Kazuki swung the sword, the blade whistling through the air as he aimed for Elara's midsection. But she was faster.
Clang!
Elara's sword intercepted his strike with ease. The force of the clash reverberated up Kazuki's arms, nearly causing him to drop the weapon.
"Not bad for a beginner," Elara sneered, pushing him back. "But you're ten years too early to take me on."
Kazuki gritted his teeth, steadying his stance. The basic sword techniques he had just copied rushed through his mind. Grip the hilt firmly. Keep your feet grounded. Watch your opponent's movements.
"Again," he muttered, taking a deep breath.
Elara's eyes gleamed. "Oh? Still have some fight left in you? Let's see how long that lasts."
She lunged forward, her sword a blur of silver as she aimed for Kazuki's shoulder. Kazuki barely managed to parry, his arms trembling under the impact.
'Damn it... she's strong,' Kazuki thought, his breathing ragged. 'But if I can just land one hit...'
[Skill Copy - Active]
[Analyzing Target's Combat Style...]
Kazuki's eyes widened as more information flooded his mind—Elara's stance, her breathing rhythm, her subtle shifts in balance. It was as if he could predict her next move.
'Left swing. She's going for my side,' he realized.
Elara's sword came in low, a sweeping arc aimed at his ribs. Kazuki sidestepped, the blade narrowly missing him.
"What?!" Elara gasped, eyes wide.
Kazuki took his chance. He surged forward, slashing at her exposed side. Elara brought her sword up just in time, but the force of Kazuki's strike sent her stumbling back.
"Not so useless now, am I?" Kazuki said, panting.
Elara's jaw clenched. "You... how did you..."
Kazuki smirked, but the victory was short-lived. Elara's expression hardened, and in the next instant, she was charging at him with renewed ferocity.
"You little...!" she shouted, bringing her sword down in a powerful overhead strike.
Kazuki raised his sword to block, but the impact was too strong. The force knocked him to the ground, his back hitting the grass with a thud.
"End of the line," Elara said, looming over him, the tip of her sword pressed against his neck.
Kazuki swallowed, sweat dripping down his face. 'Damn it... I almost had her...'
[Skill Copy Complete. Blade Mastery - Beginner Rank successfully acquired.]
[Skill Integration in Progress...]
Elara's gaze softened slightly, her sword lowering a fraction. "You're not like the others."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "Others?"
Elara sheathed her sword, her expression unreadable. "Get up. You've passed the test."
"Test?" Kazuki said, struggling to his feet.
Elara crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "You're in the Western Plains. This territory is under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Estoria. All men found wandering here without purpose are either criminals... or potential recruits."
"Recruits?" Kazuki echoed, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Elara nodded. "You've got some skill for a man. But skill alone won't keep you alive in this world. If you want to survive, you'll need allies. And lucky for you, I'm in need of a new subordinate."
Kazuki frowned. "Subordinate?"
Elara's smirk widened. "Yes. Unless, of course, you'd rather be thrown into the dungeons as a vagrant. What'll it be, boy?"
Kazuki clenched his fists. 'A subordinate... or a prisoner. Looks like I don't have much of a choice.'
"Fine," he said, meeting her gaze. "I'll join you."
And just like that, Kazuki's life in this world took its first step forward.
Kazuki followed Elara down the winding dirt path, his gaze fixed on the back of her silver hair as it swayed with each step. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields. Despite the apparent calm, Kazuki couldn't shake the tension knotting in his gut.
"So," he said, breaking the silence. "Where exactly are we going?"
Elara didn't look back. "To the nearest outpost. You need to be registered under my command before anyone finds out a man was wandering alone in my territory."
Kazuki frowned. "Is that really such a big deal?"
Elara shot him a glare over her shoulder. "In Estoria, men without a master are considered potential threats. If a patrol found you before I did, you'd already be in shackles."
Kazuki swallowed, his fists clenching. "Right."
They walked in silence for a while longer. The road twisted through a small forest, the canopy above thick with leaves. Birds chirped and flitted between branches, oblivious to Kazuki's troubled thoughts.
'Is this really how things work here?' Kazuki thought. 'Men treated as property... and women ruling everything.'
"Hey," Elara said abruptly, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Yeah?"
She stopped walking and turned to face him, eyes narrowed. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Kazuki hesitated. "I... I just remembered some stuff. It came to me out of nowhere."
Elara crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. "You expect me to believe that? You were clumsy and untrained one moment, then swinging a sword like a novice knight the next."
Kazuki averted his gaze. "It's the truth."
Elara watched him for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. Keep your secrets for now. But don't think I won't find out eventually."
Kazuki released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. 'That was close.'
"Come on," Elara said, turning away. "The outpost isn't far."
They resumed their walk, but Kazuki's mind was still reeling. 'I need to figure out how this Skill Copy ability works. If I can copy Elara's Blade Mastery, maybe I can copy other skills too.'
[Skill Copy: Active.]
A translucent window appeared before Kazuki's eyes, displaying Elara's profile.
[Target: Elara Sylfane - Knight of Estoria.]
[Skills Available to Copy: Blade Mastery - Beginner Rank]
[Skill Already Acquired.]
'Nothing new yet,' Kazuki thought, closing the window. 'But if I keep my eyes open, maybe I can find some new skills to copy.'
"We're here," Elara said, stopping abruptly.
Kazuki looked up. Before them stood a small outpost, a wooden structure with a guard tower and a barracks. Women in armor patrolled the area, each one eyeing Kazuki with suspicion as they passed.
"Elara!" a voice called from the barracks entrance. A young woman with short, fiery red hair jogged over, her green eyes sparkling.
"Tara," Elara said, her tone softening slightly. "Got the paperwork ready?"
Tara glanced at Kazuki, her brow arching. "Who's the boy?"
"My new subordinate," Elara said. "We need to register him as part of my unit."
Tara smirked, folding her arms. "You sure you're not just taking in strays now, Elara?"
Elara shot her a glare. "Just get the forms."
Tara chuckled and disappeared inside the barracks.
Kazuki glanced at Elara. "She's... a friend of yours?"
Elara sighed. "Something like that. Just keep your mouth shut and follow my lead."
Kazuki nodded, but his mind was already racing. A new place meant new people. And new people meant new skills to copy.
And Kazuki planned to take full advantage of that.