Preparations

There were two paths of cultivation in this world.

The first one was the cultivation of being a warrior. The qualifications to be a warrior was tough and could only be gained through vigorous trainings. A well-built body should be maintained.

The other one was known to be the magical cultivation which was the path to be a mage. Being a mage was not like being a warrior which needed to have a very well-built body that would only be gained through training, instead it only needed a person to connect himself to the elements around him and control it. It would also depend on their talent. It was widely known that having low aptitude means that one's future achievements would also be low.

Many people tend to test their magical aptitude first. When their magical aptitude is quite high then they would choose the path of mages and if not, then being warrior most definitely suited to them only if their physique is on its perfect condition.

Although many people wanted to become mages, the warriors could also not be underestimated. The mages were good at long-ranged combats while the warriors were good at close-ranged combats. When a mage fights head on against a warrior, he would not get too close to his enemy as much as possible for him to have enough time to cast his spells.

The disadvantages of mages are their own body which could be considered as usually fragile as well as the time needed to chant their magical spells while the disadvantage of warriors is the long-ranged attacks which makes it difficult for them to get closer to their enemies..

Thinking up to this, Eirlys stood up and was about to open the door when a knock and voice from outside sounded. "Young Miss, the Master said he will be waiting for you in the study room."

Eirlys opened the door and walked out from her room. "Alright, I'm going now."

The maidservant named Hazel immediately nodded and smiled.

***

After entering the study room, she immediately saw her father standing there wearing training clothes. Before she could say anything, her father commanded, "Go back and change your dress with training clothes."

Eirlys immediately complied to her father's instructions and when she came back, she saw him standing outside the study room's door. Her father, Albert, said, "Follow me."

They headed to the secret training grounds through a secret pathway. Eirlys couldn't help but feel amazed because of this magical place. It had a barrier surrounding it and the gravity was also stronger compared outside. This place was indeed the best place to train.

"Here, I will only treat you as a disciple, nothing more and nothing less. Do you understand?" Albert's domineering voice sounded within the training grounds.

Eirlys was astounded by what her father said but she also clearly understood the meaning behind those words. She half-kneeled and spoke, "This disciple pays her respect to master."

After seeing his daughter behaved like this, he approvingly said, "Good, stand up. I'll test your agility and strength first. Now get ready."

Eirlys immediately understood her father's intentions and said, "Then if you may please.."

"Alright." After saying a single word, Albert started to move his legs and targeted Eirlys' neck. Eirlys' actions were also nimble and immediately dodged to the other side. She also made her attack with a kick towards her father's waist. Seeing this, Albert was stunned for a moment and before he could react, Eirlys' kick arrived on his waist.

"Good! Good! You actually have some skills. I lowered my guard just now without knowing that you are this agile." Albert laughed heartily. Although her kick wasn't that strong, her fast actions alone were worthy to be praised.

Of course, this kind of thing was just normal for Eirlys. She was the ranked one agent in their organization after all. But still, she could not say such thing to her father and could only nod her head with a straight line smile on her face that also seemed like not a smile....at all*.

[AN: *This mc doesn't know how to smile naturally.. so, just imagine her trying to smile but failed to do so in this part..LOL]

"Alright, I will be serious this time." Albert warned.

"Then please pardon me for being impolite." Eirlys answered arrogantly while taking the initiative to attack.

She already knew some martial arts in her previous life. Without guns and blades, she could still fight. After exchanging attacks with her father for almost an hour and a half, she took a rest first and sat on the nearest bench.

"I'll give you quarter an hour to rest. Then we shall continue after that."

"Understood."

Seeing his daughter's temperament and remembering her actions earlier, he was naturally pleased. His confidence in his daughter's future had actually risen. He didn't say anything else and walked outside the training grounds.

Eirlys just quietly sat there and let her thoughts ran wild. She clearly stated last night in front of her father that she would like to test her aptitude on becoming a mage first. This implied that she prioritize the magical cultivation path but unexpectedly, her father actually trained her body as if she was being trained to be a warrior.

Nevertheless, she still understood her father's intentions. Having a frail body would be troublesome if she ever fight a warrior in the future. So training her body would also be a good thing if she were to take the path of magical cultivation.

After the given time was up, Albert walked inside the training grounds while holding wooden swords. He threw one of it to Eirlys and calmly said, "We shall spar using swords. Although you are taking the path to be a mage, using swords in close-combat battles would help you a lot just in case. For now, you should familiarize yourself with swords."

"This disciple understands." She nodded her head while swinging the wooden sword in her hand without a slightest bit of difficulty at all. It was like she was already used to it.

After witnessing his daughter's actions, he was dumbfounded once again and after he regained his senses, he said to himself: (Seems like I really missed the growth of my daughter all these years.)

He just sighed and looked at this daughter of his. After a short while, he said, "Alright, we shall start now."

"Mn."

He immediately thrust the wooden sword to Eirlys' chest. Eirlys movements were also fast. She dodged to the right side and the wooden sword that was touching its tip on the ground earlier was raised by Eirlys and counterattacked to make Albert's sword fly away.

Unfortunately, although her actions were fast, she was still a 12 year-old girl after all. Her strength was not enough to free the wooden sword from Albert's hands. Albert had naturally high skills in using swords since he was a marquess that led an army not too long ago.

After their first exchange of attacks, Albert didn't dare underestimate this young lady in front of him again. They continued their confrontation. Of course, Albert restrained himself from using too much force as he was afraid that he would accidentally harm his own daughter.

Albert swung the wooden sword in his hand horizontally as he targeted Eirlys' neck. Eirlys immediately bent her upper body backwards to dodge it and used a special footwork to distance herself from Albert. After stabilizing herself, Albert didn't continue attacking anymore and said, "Good. This is the end for today's training. You go back to your room first and refreshen yourself."

He turned around and walked towards the door without waiting for her reply. After he opened it, he turned his head slightly to Eirlys' direction and added, "Ah, right. Don't forget to go to the dining hall for lunch." Having finished speaking, he continued walking until his silhouette was nowhere to be seen.

***

After taking a warm bath and getting dressed up, she immediately went towards the dining hall.

Albert was sitting there wearing his new set of clothes. He was already there long ago and was just waiting for his daughter to show up.

Eirlys formally greeted her father and sat on the chair nearest to him. Albert really didn't mind his daughter's tardiness since she's a lady in the first place. Unlike with men, women had many different things to do.

Albert saw his daughter's expressionless face and sighed in his heart.

"Eirlys, I presume that you already know what my intentions are for this training. Isn't that right?" Albert said straightforwardly.

"Yes. But there's this one thing that I am not sure of. May I ask my father about this?" Eirlys asked courteously to her father.

"Sure, speak it up. What is it?" Albert quickly replied. He was also curious as to what would be this thing that his daughter is thinking of now.

"Can I dual-cultivate?" Eirlys spoke out without hesitating at all.

Albert looked at her with a shocked expression visible on his face and he thought: (Indeed, they really are the same.) After seeing the silhouette of the woman in his mind whom he had been missing all these years, he shook his head slightly.

"I cannot?" Seeing that her father shook his head, she immediately asked him to confirm this.

Albert immediately laughed because his daughter actually misunderstood his actions. He lightly pat Eirlys' head and said, "I am originally planning to tell you this four months later. But since you already asked it, then I'll tell you about it. Actually, your mother came from a powerful clan but you're still too young so I can't give you the details about it for now. All I can tell you is that all of the people in that clan can dual-cultivate. Although you are not with them at this moment, you still have inherited the clan's bloodline from your mother and can naturally dual-cultivate if you want to."

Eirlys was stunned by the words of her father. Although she was confused why there were only two of them within this residence with Bonneville family name, she didn't ask anything about her relatives. She already knew that her mother had long passed away, so she didn't mention it at all. Even the previous owner of the body she currently possessed, didn't mention this all these years.

She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Does that mean I have many relatives and you know of their whereabouts?"

"Mn, that would be the case." Albert nodded his head.

"Then where are they?" Completely disregarding their main topic which was about 'dual-cultivation', she continued asking about the family of her mother.

"This... I told you earlier, this is not the time to tell you about it. You're still too young." Albert immediately explained within just one breath.

He calmed himself and added, "Although right now is not the time, I'll make sure to tell you about it in the future and that also includes my own origins."

Eirlys was once again stunned by what she heard. There were too many secrets in their family that even her was not allowed to know about it yet.

Seeing that his daughter didn't reply, he comfortingly said, "I want you to become stronger first before I tell you everything that you should know as my daughter. This is also for your safety that's why you have to get stronger as soon as possible. Is that clear?"

There was a strange feeling within her heart after she heard of this. She thought of something in her mind and replied softly, "I'll do my best, father."

"Good. I know you won't ever disappoint your father. Alright, enough of these things. Come on, fill your stomach with some delicious foods." Albert said smilingly to his daughter, Eirlys.

***

Four months passed within a blink of an eye. The winter had long ago started and spring was also approaching. Snowy roads with snowdrops could be seen outside. Looking at the snows falling from the skies could make one's heart calm.

[AN: 'Eirlys' name means 'snowdrop' (white flower). It is now her birthday (late winter). Also, her mother's name, 'Eira', means 'snow'. Eira was also born in winter season.]

Despite of the cold weather, the Bonneville residence was so lively and everyone was so busy. There were also carriages that could be seen not too far away from the residence which were also heading towards the Bonneville's gates. Obviously, this happy occasion was to celebrate Eirlys' 13th birthday.

Thirteenth birthday was one of the most important events for the younger generations since it would be the start of their new journey where they had to separate with their families and experience the world outside. This also included the first year of attending classes in academies.

Every thirteenth day of a month, all of the headmasters of every school would be gathered in a place where the entrance exam will be held at. These included the top schools for both mage and warrior paths. Every school only had one path and it was either for mages and warriors.

The main hall of Boneville's residence was now full of noblemen and noblewomen. There were also some noble youths who were so refined and elegant yet still gave off their domineering auras.

The former Marquess, Albert, was so busy in welcoming the guests. Suddenly, the chamberlain outside called out, "His Highness, the Third Prince has arrived! Her Highness, the Princess has arrived!"

Albert was stunned for a moment and immediately regained his composure. He walked with large strides and welcomed the people from the royal family. Although he was confused as to why the people from the royal family personally came, he still warmly received them.

After waiting for a couple of minutes, Eirlys appeared and could be seen at the stairs walking down with light footsteps.

She looked like a goddess that was descending into the mortal world. Added to her fairy-like face with a snow-like white tender skin, the black dress that she was wearing made her even more attractive. Everyone else in the main hall was astounded because of the peerless beauty that could absolutely bring chaos to the whole country. Eirlys was only thirteen this year and she was already this beautiful? How about in the future when she matured? Everyone of them didn't dare imagine what the possible future would be.

After her right foot stepped away from the stairs, Albert immediately extended his hand to guide his little treasure daughter in front of the hall and received the congratulatory gifts and speeches from various powerful noble families. There were even shameless ones who proposed for a marriage right on the spot.

However, Albert also rejected all of them right away without a slightest bit of hesitation.

[AN: Just imagine a mother hen protecting its chick XD]

The whole banquet went grandeously without any difficulties and whatsoever.

When Albert and Eirlys were seeing off the guests outside the gates, the Third Prince and the Princess who made their appearance in the banquet walked towards them.

"Sir Bonneville.." They greeted Albert with a slight bow.

"Your Highness, Third Prince and Your Highness, Princess Vienna. Please don't call this one like that. This lowly one already resigned as a Marquess and is currently just an ordinary citizen in Yndrevis Empire without any rank of an official at all." Albert courteously said to them.

"Sigh, then may I call you Uncle Bonneville instead?" Princess Vienna asked while smiling at Albert and glancing few times to Eirlys beside him.

"Haha, of course! Of course! This little one is very honoured to be called as Uncle by Her Highness, Princess Vienna." Albert loudly laughed as he was etremely happy because he realized that these people from the royal family were not doing things difficult for him.

Princess Vienna happily nodded her head to Albert then turned her gaze towards Eirlys. She said, "Since Eirlys already turned thirteen this month, Miss Eirlys should be joining the upcoming's entrance examination the next two weeks, isn't that right?"

"Yes. What Her Highness, Princess Vienna said is right. And because the examinations this year will all be held here in Yndrevis empire, there's no need for me to prepare anything much." Eirlys spoke with them politely with a clear voice.

"Mn, that's right. Then may this princess know of what cultivation path you will be taking?" Princess Vienna asked with full of interest.

"Princess is thinking too much. Whatever path this little one will be choosing would not make any difference at all. I'm afraid that my talents are only mediocre." Eirlys spoke without answering the question directly.

After hearing his daughter's words, Albert on the other side curved up his lips and thought: (The temperament of this child is really the same with her's...)

He shook his head slightly and said, "Your Highness, Third Prince, Your Highness, Princess Vienna, it is so cold here outside. I'm afraid that the both of you would get cold if we stay here any longer."

"Right. Then we shall now take our leave." Seeing their carriage outside, the Third Prince and Princess Vienna nodded their head slightly to Albert and went in the carriage.

After seeing them off, the pair of father and daughter went back inside the residence.

~~~~~

Author's Note:

Just to clarify things up. There are 5 Empires in this world (or should I say.. realm). The other names will be mentioned in the upcoming chapters. About the entrance examination, the venue of it changes every year (so technically, an empire would have 12 entrance examination events every year since it is being handled every 13th day of a month) and it just so happened that the empire where the mc is residing right now is where the event being held at this year.