Chapter 73: A New Wave (9)
Who was the strongest swordsman among the Seven Heroes?
Most people answered that question with the name Allen Amiel.
However, there were occasionally those who mentioned the Dragon Emperor Behad, or even Cecilia Everglenn.
……Yes, Cecilia was also a swordsman.
The title of Spirit King was simply too immense, but as a pure swordsman, she also stood among the first-rate.
And if one had to point out the most distinctive trait about her as a swordsman, there was a swordsmanship that was almost considered her exclusive domain, known among the public as the ‘Arrow.’
It was said that her strikes looked as though an arrow had been fired.
I heard that the trajectory of her sword would even change midair.
That the buzzing sound it made resembled the sound of an arrow being loosed….
I had heard countless stories, but never once had the chance to witness it with my own eyes.
Perhaps that was why it took me a little too long to realize it.
‘So this is the Arrow.’
Maybe I had just become the first opponent of what would later be remembered as a legend.
……That thought had to be set aside.
Because at that moment, I had no room to think of anything but moving my body desperately in order to survive.
There had been more than one chilling moment when her blade barely grazed past me.
‘And on top of this, the spirits could join in the fight……?’
It was nothing short of absurdity.
Most people, even if forewarned, would still be helpless against it.
The only reason I was able to endure even this much was because her swordsmanship had yet to reach completion, and because the spirits had not joined in.
Beeeep!
Before I knew it, the cry of the mist bird rang out across the training field, signaling that time was up.
The moment I had been waiting for, I quickly retreated and straightened my stance.
“……Thank you for the match.”
Suppressing the urge to let out a heavy breath, I gave a short bow toward Cecilia, who stood across from me.
‘At least I managed to end this without making a fool of myself.’
It would have been quite embarrassing otherwise.
Relieved that it hadn’t come to that, I saw Cecilia also step back a few paces, almost as if bouncing away.
For some reason, she wore an expression that seemed rather regretful……
But soon enough, she straightened her posture, just like me, and returned the bow.
“Thank you for the match.”
While I was putting away my wooden sword, I suddenly noticed that she was staring at me intently.
She seemed to want to say something, but instead, she simply continued to look at me without a word.
“……”
It looked as though she was waiting for my impressions.
It would have been one thing if I hadn’t noticed, but since I had, I couldn’t just pretend otherwise.
In the end, wiping away the sweat trickling down my jaw, I quietly muttered.
“You’ve grown…… considerably stronger.”
“……! Do you really think so?”
Cecilia’s eyes sparkled, and in a single step she drew closer to me.
Feeling the sudden weight of her presence, I subtly turned my head aside so it wouldn’t show.
“……Yes. Honestly, I’m not in much of a position to judge, but compared to before, I definitely found it more difficult to face you.”
“And then?”
“Well…… as with anything, specializing in one aspect usually means another aspect becomes relatively neglected.”
Though my words were little more than textbook reasoning, Cecilia nodded seriously with an eager expression.
“It’s like in board games too. If you play defensively, you rarely lose by much, but likewise, you also rarely win big. On the other hand, if you play aggressively, you can win overwhelmingly, but when you lose, you lose just as badly…… Hm, I’m fumbling with my words now….”
“No, it’s fine. I understood perfectly.”
Cecilia exhaled softly with a small “hmph” and said,
“Lian’s words are always so clear and easy to understand.”
“Even if that’s just flattery, I appreciate it.”
“It’s not flattery, it’s the truth.”
After speaking, she nodded firmly, several times.
The mist bird and the Serpent of Flame that had approached her also bobbed their heads up and down, as if imitating her.
Feeling an inexplicable embarrassment, I cleared my throat lightly.
“Ahem, let me continue. By my earlier reasoning, I should have found more openings in today’s sparring compared to before. But instead, it was harder to find any.”
“Could it be simply because I fought more aggressively? Maybe because I pushed forward quickly?”
“Well, not exactly……”
I hesitated, and she nodded, as if telling me it was fine.
“I don’t mind, so just be honest. The one who sparred with me just now was you, Lian. What I want is your impressions.”
“In that case, please keep in mind that these are only my impressions, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t take them too seriously.”
Since it was something Cecilia might take sensitively, I once again gathered my thoughts carefully before speaking.
“Previously, your stance was the textbook stance of Imperial swordsmanship.”
“Yes, it was.”
“First of all, I do believe even back then Cecilia’s skills were certainly above average, outstanding even.”
“……Even if that’s just flattery, thank you.”
Hearing her mutter those words almost bashfully, I couldn’t help but respond with a faint smile.
“It’s not flattery, it’s the truth.”
And it truly was no flattery.
In truth, although Cecilia was mocked at the Academy as talentless, when it came down to it, she was closer to being gifted than dull.
However, because her control over mana was practically disastrous, and because as the descendant of the Dragon Knight Siren Everglenn she couldn’t properly ride even a single horse, let alone a wyvern, she had become the target of scorn and ridicule.
If one set aside those two things, her other talents and abilities all exceeded the average to a remarkable degree……
Yet, those two shortcomings were so striking that she still bore the label of the “Disgrace of the Everglenn family.”
‘In fact, when it came to swordsmanship, she was far more refined and polished than either me or Allen.’
Even so, whenever the three of us sparred, the one with the lowest win rate had always been Cecilia.
In my case, experience from my past life allowed me to surpass her, while Allen’s superior physical strength and abilities were unmatched among our peers.
“To return to the point, Cecilia’s swordsmanship just now…….”
It was certainly fierce, like arrows raining down in a storm.
And yet, it wasn’t as though she neglected defense for the sake of pure offense.
There were openings, to be sure, but each one felt deliberately placed, almost like a lure, making them too dangerous to recklessly exploit.
‘But with just two or three low-grade spirits by her side, she could have easily filled those gaps.’
Suddenly, something crossed my mind.
Yes, if I had to put it into words……
“It felt like a swordsmanship crafted solely for Cecilia…… a swordsmanship meant for a swordsman who wields spirits.”
“……You really are amazing.”
A murmur of admiration suddenly escaped Cecilia’s lips.
She seemed lost in deep thought for a moment, then nodded once more.
“Yes, truly amazing.”
When the agreed time was up, Lian left the training ground first, saying he’d be going on ahead.
Normally, she would have wrapped things up quickly and gone with him, but today she had something else to attend to, so she remained behind alone.
[That much I already suspected, but Sir Lian truly has a sharp eye, my lady.]
A beautiful female voice, like the sound of a song, echoed in Cecilia’s ear.
The owner of the voice was none other than the Mist Bird.
[Now I understand why the Elder told us to observe carefully!]
The Serpent of Flame cried out in the shrill voice of a young boy, flicking its tongue and bobbing its head gleefully.
The Serpent of Flame seemed utterly carefree, coiling and uncoiling beside Cecilia, twisting its body as if hopping about, never ceasing in its movement.
“Yes, he really is amazing, isn’t he?”
Her ancestor whom she had met in the Room of Memories, the Dragon Knight Siren Everglenn, had been entirely different from what she had expected.
In countless records and stories, he was depicted as being serious and solemn to the core. Yet in reality, he had dashed up to her upon meeting, greeting her warmly with a handshake and brimming friendliness.
He even told silly jokes, or laughed at strange antics of his own making, leaving her completely at a loss.
‘I thought he’d have a personality like my brother’s.’
Oh dear, wasn’t that thought a little too rude?
Murmuring to herself, Cecilia recalled once again the words her ancestor—the great hero lauded as the Dragon Knight Siren Everglenn—had spoken to her.
[My apologies. Unfortunately, I know little about spirits. At best, my comrades could barely manage a few low-grade ones.]
[That’s why I still can’t believe it. How did such a treasure come forth from my bloodline?]
[And judging by your stance, it seems you’ve been diligently practicing the swordsmanship I left behind…… Truly, I couldn’t be more proud!]
With a booming laugh that clashed with his refined appearance, he had insisted on teaching her something before parting, and created a swordsmanship just for her on the spot.
More precisely, he had instantly devised an entirely new style tailored exclusively to her.
“……”
Her physique and favored weapons.
Her preferred stances and even her minor habits.
On top of that, the fact that she could command spirits……
With only a single bout against her, he had grasped and analyzed all of these.
And as if that weren’t enough, in the blink of an eye, he had forged a brand-new style of swordsmanship.
Even Cecilia, who rarely found herself surprised, had been astounded by such talent and ability.
The man himself had only scratched his cheek awkwardly, as if embarrassed at the feat.
[I designed it under the assumption that you’d be fighting alongside spirits, but truth be told, I’ve only rarely seen spirit sorcerers in battle…… No doubt there will be awkward flaws here and there. When the time comes, do seek me out again.]
He had also added that most opponents wouldn’t even withstand the first strike, and that if possible, she should avoid letting others see it.
At first, she had been skeptical.
But the more she honed her swordsmanship, the more she could feel her growth day by day, and once again she realized that heroes of legend were truly legends for a reason.
However……
‘But against Lian, none of it worked.’
The attacks that should have overwhelmed most opponents before they could even respond.
The traps deliberately made to look like openings.
And even the actions of the nature spirits that subtly aided her while hindering Lian.
Not a single one of them worked on him.
On the contrary, he slipped past them by a hair’s breadth, as if to admonish her, guiding her to realize her shortcomings on her own.
And more than anything, those words he had spoken at the end.
‘It felt like a swordsmanship crafted solely for Cecilia…… a swordsmanship meant for a swordsman who wields spirits.’
How had he seen through it?
Cecilia could do nothing but marvel once again.
Every time she caught a glimpse of the true side of Lian Gwendil, that was the only reaction she could show.
“……Truly amazing.”
[Indeed, my lady. Sir Lian is without question a man worthy of being by your side.]
[That’s right! I think so too!]
The Mist Bird and the Serpent of Flame, who had come to her side before she noticed, each chimed in.
The Mist Bird, perching delicately on Cecilia’s shoulder, preened its feathers with its beak as it spoke.
[And Lady Cecilia, your gentle mention of the festival once again was a very wise choice. After all, introducing each other’s families carries profound meaning.]
“……Really?”
[Oh yes, indeed.]
The Mist Bird cleared its throat softly.
[Most of all, close friends are meant to be close and familiar with each other’s families as well.]
At those words, Cecilia’s eyes sparkled as she gave a small nod.
Close friends.
Since she and Lian were as close as friends could be, introducing each other’s families would not be strange at all.
‘Elder Sister said she would be attending this time.’
Cecilia’s elder sister, Selendis, was the Vice-Commander of the Dragon Knights that guarded the capital.
That was why she would be present at the upcoming Departure Festival. Cecilia had received a letter saying that her sister would make time, no matter what, so that they could meet face to face.
‘……What a shame.’
By contrast, Lian’s second elder brother was a member of the Imperial Knights, but since he was attached to the First Imperial Prince and had no connection with the Academy, he would not be coming this time.
It had been a passing comment, but she remembered it clearly.
She had hoped they could both meet each other’s siblings……
Still, she decided to be content with at least being able to introduce Lian to her elder sister.
“Elder Sister also said she wanted to see Lian.”
[Is that so?]
“Yes, she said that after reading my letters where his name kept coming up, she wanted to meet him in person and see what kind of friend he is.”
It was certain that her sister would like Lian when she met him.
After all, Cecilia could not even imagine what kind of circumstance it would take for someone to dislike a person like him.
‘But why did Elder Sister write something like that in her letter?’
― Just how wise and thoughtful a friend must he be, to have captured your heart so perfectly?
― Surely he must be as gentle and beautiful as your heart. I, too, greatly look forward to meeting this boy named Lian.
If anything, wasn’t it more fitting to call him dignified and dependable, rather than gentle and beautiful?
She wondered whether “gentle and beautiful” was even a phrase commonly used for men, but quickly accepted it with a nod.
‘Well, it’s not entirely wrong.’
Gentle meant kind and mild, and beautiful meant possessing harmony and balance that pleased the eye.
By that reasoning, calling him gentle and beautiful was not wrong at all.
‘Elder Sister will surely think Lian is gentle and beautiful as well….’
Twinge.
‘……Huh?’
In that moment, Cecilia froze as she felt a strange discomfort in her chest.
It was a sensation she had never felt before.
‘What is this?’
If she introduced them, her sister would surely like Lian.
And Lian would certainly like her sister.
Because both of them were good people.
But for some reason…
The odd discomfort pricked at her chest again when she became aware of it.
[My lady?]
“……Ah, sorry.”
Tilting her head slightly, Cecilia shook it off, thinking it must be nothing.
She was still far too inexperienced to recognize what that discomfort truly was.