Getting manhandled by my maid, leaving after disappointing results and crawling to the showers to wipe off the stink of misery.
That was my life.
"I want to run away!"
Leaning against the wet, tiled wall of the bathroom while the cold water drenched across my body, I whispered in agony.
I wasn't the only one being treated that badly by my trainer, but compared to my elder siblings, who had already gone through the torture years ago, I definitely felt it the most.
The worst part was today had been one of those easy days when Rita knocked me out in one go.
Usually, she would have opted to wear my spirit and will down with a relentless assault, after which she would follow with a lethal strike just enough to incapacitate me without knocking me out — just so I could endure the pain.
Today, however, she knocked me out, making my day less miserable but still painful enough.
"I still don't know what you do."
Sliding to the ground, I observed the panel hovering before me.
[Martial Prowess: 0%]
[Martial Proficiency: 1]
I still thought it was a form of ability because in this world, apart from Aura and Mana, there existed another form of power called [Talents].
It was only available to a few, and it contributed greatly to one's personal manpower.
I only knew a handful of individuals who had this power, but none had informed me of ever seeing a panel.
"Should I toggle it?"
Like always, I entertained that thought, but unlike before, I was really determined to figure out what it did.
"Let's start with 1."
As I thought so, Martial Prowess moved from 0 to 1.
I suddenly felt a rush of aura race into my core, and my senses sharpened.
With a fluid stand, I switched off the shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and paced to my bedroom to grab the sword I had just used for training.
Taking in the sight of the blade, my body rushed toward it and grabbed it without a second waste.
I then slowed my breathing, straightened my posture, and took a mid-guard stance.
With my sword poised and ready to strike, I brought it down in a fluid swing.
Swinging a blade was as easy as breathing to me, but unlike before, where I felt my attack carried too much weight, this time it felt more controlled — like the sword was merely an added limb for me.
I might be the better swordsman between Rita and me, but compared to her, I always felt more disconnected with my weapon — but now, not anymore.
"Let's try another."
Making sure my stance was unchanged, I repeated the previous motion and performed another swing.
"Another."
Feeling an indescribable rush, I repeated again and again till I memorized that form.
"Now back to zero."
Decreasing the number back to its previous state, I retook my stance from memory and slowed my breathing once more.
With my focus solely on my blade, I heared the pulsing of my heart and moved my sword down.
It flashed forward in a clean cut — less fluid than before but more in tune.
Before, it felt detached; now it felt numb.
To rid myself of such numbness, I swung my blade from memory.
Each swing more desperate than the last until eventually, I succeeded in replicating the perfection of the first strike — before the blade slipped out of my sweaty palms, making a sharp clang as it bounced on the floor.
[Martial Proficiency: increased to 1.1]
Watching my proficiency increase by a decimal, I found myself grinning as I began to understand what exactly my ability was.
The Martial Prowess — the increase in percentages — seemed to enhance my talent for martial arts. I suspected as much but wasn't too sure until this event confirmed it.
As for the Martial Proficiency, if I could guess, it represented what I could currently achieve when I increased my talent.
For the toggle screen of Prowess, it seemed I couldn't go higher than eleven. It was ten at first — that was until my proficiency increased to 1.1, which seemed to denote eleven on Prowess.
"So the higher I increase my proficiency, the higher my Martial Prowess would grow."
That short analysis was enough to make me jump in joy.
It meant I had a chance at not being useless in my upcoming fight against Selena.
As long as I was able to fully harness these new abilities, I might make up for my average efficiency with their martial talent.
"I don't have to run away after all."
Of course, I had no intention of running away in the first place, but I was considering it — but now, I'll be able to protect myself and Alice.
Lost in the moment and skipping around in joy, I didn't notice the door to my room open, and when I finally did, I found myself subjected to the disapproving gaze of a child of eight who bore the signature blonde hair of our family and had eyes colored gold.
"Alice!" I stumbled, courtesy of my blade, which ended up pricking part of my leg as I fell on my butt.
Bleeding and in nothing but a towel draped around my waist, I tried my best to ignore the pain of the cut as I looked down in shame, unwilling to meet my sister's gaze.
"..Blood!" she stated, approaching me while clinging to an ancient book.
"Don't worry, Alice... I'll handle it later," I said, trying to stop her from approaching. I didn't want to soil her dress with my blood, but she ignored me anyway and pointed her finger at my wound.
"Pain, pain, go away~"
Her voice, a melody to my ears, signaled a change in the atmosphere as golden threads of mana gathered at her fingertip before she flicked that same finger at my wound.
It pulsed with a strange light and began to reattach itself, leaving my now unscathed leg in a pool of my blood.
"All better." She smiled and lowered her head — a gesture for a head pat.
"Sigh... you really are an unfazed kid."
As I patted her head, I commented, earning nothing but a giggle from my little sister.
My elder siblings and I, we did everything we could so she'd be protected.
Now I had the power to do so — so even if it breaks me, I'll get stronger and defeat Selena, to keep the inheritance that belonged to us.