By Zephyria After successfully completing the midterm exams, the academy schedule was the same as before.
It was an everyday routine, not much different from before the exams: heading to the martial arts training ground to warm up the body while the morning dew had yet to dry, washing up and Circulating Qi to prepare for the day, and then having meals with peers before attending morning swordsmanship classes.
After sparring with Edwin Kiadris some time ago, there was a brief trend in the Swordsmanship Department of memorizing Magic Formulas, but that trend was treated as mere amusing distraction only during the exam period and then faded into obscurity. The shapes and pronunciations of the Magic Formulas were too bizarre to memorize for fun.
Thus, in recent beginner swordsmanship classes, the focus was on solidifying the fundamentals, which had been neglected due to practicing various sword forms.
Since several of my peers had ruined their stances by trying to imitate me and memorizing various sword forms, I also returned to the Three Fundamentals to practice basic sword forms.
Standing in formation on the martial arts training ground, we simultaneously performed horizontal cuts, downward strikes, and thrusts. The feeling was excellent. It was a different kind of enjoyment from practicing alone.
Professor Maelo Sanson used me as an assistant, having me stand before him. It was good to be able to watch my peers train directly with my own eyes.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Magic and Formula Principles basic class was drastically different before and after the sparring match.
I had simply entered the classroom a little before the usual class time, but I heard small greetings from various places.
Marianne Philodendore, who would have previously been concerned about every glance and gesture, also greeted me warmly with a bright smile.
“Hello, Mikael!”
“Yes. Did you have a good weekend? I heard you were with your Camping Class peers.”
“Ah, well. Listen. I met a friend this time who is Ivan’s twin brother…”
Her voice was noticeably excited as she chattered away.
For about ten minutes before Professor Angela Sting arrived, Marianne recounted stories about what she did with her peers over the past weekend and what had happened.
Shayden, who had breakfasted with me, was unaware of these stories because he had been playing with his own friends.
It suddenly occurred to me that there seemed to be no link connecting Shayden to the Camping Class peers in my absence, which caused me some concern.
I briefly wondered if the boy might feel uncomfortable when I was around, only mingling closely with the Camping Class peers when I was present, but seeing Marianne’s utterly bright face, she didn’t seem to be thinking much about it.
Professor Angela Sting calmly explained methods for defending against Magic Formulas in this session.
It was a lesson on three ways to defend against spells that could be broken by simply severing the connection between spells with an aura, as I had done on the sparring day, or by disrupting a known spell.
I marveled at Professor Sting’s ingenuity in devising three defensive methods in such a short time.
Although this class was intended for Wizards, it was also for me.
Swordsmen who were First-rate Warriors, specifically from the upper ranks of Sword Experts to the highest, could see the flow of Mana just as they could see auras.
Therefore, if I knew what move the opponent would make, I could also decide where to place my next move.
It was exactly like playing Go or Chess.
Angela Sting was teaching the students how to counter the moves I had made against Edwin’s magic, and I, learning how other Wizards responded to my moves, began to devise plans for my next moves.
It was more interesting and enjoyable than practicing making Circles I couldn’t even use, and I was delighted throughout.
As I left after class, Edwin Kiadris also made eye contact and gave a simple nod.
The child still had a strangely sulky look, but their aggressive stance had weakened. It just looked like a young child being stubborn, so I didn’t pay it any mind.
❖ ❖ ❖
After getting through the exams like a bout of measles, I could finally unpack the dagger set I had bought earlier.
I invited Benjamin to my room’s reception area to show him what I had purchased. Shayden quickly tagged along, and the three of us were together again.
The daggers, which filled the large table, varied in size from slightly over half a span to just under two spans, and their handles and blade curves glinted beautifully under the electric light.
Benjamin and Shayden, being swordsmen themselves, handled the daggers with a discerning eye, weighing them or fiddling with them, their demeanor more practiced than that of the Central Plains natives.
When asked, they said that Sierren’s knights did not particularly avoid daggers.
“Rather… aren’t daggers treated like tokens of love?”
“Tokens? Given to a lover?”
“Uh-huh. Well, yes. Usually, long swords are worn at the hip, but daggers are often kept in a holster on the chest, or simply in a jacket pocket. They say it’s romantic because they’re kept closer to the heart.”
I found it strange that the Middle Dantian held so much meaning here in Sierren. They guided Mana to the Middle Dantian to form Circles, and I hadn’t expected them to want to keep something close to their heart.
Hearing that, I tried putting a dagger in my school jacket’s inner pocket. The already snug jacket bulged awkwardly.
Moreover, since I don’t wear jackets often, I decided I would need to wear a dagger belt, called a holster.
I missed the robes of the Central Plains. In the Central Plains, it was common to carry hidden knives in the wide sleeves. It would be more convenient to use one attached to the wrist or sleeve than to draw it from the chest.
“Because they’re small, they’re also cute. People often carry them in more ornate leather sheaths decorated with silk thread or embroidery.”
“Even if you’re not a knight, it’s common to carry one when going on a long journey.”
“It’s unusual that you haven’t had a dagger until now.”
“Exactly. If you don’t have a dagger, what do you do when you suddenly want to eat fruit?”
“Fruit?”
“Well, if you’re out and about and just want to eat an orange or an apple, you buy it on the spot and peel it… Ah, right. You never really went out much.”
I hadn’t considered that children might carry daggers given the good public safety here in Sierren. I let out a chuckle at the unexpected use.
I pondered which of the laid-out daggers I should carry, and picked one with a bluish glint on its blade.
“Then I’ll carry this one. I’ll practice throwing the rest.”
“They say it’s best to practice throwing with one specific dagger to improve quickly. Once you’re used to one, you can add variations with curved or longer ones.”
“Hmm… Then, would it be good to start with these two?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to take the professor’s advice?”
At that moment, Benjamin’s mention of the elective dagger technique class came to mind.
Opening my academy notebook and flipping to the last page, I found that there was indeed a professor specializing in throwing knife techniques.
Since I didn’t know the professor’s class schedule, I resolved to ask Professor Maelo Sanson later if I could borrow a space for dagger throwing practice.
The next morning, after finishing my advanced swordsmanship class, I asked Maelo Sanson about the professor who taught dagger techniques.
He said that Professor Wilton Roberts, who taught throwing knife techniques, was an elusive figure whose whereabouts were unknown outside of his mandatory classes.
As I was pondering, a boy who had been lurking nearby suddenly spoke up.
It was Rubel again.
“I might not teach as well as a professor, but would you like me to help? I think I can borrow the key to the throwing dagger practice field…”
“A senior?”
“Yes. I’m taking the throwing knife technique class this semester, and I’m doing quite well. Shall I help?”
“Yes, that would be better. It’s difficult for me to open another professor’s classroom without authorization. However, if a student taking that class accompanies me with the professor’s permission, there shouldn’t be any problem. What was the distance for the targets used in dagger and throwing knife classes? Is there a safety net?”
“It’s divided into 5m, 10m, and 20m sections. There’s a safety net and safety lines.”
“What day is the class?”
“The class is every Wednesday afternoon… I think I can get permission tomorrow. How about it, junior? Shall we set a time?”
Seeing Prince Rubel’s black eyes sparkling, which usually looked a bit listless, it seemed he was quite confident in his dagger technique grades.
Thinking how much the young boy must want to show off, I found it amusing and cute, and nodded.
“I will. I’m free on Friday afternoons. How about you, senior?”
“Hmm, I’m free too. Then shall we have lunch together on Friday?”
“Ah, that might be…”
“…Ah. Ah, sorry. I was only thinking of myself.”
“Yes, my friends who eat together might feel uncomfortable.”
“…Really…? Would they be very uncomfortable?”
I pondered for a moment.
Benjamin wouldn’t be particularly uncomfortable, but I worried that Shayden would surely become tense, grip his spoon with his pinky finger, and tremble so much that he wouldn’t even be able to eat a spoonful of plain meat soup.
Deciding it wouldn’t work, I shook my head. The boy wiped his dry face and composed himself.
Seeing him like this, he didn’t seem like someone who would assert authority, and I wondered why Shayden found him so difficult. However, recalling Marianne, who was afraid of Edwin, whom I saw as just a young and clumsy child, I thought that the social hierarchy in this land must have both flimsy and solid aspects, with its own food chain.
As time passes, I will learn more. I only need to intervene when necessary. I also felt that my friends didn’t necessarily have to be close, so I didn’t press the matter further.
“Instead, though… how about we have dinner together?”
“Ah, is that okay?”
“Yes. Young Master Claudian is less shy than other friends.”
Benjamin Claudian, who had been standing by watching, gracefully bowed.
Prince Rubel, as always, smiled a slightly wilted and somewhat pathetic smile and nodded.
Yes, let’s do that. Seeing the person who replied so politely, I felt excited.
The helping hands that naturally extended whenever I wanted to do something were a convenience I had never experienced in the Central Plains.
Just like when I lent him my world history notebook before, I thought he was a very considerate person for consistently paying attention to small things, and when I looked at him again, his embarrassed smile seemed bashful.
I naturally resolved to take good care of him later if the opportunity arose.
“Thank you, senior.”
“Yes. Then… Young Master Claudian, you too, let’s have dinner on Friday… Shall we meet near the First Martial Arts Training Ground? The throwing dagger practice field is close by.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Benjamin and I both bowed deeply.
I briefly watched the retreating figure of Maelo, who said it was settled and patted my head encouragingly, before looking back at Rubel’s face.
His smiling face was as bright as if a lamp had been lit; he looked like he would grow into a fine man. It was a pleasant sight.