Just Chatter

Lunch comes quickly enough. I have two of the strikes already at a hundred. It'll take a while to pull off all eight. Then to seriously practice one before trying the test.

"My pain has pain." Ryan rubs his arms while sitting next to me. "I knew this was going to be a thing, but it's vicious. First day they basically want you wasted."

"Generally... Yeah." I shrug eating. I can feel all the muscles expected for the move. It was tough. Hours where we swung a sword around.

Jessica looks too perfect still. It's a touch annoying. "I should finish the rest of my strikes this evening. I'm almost done."

"Even after teaching others." Ryan huffs. I agree with him honestly. Jessica clearly isn't doing this for the first time. Not teaching, not sword swinging. She'll be sparring before the week ends. "I'll probably join you."

"Get it done and out of the way." Jessica frowns at her meal. "Although when you get your next sword, you'll want to do the same thing. A hundred strikes of each type. It should give you the base skills on the uniqueness of the sword."

"How long do you think it'll take me?"

Jessica eyes Ryan then me. She breaks her roll in half to dip into the broth. "By the end of the week. Most should take two. It's not an easy task. They will probably need to see the swordsmith at that point either way."

"Just not to learn sharpening." I nod. A sword does require proper care. "Or maybe they each saw the swordsmith before obtaining one." I look to Ryan. "Have you been required to care for weapons?"

"No." Ryan shakes his head looking between Jessica and me. "You have?"

I shrug. "Could've been on the test." Jessica laughs. "I can clean and care for leathers, armor, and various weapons. Although I'd think the sword is easy enough if you can handle basics and sharpening."

"Can you sharpen a blade?" Jessica asks me.

"No. Seen it happen, though. We have..." I pause. Was I about to say we have a sharpener on staff for the kitchens. Do most nobles have one? The castle needs one. I hiss and look away.

"Just Thomas has a lot of knowledge for someone without a name." Jessica smirks at me. I shift. She knows who I am. "It was explained to me, but I really didn't have the chance to try. It was one of the items denied until I earned my knighthood."

"You're impressive." Ryan shakes his head. "My arms hurt. Ugh." He rubs them again.

"Shoulders and back, too." I flex a little.

"No. They're fine." Ryan eyes me. "I carried stacks of textbooks across my home. The only reason I could manage what I did was because I'm stronger than most think." He pokes at his plate. "Better to study in the comfort of my rooms."

"That's impressive too." Jessica focuses on her meal. "We have a lesson once we're done."

"Or when ever Hydrangea shows up. Eat first. We can chat about stuff after eating. We'll regret not." I scan the room. Hydrangea isn't here. We have time then.

We have plenty of time to chat. I mostly just listen as the two complain about the food again. Then chat about the difficulties around weapons. When they try to get me involved, I suggest I don't mind the food and mostly side with Jessica on all things weapons.

Hydrangea stops the chatter. "Let's go."

"Can't wait." Jessica is quick to get up. We already cleared our food. We had to just wait. "What are we learning?"

Hydrangea chuckles at Jessica excitement. "You have several knights watching you. All three of you actually. The words coming through the vines are... Promising." The pause didn't make me feel comfortable. Hydrangea isn't telling us something. "You do not need to aim for the quickest kngithhood entrance."

"Wasn't four months required?" I ask.

Hydrangea shrugs. "King can approve early options just like he could approve auto entrants. We decide the test based on need of the individual. You'll notice we're readying you for a certain path. Other will gain slightly different requirements."

"Hence why we're in a noble only class." Jessica nods. "Is there any nobles still training here?"

"Yes. Callie Hellsgate and Daniel Swifting."

"Ohhh... A Hellsgate." Jessica glances to me. I don't know them. Should expect to have interaction sooner rather than later. "Is there magic classes?"

"Yes." Hydrangea motions to the room we're to enter. "You'll find many classes available once you pass through the beginning portion. Once you truly enter a swords class, You'll be expected to request another weapon type."

"We need three with proficiency before graduating." Jessica explains. Ryan and I nod.

"Magic and first aid are required."

"I don't have any magic, though?" Ryan shivers.

"You'll need to learn how to work your flow. If you're alive, you have mana flow. It'll be extremely difficult and no spells will be possible, but changing your flow can make you not noticeable in certain situations."

"Is that how they hide in plain sight?" I ask. I noticed the action but didn't realize it was mana flow control. That would make it something impossible for me to do. My curses flex how they want.

"Yes. We detect mana more than anything else. Mana flow control will get you more noticed or less depending on what you need."

"Okay. That would help. I hope it's easier than you suggest." Ryan shivers glancing at the two of us. "They already have flow of mana."

"Controlled? No. Understanding the principle, yes. All three of you need such a class. Then they will need higher level magics being taught. But that may not happen during trainee periods."

"What?" Jessica eyes Hydrangea. "But if I can cast..."

"One of your first missions may be to a mage teacher for such learning. We will have a group nearby as you handle either persuading the teacher back to the knights hall or giving you a quick lesson there."

I think of Odin. Will they place me before him again so easily? Is that why my father was so against it. "Will you use the 'best teacher' spell?"

"Yes. There have been a few cases, we deny the course. Best teacher for magic may not be a safe environment." Hydrangea stands before us. We sat down at individual desks. The room could easily hold thirty students. And based on the major desks in the front and back of the room, I could suggest double teachers would also feel comfortable here. "Ready?"