Chapter 59 - Training

Morning light crept through the window of The Amber Hearth, casting golden streaks across the room's wooden floor and shining upon Seraphina's closed eyes.

She woke slowly, the previous day's fatigue lingering in her muscles but she felt much more rested now. As she sat up, she noticed Edwin already by the window, his silver eyes scanning the street below— she had grown accustomed to the man's diligence so she didn't linger on it for long. Samuel was sprawled out on his bed, snoring lightly, his limbs splayed in all directions.

"What is the plan for today?"

Seraphina said, breaking the morning silence as soon as she got her bearings.

Edwin turned, his expression as calm and measured as ever, he had noticed her awake a while now, he simply didn't interrupt her until she did so first.

"I've been thinking. We need better identities— something solid to help us blend in. The Adventurer's Guild might be our best option. They're lenient when it comes to paperwork and don't pry too much into backgrounds. I could arrange something while we're there."

"That's a smart idea, I have a friend who was an adventurer, I hear they don't even verify anything to sign up."

Samuel muttered, his voice thick with sleep as he sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"I was thinking about hitting the docks today. Plenty of gossip floating around, and who knows? I might pick up something useful."

Seraphina considered their suggestions, nodding thoughtfully.

"Good. Those are both good ideas. But what about me?"

Both men exchanged a look of concern. Edwin was the first to speak.

"You should stay here. After what we saw in the undercity last night, it's clear this city isn't safe for you to wander alone."

Edwin didn't say this because he lacked trust in her— rather he believed that any possibility of danger to her should be avoided at any cost— she was their Lady, and her safety was their top priority.

"Don't worry I don't plan to stray outside much."

Seraphina promised.

"But I've been feeling stuck lately like I've hit a wall in my training. I need to break through to knighthood soon if I want to keep up. I'll use today to train in the inn's backyard. It's private, and I'll be fine."

Samuel raised a skeptical eyebrow, he was actually surprised she didn't want to go somewhere— having known her.

"You sure about that? Training doesn't sound nearly as exciting as eavesdropping on the docks."

"It's necessary. If I don't push myself, I'll fall behind. I have been lacking lately. Besides, it's the safest option."

She wasn't lying, Seraphina had been thinking for some time that her progress had slowed because of all the traveling and issues that had befallen them lately.

She couldn't properly train and that had hindered her— she had been stuck at the Cleansing Stage for much longer than she had hoped. She wanted to start forming a life seed as soon as possible.

Without any external help, the best way to do so would be continuous effort and training.

Edwin studied her for a moment before giving a reluctant nod.

"Fine. But please stay at the inn. If anything happens— anything— you call for us."

"Ok, don't worry."

Seraphina said with a small smile, satisfied that they trusted her— she could order them to do what she wanted, but she didn't feel like that would be the right thing to do.

After a quick breakfast, Edwin and Samuel departed, leaving her alone in the inn. She wasted no time and made her way to the backyard to practice.

The space was modest but functional, enclosed by a high wooden fence that provided ample privacy, the grass was a bit overgrown with rope that ran to the side for the hanging of clothes to dry.

It was a perfect place to train without interruptions, and it was currently unused.

Seraphina began her routine with simple stretches, loosening her stiff muscles before she moved on to practicing the movements she had learned from the Shinster Method.

It was difficult. Not having trained properly in a while, she had forgotten how grueling the movements were. Her muscles and bones ached with every repetition.

Between each cycle, she would take a break from the movements to practice her swordplay.

She practiced her sword forms with focus, her blade slicing through the air as she used the idea of 'shadow fighting' to emulate movements she would take in a fight, as well as better adapt to the fighting styles of people she had fought before.

Each swing flowed into the next, her movements growing faster and more deliberate as the morning wore on.

Sweat soon slicked her brow, dripping down her temples as her breathing grew heavier, her muscles burned with effort, the strain pushing her to the edge of her physical limits.

Yet she didn't stop, determined to push past the bottleneck she felt in her progress— to truly complete the cleansing stage she needed to make her body a vessel for the aura, the best way to do that was to break it down and allow the aura to flow through it.

As the aura flowed through it, and the body repaired itself, the newly built muscles, bones, organs, and body would be more adaptable to that flow of aura— thus allowing it to work easier in it.

That was the simplest way to break through to the Condensing Stage— and eventually become an official Knight. Other methods exist, such as medicine that could purge the body, natural elements that could temper it, and so on.

But she didn't have that— so she had to train.

Occasionally, she caught glimpses of the innkeeper watching her through the back door, her green eyes curious but not intrusive. Seraphina paid her little mind, focusing entirely on her training.

Hours passed by in a slow and torturous flow, the morning sun climbing higher in the sky.

By the time she finished, her body was trembling from exhaustion, her clothing damp with sweat and grime from the intense effort. She collapsed onto the grass, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath— dropping her sword to the side in fatigue.

Yet despite the fatigue she felt, she felt an even greater sense of accomplishment as she had felt the flow of aura within her body.

Today, she had pushed herself harder than ever before, and it had paid off. She could feel the flow of aura in her body when training, it wasn't much, but that in itself was already better than others could say.

If she kept up the process, she would soon enough breakthrough— with that thought in mind, she added training to her morning routine going forward.

As she rested, a thought struck her— one she had nearly forgotten.