker-than-average gym outfit. A sword hung at her hip, hinting at her expertise.

"Arthur, isn't it? The secretary mentioned you were joining us. Welcome, and sorry about the, let's say, abrupt greeting," she said with a slight bow.

"No offense taken," I replied with a smile.

"I'll place you next to Mathieu, the blond guy with glasses at the end of the row over there," she pointed out. "He'll explain how things work around here."

I nodded and made my way over to Mathieu. As I walked through the gym, I took in the surroundings. It was a large, open space with seating for about 50 people at one end. The floor was divided into three zones: grass, compact sand, and steep rocks, each designed for different training purposes.

When I reached Mathieu, he greeted me with a handshake. "You must be Arthur. Pleased to meet you. I'm Mathieu, Mrs. Griselli's assistant. I'll explain our training methods while she finishes up."

"Nice to meet you, Mathieu. I'm all ears," I replied.

He explained enthusiastically, "During Mrs. Griselli's classes, students work in pairs. She assesses each person's skill level and tailors her instruction accordingly."

"Interesting, so she personalizes it a bit for each person."

"Exactly. Of course, she can't be with everyone at once, but she manages to give individualized attention."

"And if we don't have a partner?" I asked.

"In that case, I'll spar with you," he said with a smile.

"Got it."

Barely 30 seconds later, as I was observing the gym and the various students practicing, Mrs. Griselli called me over. As I approached, she asked, "So, Arthur, what's your skill level with the rapier?"

"I've just started, so I'm not very good yet…"

"Don't worry, everyone starts somewhere," she said confidently. "Just try to hit me with everything you've got, okay? If you succeed, I'll give you the ten lessons you booked for free."

Surprised by her straightforwardness, I took the position James had taught me and swung my rapier.

Newcomers were rare, especially those interested in rapiers over swords, and the spectators grew curious, pausing their own sparring to watch.

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POV Mrs. Griselli:

People outside the military who wanted to learn how to fight were rather rare in this city, and Arthur was no exception. It was clear that he didn't train regularly, but there was an unexpected determination in his eyes. This piqued my curiosity, so I asked him a question.

"Tell me, Arthur, why do you want to learn martial arts?"

I expected him to take a few seconds to think, but to my surprise, he answered immediately.

"I want to take back what was ours before and learn to fight to protect those I love."

"That's quite an ambitious goal, to reclaim what was once ours. Where did this desire come from?" I asked, intrigued by the conviction in his voice.

"Is this a training session or an interrogation?" he replied, smiling.

I quickly recovered. "You're right, sorry. It's just rare to see young people with such strong goals, so I was curious."

"No worries," he replied, clearly not wanting to delve further into the topic.

Deciding to put that aside, I approached him with my sword raised, ready to see what he could do. Despite his obvious efforts, his level was mediocre. His movements lacked finesse, and he swung his rapier without much strategy.

"You've just started using the rapier, haven't you?" I asked, observing his technique.

"Is my level that bad?" he replied, focusing on his form.

"I think you've set your sights a little too high for now," I said as he attempted to bypass my guard.

"Better to dream big, right? And what do you say to this?" he replied, suddenly sounding more confident.

Surprised by his shift in tone, I refocused on him. In a matter of seconds, his speed seemed to multiply. Even I had to brace myself to avoid getting hit.

The spectators began to murmur, impressed by the intensity Arthur was displaying, especially given the contrast with his earlier, lackluster performance.

After ten seconds of intense exchange, during which he applied incredible pressure, he slowed to a gasping halt.

"What was that? Were you holding back on purpose earlier?" I asked, incredulous.

"No, that's really my level," he replied, panting.

"Really? But… wait," an idea crossed my mind, an unlikely possibility, but one that could explain this sudden burst of strength. "Do you have a skill?"

At my question, his expression shifted to one of surprise. He hesitated for a moment, lost in thought, before answering.

"You could say that, yes."

"Interesting. Is it hereditary like most, or did you unlock it yourself?"

"I unlocked it myself," he replied simply.

"Fascinating. Is it specific to the rapier, or can it be used with other weapons as well?" I asked, seeing his potential in a new light.

He took a moment to consider before answering. "It's specific to the rapier."

A new genetic line with a skill had just been born… Arthur was definitely someone to keep an eye on.