Chapter 47 Sword Duel
When a person gains a new type of power, that doesn't instantly affect their strength. It is like money.
Just by having a lot of money, you won't be strong. You need to know how to spend that money as well.
Therefore, for me, refining my aura and getting familiar with the new sensations coming was also essential.
Remembering all the things that I have done so far, I started meditating. Trying to imitate that feeling I got while my wounds were healing on their own with the existence of aura.
Slowly putting my will into my existence of mine, I started feeling that familiar feeling again.
Since I had already awakened my aura, regenerating it was not that hard, either.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a faint blue light wave lingering around my body.
This was my own aura. However, since now I was in the beginning stages, it was still faint.
And, of course, in order to strengthen it, the only thing I can do is to train and train…
***
/HOWLLL/ /THUD/ /THUD/ /THUD/ /THUD/
Waking up because of the loud sounds of windows shaking, I opened my eyes.
'Wow, what a strong storm. It seems winter is coming.'
With that thought, I stood up and went to the bathroom to wash my face.
Looking at my body in the mirror, I put a faint smile on my face.
'Finally, I managed to get rid of the wimpiness. Callius was really looking like a little child.'
I thought. Although I hadn't gained a lot of weight, at the very least, now I have some muscles to show. Of course, since I am a speed-oriented type, I am not aiming to have too much muscle, either.
It has been three months since I managed to awaken my aura. For this period of time, I had been training my body to its limits. I can also feel like my core is being strengthened, and the process is almost halved.
Ordering my classical morning drink, I started checking out my statuses.
Name- Callius Augustride ????
Age – 13
Class – The Sorcerer of Beginning, Ruler of Lightning
Knight rank – 1 star
Mage rank – 1 star (Sealed)
Attributes – Aether
Traits – [Noblesse], [Perfectionist], [Prodigy], [Aesthetic Sense], [Tyrant's Aura], [Ego], [Witcher]
Arts – All-Seeing Eye (1-star) (%53)
Skills – Disguise
Stats-
- Strength – 1.8
- Speed – 2.0
- Stamina – 1.8
- Perception – 2.3
- Magic – 0 (2.7)
- Luck -???
- Charisma – 6 (sealed)
- Intelligence – 9
- Perseverance - 10
Looking at the panel before me, I thought;
'My speed is certainly improved best. Just as I intended.'
<Host, I must remind you that the limiting time for the quest is coming. You have three days left.>
While thinking that, I heard the system sound in my head.
'Yes, I know. Today will be the day I finish that quest.'
<Understood, host.>
Finishing the talk in my head, I left my room while grabbing my rapier.
In the last three months, I have constantly been observing the knights. How they did train or how they did fight. I also learned quite a lot, albeit I have yet to put that into practice with a real knight. However, I have been simulating how to fight in my mind for quite a long.
There is also the fact that the behavior of Adelyn and Emma is getting more and more aggressive toward me.
Although I don't know what is wrong with them, the way they behave is a lot different. You must have already been familiar with how Adelyn behaved before. She would scorn me and ridicule me, but she never attempted to attack me physically.
However, nowadays, I can see the attitude of the maids and knights all around are also changing. They are openly taunting me.
Just yesterday, a maid bumped me on my way from the training grounds.
You already know my traits. [Noblesse] and [Perfectionist] would never allow such a thing in my presence.
Therefore, to punish her, I decided to hit her with a stick for 15. Generally, the punishment might change according to the law of the state, but hitting with a stick is pretty general.
But, now is the thing. The moment I proceeded with the punishment, a knight blocked me while backing up the maid. After that, Adelyn came and blamed me for abusing my nobility and stated that I should be punished. I was almost locked up because of that.
And, of course, this is not the only thing. This has been going on for a long time.
As for Emma, she would normally just scorn me and would rather prefer to leave me alone. However, she, too, changed the way she behaved. Nowadays, she is openly taunting me, and she is trying to attack me under the guise of training, basically pouring her hatred towards me.
I don't know what changes happened to those two, and neither do I care. Although this is the house Callius was raised in, this is no longer the original Callius, so I don't have any relation to them. Since it has been five months since my soul is merged with his, I have almost removed the lingering feelings of the original Callius.
Just like that, I reached the training grounds.
On my way, I could see the changed attitude of the maids.
/THUD/
The moment I entered, a shoulder bumped me, knocking me to the ground.
"Tch!"
Although I could see the shoulder coming, I intentionally didn't block it.
'If you want to play like that, it will work for me as well.'
"Halt!"
Standing up, I said with a stern tone activating my [Tyrant's Aura], although it won't pressure this person before me.
However, ignoring me, the knight started walking to the opposite side, his back turned towards me.
Note that a knight turning his back to the noble is a huge disrespect, and openly showing such an attitude means this knight does not regard me as a noble at all.
"I said, Halt."
Repeating the same thing while shouting, I said.
There was an audience slowly gathering together around us at that time.
However, the knight showed no signs of stopping. At this point, he is openly showing everyone around that he doesn't care about my nobility at all.
'Now, this is what you are aiming for as well. Isn't it?'
/SWOOSH/ /THUD/
Seeing the opportunity presented itself. I threw my glove to the back of the knight.
And finally, he turned his head to me.
A brown eyes with a mocking look, a wide open mouth openly showing a smirk.
"Do you know what this means, Callius?"
The moment he turned his face to me, I understood why this guy behaved in such a way.
'Heschel Hicks. The son of the head knight, George. Same black hair and same brown eyes.'
Thinking that, I said.
"Knight, state your name."
"Heh. Heschel Hi-"
Interrupting him in the midst, I said.
"Knight Heschel. I challenge you to a sword duel. Do you accept?"
Not letting him finish his introduction means I basically don't care about his family name.
Of course, after showing such a provocative attitude just to wait for a crowd to gather, he said with a smirk.
"I accept. When is the time?"
"We shall do it now."
"Fine by me."
"What is going on here?"
At that moment, with high pressure, a familiar sound entered my ears.
"Head Knight!"
"Head Knight!"
"Head Knight!"
Saluting, all the knights around shouted at the same time.
/TOK/ /TOK/ /TOK/
With a loud stepping sound, he came closer and noticed me.
"Young Lord Callius, can I ask what is wrong?"
From attitude itself, I could easily say that he was not associated with the little play in front of me. In the first place, no matter how dissatisfied he is with me, George is an honorable knight. He would even give his life to protect mine just because I am the son of the family head; he swore his pledge.
"Good, Head Knight George. Let me ask you a question. What is the sentence given to the knights who disrespected a noble?"
"It would change from state to state. But in general, a finger from the knight would be cut down."
"Good. Then, Head Knight George, do you know who I am?"
"You are the second child and the first son of Duke Austin and the heir of the Augustride Family."
"Good, then what would happen to a knight who disrespected me?"
"His left arm would be cut down."
Around this time, I could easily see the troubled expression on Heschel's face.
"Now, as for what happened here, you can basically ask the knights here."
Saying that I pointed the knights around.
Slowly approaching, the knight beside him started recounting everything that had happened.
'Now, what are you going to do?'
"I apologize for the behavior of my son, Lord Callius. He is still an immature kid. I will-"
"No need. I will educate him on my own, and the sacred duel has already been appointed."
"You want to proceed with the sword duel, young Lord?"
"Yes. However, let me set the conditions. If he wins the duel, I shall forgive him for his deeds; however, if I win, I shall remove both his arms with the Seal of Grafted. Do you accept, Knight Heschel?"
Hearing me, a smile bloomed on his face. From the looks of it, he doesn't expect me to win this at all.
"Yes, I accept."
"Then we shall commence with the duel on the sparring arena."
Saying that I started walking to the arena.
'Fun part finally begins….'