6. Odd
“Keep your back straight, shift your weight to your right foot, grip the sword in your right hand, and let your left hand hang loosely. Twist your body slightly, raise the sword overhead into a position ready to strike down—and then swing it downward.”
The young Wayne Stein followed Cassnet’s instructions to assume the sword stance and swung, but it didn’t feel right. Something was off.
“How’s that? Don’t you feel some kind of energy?”
“No! And what’s with this stance? Why lift the sword so high like it’s a hassle?”
“This form was inspired by watching an eagle diving from the sky to snatch its prey. It’s also the initial posture I take when training to heighten my mental focus. You need to find your own stance or movements that elevate your spirit while honing your swordsmanship.”
Wayne spoke in an irritated tone.
“So why do I need to train my mental focus?”
“To sense and expand your Odd, so you can pilot a Gigant, of course.”
“Odd? What’s that?”
“Odd refers to an undefined ether. In the southern continent, some call it elemental. Unlike other kingdoms, our Barantia Empire doesn’t accumulate aura or mana inside the body. We heighten our mental focus to draw in nature’s Odd and control Gigants with it.”
Wayne tilted his head.
“Isn’t accumulating it in the body the same as drawing it in?”
“No, they’re different. First, their natures are vastly distinct. Aura or mana, once expended, requires a long time to refill aura holes or mana holes. But Odd is absorbed through the entire body from nature’s ether, recovering with just one night’s sleep or brief mental concentration. That allows us to pilot Gigants longer and more frequently, giving us the upper hand in war. It’s why, in our mere 200 years of history, we’ve held back the Great Forest monsters and advanced faster than other kingdoms to become an empire. And the way it connects to a Gigant’s mental circuits is especially superior…”
“Then why call Gigant pilots magic warriors?”
“Because magic knights piloted by wizards came first. It doesn’t mean much. And in the eastern Union Kingdom, there are machines called Titans, piloted by knights using aura…”
“Stop! Why’s it so complicated and full of crap?”
“But you must know this. Especially since you can’t survive in the renowned Stein Marquis household without piloting a Gigant. So master the basic swordsmanship I taught you and find your own stance or movements. That way, you can cultivate Odd and…”
“Argh! Got it. I’ll tell you when I feel this Odd or whatever. Teach me more then.”
Wayne headed to the nearby forest with John at his side.
“Fuck! One bullet and it’s game over, so what’s the point of swordsmanship?”
The young Wayne had never seen a Gigant, so he had no idea of its power. He lay down on a bed of fallen leaves and ordered John Conner to swing the sword. John had to perform nonstop vertical slashes. This move made the loudest sound, ensuring it reached Cassnet’s ears back at the mansion. The young John had found the first few years grueling, nearly killing him. But after endless repetition, it no longer exhausted him much. His body would heat up then cool down repeatedly, giving a refreshing sensation as if every cell in his body was opening up. Lately, he’d even swung the sword alone at night because the feeling was so good.
His head felt like it would split open. When Wayne opened his eyes, he saw the ceiling of his room.
Why did I dream of that time…?
Thinking back, when he’d approached Snow Austin earlier, she’d been practicing Cassnet’s sword forms. The movements connected cleanly, sharp enough to pierce vital points with sudden, relentless strikes—Cassnet’s swordsmanship emphasized precise combos over brute force. If Wayne hadn’t watched Cassnet often, he wouldn’t have lasted even one exchange against Snow’s ten, let alone counter with a vertical slash.
He’d stolen the techniques by observation, but Cassnet had essentially been his master.
“Young master, are you conscious?”
The healer sitting in a chair approached to check on Wayne.
“How long was I out?”
“Twelve hours.”
“Twelve hours?”
The impact from the wooden sword must have been severe.
“Did my head crack open? It hurts like hell.”
“You have a bump, but it’s not serious. I applied medicine, so it’ll go down with time.”
The healer lit incense to calm the mind and body, then left. Outside the door, Wayne heard Blaster the guard knight and a woman’s voice asking the healer about his condition. Moments later, Snow entered.
“I’m sorry, Young Master Wayne.”
She couldn’t lift her head in shame.
“For what?”
“I couldn’t hear the knights’ cheers counting to ten. I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t hit me on purpose wanting to, right?”
“Pardon? N-no, of course not.”
“Your surprise looks genuine.”
Wayne’s heart raced at Snow’s flustered expression.
Up close, she’s even more beautiful.
Was he starting to take after the real Wayne, feeling this way about a woman? As Wayne stared, Snow stepped back, embarrassed.
“Did you learn from Sir Cassnet?”
“What?”
“In yesterday’s match, you blocked my sword’s trajectory perfectly, and that vertical counter-slash was exactly like Sir Cassnet’s style.”
Caught off-guard, Wayne didn’t answer right away. He had learned it, but never directly—only the vertical slash from the basic stance was something he could properly execute.
“Even if Cassnet abused me, you think he’d waste 16 years doing nothing? I picked up some swordsmanship.”
He brushed it off vaguely.
“Then do you know the latter half of his techniques?”
“What?”
“I learned from Vice-Commander Boltain, but for a woman’s body and flexibility, Sir Cassnet’s style suits better, so I trained in it. I mastered up to the middle, but after that…”
Wayne got the idea. In the past, Cassnet hadn’t completed his swordsmanship; he’d finished it over the 16 years at the mansion. Snow was curious about the rest.
“Let’s drop it. I don’t want to talk about Cassnet.”
Among the two books he’d taken from the mansion was one detailing Cassnet’s swordsmanship. But he had no reason to share with Snow, who wasn’t one of his people.
“Understood. You seem fine, so I’ll take my leave.”
Snow turned with a disappointed look.
“About the bet.”
“Yes?”
“I won the match, right?”
“Yes, Young Master Wayne won.”
“Then all that’s left is granting my wish.”
At “wish,” Snow paled. Tough as she was, she tensed, unsure what Wayne might demand. Rumors had spread that, shortly after arriving at the castle, he’d hung out with Bran and loved bedding women.
“I absolutely cannot do anything to tarnish the knight order’s honor. Please understand that.”
Even her voice trembled.
“My wish is…”
Snow swallowed dryly, eyes on his mouth.
“Teach me swordsmanship.”
“Pardon? Swordsmanship?”
“Place doesn’t matter. At least two hours a day. Until I sense Odd and can pilot a Gigant.”
“A Gigant?”
Snow looked bewildered and bitter. It was a relief he wouldn’t demand something vile, but facing him daily gave her pause. If Wayne lacked talent, he might never sense Odd in his lifetime. Unlike aura or mana, Odd had no set cultivation method; it required one’s unique stance, movement, or sensation for focus.
“Why? You look like you don’t want to keep the promise. It doesn’t tarnish the knight order’s honor, does it?”
“Sigh! Very well. As a magic warrior of the Blue Knights, a promise is worth its weight in gold. Lessons start tomorrow at 10 a.m.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Snow left with a stiff expression. Wayne’s lips curved up. This was his chance to properly learn Cassnet’s swordsmanship from her, beyond his superficial knowledge.
That evening, Bran visited Wayne.
“Tsk tsk! Head okay?”
“Yeah, the healer says it’s a miracle it didn’t crack.”
“See, what’d I tell you? Snow’s tighter than a needle’s eye. Give up, I’ll introduce you to others.”
“Nah. I’ll conquer her for sure.”
“What? Conquer?”
Wayne’s eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
“Never seen a woman like Snow. Waist slim like an elf’s, body toned with lean muscle and bounce that’s killer. Face like an angel’s—perfect in every way. First time in my life.”
“I agree, but she’s a Blue Knight! Hard to even meet, and she won’t fall.”
“I know. That’s why I’m learning swordsmanship from her starting tomorrow.”
“Swordsmanship?”
Wayne grinned smugly.
“Yep! Nearly cracked my skull, but got her promise. Two hours a day.”
“What?”
“See her face every day, build affection while sweating over lessons—won’t sparks fly between man and woman?”
Hearing the ploy, Bran inwardly admired him.
Damn, this kid!
He regretted not thinking of it, smacking his lips.
“Tch! Rest up then!”
Bran left with a wistful look. He’d probably blab to Adam. Now Wayne could learn from Snow without suspicion and build ties with the Blue Knights, the territory’s top fighting force.
Snow didn’t teach with much enthusiasm, but two hours together with demonstrations and corrections made it feel like real sword training. And swinging the sword cleared Wayne’s stray thoughts, calming his mind.
Her basics are solid, so she picks it up fast!
Snow nodded. In just half a month, Wayne perfectly mimicked the slashing motions and Cassnet’s basic forms. It showed Cassnet hadn’t slacked despite the abuse.
“Young Master Wayne, that’s today’s lesson. From tomorrow, review alone for a while.”
“What’s up?”
“I have a mission and must deploy.”
“Mission? What kind? You owe me that much, right?”
“Orcs sighted near a village by the eastern border mountains. My 7th squad’s heading out.”
Young as she was, Snow led her squad as squad leader, commanding three Gigants including her own.
“Taking Gigants?”
“Of course.”
“I’m coming too.”
“Pardon?”
“Where the needle goes, the thread follows.”
“But this is a subjugation mission. No superiors’ permission, no outsiders.”
“Whose permission?”
“Vice-Commander or Commander’s…”
“Got it.”
Despite being the marquis’s youngest son, Wayne had never seen a Gigant up close. There was even an underground training ground just for them—Gigants were vital weapons, strictly managed by the territory and empire.
This is my chance to see Gigant performance firsthand.
He might even pilot one. Plus, a break from Adam’s watchful eyes. Wayne was determined to join, permission or not.