Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Conversations Aren't Just with Words
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Dialogue isn't only spoken with the mouth.
The Church priests were resting and standing by until injuries occurred, while the Academy cadets gathered in a disorganized huddle at the campsite.
It was also the waiting area where cadets lingered until their turn came.
It was a bit distant from the individual training spots, but still within both my line of sight and Eclair's.
There wasn't anywhere else suitable—a wide-open space where cadets could stretch and move lightly.
"Control your strength. If you injure them beyond what holy power can heal, or worse, actually kill one, we'll have trouble."
"That won't happen... but I'll be careful."
Clank—
Moving her heavy plate armor, she headed to the opposite side from me.
Before starting the lessons, the first thing we did was separate the space Eclair would use from the one I'd use for instruction.
I took up position in the center of the dense forest, while Eclair chose a small open clearing right next to the campsite.
Unlike hers, my lessons weren't focused on sword forms themselves but on honing improvisation and senses—that was the difference.
-
"These guys..."
I casually sparred with a few cadets who showed zero enthusiasm and sent them on their way.
Dealing with ones who made it obvious they didn't want to be there killed my fun too.
'She really came?'
Sitting in the cool shade, waiting for the next one, Chloe—as Rike had predicted—came straight to me with sword in hand, skipping Eclair.
Seeing blue eyes and ash-gray hair flashing between the trees, I stretched out my crouched knees and back as I stood.
"...Cadet Chloe Dreitna."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
Chloe and I had never talked during lessons except for me pointing out flaws and her responding.
Unlike usual, calling her name before starting the spar made her snap to attention, rigid as a board.
"...Today, the instructor's feeling a bit chatty. No need to force responses—just listen if you want. But keep your ears open."
Shing—!
I drew my standard-issue longsword with a crisp sound, and Chloe slowly nodded, drawing hers.
-
The roots of Dreitna swordsmanship lie more in defense than offense.
That makes sense for a house that clung to an image of unwavering loyalty before Eclair broke through.
At Eclair's level—fully transcending walls—the forms themselves lose meaning; she has her own sword. So those traits aren't obvious.
But spar with Chloe, and you taste the orthodox, solid Dreitna style.
Ting—!
Chloe cleanly blocked the stone and wood chips I kicked at her, glaring at me with a cautious expression.
Maybe due to the forest obstacles scattered irregularly, her thrusts outnumbered everything else today.
Clang! Kang—!
Hard metal clashed between outstretched tree trunks, sparks flying.
I didn't press the attack—instead, I stepped back.
"...?"
In a normal spar, she'd have to hold her breath and focus just to barely block the instructor's sword plunging down at full speed.
Today, I was swinging with endless leeway in speed, so Chloe looked puzzled.
"Cadet, have you ever heard the saying 'let your sword do the talking'?"
As I finished speaking, I raised my longsword high and brought it crashing down.
Boom!! A sound rivaling an explosion rang out, white dust billowing skyward.
"...Ngh!!"
"It doesn't happen every time, but when you exchange blows like this, emotions can travel through your weapons sometimes."
Chloe blocked the strike, but her knees trembled as her boots dug into the dirt.
Skreee—!!
"Eek—!"
Pinned by the blade heavy with power, she let out a groan instead of answering.
"What does my sword feel like right now? Does the oversized motion and excessive force seem desperate? Or do I seem angry?"
"Hoo...!"
Chloe shoved the longsword away with a big sweep and reset her stance without replying.
"That saying about 'letting your sword speak' isn't some lie to romanticize martial arts. A stoic mercenary might unknowingly reveal hidden rage and hatred... or convey emotions they wanted to express but couldn't put into words."
Ping!
The moment I stepped forward, Chloe regulated her breath and thrust sharply.
I dodged the neck-aimed strike and shifted off the sword's falling path as I continued.
"Even if you haven't experienced it yet, that's no surprise—it's not purely a matter of talent."
No responses so far, but she'd kept her ears open as told; her eyes twitched at the word "talent."
I could see her body tense up tight.
'...Definitely competitive.'
Scrrch—
Chloe's front foot slid sideways, gouging the dirt.
I clenched and released my tingling hand from blocking, readjusting my grip.
I thrust my sword at the silent Chloe.
"When your goal in wielding a weapon is narrow and clear, you have no slack to observe others... That's not bad, but today, you need to see something else."
Since she'd come first, I couldn't send her off until she got it.
In case someone might recognize her, Eclair held her sword in her left hand during lessons, not her right.
One cadet had sat out, leaving the stone sword she'd borrowed from Roman still hanging at her waist.
'Not easy...'
She'd thought it wouldn't be that hard before starting.
But most cadets seemed like they'd die if she put even a little force into her strikes—it gnawed at her nerves.
And pointing out flaws? There were so many, she struggled to prioritize where to begin.
With no experience actually teaching—not just tossing out casual advice—the role of day instructor weighed heavier than Eclair expected.
Time wouldn't allow fixing everything one by one, so she opted to parry cadet attacks lightly while subtly altering their weapon paths.
Even that left them looking relieved as they bowed and left.
Thud—thud—
Footsteps dry as a desert compared to when she'd come to the tent carrying food.
Seeing the familiar woman approaching with a steel rod in hand, Eclair drew the sword planted in the ground.
"Rike from the Swordsmanship Department."
'...Where'd she pawn off Skadi?'
With a flat greeting, her gaze went straight to the stone sword at Eclair's waist.
Eclair extended her left-hand grip as Rike raised her head, spun the rod expressionlessly, and took stance.
Watching her become a completely different person without Roman, Eclair let out a scoff from inside her helmet.
Platinum's lover and Chloe's friend... No matter how skilled or pathetic, it was a lie to say she had zero expectations either way.
"Come at me whenever you're ready."
..
..
The first time the young lady of House Skadi Marquis had come wielding a weapon, Eclair recalled Enoch Skadi, whom she'd met a few times at the palace.
The cold, expressionless demeanor without Roman oddly resembled the marquis.
But it felt like a different flavor of talent from Enoch Skadi—who, past his prime, had suddenly surged in momentum but couldn't quite cross the wall.
Click—!
"Impressive."
The words slipped out naturally as she sheathed her sword.
The first praise of the day—and genuine.
"...Thanks to meeting a good person."
Her cold aura vanished in an instant as she smiled warmly, gave a light bow, picked up her bent rod, and headed back to camp.
Thinking of someone had lifted her mood—her footsteps feather-light. Watching her back, Eclair mused.
'A genius among geniuses...'
One hiding plenty more, too.
That was Eclair's impression after a few minutes of sparring with Rike.
She'd wondered at first why not a sword but a rod—but its masterful use erased the doubt instantly.
Some famed staff art passed down in House Skadi? At that age, her skill was approaching a solid realm without any formal technique.
Add more mana reserves and experience, and who knew what monster would emerge? Unimaginable.
Among the vaunted Academy cadets said to be top-tier outside, none stood on her level so far.
'...!'
Eclair froze at the sight of the next cadet approaching, breath catching.
Her sword hand tensed instinctively.
Thump! Thump—!
Whoever Roman had drilled, this cadet looked far worse off than the others.
Ash-gray hair completely disheveled and tangled, clothes and face caked in dirt.
But she'd achieved something amid it—Chloe's expression wasn't bad.
Even hidden by armor, she wasn't avoiding Eclair's eyes. It felt strange seeing her little sister head-on like this.
She'd nearly averted her gaze first.
"Chloe... Dreitna reporting...!"
Showing proper Knight Department poise, waiting for orders. Eclair drew her sword again from its brief rest in the sheath.
Shing—!
The blade whistled, reflecting sunlight fiercely.
"...You may approach whenever ready."