The Book Of Flowers

Sword Training (5)

Hm...

"It looks like they both drew this time..." Verdea commented

"I just wanted to say that" I replied

Really am. I was quite stunned by Remina's development. I didn't know the kid had sword talent

No, forget about that. I've never even seen him this enthusiastic about learning anything!

It's not just a matter of talent, but also what Remina wants to learn. Just like a child who has a favorite food

Ahem ahem~

Put that aside...

All I want to say is, Remina has a development that is too beyond reason. Mastering a technique or a weapon is not something you do in one day

I mean, he showed rapid development as long as he fought on our side. Able to use high-level magic. Being able to fight and match the tempo of the fight of the higher ups is also an experienced fighter. And now, he could technique the sword

He did it all at the age of 12. He reminds me so much of my five old friends, when they quickly mastered things. That's why I really want to make them a leader. Not only for status, but also because I could see such great potential within them

It seems Lyralia did not wrongly suggest Remina on that day. I feel proud that I agreed and prepared myself as well

"But, he's still on par with the old Lyralia. A little polish, he'll probably get better" I commented

"What was Lyralia like?"

"Oh, they look pretty much the same, Veri..."

I can even see that she imitated quite a lot of Lyralia's movements in this exercise. The cunning movement by turning himself into water overwhelmed me and Luna when practicing combat against it

But Remina can use it effectively enough to attack, while Lyralia always has the right tempo in dodging

Unfortunately we were too strong then and now, so he could never defeat me or Luna

If I think about it, do my friends still remember their combat training scores with each other? Usually it will be the topic of our conversation when we get together first

"You showed me the trick of turning yourself into that water since yesterday. But I didn't think I'd be overwhelmed by it today" Edwin later commented

Oh, they're gonna start attacking each other again

"That's teacher. I just still haven't caught on when I should have used this ability yesterday"

"And now you can?"

"I'm sure our exchange of attacks explained a lot"

...

"Well, you're right"

Edwin who had just finished talking had suddenly been attacked by Remina first this time. But calmly, he halted the swing of the sword and he pushed back Remina

"Then I will also adjust to the situation!"

Edwin counterattacked by darting forward, but was avoided by Remina who jumped into the air while trying to injure his back. Surprised enough, he lowered his head with all his might and rolled on the ground as Remina made a vertical cutting move

Unable to land her attack, Remina felt annoyed and immediately chased after Edwin who was trying to take some distance. Their swords clashed again, but this time Remina did something to balance the situation towards her will

He clenched his left hand until his strength gathered there. And with all his might, he smashed Edwin's right waist so that his teacher was off guard

Remina took the opportunity to take Edwin down, so she started to push down. Panicked, Edwin also used his left hand as a pedestal to rotate the body and kick Remina to get the attack canceled

Remina managed to avoid that impromptu move, but immediately gave room for Edwin to strike back

He was surprised and turned himself back into water. But realizing that the lower part of his body did not change, Edwin kicked Remina's leg so that he fell down

His sword he tried to stick into Remina's back. It's just, Remina managed to turn herself into water completely and immediately jumped out again—nyaris managed to stab Edwin's right eye

The cut was just the front strand of Edwin's hair, while the man managed to retreat unharmed

...

This fight is fiercer than I expected. The adrenaline in my body was triggered, as did Verdea, who began chanting, "Don't lose, Remina!"

He can balance himself with Edwin?? I mean, the one who overwhelmed me and Zaphir when fighting him that day??

Of course, he was helped by Darwin. But no ordinary human could withstand the physical strength of either Zaphir or myself and said it was just sheer luck

7 Minutes passed, really. But because we got caught up in this fight, Verdea and I were able to enjoy every move they made, and even study them

This is so awesome. I want to see what the outcome will be if he fights Lyralia later

Wh-!

Edwin started attacking again!

He was seen trying to make a swing move from the lower right side, but Remina immediately anticipated her opponent and prepared to repel the attack

Remina was fooled. The trick movement was changed by Edwin who immediately stopped, started to stand upright while turning his sword, and launched a splitting attack from the upper right side

The attack surprised even those of us who were watching. Remina as quickly as possible tried to change the defensive position of her sword. Although he managed to dispel the attack, he who was not ready was completely caught off guard by being overwhelmed

Edwin did not waste the opportunity at all. Remina kicked him with her knees so he was knocked back and fell to the ground

Verdea and I were panicking about it, especially since Edwin did not give Remina— a chance to advance before Remina could stop rolling or moaning

Remina's position stopped was confirmed, but Edwin already knew first. Once again he did the vertical hemisphere right up to Remina's neck. But the girl had not given up and pushed her body to the side, just before the swing smashed the ground where her head had been

He once again managed to get kicked to the ground, but this time, he managed to land without lying down

Edwin immediately stopped advancing, but not so for Remina. The girl strikes back with a puncture motion, but is directed to the side by Edwin

He tried to remove the sword from Remina's hand, but the result was nil. He could only fend off Remina's sword, and clucked in annoyance as it was still stuck in his hand

So he tried to reach for Remina's collar, but instead got a surprising avoidance. Remina moved right down her body and managed to hit Edwin's stomach as hard as she could

Unfortunately, the attack was just enough to make Edwin step back. Even Remina who tried to swing her sword again immediately canceled the attack because her target had already jumped back

Both put up early horses. Both are injured. And both of them don't want to lose

This fight is proof to make sure the other one gives up and obeys the winner. Whether it's the girl who wants to get new knowledge from her teacher, or the man who tries to ascertain whether the girl is worthy or not to become his student

They had gotten that far, but the two began to feel quite satisfied with each other. In the midst of the both of them breathing irregularly, the two showed a smile that they could not hide anymore

...

"They're both monsters..." Verdea commented again

"Then you haven't seen Luna and Ordelia when you were little"

A unique fact, Ordelia always wins against Luna in combat training. But, after the Midsummer Night Dream incident happened, Ordelia could never win again against Luna

"You Elves are monsters. Edwin too"

"The use of words in your sentence can leave a bad impression..."

"It doesn't change the fact that you guys are terrible at fighting"

Good if he knows~

"What do you eat until you can be that strong...?"

"Sayuran~ Utama tomat~!"

"Ughh! I know you'll give me an upsetting answer!"

Ahahaha!!

...

"Repulina..." Edwin suddenly said

"... Yea?"

The two were silent for a moment after Remina answered. But suddenly, Edwin canceled his horses and stood up with a casual gesture

"Don't tell me you want to give up, teacher..." Remina said, still putting up the horses

"No" Edwin answered briefly. "Just the opposite"

His sword was raised to face up. He faced the thin side of the sword against his face, as he slowly rubbed his hand over the sword as if preparing to do something

Remina could also feel that, as Edwin's eyes closed. His horses were still strong and ready, but there was a disturbing feeling in his heart

And he's right. I who could see the Mana flowing through the air did not even have to bother to figure out what was wrong and frightening from Edwin's pose

A group of Mana gathered around his body in large numbers...

That's something I didn't expect at all, mainly because the knight wielding the sword I've always encountered simply couldn't master Mana control, let alone gather them in that amount

Verdea started looking at me because she felt something was wrong. But he immediately understood when he saw me stunned and dripping with sweat

It seems...

Edwin will launch his strongest attack. The technique he had wanted to teach someone, and now that person was Remina...

"... It will be the attack that ends this exercise. Techniques I'm gonna teach you"

I've guessed. I am a genius

Forgetit. Remina might get hurt if the attack was launched right at her. But I don't think Edwin had that intention

"Watch carefully! Don't let your guard down and watch how this attack is going to get out to you!" Edwin called for

"So I can avoid it, right?" Remina with a wry smile replied

Remina certainly panicked when she felt a great energy begin to gather around Edwin. But he had no intention of repelling the attack. The attack he was about to learn, and was first demonstrated by his teacher before him

One strike that would probably be extremely fatal if he did not immediately understand the intricacies. But Edwin was very confident he was dodging his attacks, so anyway...

Remina had to watch her movements well...

"Blessed be this Lord, I offer to sanctify what is unholy"

Edwin's eyes were wide open, and immediately...

He darted forward and carried out 4 attacks at once

Four. Offensives. At once

In a split second, the Mana wave generated by each swing of the sword was pointed at Remina from all angles and directions

He didn't need long to grasp every gap from the attack, and with all his might..

Remina turned herself into water and jumped to the side

*SHOUT!*

...

...

...

The attack...

Successfully he avoided, with the payment he had to fall on the ground now that he had used his Mana

The attack left a very clear mark on the ground, as if a sword was being dragged over it. The form of the attack even made me and Verdea dumbfounded

There was not the slightest gap given by the attack, as he was shaped and covered from all directions 8 winds. A streak swing made with just 4 consecutive sword swings, and allowed the Mana wave of the attack to dart towards his helpless opponent

And from what I witnessed just now, Remina was not at all arbitrarily using her Mana. That's not why he lost

Edwin's attack was what made him lose. Each Mana wave produced by him, not only served to cut off the opponent before him, but also...

"He made Mana Remina yawn with the attack...?"

Verdea was surprised to hear that explanation from me

Because we both understand. We understand very well, if there is no record that can explain which one is able to evaporate the Mana around him

...

Edwin is the worst opponent for a magician. And that explains a lot about its power, considering that the main magician wins because of the variety of attacks and defenses they can launch

But what if this guy's attack— the back-to-back attacks that were able to make the Mana of the magic-showers evaporate, directed at them?

Those magic-shakers would certainly not be able to dodge from such a close distance. And even if they could, they would have to use Mana, so that the flow that came out of their bodies was opening up the still stored Mana to the outside world

That was why the attack could vaporize Mana Remina. When the valve closed where the Mana flow out in Remina's body opened, the Mana within her body also felt the impact of the evaporation that the attack produced

...

It's gruesome...

And think that I survived against him first. I'm lucky enough that he didn't use that technique just yet to actually intend to kill me...

"You lost"

Training's over...

Edwin's sword was thrust into Remina's neck that was slumped on the ground. The girl who tried to replenish the Mana in her body could only smile bitterly as it was once again defeated

But at least, this time he knew that he was giving a match. Only that last strike alone made him fail to take the victory

"I... Tired..."

And in that way...

The girl also fainted unconscious, due to the amount of Mana drained from her body

...

Hmphc...

"Remove, Edwin. I'll take care of her now" I said as I got up and moved towards Remina

Edwin took a step back at my request. I slowly lowered my head to check on Remina's condition, and she was quite fine. Put aside that he is completely unconscious right now

...

"This kid almost beat you with just one night of practice, Edwin?"

The question suddenly came out of my mouth, causing Edwin to flinch from not anticipating it at all. And for his short answer, Edwin nodded

"He's growing very fast, as if all day yesterday he kept fighting me until I lost" he added

Against you until you lose huh...?

I know that he used Imaginary Copy to create a clone of Edwin, but was able to balance himself with the black knight in just one night?

It takes determination and talent. It can't be if it's just one of them...

This kid is much more talented than I expected. Every expectation I had for him he always made me fly as high as space

...

I don't know why I'm so happy

In a moment, he would become a warrior that could not be underestimated anymore. Someone who might raise the standards of the Elves as well as the knights

His decision in choosing the science of sword is even more than the right word

Huh...

Kids today are growing up fast. Once I blinked, and they could already carry the world in their hands

"Thank you for training him, Edwin"

Edwin only smiled slightly, especially when he saw Remina who was on my back now

"I should be thanking him..." Edwin replied

...

Hmphc...

"I don't know what your intentions are. But you better not put anything heavy on the child's shoulders" I said again to him

Edwin suddenly flinched. Shocked because I realized what was in his head and heart

But he knows very well that he can't do what I want

"I can't promise, Oberon..."

...

Whatever it is, Edwin...

You better not hurt Remina

I don't need to tell him that. I knew he wouldn't have the slightest interest in hurting Remina. I knew that she was already too affectionate towards this new student, and there was something she wanted Remina to do

Something big, of course. Something that would turn this world upside down

...

"Keep training Remina until the day the test comes. You hear me, Edwin?"

Edwin nodded. And he made a knight promise in front of me. By sticking his sword to the ground and acting like a soldier, he also expressed the contents of the promise

"I make sure he will be the best swordsman in Miralius or the world" Edwin said

The promise is huge. But I like hearing it

"May you be right" I replied with a smile

I hope his future is like that. I hope his life is like a sea off—a place that can still be explored endlessly

A great future awaits you, son. Be it you, Verdea or Veskal. The three of you will make sure I can reach that future

I promise too...

...

"Vaine..."

Hm?

"Very? What's up?"

Verdea looked agitated, as she pointed towards someone who had just arrived at the place

No other and no no, that person was Fyon. And because he's the one who's here to see me now...

...

I'm sure he found what I asked him before...

"We have to go now, Edwin. It's important"

Verdea was getting more agitated by my words. Fyon on the other hand, nodded slowly to confirm my thoughts

It's time we all tracked down the rotten mice who called themselves devil worshippers...