Chapter 24: First Sense Of Sword
Luna stared at him coldly. "Who cares about you? Besides, you are no longer my disciple. Farewell."
She turned around to leave, her long hair sweeping through the air behind her.
"Luna..."
She stopped abruptly but did not turn around completely. "What?"
"Have a safe journey, Master..." he said while bowing one last time.
"Do not die before I come to avenge the death of my tribe."
Luna remained motionless for a long moment, her back to him, then continued walking without another word.
***
The sun was beginning to rise over the manor courtyard. Conrad Nikmar stood in the center, his sword drawn, scanning the main entrance. It was already 5:50. If Daemon did not show up before 6 o’clock, he would officially lose control of the district.
Conrad crossed his arms and smiled slightly. He was confident. According to his information, Daemon should have been dead for several hours. And even if he had survived, he had no chance against him, who had mastered the First Sense of Sword.
Around the courtyard, maids, servants, and guards from both districts had gathered. They were whispering among themselves.
"Do you think Lord Daemon will really come?" asked a maid in a low voice.
"It is almost 6 o’clock. If he does not come, the district goes to Lord Conrad."
"Personally, I think he got scared and ran away. We have not seen him at the manor for months," added another maid.
A few seconds later, a silhouette appeared at the end of the main alley. The man was walking calmly.
"It is... It is Lord Daemon?" exclaimed a servant.
Daemon stopped a few meters from Conrad.
"Yes, I Am!"
Conrad frowned.
"You came?"
"Why do you look so surprised? Your little schemes did not work? Now draw your sword."
"Tss, it will not change much Lord Daemon. En garde!"
Conrad attacked first. He took a quick step forward and delivered a straight strike toward Daemon’s head. Daemon raised his sword and parried the blow with the flat of his blade. Conrad immediately followed with a diagonal downward cut. Daemon pivoted to his right, deflected the blade, and countered with a thrust toward the chest. Conrad took half a step back and blocked the tip.
Daemon advanced in turn. He struck horizontally. Conrad parried by raising his sword, then counterattacked with two quick successive blows. Daemon blocked the first while retreating, parried the second by twisting his wrist, and delivered a low strike toward the legs. Conrad jumped backward to avoid the blade. The two men circled each other. Their swords clashed nonstop.
"You trained with the sword? Unfortunately it will not be enough," Conrad said while continuing his assaults.
’His footwork is fluid and fast... If I did not have chi, it would be difficult to fight him,’ thought Conrad.
As Conrad was about to activate his chi, Daemon suddenly pivoted to the left.
"Huh?"
< First Sense Of Sword >
Daemon’s movements suddenly became faster. He struck from all sides in rapid succession.
Conrad parried a high blow, then one to the flank, but the third attack slipped past his guard and opened a superficial cut on his forearm.
"How did you!?"
Blood flowed down his wrist. Daemon did not stop. He followed up with a direct thrust that Conrad barely deflected, then a slashing blow that forced Conrad to retreat several steps.
Daemon advanced again and delivered a powerful downward strike. Conrad blocked with both hands, but the force made his knees buckle.
At the moment he tried to counterattack, Daemon slid to the side and gave a palm strike to the abdomen. Conrad was sent flying several meters back and fell heavily onto his back. He coughed and got up with difficulty.
"You! You opened your chi core!!!" Conrad shouted, his face marked by surprise and anger.
Daemon smiled slightly.
"Why are you so surprised? It is true that I am quite amazing."
He approached quickly and placed the tip of his sword against Conrad’s throat.
"Respect our agreement Lord Conrad."
Conrad clenched his teeth.
"Lord Markus will not let this slide..."
Daemon slowly withdrew his sword.
"Let him come then. I am waiting."
Conrad got up with difficulty and left the courtyard without another word. The servants and maids remained silent for a moment, then conversations resumed in low voices.
Steward Mallory immediately approached Daemon.
"Lord Daemon, how did you manage to open your energy center?"
Daemon found it strange that she seemed more afraid than happy for him but did not pay much attention.
"I did it by myself."
Mallory insisted.
"But how? No one in the district has managed to do it... Young master, you."
"I did it by myself, Steward... Do not worry too much."
She asked several more questions during the morning, but Daemon always gave the same answer. Eventually she gave up and returned to her duties.
...
The next morning, Daemon was still sleeping when a familiar voice woke him.
"Young master... Young master!"
Daemon opened his eyes abruptly.
"Luna!"
"No, it is me, young master. Your morning milk."
"Ah..."
Daemon nodded and sat up in bed. He took the glass the servant handed him.
"If I may, young master. Your personal servant is missing and I have not seen her anywhere," the servant asked cautiously.
"Who is missing? I gave her some time off. And you ask too many questions."
"I apologize for my imprudence..."
Daemon drank the milk slowly, then placed the glass on the bedside table.
"She should be at the Spear Clan port right now. Make sure she leaves their domain safely."
"Yes, young master."
The day went on normally. Daemon spent the morning handling the district’s administrative documents.
In the afternoon, he went alone to his father’s altar.
"It is me, father... I succeeded. I am sure you would be proud of me."
He remained silent for a moment, then continued out loud.
"I opened my chi core and Conrad who looked down on me was humiliated in front of everyone."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the letter his father had written to him.