Frozen Blossoms and a Child's Sword Ambition
Erica swallowed dryly. Her palm gripping the sword hilt was slick with sweat.
The Julius seated on the jade throne before her looked like a colossal mountain. The man she'd always gazed up at since childhood. The one who'd grown even colder after her mother fell into an endless slumber, a figure she could scarcely call "Father."
"…"
Her resolve, so painstakingly steadied, began to waver. Julius's calmly sunken eyes terrified her. A creeping dread coiled around her ankles.
She even thought of fleeing. If she swung her sword here and made even a single mistake, she'd be scorned by Julius for life.
"Auntie."
The moment Erica's breath trembled, Kyle—who had silently approached—tugged at the hem of her clothes.
"Show him. Frost Flower Sword Technique."
Kyle flashed a bright smile, innocent as a carefree five-year-old, utterly free of tension.
"The flower you showed me yesterday was so pretty."
From that pure praise, Erica drew comfort. Right—this place was special, but what she had to do wasn't. She just needed to swing her sword as she always trained.
Erica drew a deep breath. Her trembling fingertips steadied. She closed her eyes, then opened them. Cold resolve filled her in place of fear.
Shring.
The sword slid free of its sheath. The temperature in Sword Apex Hall plummeted sharply. Mana within Erica's body absorbed chill according to her cultivation method.
Erica took her first step. The sword cleaved the air. Brilliant white frost erupted like an explosion, freezing moisture and mana along its path into razor-sharp white slashes.
Ching, ching! Clear, resonant bursts of sound. Not the sword slicing air, but ice cracking and refreezing.
Erica's movements quickened. Gliding like on ice, she danced elegantly and fluidly across Sword Apex Hall's floor.
'Focus.'
Erica tried to ignore her father's gaze. She concentrated solely on her sword, her mana, and the 'flower' she would create. Flash-flash-flash! Sword strikes flew wildly. Dozens of ice flowers bloomed in the air. Far larger, more intricate, and sharper than those she'd shown Kyle yesterday.
Sword Apex Hall's vast space transformed into a white snowy expanse in moments. Frost surged right up to Julius on his throne.
'The finale...!'
Erica poured every last drop of her mana into the sword. Frost Flower Frenzy. With a whirlwind of slashes, a blizzard howled. Dozens of ice blades whirled like petals, engulfing everything. Ching! Finally, her sword traced a cross.
Ice petals rained down. Erica's ragged breaths scattered as white mist.
Silence descended on Sword Apex Hall. Ice flowers sparkling on floor and walls everywhere. At their center, Erica pressed a hand to her pounding chest.
Unable to face Julius directly, she lowered her gaze slightly. What expression was he wearing? Mocking her? Disappointed?
"…"
Julius said nothing. He rose slowly from the throne and paced Sword Apex Hall. Step, step. With each footfall, Erica's heart thundered.
Julius approached right before her, flicking a finger at one ice flower still floating in the air.
Ching! It shattered into fragments and fell to the floor.
"Flashy, isn't it."
Julius spoke.
"Wasteful with mana. Movements are large, with too many unnecessary spins. A sword more for show than slaying foes."
"Ugh...!"
Erica's lips quivered. The harsh critique burned her eyes hot.
"But."
Julius continued.
"There's thorns amid the flash."
Erica's head snapped up. Julius ground an ice shard underfoot, looking down at her. His eyes were cold, but held no contempt.
"Freeze the space to bind the enemy's feet, dazzle their eyes, then sever their breath. Is that your intent?"
"Y-yes...!"
"The flowers aren't all sharp-petaled yet, thorns too shallow. But the direction is good. You've worked hard."
That casual remark shook Erica's eyes. Tears welled up.
"Keep refining it. If doubts about your sword ever arise, knock on Sword Apex Hall's door."
"Y-yes... Understood, Family Head...!"
"Family Head."
Julius chuckled faintly, placing a hand on Erica's head.
"Too formal for a thirteen-year-old. Speak more freely."
"Huh...?"
"You can call me Father."
"Ah..."
Tears burst from Erica's eyes. Her legs nearly buckled, but she held firm.
"O-okay, got it. Fa...ther..."
Stumbling over the word felt awkward. Tears and sobs choked her voice. As Erica began crying, Julius looked troubled. He swallowed a sigh, stroking her hair.
"I've been too wrapped in my own worries to give you proper attention. I'm sorry."
"N-no, Family Head... Father, you had it hard too..."
"Stop crying first. Pureblood Alastors mustn't shed tears lightly."
Julius's voice grew stern. Sniffling, Erica wiped her eyes furiously. Finally stemming the tears, she bowed deeply.
"I-I'll keep striving forward."
With that, Erica sheathed her sword, steadied her breath, and turned.
"See? Told you. Grandpa would like it too."
Facing her grinning nephew, Erica could only smile back. Sniffling, she rushed over and hugged him tightly.
"Th-thank you."
"What for? I didn't do much."
"Just... thank you."
Tears and snot smeared his clothes, but Kyle didn't push her away, patting her back instead.
'Nice.'
Some oil in their strained father-daughter bond. Gained Erica's favor. A solid ally amid hostile relatives.
Erica held Kyle a long while before releasing him. She bowed deeply to Julius once more and left Sword Apex Hall. Her steps were incomparably lighter than when she'd entered.
Now only Julius and Kyle remained in Sword Apex Hall.
"You."
Julius eyed Kyle quietly before speaking.
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Was that on purpose?"
"What?"
"Erica. You insisted on bringing her—was that for her sake?"
Julius's eyes pierced like he saw through his five-year-old grandson, but Kyle shrugged nonchalantly.
"Nah? I just wanted to show you Auntie’s pretty swordplay."
"Hmm..."
"Plus, she seemed super scared of you. Thought it'd be nice if you got closer. She'd thank me then, right?"
Kyle beamed.
"The other relatives don't like me or Mom much. But Auntie was different."
"Already building your faction?"
"Family should get along."
"Ha."
Julius finally burst out laughing.
"True enough. Family should get along."
"Auntie’s sword was pretty, right?"
"Quite pretty, yes."
Julius stroked his chin, gazing fondly at Kyle. Swordsmanship, spirit arts, social savvy. Hard to believe he was only five.
"Thanks to you, I'm in a good mood. How should I repay you...?"
"With a gift."
Kyle grinned.
"A gift, eh? What kind? Toy? Candy?"
"Pfft, I'm not a kid—why would I want that?"
"If you're not a kid, who is?"
Fair point. Kyle, reminded he was a five-year-old, replied.
"No toys or candy."
"Then?"
"Let me into the Second Floor Grand Library."
"The library?"
Julius's eyes widened.
"It's full of books too advanced for you. And you haven't awakened your spirit root yet. What for?"
"To study."
Kyle answered boldly.
"You can't play with me every day. So I'll study books in the library."
"Study..."
Julius pondered. The Second Floor Grand Library held 500 years of Alastor knowledge: mana cultivation methods, sword arts, magic. All too advanced for a five-year-old.
"The library books are divided into five grades. Kyle, I'll grant access to the lowest, fifth-grade books."
Julius spoke.
"And among fifth-grade, only swordsmanship ones. To familiarize yourself with forms ahead of time. No mana cultivation or magic."
"Why?"
"Pointless without a foundation."
"Got it."
Kyle nodded with a grin. Fifth-grade books, limited to 'swordsmanship'—Julius's words felt adorably overprotective.
'He wants to raise me as a swordsman no matter what.'
Kyle loved swords anyway. He still believed he'd been born to wield one, reincarnated to grasp it again.
"Oh, one more thing I'm curious about."
"What?"
"Sword Garden."
Kyle's golden eyes sparkled.
"I'm your grandson, so I can go, right?"
"Barring Sword Tower, no place in Gladiheim is off-limits to purebloods."
"Then can I draw the weapons there?"
"No."
Julius looked exasperated.
"Sword Garden's weapons belong to vassals and foes remembered by Alastors. Can't just pull them carelessly."
"Touching them's okay?"
"Why ask?"
"Maybe a goblin spirit like Fenris's is dwelling in one."
Kyle glanced at Fenris embedded in Sword Apex Hall's floor. At his gaze, black mist rippled, a wolf's growl rumbling.
"That mutt growls 'cause it hates me. Sword Garden's goblins might like me."
Meeting the lightning spirit at dawn convinced Kyle he had spirit arts talent. Arian said spirits and goblins differed—but seeing the mutt in Fenris proved this body had goblin-related gifts too.
So he wanted to test it.
'Can't train mana or sword arts yet anyway.'
Julius stroked his chin thoughtfully. Fenris was the Sword Ghost's blade from 500 years ago. Sword Garden's weren't as ancient, but all from era-defining warriors. Perhaps goblins dwelled there too.
"Touching's permitted."
Julius nodded slowly. Talented grandson. No reason to hinder developing those talents for the 'sword.'
Kyle cheered, "Woo!"
"Library first? Or Sword Garden?"
"Nah, gotta play with Grandpa now."
Kyle bounced over with wooden sword in hand.
"Can't do this every day after today. So play lots today—no regrets for you."
"Sounds like you're playing for my sake."
"Playing with me no fun?"
"If it weren't, would I be here?"
Julius chuckled, raising a hand. His wooden sword floated from beside the throne into his grasp.
"Read the sword manual I gave yesterday?"
"All done."
"Already?"
"Yeah. It was easy—why take long?"
"Hah."
He'd guessed from Kyle recreating Erica's technique earlier. But the confident reply drew a mischievous smile from Julius.
"Basics must be solid. Advanced techniques can't shine without firm foundations."
"Then basic swordplay today."
Kyle's golden eyes sparkled as he grinned. Julius's brows rose. Basic swordplay to play? Adorable from his young grandson.
"Amusing. Very well—let's play basics."
No sooner said than Kyle lunged. Honest, precise thrust, no frills. Tak! Julius parried lightly. Sword glanced aside, but Kyle seamlessly shifted to a slash.
Whoosh! Wooden sword hummed heavily toward Julius's waist.
'No disruption at all.'
Julius admired inwardly. Kids usually overpowered swings, losing balance. But Kyle's lower body was rooted like an ancient tree.
Spirit medicine? Insufficient explanation. Perfect weight control, like a veteran swordsman.
Tak, tak, tak! Wooden swords clashed ceaselessly. Downward cuts, upward cuts, horizontal slashes, thrusts. Basic forms flowed in sequence.
'Hmm...'
Kyle gritted his teeth. Julius's simple basics pressed like an oncoming mountain. Blocking pushed him back; dodging narrowed his space. Chilling thrill curled his lips upward.
Few foes in his past life pressured purely with basics. Kyle thrilled, guiding his sword. Unlike boiling emotions, his movements simplified. Excess power shed, only optimal basic trajectories remained.
"Enough."
After endless swings and clashes, swords halted. Julius withdrew.
"I gave you that manual yesterday, right?"
Julius muttered, smiling.
"I can do more."
Kyle smacked his lips regretfully. But limbs trembled on their own. Spirit medicine strengthened him, but such intense wooden swordplay screamed through his body.
"Overdoing harms the body."
Julius approached, stroking Kyle's sweat-soaked hair.
"Splendid... truly."
Splendid fell short. Julius couldn't phrase his grandson's genius.
"No child your age swings a sword like that—in the world, or Alastor history, save the founder."
Highest praise from an Alastor head.
Julius felt no exaggeration.
"Kyle."
Julius knelt, meeting his grandson's eyes.
"I wish you'd grow up quickly."
Sincere words.
"I wanna grow up fast too."
Kyle's golden eyes met Julius's.
"But I hope you don't age anymore."
"Why?"
"If I grow strong as an adult, but you're that much older and weaker... beating you later won't feel good."
"Ha."
Julius laughed at the bold reply.
"Hahaha..."
Best words a grandson could say.