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4 hours later…
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of metal clashing outside is as loud as ever. Yanyi who is on her way to the training field saw how the little guy is struggling to hold back against the bigger opponent.
Eker is currently in a defensive stance. His training sword is trying to deflect Luyao's sword who is playing with one hand only. He is pushing hard on the little one, seeing if his training poses any good.
"Widen your legs! Strength on your calves!" He shouted as he drew back and used the back of his sword to launch Eker back on to the ground.
"UGH!" Is all that he is able to say.
The boy lay on the ground for a couple of seconds trying to catch his breath. The hands that are holding the sword emerge into his view. His eyes showed a bit of disappointment.
"There's no need to be disappointed." A voice rings just above him. Tilting his head a bit he saw the familiar face of his sister. Smiling with encouragement.
She stood back up from crouching and walked over to Luyao. "What weapon did you choose with Aunt Vaiden?" She asks while standing by Luyao's side.
"Dagger and short sword." Luyao answered on his behalf. Yanyi was quite perplexed. Hardly had she heard someone take two weapons for their first time. "Why?" Is all she asked.
This time Eker didn't let his instructor take the spotlight. "I was thinking that because my body is a bit smaller than the average 10 years old, I might as well use my body weight to my advantage. Aunt Vaiden said that using a much smaller weapon is good for hidden movement." He said with pride.
"Okay. But why the short sword?" To which Eker answered with a smug smile. "Jiejie will soon see!" If it weren't for the fact that he's a real human being and not a wooden puppet, his nose would be longer.
Not because of lying but the pride.
She then commented as her eyes fell onto Eker's hand. He is currently gripping the training short sword. "If you choose a sword, why haven't you been able to defeat Luyao?"
Luyao — "His mastery needs more work."
Yanyi — "Didn't you always teach him with it though?"
Luyao — "Yes. But someone is not taking their situation into consideration."
Yanyi — "He didn't think about physical prowess and relied solely on basic movements?"
Luyao — "Yup."
ker could have it if Brother Luyao shows it!" Hearing the name 'Brother' instead of Teacher or any equivalent during such a moment received him a dagger glare. Immediately his mouth is shut.
Yanyi looked between the two and decided to step in. Perhaps she could demonstrate it much better.
She took a training sword from the rack and pointed to Eker. Her head bounced up. Calling for him to stand on his feet.
He was weird at first. However, after seeing Yanyi's stance. The all familiar stance, he realised what this is. It is a duel! A duel with his sister.
"Now, I want you to be purely on the defensive. Until I say you can switch, don't switch. Understood." Yanyi gave out an instruction to which Eker nodded. She then turned to Luyao.
"You can sit out for this one. I'll teach him." The man didn't complain and placed his buttocks on the ground. Enjoying the duel while shading under the tree.
Within 5 seconds Yanyi moves in windward speed. Her sword plunges towards Eker who thankfully reacts mere seconds from disaster. His sword then blocked Yanyi's.
He had thought that she would stay in that position but a sudden pain followed by a gust of wind hit him hard on his left side. Not strong enough to cause any bruise of blood but painful enough.
Eker stumbles back a bit before placing his small unarmed hands onto the pained area. Yanyi didn't move but instead she spoke. "Xue's rule on defence. One, never let your eyes off the ENEMY. Not the weapon."
Eker's face turns into one with sudden realization. As if that painful hit is nowhere in his mind. "Let's start again. Remember, be defensive."
She did it again.
Eker blocked it again.
She hit again.
Eker stepped back.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Yanyi keeps on doing it until she herself slips from constantly attacking. Now he had at least understood the defensive using body. Next…
"Try to not use your body part to block or back away. Instead…" She swung her sword directly towards Eker. Right in the middle of his view. "Use your weapon."
Within seconds of finishing her talk, she again moved in whirlwind speed. Intending to strike Eker at the vital area of a human. The heart.
Eker then places his sword diagonally, making sure that the flat side is towards his sister. 'This gives more area to exert force and block. It also won't damage the blade.' He thought to himself.
At the peripheral view he sensed a profound movement. One that is as fast as the one he had blocked. It is coming for his neck.
Without thinking of the first attack, he rotated the sword to protect and deflect the attack. Not only that by moving it diagonally he is also buying time to dodge the first attack. He is not running, he is protecting.
"Impressive." Is all he heard from his sister in front of him. Yanyi then proceeds to make use of her legs and try to aim for Eker's small head.
Out of instinct he immediately changed to having the blade right before his head. The moment her legs touched the flat side, Eker pushed the blade upwards.
This causes the attack to be a bit unstable. Yanyi stumbled a bit and nearly lost her ground. However, she didn't lose her smile.
A slow clap reverberates into Eker's ears. The sound is coming from behind him. The supposed resting area after a long training. An area that Luyao had been resting in.
"Congratulations Eker. You've understood the relation between defensive and offensive." Is all he commented on. Eker himself doesn't understand what Luyao is talking about. When did he ever use the offensive movement?
Yanyi — "The offensive is when you push jiejie's legs away from you. You did that while you were defending your vulnerable area."
Eker — "But isn't that also defensive? If such a high force with gravity comes down to touch a non-moving object it would exert the rest of the force on the non-moving object."
Luyao — "One, where did you learn all of this? Two, yes. It is also a defensive move. However, the fact that you manage to bring your jiejie backwards as well as making her a bit unsteady is counted as a form of offence."
Yanyi — "You are essentially making room to go offensive at that very moment. With your opponent having a hard time to move it makes a great switching gate."
"So that means…" Eker was still confused and looked back at his armed hand. Yanyi bent down to his level. Her right hand let go of the sword and placed itself on Eker's soft light gray hair. Her movement is gentle and filled with proudness.
"You can now continue sparring."
The bright yellow irises glow even brighter. I don't even know they can do that. Regardless, Eker's smile brings forth some sort of relief in Yanyi's heart.
It died down a bit unfortunately. "But you said that I was supposed to master the weapon? This isn't weapon mastery, right?" Yanyi nodded but chose to explain herself.
"Weapon mastery doesn't come easily. It takes time. You need to learn to incorporate your learning into the fight first."
Luyao — "Defensive is a bit easier to start with. Once you understand the basics of defense and manage to make an opening to offence that is a great step forward."
Eker — "So… Now all I have to do is?"
Luyao — "I will continue to spar with you. You will be in the defensive position from the start. You are required to make any opening for offence. Whether you choose to defend or attack, that is up to you."
Eker — "A trial and error… Understood!"
With a much more pumped heart, Eker starts to see a better future for his training. He then placed the sword back to its stand and dragged Yanyi away. "It's time to return home, jiejie!"
"Going so quickly?" Luyao tease which received a teasing tongue out from the little brat. Oh he will be back to drag that kid back tomorrow. There won't be any mishap on his side.
Yanyi, Irene and Eker bid farewell to everyone at the Ryuichi manor before entering the car. Their little side quest has come to an end. Tomorrow they'll go and meet up with that person Luyao had mentioned.
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In a dark forest stood a lone house. The only light that emits is that of a candle lamp. Experiments equipment with various liquids was mixed together. Powder with liquid. Liquid with powder.
A drop then fell onto the ground. Where a wilted weed lays dormant.
The wilted weed moves.
It stood straight up.
Its appearance didn't change.
It is now a tall standing wilted weed.
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The next day.
It has now marked the fourth day since their investigation. Yanyi and Eker had just arrived at the station. Quite early really but it didn't bother either of them. Yanyi went upstairs and settled the miscellaneous things while Eker went to run laps around the courtyard.
After about 1 hour of waiting she heard the footsteps and voice of her boss. "What's your agenda today?" Luyao said while placing down his training gear. All of these things make Eker's future training a bit hellish.
She didn't see the harm in telling him, so she spilled the beans. "Just some paperwork. Then at noon all three of us wanted to catch a visit with that person you told me."
"Want me to set it up?" Luyao asks as a form of favour. He was the one who recommended the person. Yanyi shook her head, declining the favour. She then further explains how Marquess Ryuichi and Marchioness Vaiden had set up a meeting with this person.
"Kazuto will be our little tour guide. So you can just stay here and look after Eker."
"Fine by me." He then proceeded to get out of the office.
After assuring herself that Luyao is nowhere to be seen, Yanyi took out the old journal that she had brought along yesterday. The conversation yesterday was absolutely… unwarranted.
Not like she had expected it.
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Yesterday…
After explaining the whole situation to the married couple, Yanyi only places her head down. The two proceed to look at each other and then back at Yanyi.
Vaiden steals a glance at Kazuto to read how his current reaction is. What would he do if they told him.
With a deep breath, Vaiden opened her lips and spoke two sentences. "We already knew who he was, Yanyi. Long before you first started." The head that was kept lowered stayed still like a calm water.
Except it's not calm. It was raging in shock.
"Wha-!"
"What?!" The man beside her is the one who spoke first. Kazuto is beyond saving. His face is red with rage. Angry that he wasn't made aware of this situation. Heck even more mad on his brother's behalf.
"Mother! Father!..." He wanted to say more. But he couldn't. Not without hurting or disrespecting his parents. Thus all he could do was gripping his palms until it nearly drew in blood.
Ikuto —"After the war ended, the emperor asked for the list of survivors. We included Luyao's picture and sent the documents file to the emperor. We aren't aware of who he is. That is until 15 years ago. During your Socialite Banquet."
Vaiden — "The emperor pulled us aside and spoke about… everything. That is when we also received yet another task. Task that you would know, Kazuto sweetie."
Kazuto — "What tas-!... A-Adopting him…"
Vaiden — "Precisely. The emperor would hope that Luyao would still experience the feeling of family. Even if it were an adoptive one."
Ikuto — "But after his refusal, the emperor didn't push further. Instead he gave the order for the rest of our life. To keep him safe just like a son."
Kazuto — "So… Both of you have… Taking a secret life oath… About him. And he wasn't aware of it?"
He slumped back on his chair. Still trying to process the whole situation. He was speechless, sure but the one beside him. She is fearing for something.
Her pupils are scared. Scared of what? One couldn't say for sure.
Vaiden sees how the two young adults are in front of her. She herself felt guilty for holding the secrets for so long. But she can't help telling the child everything. Neither does her husband.
For years after that decree by the emperor they had to sleep with uneasiness. What would happen next for their family. And it surely doesn't help with Vaiden being pregnant currently.
"Should we tell him, darling?" She silently whispered to Ikuto. The Marquess then faces his head in Yanyi's direction. She is now the one who bears the responsibility.
The emperor gave them the decree. But as of this day, Yanyi herself not only received the decree from the emperor but was chosen to make the next move. "Lady Licia Yanyi. Your call?"
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"After all of this is done…"
"We'll tell him after everything is done…"
No one said anything else.
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Back to the present.
It has been a few hours and nearing the evening hours. The time when Yanyi, Irene and Kazuto had agreed to meet up. Irene follows along as she has some information from her second brother back in Ashrin.
Yanyi walks out of the gate where Kazuto and Irene are waiting. Kazuto has been watching the training in the courtyard while waiting for Yanyi. Without thinking he said unconsciously to her.
"When do you think this will end?" Yanyi froze her steps. She then answered, her bangs covering her eyes. "Less than a week. I will make it in less than a week."
"Alright then."
The three of them entered the car. Kazuto sits on the driver side while Irene on the passenger seat. Yanyi sat behind them.
Irene then passes out a document to Yanyi. "I contacted my brother more about the information available for Venium. He had previously also studied them under the academy's guidelines. He will be sharing his findings with us in around 3 days." She spoke while turning her head to the back.
Yanyi took the documents which are a small sample of Irene's second brother, Ivan Millar studies. It foretold some of the things she had already known which are the basic properties of Venium.
Although there are some things that she didn't even have the knowledge of. For instance, Sometimes the Venium properties can be heavily changed depending on what it is being mixed with.
For instance if it was mixed with Polmin flower it would become ineffective. Polmin flower has the properties of numbness when being used. Mixing them would negate the pain soothing properties of Venium.
Yanyi also reads some of the other combinations and calls out some that really interest her. "Preservation of skin collagen? How is that even possible? How far did brother Ivan go?"
Irene gave out a long sigh before shaking her head. "You don't even want to know."
"We're here." Without realising, the three of them had arrived at the place where the meeting was. With the same person Luyao had recommended.
Bang!
Slamming the car door shut, Yanyi looks over at the huge factory-like building. Or more like a greenhouse factory?
The huge glass dome in the center. There are thousands of plants around the premises which are rarely seen. And the huge building on either side where it is supposed to be a processed building.
Irene walked over to the sign board which read, 'Smit Medical Research Facilities and Supply'. "Are they a private business?" She asks, knowing well that a private business with medical supply and facilities is hard to get.
Kazuto — "Yes. They had opened the business for about 30 years as of now. They had struck a deal to do research and cultivate rare plants by sharing information gathered with the empire authorities."
Irene — "But I thought research and cultivation of medicine is strictly made by the authorities only?"
Yanyi — "There's a lot of things that you have to know Irene. Especially on how the empire truly functions."
While they are chatting, the sound of heels vibrate through the area. The confident clicks from those shoes indicate that someone had greeted them. Someone who had known of their visit prior.
"Welcome, our esteemed guest!" The voice of females styled around the essence of pride and leadership. There by the main gate of the research facility was a woman with a short semi curly bob haircut. Her coral eyes are so vibrant that you could even say it is her whole characteristic.
Kazuto stood before the woman, bypassing the two girls. He knew the woman standing before them. Well enough to greet her with respect.
"Greetings, Countess Corla Smit. Thank you for having us."
Countess Corla Smit. The renowned research genius in all medical fields. Ocean, Plants, Flowers, Herbs. You name it she has all of it. That is a more social identity.
On the darker side, she is the one known to siege the family head title by bypassing the old tradition by something… inhumane. She is cunning, yes. But her loyalty has been shown before the Imperial family before. Thus she is a trusted individual.
Now she stood before them not as the Countess Corla Smit. But as the founder of the private research facility. She is here to help, not to poison.
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