After Two Years

Foosh-!

-Clank!

Twisting my heel to the side, I dodged the incoming sword coming from the left by moving to my right.

"Hupp!"

Though, it didn't take long for my mother to add follow ups after I dodged her sword attack earlier.

[Stacking Needle]

Stopping herself from moving, she thrust her sword consecutively. Everytime I dodged it, her sword attack's speed became more faster, making it more harder for me to dodge everything as small bruise started appearing around my body.

In these past two years, you could say that I've trained myself on using sword with my mother more than magic.

Even though my training with Cossette took only a year and a half, I've already mastered my two crest to a good level. But for my Stigma, although it started forming nothing else changed after that.

[A/N: guys, I know that you might be wondering what is this 'Stigma'. Stigma is the bloodline crest. the name 'bloodline crest' doesn't seems to suit the story so I decided to changed it.]

But...

Right now, none of this matters in our duel.

After dodging for sometime, I took a long step back away from her reach.

"Fuuu..."

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes to calm myself down. Once I opened them, I began restudying the attack patterns she did earlier.

'I see...'

Smiling inwardly, I took the same stance she did earlier and waited for her to attack.

Earlier, I didn't just let myself get hit by her attacks, but also, in fact studied all of her movement as well. Thanks to the Dark magic I used to cover both my eyes, I was able to copy... No. Steal the 'movement' she did earlier.

For why I called that steal was because, since I couldn't fully copy her skill thanks to my still-developing body, I decided to create something that was similar to it's movement that I can easily use and won't force my body out of place.

In other words, I'm also improving it.

Her figure disappeared and reappeared in front of me. At the same time, we both activated our skill.

[Consecutive Needle]

[Stacking Needle]

Shing-!

-Clang!

Shing-!

Both our swords began clashing, creating a sound that echoed throughout the whole training room. Everytime our swords came to touch each other, it'll either reflect upward, downward, diagonally, or horizontally, before following up again with another thrust.

The clashing lasted for about five minutes before I noticed that my body was getting weak.

Due to the exhaustion of mana I was using to cover my eyes so I can follow through her movement speed, my body was pushed beyond it's limit that I started feeling a hot sensation throughout my whole body.

Right where I was about to lose all my strength, my mother took a long step back away from me.

At first, I thought that she was feeling exhausted like me but then, I noticed something strange.

Next.... It happened.

"Haaa!!"

Letting out a cry, my mother placed her sword back to it's scabbard and bend her body slightly while looking at me.

[Thunder Clap • Flash Step]

Her whole body disappeared in an instant, leaving a trail of flame and lighting from her footsteps.

Right where I was about to recover from shock, I suddenly felt some sharp object touching behind my neck.

Yup. It's already obvious that I lost the duel the moment she did that.

"You lose."

My mother said, while slowly putting her sword back to it's scabbard. I shook my shoulder after I heard her said that, as I quickly made my way towards the bench from the corner of the room to sit down.

"Haaa...."

Resting my back comfortably to the bench, I raised my left hand up to cover the sun's light while also looking towards my Stigma.

At tomorrow morning, first I'll have to head to the Dark Guild because I have something to talk about to Chief before proceeding to leave the city.

Since I'll have to meet the prince alone, I need to use a potion similar to what my mother used a couple of years ago to make her body look mature.

The 'Growth' potion she used is legal and has already been prove to be safe. But, since I'm still an 8 year old, some mixed ingredients is needed so the potion's side effect won't affect my body.

Obviously, those ingredients is illegal that's why I needed Chief's assistance to buy them... Well, in truth, I already ordered Chief in advance to buy those potions at the black market.

"Sigh.... Right now, the only thing I need to worry about is how can I meet the prince without causing some commotion that can affect the future scenario."

I muttered to myself. Fidgeting my fingers to the armchair of the bench, I suddenly heard a voice calling out to me.

"Brother!"

It was none other than my little sister, Chloe.

While running towards my direction, Chloe had formed a tear on the side, almost like she was crying earlier.

I stood up from my sit and knelt down a little, as I also spread my arms, waiting for her to hug me.

After she was only a couple of meters away from me, she jumped to my arm, hugged it tightly and wouldn't let go.

"One of the maid said that you'll be leaving tomorrow, that's a lie right?"

With a sad and teary eyes, she looked directly at my eyes, as if she was waiting for me to answer.

'Shit! If she continued to stare at me with those eyes, I might end up changing my mind and delay my plans for a couple of years. What should I do...?'

It was then, it hit me...

Smiling, I caressed the back of her head to calm her down.

"Don't worry, I'll come back immediately after I finished doing something important."

Wiping the tears in her eyes, she looked at me again with puppy eyes.

"Really? When will you come back?"

-Crack!

Forcing my mouth to open, I answered.

"Just a couple of days....maybe?"

Lies!!!

"Really?"

Even though I can lie without battling an eye to somebody, this is the only time I felt this way.

'Yes! This is also for her own good. Lying is the only thing I could answer right now.'

While saying that to myself, I tried everything to change the topic to something else.

"A-Anyways, don't worry because after I come back, I'll give you lots of souvenirs from every city I visit."

After I said that, a bright smile replaced her sad and teary expression.

"Wah! Really?"

"Yes..."

Thankfully, the diverting plan worked!

And so, tomorrow finally came.