Last night, She, Acer and the ogre had hunted down seven mroups of monsters, all throughout the night. From horned bears, to grave lizards, and of course, blood boars, so many blood boars.
Kaede had been flung through so many trees, she acquired a skill called [Impact Resilience] among other skills, basically, a skill against knockback, an issue Maple had to deal with for years in NWO.
Although. "I swear, I'm going to have nightmares about those things." She murmured. "At least, my magicules reserves are up to 6.5% now."
Looking besides her, Kirara's bed was empty. "Damn, what time is it?" Kaede cried as she immediately rushed out of the room.
---
With her gear on, Kaede made her way to the training yard. She could already hear the holy knight temprs doing their m drills.
Stepping into the field, Kaede was shocked to see Kirara in their midst, a shield buckler on her forearm and a short sword in her hips.
She was also weariher armour for some reason. Kaede made her way over just as Sardyne had Kirara doing some drills
"What's going on here?" Kaede asked as she reached them. Unfortunately, Kirara was already going for a jog, a few temprs encing her as they ran beside her.
"Ah. Kaede, you're awake, Kirara mentioned you had a rough night and couldn't sleep." Sardyurned, as she noticed the shield bearer.
"Uhm. I'm alright, just some jitters from the raid." Kaede smiled, relieved Sardyne didn't ask anything else.
"Hmm. I uand." Sardyne pced a hand on her shoulder. "This was your first mission. I heard from Ordric what happened. You did more than anyone could hope for in their first mission."
Kaede found herself rexing at Sardyne's words. "Thanks, a lot.. For that, I just hadn't really realized just hile life was until I was right there ihick of it."
Sardyne nodded, even as Kaede tinued. "In that moment, nothing else mattered, the only thing that mattered, was my shield, and its purpose... my purpose."
"I couldn't have said it better myself." Sardyne and Kaede watched as Kirara slowed down with exhaustion. "The holy faith would be happy to have you. oddess Luminous is always looking for those with steadfast hearts and unyielding resolve," Sardyne said, her voice calm but filled with vi.
Kaede hesitated, gng at Kirara as the younger girl bent over, hands on her krying to catch her breath. The temprs around her cpped her on the back, encement and cheers. Kirara smiled faintly, though her exhaustion was obvious.
“I appreciate the se,” Kaede replied, her tone measured. “But I’m not sure, I'm really the type, no offense.”
“aken,” Sardyne said, her lips curling into a small smile. “The faith isn’t for everyoill, your shield already carries a purpose, and that’s a powerful thing. Don’t lose sight of it.”
Kaede nodded, her mind rag. Sardyne’s words resonated with her more than she wao admit. Was her purpose only her shield? Or was it something more? She had to escape from falmuth first, and of course save those farmers, but after that? She wasn’t sure, but she knew ohing: she had to keep moving forward, no matter how hard the path became.
“I should probably che Kirara,” Kaede said after a pause, gesturing toward the girl. Sardyne nodded, stepping aside to let her pass.
As Kaede approached Kirara, the younger girl straightened, wiping sweat from her brow. Her face lit up when she saw Kaede. “Hey! You’re finally awake!”
Kaede crossed her arms, arg an eyebrow. “And you’re... training with the temprs? Since when?”
Kirara gave a sheepish shrug, her smile turning slightly awkward. “Since Sardyne asked me if I wao learn. I figured I should do something useful, you know? Like you.”
“Me?” Kaede repeated, incredulous. “Last night, I got thrown into a tree by a blood boar. Six times.”
Kirara ughed, the sound light despite her fatigue. “But still, you’re out there risking your life, and I’m just sitting around. I wao tribute too. The snake was able to resist [Bewilder] that's it, that's all I have Kaede, without it...”
Kaede’s expression softened, and she pced a hand on Kirara’s shoulder. “You’re not just sitting around. You’re... helping in your own way. But if this is what you want, I’m not going to stop you. Just... be careful, okay?”
Kirara nodded, her griurning. “Don’t worry, I’m tougher than I look.” she flexed her muscles.
Kaede sighed, shaking her head but smiling heless. “Alright, but don’t push yourself too hard. I’m heading to the sparring ring if you need me.”
Kirara saluted mogly before jogging back to the temprs, who weled her return with more cheers. Kaede watched her for a moment before turning toward the sparring area.
The ring was already busy, knights and trainees g in trolled chaos. Kaede found ay er and strapped her round shield to her arm.
“Time to get to work,” she muttered to herself.
As she began practig her movements, she couldn’t help but repy the events of the night before in her mind. The monsters, the blood boars, the overwhelming force of nature they represented. But she wasn't dying anymore. More than that, she had grown stronger.
"Alright, let's do this. Time to kick your ass. Your shield won't save you this time Kaede." Behind her, Kaede heard Shogo's voice echh the yard as he walked towards her.
Surprisingly, he was followed by a smiling Kyoya.
Kaede turoward the pair, her grip on her shield tightening instinctively. Shogo's t frame cast a long shadow across the training yard, his smirk, sharp. Kyoya trailed behind him, his demeanor far more rexed but no less fident.
"Shogo," Kaede greeted, f herself not to sigh. "What brings you here?"
"Just thought I’d see if your first mission didn't get you cocky," Shogo said, crag his knuckles. "Apparently, you almost died, so cocky might be a stretch. Still though, time for your daily beat down."
Kaede’s eyes narrowed. “You mean spar?”
Shogo grinned with a cocky swagger. “Unless, of course, you’re scared.”
Kaede g Kyoya, who merely shrugged, his usual easygoing smile in pce. “Don’t mind him. He’s not the one fighting you, we haven't sparred yet.”
Kaede blinked. "I didn't think you were..."
Kyoya smiled, his eyes still closed. "No, but I've been training as well. There isn't anything the swordsman of this try teach me anymore, so a master swordsman has been summoo tinue my training. But before then, wanna see how I measure up to the 'shield maiden'." He chuckled.
"Please don't call me that, it might cat " Kaede groaned. "But sure, I don't see why not. Fighting a swordsman is good for me." She thought back to the ogre and their first meeting. He had tricks, and maybe she could learn to fight oppos like that.
Kyoya’s smile widened as he stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. “Great. Let’s make it a proper duel, then. First oo nd three decisive strikes wins.”
Kaede nodded, adjusting her grip on her shield. “Sounds fair. Just don’t hold back—I he practice.”
The gathered knights and temprs began to murmur excitedly, f a loose circle around the two batants. Shogo leaned against a post, his arms crossed, clearly enjoying the spectacle already.
Kyoya uhed his bde with practiced ease, its edge catg the m light. His stance was rexed, almost zy, but Kaede could sehe danger behind it. He wasn’t uimating her; he was simply fident in his own skill.
“Ready when you are,” Kyoya said, his tone light but his focus sharp.
Kaede raised her shield, her eyes locked on his movements. “Bring it.”
Without warning, Kyoya darted, his bde cutting through the air in a quick arc. Kaede barely had time to react, shifting her shield to block the strike. The impact sent a jolt through her arm, but she held firm.
“Fast,” she muttered, stepping back tain her footing. 'Faster than the ogre.'
Kyoya didn’t give her a moment to breathe. He pressed the attack, his strikes swift and heavy. Kaede’s shield intercepted each blow, her movements steady but defensive. She could feel the difference, Kyoya wasn’t just a swordsman, but he was no master, still g experience.
“Not bad,” Kyoya said, his bde g against her shield once more. “Your defense is solid, but how’s your offense?”
Kaede smirked, shiftiance. “Let’s find out.”
She surged forward, her shield leading the charge. Kyoya sidestepped, but Kaede anticipated the move, swinging her shield in a wide arc. The edge caught him off guard, grazing his side.
“One for me,” Kaede said, stepping back with a grin.
Kyoya chuckled, rubbing his ribs. “Alright, noted.”
The duel tihe two of them trading blows in a flurry of motion. Kyoya’s strikes were quick, eae roughly flowing into the , while Kaede’s defense was unyielding, her shield nearly a blur.
“You're adapting,” Kyoya remarked, dodging a strike and tering with a quick thrust. Kaede twisted her shield, defleg the bde just in time.
“And you talk too much,” she shot back, stepping into his guard and smming her shield against his shoulder. The impact forced him to retreat, his banentarily disrupted.
“That’s two for you,” Kyoya said, his grin unwavering. “Guess I’ll have to step it up.”
Kaede braced herself as Kyoya shifted his stance, his movements being sharper, more deliberate. His strike was a feint, his bde ging direid-swing. Kaede mao block it, but the force drove her back a step.
“Tricky,” she admitted, her heart rag.
Kyoya nodded, his expression serious now. “Let’s see if you hahis.”
He moved like lightning, his bde a blur as it struck toward her exposed side. Kaede barely had time to react, twisting her body and raising her shield just in time to deflect the blow.
But Kyoya wasn’t done. Using the momentum of her block, he spun around, his bde sweeping low. Kaede jumped back, but the tip of his swrazed her leg.
“One for me,” Kyoya said, straightening with a satisfied smirk.
Kaede gritted her teeth, her determination renewed. “Alright, no more pying around.”
The crowd watched in awe as the two of them cshed again, their movements a blend of skill and strategy. Kaede’s shield was a fortress, but she knew she couldn’t rely on defense alone. She had to find an opening, a moment to strike.
And then she saw it. Kyoya's bde suddenly shone, with runic letters running down it's length.
As Kyoya lunged, his bde aiming for her shoulder, Kaede stepped to the side, using her shield to guide his sword away. In the same motion, she spun and smmed the ft of her shield into his back, when she felt something sm into her side.
“Two for me,” Kyoya smirked, spinning his sword as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Kaede straightened, ughing softly as she raised her shield. “Well pyed, Kyoya.” She leaned on her right foot, slowly ing back, creating some space between them. 'From what I remember, he has a skill with the spatial element. What happened, Artificia?'
"Helpful... Real helpful." She groaned.
Kyoya’s smirk widened, his bde glowing faintly as he took a step forward. Kaede adjusted her grip on her shield, her mind rag. The danger she’d felt earlier wasn’t just for show, there was something about Kyoya’s on that was far more dangerous than it appeared.
She raised her shield and prepared to intercept the strike, but Kyoya didn’t move immediately. Instead, he flicked his sword, and the bde shimmered unnaturally. Kaede’s instincts screamed at her to move, but she didn’t see an attack.
“Noticed it, huh?” Kyoya asked casually, his bde still shimmering with faihereal light. “This is where I stop pying nice.”
Kaede took a step back, her eyes narrowing. “That glow... What’s the trick, Kyoya?”
He chuckled, spinning his sword zily in his hand. “Ready to lose, ‘Shield Maiden’?”
Kaede groaned internally at the niame but kept her focus. She couldn’t afford to let him distract her. “We’ll see about that,” she shot back, raising her shield higher.
Kyoya darted fain, his movements even faster than before. Kaede mao block his first strike, her shield abs the impact, but the force was far greater than before. She gritted her teeth as her feet slid slightly across the dirt. 'Thank you [impact resilience]'
Before she could ter, Kyoya’s sword seemed to blur, its glow intensifying. He sshed again, and Kaede barely blocked, but somethi off. Her shield didn’t g like usual, instead, it vibrated strangely, as though the bde had passed through it without fully eg.
“What the,” she started, but Kyoya was already moving again.
He swung upward, his bde detag mid-swing into tless tiny shards that scattered into the air like glittering dust. Kaede raised her shield, but the shards were everywhere, slig through the space around her with unnatural precision.
“[Severer],” Kyoya expined as he stepped back, his voice calm but with an edge of satisfa. “Dummy swords, space magid a lot of practice.”
Kaede grimaced, pivoting to avoid the swarm of razor-thin shards. Her shield couldn’t block them all, and shallow cuts began to appear on her arms and legs. It wasn’t enough to incapacitate her, but it was enough to wear her down.
“Not fair,” she muttered, trying to reposition herself.
Kyoya smirked, restrug his bde in an instant and lunging again. Kaede tried to ter, but he fei the st sed, f her to it her shield to the wrong angle. His bde slipped past her defeopping just short of her throat.
“Three for me,” Kyoya said with a grin, stepping bad sheathing his sword. “Good fight.”
Kaede lowered her shield, breathing heavily. She stared at him for a moment, then ughed softly. “Yeah, I guess it was. But ime though.”
“We’ll see,” Kyoya replied, her a hand. She hesitated for a moment before taking it, letting him help her to her feet.
The crowd erupted into cheers and appuse, though Kaede couldn’t tell if it was for Kyoya’s win or the iy of the match itself. Either way, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride.
Shogo wandered over, g Kyoya on the back. “Not bad, not bad. Still, you didn’t obliterate her. Kinda disappointing.”
As Shogo and Kyoya discussed, Kaede felt a faint feeling of being watched. In the er of her eyes, behind a window, she spotted Razen, his ever narrowed eyes on the yard. 'No matter what, I'm getting out of here Razen.'
SaberGlory