The courtyard breeze flowed through the gaps between their red and white hair.
Eris looked at Sylphie's hand.
"Then why didn't you learn swordsmanship, Sylphie?"
Her reddish-brown eyes shifted, glancing behind her.
Sylphie smiled.
It was true that at first, she had developed a strong interest in swordsmanship because of Alan. She still clearly remembered the impressive sight of him unleashing his Touki with a simple hand chop by the irrigation ditch.
But later, when she realized her 'talent' was more suited for magic, she chose to learn from Rudeus instead.
It was a choice her younger self had made based on intuition.
But thinking back now, the choice she made following Alan's advice wasn't for any other reason than that it was the quickest way to integrate into their little group of 'friends.'
If I truly had no talent for swordsmanship as Alan said, if I could never learn to wield a blade and perform those obviously difficult techniques he used, would I have gone back to being 'alone' again?
Looking back now, the answer was no.
Alan wouldn't have let the other kids in the village continue to bully her. It had nothing to do with swordsmanship or magic.
But at that time, she had followed her heart and made the choice that was best for the situation.
So where was Eris's heart right now?
It was in that carriage, in the pouring rain.
Just as her own heart, back then, had been beside the muddy irrigation ditch.
And with that, the answer to how to persuade Eris to accept her magic lessons became clear.
Think a little more, contemplate a little more.
The solution to the problem is right in front of you.
This was something she had learned from Alan.
Sylphie's soft, sweet voice drifted into Eris's ears on the wind.
"Because I figured out what my original reason for wanting to learn swordsmanship was. So, I stopped being so fixated on it. As long as I can achieve the goal I want to accomplish, it doesn't matter if it's swordsmanship or magic."
Sylphie's somewhat roundabout words left the young lady confused.
"Huh? Original reason?"
"Yes, your original reason. What was your original reason for accepting us as your tutors, Eris?"
"My original reason for accepting you as my tutors?"
Eris frowned and thought for a long time. Logically, what should have come to mind was the 'beginning'—the invitation for tutors from the Greyrat family in Buena Village.
But at this moment, along with those words, what drilled into her mind was the arrow that had shot into the carriage through the rain, struggling in Alan's palm.
And right before her eyes, the brilliant sparks from the fierce clash of a longsword and a dagger in the air.
That scene was so unforgettable.
That was her true original reason for fully accepting her 'tutors.'
Eris crossed her arms and was about to subconsciously speak her heart, but after her gaze drifted toward Alan for a moment, what came out was:
"It was… it was the 'Flow' technique!"
The classic tsundere nature of a young wild dog.
Sylphie had been watching Eris's face the whole time. After hearing those words, she smiled, her goal achieved.
She made a light clapping motion, as if to signal that she had received Eris's message. At the same time, she turned to look at Rudeus and Alan beside her.
The two of them froze for a second. The tacit understanding built over two years in Buena Village instantly let them know what Sylphie was trying to do.
She was persuading Eris to learn magic.
And her method was based on her familiarity with Alan's sword techniques and her own familiarity with magic…
Alan and Rudeus exchanged a glance. He casually waved his hand in the air.
Two leaves landed in his palm.
Alan walked up to Eris.
He held his hand out in front of her.
She subconsciously looked at his hand.
In that instant, the leaves 'floated' up from his palm.
They swam and circled in the air above his hand, like fish chasing each other's tails in clear water.
Eris's eyes shone with great interest as she stared at Alan's palm.
His voice rang out.
"The various ultimate techniques of the three major sword styles, at their core, are all just unique ways of releasing Touki specific to each style."
"Water God Style—the 'Flow' technique."
"Essentially, it involves releasing Touki onto the surface of the skin in a highly compressed and dense state, in the form of water. This gives it a 'flowing' quality, which allows you to change the direction of force."
"If you extend this process and continuously release Touki to correct the direction of the 'flow,' you get what you're seeing now."
Alan pointed to the swimming fish—the leaves—floating in the air above his palm. They weren't actively swimming in the air but were being moved by the continuous release of highly compressed and refined Touki from Alan, constantly changing their direction.
"The reason you want to learn this isn't really because of how powerful it is, but more for its visual impact… in other words, it looks 'spectacular' and amazing, right?"
The wild dog nodded her head like a pecking chicken.
"Right!"
"Do you want to learn it?"
"Yes!"
"Then you first need to reach the stage of being able to release Touki externally. That is the foundation for learning the 'Flow' technique."
Eris raised an eyebrow.
"Release Touki externally?"
Ghislaine had, at some point, also walked over to the three of them. She was leaning over slightly, staring intently at Alan's palm. She knew what she was looking at; she understood that this seemingly simple 'trick' was based on extremely skilled Touki release techniques and incredibly refined Touki quality.
As expected of the recognized top of the younger generation at the Water God Style's main dojo.
She squinted and answered Eris's question.
"The 'Flow' technique is itself a technique for controlling externally released Touki. If you can't even release Touki externally, then talking about learning 'Flow' is out of the question."
Eris grew anxious.
"How do I learn to release Touki externally?"
"Continue to practice your swordsmanship. When you reach the level of an advanced-rank swordsman, you will have the ability to release Touki externally. No, a more accurate way to put it is, once you have mastered the ability to release Touki externally, you are at the level of an advanced-rank swordsman."
Eris's smile froze.
She knew, of course, that she was currently only at the elementary level of the Sword God Style.
Alan watched the smile fade from Eris's face.
"Without a doubt, you still need a long time to continue refining your Touki and practicing your swordsmanship before you can even meet the prerequisite for learning this technique. This will take at least a year. And after that, it will take you more than a year or two to master the 'Flow' technique."
Eris's lips turned down into a pout.
"…Then… then how long will it take?!"
"At least two years, maybe as many as five, given your current level as a 9-year-old elementary-rank swordsman."
"..."
Alan blinked. Seeing the light vanish from Eris's eyes and her pout deepen, he knew the fish had taken the bait.
He changed his tone.
"But, there is another way to shorten this process."
Hearing this, Eris's spirits lifted instantly.
"What is it?!"
Amidst her high-pitched question, Ghislaine glanced thoughtfully at Rudeus behind Alan, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Alan's response was firm.
"Magic!"
Eris's fiery eyebrows shot up.
"Huh?"
"To perform such a spectacular technique, you don't need years and years of practice. You can do it with just beginner-level magic."
Alan smiled at Eris.
At the same time, he stepped aside, revealing the person behind him.
Rudeus.
He stood in the exact same posture as Alan, holding his palm up.
He placed it in front of Eris's face.
Upon his palm, in the sight of Eris, Ghislaine, Sylphie, and Alan, a chain of leaves 'bit' each other's tails, forming a circle that tumbled and danced.
They played in the hands of a Saint-ranked magician.
"No need for years of practice."
"You only need a low-level spell—the Gust spell—to do it."
"This is the charm of magic."
Eris stared at Rudeus's hand in astonishment. After a long moment, she frowned and looked up sharply.
Contrary to her expectations, Rudeus's face didn't have the smug expression he usually wore when he was 'opposing' her, nor did he have that lewd grin with both corners of his mouth turned up.
He was simply looking calmly at his own palm, his demeanor bearing a striking resemblance to Alan's.
He exuded a powerful confidence.
Why was he so confident?
Because over the past two years, Alan had told him countless times.
"Rudeus, don't be timid. When it comes to magic, you can be confident."
"This is where your talent lies."
"This."
"Is your domain."
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