Monsters only look good in books [2]

My feet stood firmly on the packed dirt of the training ground, a vast expanse stretching twenty feet in every direction. This was a place where warriors honed their skills, where battles were fought, lessons were learned, and legends were born. The ground was bordered by rows of knights and trainees, their eyes fixed on the center where I stood, a wooden sword in hand. Behind me stood Alice, my personal maid, her presence as calm and elegant as ever. Her brown hair and eyes complemented her maid's uniform, and her poised demeanor spoke volumes of her experience and grace.

To the west, three more training grounds buzzed with activity, filled with pupils practicing their forms and techniques. But this ground, nestled behind a small hill at the back of the Duke's manor, was special. It was here that I would begin my journey into swordsmanship under the guidance of my father, Duke Aleric von Syche.

I wore a set of trainee armor—leather stitched together with metallic wire, a common item found in dungeon chests in the game. Surprisingly, it wasn't as uncomfortable as I'd imagined. It felt like wearing slightly heavy clothes, manageable but purposeful.

"Is the trainee armor really necessary?" I asked Alice, breaking the silence.

"Yes," she replied, her eyes closed as if in deep thought. "Until you reach an experienced level in swordsmanship, wearing armor during training is essential."

Her answer was firm, and I nodded, accepting her wisdom. The presence of an audience—knights and trainees gathered to watch the Duke teach his son—added an awkward pressure. But I pushed the discomfort aside, focusing on the task at hand. I stood in the center of the ground, waiting patiently for my father to arrive.

Suddenly, a teleportation gate materialized in front of me, its blue hue glitching and distorting the air around it. From the gate stepped Lady Evandra, my mother, her presence as radiant as ever. Her white hair and ocean-blue eyes gleamed with pride and amusement. She wore a stunning gown that seemed to capture the essence of the night sky—black fabric adorned with silver specks, deep blue ruffles peeking from beneath, and a star-shaped brooch at her waist. A lace choker with tiny gems completed the look, adding an air of mystery and elegance.

'This is the exact dress she wore in her official illustration and debut alongside Duke Aleric,' I thought, recalling the game's artwork. She looked every bit the powerful and enchanting mage she was.

"Mission accomplished," she announced with a grin, giving me a thumbs-up. I returned the gesture, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Following her, Duke Aleric emerged from the gate. His black hair and amethyst eyes were as striking as they were in the game. He wore his everyday Duke attire—a long, flowing garment with gold embroidery and chains, paired with a black compression shirt bearing the Syche family sigil and loose white trousers. Despite his regal appearance, he looked calm, almost relaxed, as if he'd left his duties behind to focus on this moment.

'He probably handed his work to Ace, Astraea, or Mr. Roosevelt,' I thought, judging by his demeanor.

I greeted him with a bow, my wooden sword held respectfully by Alice, who also bowed in deference. As I straightened, I couldn't help but think, *Beautiful people can do anything, and it will still look beautiful.* My gaze flicked to Alice for a moment, a reminder that even though Vanitas' body was no longer as skinny as it once was, it still had a long way to go. Back in my world, I'd been an overweight, unattractive man in his twenties. In both lives, it seemed luck had dealt me a harsh hand.

"You may rise," Father said, his voice soft but commanding. A gentle smile played on his lips as he added, "Shall we begin?"

"Yes, Father," I replied, my voice steady but filled with determination.

He began by outlining the core principles of his swordsmanship, the commandments that every knight must live by. "First, unsheathe your sword for justice and equality. Second, respect even your enemies, for a knight's honor is reflected in their behavior and words." His gaze was intense, locking onto mine as he spoke. "A sword has two purposes: protection and destruction. It should only be used to protect our people, never to betray them. This is the third commandment: protect, never scar."

His words resonated deeply, echoing the values he'd upheld in the game. I remembered how, in his final moments, he'd whispered these principles, and how Ehan had pledged to live by them every day, tears streaming down his face as he stood before his grave.

Inspired, I adopted an attentive stance, placing a fist over my chest. "I pledge to live as a knight, obeying all the commandments for the rest of my life," I declared, echoing Ehan's words from the game.

Father's smile softened, but he sighed. "This is too much for you to follow now. I hope you will learn and use these principles for good."

He was right. I'd used the wrong dialogue at the wrong time, but his gentle correction only deepened my respect for him.

The lesson began in earnest. Father demonstrated the foundational stance of the Moonlight Swordsmanship, an SS+ ranked manual that players could only obtain through real money or the game's hardest hidden quest after Duke Aleric's death. The stance was unique—feet firmly planted, weight balanced, body swaying with a subtle rhythm. His lead foot pointed forward, his chin tucked, and his wooden longsword extended toward me with precision.

I mimicked his stance, though imperfectly. Under his guidance, I adjusted my posture, controlled my breathing, and synchronized my movements with the rhythmic sway. It took me nearly an hour to get it right, but once I did, we moved on to the next lesson.

Father explained the three categories of the Moonlight Swordsmanship: Attack, Defense, and Parry. Each category had subcategories—Slash, Cut, and Pierce for Attack; Block, Roll 'n Dodge, and Stun for Defense; and unique techniques for Parry, depending on the weapon. He demonstrated each move with fluid grace, his wooden sword cutting through the air with precision.

"Speed and attack are everything," he emphasized, concluding the lesson. With that, he handed his wooden sword to a maid, donned his regal mantle, and left the training ground, his presence lingering like a shadow.

Mother approached me, her smile warm and nostalgic. "He becomes so passionate when talking about swords," she murmured, almost to herself. "Just like in our younger days."

I pretended not to hear, focusing instead on her next words. "Now that he's gone, I'll return to my room and find the easiest solution to condense mana into a liquid, like Aura."

I nodded, knowing full well that my mother, the Lady of the Crescent Moonlight, would stop at nothing to experiment with mana. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I felt a surge of determination.

With that, my training began in earnest. Under the watchful eyes of Sir Marin, I practiced the Attack techniques—Slash, Cut, and Pierce—repeating each motion until my muscles ached and my wooden sword felt like an extension of my arm. The road ahead was long, but I was ready to walk it, one step at a time.