Standing still in order to conserve stamina and to lessen the burden of maintaining his ability. Nicely done. Alice thought, observing from the sidelines.
The duels had piqued her curiosity since it was the first duel that was occurring that didn't involve herself. So there was reason for her to naturally be elated by such a fact. However, she did not expect the duels to yield such great results.
Despite Grace and Albert only having a one rank difference, Grace completely overshadowed him in fighting prowess. Again, this was much different from the Grace that she had heard all about.
Her eyes narrowed, briefly glancing at Grace's figure.
"Who exactly is Grace Walker?" She muttered, asking herself. He was an ambiguous person, someone she could not read. Moreover, she did not know a single thing about him due to his lifestyle before the academy being so secretive.
On the other hand, she did learn something about him today.
"My veins still pulsate with the blood of a Walker."
He takes pride in being born in such a distinguished family. In fact, it. would be wrong to simply refer to them as distinguished.
The only ones who is more exceptional than them is the Jade Family. It would be odd and wrong for him to disregard the importance of his lineage. As if born anew, there seemed to be a new life within the Walker Family.
A new person began to walk down their wretched path.
~~~
Later that day, Albert was laying on the finely-cut grass of the Central Academy Campus. It was much further into the evening so the stars were out, shining like great gems. Albert closed his eyes, sighing.
"What a shitty outcome," he muttered. Admittedly, he realized the moment Grace defeated him that he bit more than he could chew and that eventually bit him in the ass-he choked on the food instead of devouring it.
He held his hand out to the sky, his palm facing the brilliant stars.
"The difference in our abilities are too large... he must be a Normal Grade 9 at least."
Due to Grace having full control of the battle's pacing, he pulled Albert into his playing field and made him run around while he conserved his strength by merely standing still.
I need to become stronger. That was what he knew deep down. Strength solved many things, many problems. The world ran on recognizing who was strong and who was not and exploring the unknown in order to further that said strength.
Unshakable strength is the only way that can make me filthy rich!
~~~
A few days later, Saturday.
Grace jumped up and grabbed the dummy's head. Imbuing a slight amount of mana into his arms, the dummy yielded to his strength and Grace threw him to the empty ground.
"Huaahhh... Huahhh..." Grace killed the dummy with a dagger of light that stood on standby. Currently, Grace was practicing being able to maintain two daggers of light while simultaneously fighting a dummy.
This is because the fights in the perceivable future will most likely force him out of position and test his comfort. Standing still while fighting won't do him any good.
"Frankly, I just got lucky that Albert's a total amateur!" Grace laughed.
The silver-haired student was not anyone bad, in fact, he was a good-natured person. But his ambition and natural inclination towards battle makes him a handful.
And the only one that can tame him won't be entering the academy until next year. Grace stretched his body, closing his eyes before summoning another dummy of the same Grade as him.
He repeated the same process, though he did have a more difficult time due to him barely being able to maintain the daggers of light while fighting another dummy.
The result remained the same.
"2 minutes and 32 seconds for the first one. 2 minutes and 56 seconds for the second one. 3 minutes and 24 seconds for the third one. 3 minutes and 37 seconds for the fourth one. And 4 minutes flat for the fifth one."
Grace shook his head.
"Too slow. Every single one of it is too slow." By the time he reaches Normal Grade 7, he wanted to be able to rip a Normal Grade 9 dummy in shreds in under a minute. Perhaps even faster than that.
Regardless, there was a deep-rooted dissatisfaction that prevented him from settling with the time he was getting.
"I'll finish today up with mana control training."
Once finished, Grace returned to the real world and opened his eyes. Exiting the pod, he was met an oppressive gaze.
"Alice White... what a pleasure..."
"Hm... a pleasure it is." Her obsidian gaze observed him from head-to-toe. She didn't particularly care whether or not she looked conspicuous or not.
"Is there something you need?" Asked Grace.
"No, not necessarily. I'm just observing you."
"Observing?"
"Yes."
"For what reason?"
"You're a unique existence. A month ago, I wouldn't have acknowledged the possibility that the youngest of the Walker Family held plausible talent."
"And now?"
"I think... you're an interesting person."
"I'm flattered."
Truthfully, Grace didn't know how he viewed this transaction between himself and Alice. Really, this is the first ever true interaction between himself and this girl. Though this is ultimately good for him--another connection can be formed.
"When you become stronger--duel me."
Grace chuckled.
"And if I don't?"
"I'll come and find you myself." She turned around and walked away, her steps resounding loudly and her being entrancing the soul of every being present.
If your talent is that of a Walker, then you are my key to improvement. She mused to herself. Grace hummed in amusement as he stretched.
Hmmm... does this guy have any memories of seeing Alice? Even though he did technically have all of Grace's memories, there was far too much for him to remember right away.
So unless he is profoundly reminded of something, then he would have to search for it himself.
After a few seconds, Grace's face contorted in surprise.
Is this boy stupid? You got one good look at her face and you gained a crush. He shook his head in annoyance. Grace did not think the old owner of the body would act so... boyish.
He is, after all, a Walker outcast.
Well, whatever. I have no time to entertain any romance. Shackling myself with love... would I want to stay here instead of returning to my humble origins? Grace thought.
He knew that he could not truly answer this question right now.
He could be here for a multitude of years, and during that course of time--love may become an inevitability.
When that time comes... will I be able to face it? He wondered truthfully.