Chapter 14: Use your sword
Daemon could turn the situation over in his head as much as he wanted, he saw only one obvious conclusion: Luna had put him in deep shit. She had provoked Conrad in his name, she had orchestrated this absurd duel, and now he found himself with a six-month deadline to prepare for a fight he could not win.
But if by some miracle he managed to unblock his chi core by then, he would at least have a chance.
He had to give everything. After all, he had nothing else to lose but his district.
Daemon summoned Steward Mallory to the grand salon.
"Young master? Do you need something?"
Daemon took a deep breath. "I am leaving for vacation. In the mountains. For six months."
Mallory blinked. "Six months?" She crossed her arms. "And who will manage the district during that time?"
"You." Daemon gave her a smile. "As always... I trust you completely, Steward."
"Take care of yourself, young master." she said. Then she turned toward Luna, who stood silently in the doorway. "And you, Luna. Make sure he drinks his milk every morning."
"He won’t miss a single drop." replied Luna in a neutral voice.
Mallory left the room, but she stopped on the threshold and turned around one last time. "Young master." Her voice was softer than usual. "Whatever you are going to do up there... be careful."
Daemon nodded. "I will be."
Once Mallory had left, Daemon turned to Luna.
"Now that I have the remedy we can go." said Luna, taking out a small vial from her pocket.
"Master, do you think I can reach Conrad’s level in six months?"
"Do you think you are a genius on the level of your cousin?"
Daemon raised an eyebrow. "Yes."
"It is good to believe in yourself." Luna lit a cigarette. "But even Kristian could not do it. Reaching the First Sense in six months, when it took him five years? Impossible."
Daemon did not pay attention to this information that Luna should not have known about Kristian. "Then I will surpass him."
"I doubt that."
"Why don’t you trust your disciple instead of a complete stranger?"
"Because this disciple is quite shameless and lazy. Anyway, that’s not the point." She headed toward the door. "Direction the mountain ranges of the Spear Clan."
Daemon followed her: "Master, why did you become Blood Moon?"
"To assassinate people who ask too many questions. A bit like you, right now."
***
*Spear Clan Territory, Mount Sandalphon*
Mount Sandalphon rose at the heart of the Spear Clan’s mountain ranges, several days’ walk from any human habitation. Its slopes were covered with dense forests of black pines, and its peaks remained snow-covered even in the middle of summer. The air there was thin and cold, and the silence was disturbed only by the distant cry of eagles or the cracking of branches in the wind.
Daemon and Luna had settled into a small cabin that the young master had duly built in stone next to a source of clear water. It was rudimentary, but it was enough for what they had to do.
Training began the day after their arrival.
Every morning, even before the sun rose, Daemon had to run. He ran on the steep mountain trails, climbing steep slopes, descending into deep valleys, crossing icy streams.
After the run, lunch. A frugal meal: dry bread, a little goat cheese, and water from the spring. Daemon devoured it in silence, too exhausted to speak, while Luna calmly ate more elaborate dishes that she had brought from the village below.
Then came sword training.
Luna had set up a small wooden platform at the edge of the cliff, with a breathtaking view of the valleys below. It was there that she taught Daemon the basics of Sword Sense.
"Listen to me carefully." she said one morning as she drew her short sword. "Sword Sense is not unique. Each family of the Sword Clan uses it in its own way."
Daemon held his father’s sword, the katana of Lloyd Lancelot Dagon. The blade was slightly curved, longer than an ordinary sword, with an ornate guard representing a snowflake. He turned it in his hand, feeling its perfect balance.
"The Winter family, yours, uses a balanced type." Luna gestured toward his katana. "Neither too fast nor too powerful. Versatile. You can slash, stab, parry. You have no obvious weakness, but you also have no crushing strength."
Daemon nodded.
"The Spring family, Kristian’s, masters two swords." continued Luna. "It requires exceptional coordination, but when mastered, it is formidable."
"Kristian probably learned that from his mother." murmured Daemon.
"Next, the Summer family uses rapiers. Thin blades, fast, deadly in one blow. They bet everything on speed and precision." She planted her sword in the ground. "And the Autumn family uses heavy swords. They are not fast, but a single one of their blows can split a rock."
Daemon looked at his katana. "And me? What should I use?"
"Your sword." Luna looked at him.
Daemon raised his head. "What does that mean?"
"It means you must find your own path." Luna drew her sword again. "Now, on guard."
Training began. Luna showed him a movement, a position, a sequence. Daemon watched, then reproduced it. Once, twice, three times, until the movement was fluid.
And what she noticed over the days surprised her.
Daemon could perfectly reproduce the movements after seeing them only once. He looked at his sword, then executed the technique as if he had practiced it for years.
That did not mean he could do it in combat, but being able to reproduce it undoubtedly made learning faster.
"At least you are not completely useless." murmured Luna.
Daemon smiled, out of breath. "Thank you, Master. I think that is the nicest compliment you have ever given me."
"Don’t get used to it." cut Luna. "Imitating is not understanding."