After reaching a somewhat secluded spot and finding a bench where we could talk peacefully.
"Why did we leave? She can't win an argument against me."
"I know,your sharp tongue seems to be too good, even for me. But right now, we have more important things to discuss."
"And what would those problems be,dear Arthur?"
"Obviously,it's my swordsmanship. We have to do something so people don't get suspicious of me. That could cause a lot of problems for us."
"Us?Maybe it will only cause problems for you. I could just say I knew nothing about you and walk away free, since no one would have any proof to incriminate me."
Hey, a little support would be nice. After all, my mission is about you. I know you don't know that, but is it so wrong to want a little empathy in this situation?
"Thanks for those words.At this rate, I'll have to take you as my personal psychologist."
"HAHAHAHA,just kidding, just kidding. You don't have to worry about that. The original Arthur wasn't very good with a sword either, so in that regard, you might not be in such a bad position. But still, you'll have to at least learn how to hold it properly."
Well, it makes sense that Duvont was so arrogant. If the previous Arthur hadn't been weak, he wouldn't have been so egotistical.
"That's my point.I need a practice sword so I can train on my own, and by the next fencing class, I won't be so helpless."
The stone bench under the old oak tree became our makeshift strategy room. Rossette toyed with her closed fan, drawing invisible lines in the air as she spoke: "Getting you a sword is the easy part.Master Laurent's storage is always open. The real problem is what you're going to learn."
She smiled,pulling out a small book bound in blue leather.
"That's why you're going to memorize this.It's the fundamentals of Crimson fencing, written by Arthur's father. Or at least, the version I copied when I was a little girl spying on his lessons."
She spied on Arthur's father's lessons? How did she even manage to do that so easily? Rossette,noticing my gaze, flashed a mischievous smile at my look of disbelief.
"The walls of Crimson Manor have perfect vines for climbing.By the time I was eight, I had memorized the Duke's training schedule. Your father caught me on the third day..."
She paused for dramatic effect,opening her fan with a theatrical flourish.
"And instead of punishing me,he gave me this notebook and said: 'If you're going to spy, at least do it properly.' That lasted until my mother forbade me from continuing my unladylike activities."
The book Rossette handed me smelled of old ink and dust. Flipping through the pages, I found meticulously drawn diagrams of fencing stances, with annotations in a childish script that became more refined towards the end. Some margins had little drawings of flowers and swords.
"I didn't just copy the moves;I also wrote down all your father's comments. Like here: "A Crimson never retreats, but a wise man knows when to dodge."
I look at her with genuine amazement.I think I'll have to learn all this and practice enough to at least appear to be the real Arthur.
"Meet me tonight at the training field. Be punctual, because you'll have to work hard, and I don't plan on waiting for you."
"Hey,you don't need to go to so much trouble for me. With this book, I'll have a guide to follow. You shouldn't have to lose sleep just because I'm an intruder in someone else's life now."
"Come on,don't ruin my fun. I'm one of the smartest people in this place. Even if I skipped all my classes this semester, it wouldn't really affect my graduation."
"Alright,but if it starts to affect you, just leave and get on with your life."
"Sure."
∆∆∆
That night,in the botanical garden illuminated only by the moon, Rossette transformed into a relentless instructor.
She made me practice stances, holding the sword up for a while and then bringing it down with force. She constantly hit me, and I always dropped the sword because the pain wouldn't let me hold it for long. Even though my boxing might be excellent by Earth's standards, I'm still useless in a world dominated by swordsmen who use an energy I just learned about yesterday.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I felt a sharp blow to my face.
"Stop thinking stupid things.You have to learn the basics, or I'll keep beating you up."
Damn it,if she'd let me use my fists, I'd give her a few punches. But I have to admit she's so skilled that even if I used my fists and she used her sword, I'd still lose.
She adjusted her stance, holding the sword with an elegance that only years of practice could grant. Her golden aura glowed faintly around the weapon, as if it were a natural extension of her arm.
"Watch."
With a fluid motion,she traced an arc in the air. The blade whistled as it cut the night breeze, stopping just inches from my nose.
"The sword isn't just about strength;it's about precision. An unnecessary move will leave you exposed."
I nodded,trying to imitate her stance. My muscles protested from the effort, but I forced myself to hold the position.
"Good.Now, attack me,"
she ordered, stepping back and pointing her sword at me.
I raised my sword and advanced, but my strike was clumsy and predictable. Rossette deflected it easily, and before I could react, I felt the cold metal against my neck.
"Too slow.And your guard is too open. Try again."
We spent hours like that.Strike after strike, failure after failure. But with each attempt, I felt my body starting to remember, though it seemed few of Arthur's training memories were fused into these muscles.
In the end, we spent several hours late into the night. Although I was still a novice, I was no longer completely inept. I could hold the sword more firmly and execute a few basic moves without tripping over myself. Rossette leaned against a tree,watching me with a satisfied smile.
"Good progress for one night.But don't get overconfident. We'll continue tomorrow." "Thank you.You didn't have to do this for me."
"Maybe I do it because I enjoy watching a proud man suffer.Or maybe because, for the first time in a long time, I feel like someone is on my side without expecting anything in return."
Her words reminded me of the mission.Change her fate. But in that moment, it wasn't just a task from the system. I wanted to help her, because in her world, just like in mine, loneliness was a wound that didn't heal easily.
"Get some rest,"
she said, standing up.
"Tomorrow will be another long day." As I walked towards the dormitories,a screen appeared in front of me. [Skill Acquired: Basic Fencing (Lvl:1)
You can use the most basic forms of a fencing style.
+1 Strength, +1 Agility]
"System"
[ Name:William Sanders
Age:19
Race:Human
Titles:[Neanderthal Killer]
-----------------------------------
Strength:10+1
Agility:6+1
Endurance:8
Intelligence:9
Luck:4 Perception:8
Willpower:10
-----------------------------------
[Skills]
[Calm Mind][Running (Lv:3)] [Stealth (Lv:2)] [Boxing (Lv:3)] [Aura (Lv:2)] [Basic Fencing (Lv:1)]
-----------------------------------
[Missions]
[Shop] ]
Wow, my stats and skills are increasing steadily. The skills have been easy to obtain so far, but I've realized that even though the information says it's just a few stat points, it also allows me to understand the movements better and retain them. Arriving at my dorm room,I lay down and decided to rest, as it seems I'll have a few hectic days until that fencing class comes around again