Teeth grinding

Flint randomly found himself standing just outside the Archivis's mansion.

Okay, maybe it wasn't so random but-

By the gate-

Amanda and Erveine, behind him. When the two first met this morning- Erveine almost threw a fit, complaining that the woman was up to no good.

How could she trust little Flint to such… such a woman?

Blonde-

Beautiful-

Well endowed-

And that grin and gaze?

She most certainly was after Flint and Erveine could tell from the moment she met her…

Yet-

When Flint mentioned that he might or might not have been seeing her…

It almost made Erveine's jaw dropped… but she had to keep it all in. She was definitely going to lecture Little Flint once they got back to the academy though.

"Come, my lord is waiting…" Albert showed up almost instantaneously. "And I trust these two ladies carry your trolls?"

The sun was up, and they didn't have much long since the Magus academy classes would start. Meaning, Erveine didn't have long. Yet, she just followed Flint, patiently.

"Yes…" Flint said.

And though there were various things, she wanted to say to him, various things-

She didn't.

She couldn't.

The boy before her, was a man now. And she had to accept that.

She had to respect that.

***

They were taken to the other side of the mansion.

The training grounds.

Freshly cut grass.

Three people-

Two Flint had never seen before, and one- the earl himself.

The two had armor on, black, purple; the earl, did not. Just a shirt and some pants. A silver locket dangling.

"The bodies?" Albert said-

Flint nodded at the two girls-

And they started bringing the bodies into existence.

Four of them had already started rotting despite them using the newly invented formaldehyde.

Maybe it wasn't enough?

Holding his nose- "Yes- yes… wait- nine?" Albert wondered, looking at the girls, then at Flint, finally at his lord. "We're missing one."

"Explain-" Archivis said.

"I couldn't," Flint said.

"You couldn't? You were incapable of killing the last one?" One of the two knights said- dubious.

"Wait, but Flint's so strong-" Erveine attempted but the girl next to her shook her head, not letting her continue.

Meanwhile-

"It was getting late but we did find their nest. And when I did- I lost the will to kill them. They were protecting their families."

"So, you felt pity?"

"Yes."

"For murderers?" Archivis' voice remained neutral. However, his eyes, fierce.

"Yes. After all, if I attacked them then, if I killed them without reason, if I destroyed their home- how- how would that make me different from the people who destroyed my village? Won't I become the very thing I sought out to destroy? What's the damn point then!?"

Sigh. Very audible. "Xan…. Beat the crap out of him and then throw him out."

One of the two men cracked his knuckles. White hair, no beard- but a big mustache; finely built. "With pleasure!" And a big grin.

Meanwhile the other one, the black haired one, just stared. Or was he observing.

"Hey- hey!" Erveine yelled-

But Flint held a hand back- taking out his sword.

No words-

"Goodluck-" Albert whispered, moving back.

Flint didn't hold his sword in two hands, despite his other hand being free.

It was just there.

After all- he didn't have a shield.

He had no need for shields anymore.

"Tell ya what kid, I'll teach you some lessons. A parting gift from a senior…." A big wide grin and he unsheathed his two-handed heavy sword. black blade, silver hilt. Dropping the scabbard on the ground.

A tall, big, man. Mid-twenties.

"Would be much appreciated." Voice level, Flint stared.

"Hmph!" Feet planted solid- he bounced forward almost like a spring- "HAH!"

Massive swing-

Leaning slightly to the left, Flint dodged, parrying the attack, changing its trajectory, also giving the man a small kick just in case.

Xan rolled on the ground- "What the-" He stared back. "I thought you said he was a beginner. He clearly has a knight background!"

"Did I?" Albert shrugged. "Also, didn't master say, keep your eyes on the prize on a battlefield?"

"Wha- woah!" He barely ducked the horizontal swing, some locks of hair flying "Hey, chill! I was talking!"

But Flint didn't chill-

Shing!

Clang!

Spark flew-

The man had barely gotten back up his feet, but was on a constant deadlock.

Flint only had a one-handed sword- used just one hand- yet all his attacks landed fiercely.

How?

Where was this strength coming from.

Xan couldn't tell.

But he could tell one thing-

Yeah-

The kid had talent.

And that's why-

Lips curling- "Dopple-" Body covered in a haze- he thrusted-

Flint dodged to his left- but his cheeks received a cut…minor. "…" Eyes sharpening even more- he followed up by a thrust of his own, missing the mark completely; as he was merelu attacking afterimages. "I see…"

"NO, you don't." A chuckle and a firm kick at Flint's chest.

"Ach!" He almost threw up- flying back a meter, on the floor.

Unsteady on his feet…

Using his sword as a cane, he barely stood- glaring- flaring-

"Seems to be more of a rune knight kind of guy- honestly-" Xan said, staring at Albert. "I think he'll do well if he went-"

"No!" Flint roared. "AXEL!" Body glowing in blue- he charged ahead for the first time- swinging up right!

Clang!

Their swords connected.

And though Xan's feet slowly slid back- his eyes remained stable, as did his breathing.

On the other hand, Flint was panting like his life depended on it-

The lack of fighting human beings- the lack of experience, was showing.

"Conviction isn't nearly enough-" Xan said- Slamming his fist straight at Flint's abdomen.

Thud-

But this time Flint didn't fly back-

Rather- he remained- feet planted. "I know!" He said- and using the small hole the man had left out-

Flint easily overpowered Xan's sword- knocking his hand upwards-

Slam!

Cramming his feet straight at the man's chest- with a roundhouse-

Making him roll on the ground, groaning in pain. "OW!"

"That's enough…." Albert said- staring at his master. "Well?"

"Well, what? He failed… and couldn't even beat Xan."

Meanwhile, Xan stood up, sniffled once… a tear… "That hurt…" And was now being comforted by the other knight in the corner…

"Xan's been training for ten years now and the kid only trained two. Two! And look at those injuries!" Albert argued.

"I don't see your point."

"Do you want me to give him to lady Damile?" He said. "I will give him to lady Damile, don't test me."

Grin but teeth clenched at the same time… "Fine you fucking bastard…" Barely audible.

"Sorry, I couldn't hear that… and neither could he-" Albert said.

Teeth grinding even more-