Step 7 - Sparring Time

"Are you ready to start your training?" Sariah asked with a smirk, as she still couldn't get over the fact that I chose such a "bad sword." "If you want, you can use one of those trash swords in that pot over there. They're probably better than the one you got for free."

She shook her head in amusement. She had no idea what I had seen in the sword; after all, this sword was a hidden gem. I just needed to awaken it, which would be the hardest part about all this.

"Give me a few moments to prepare," I answered, as I put some distance between the two of us.

We were currently inside the private training ground of the Vera Estate. Morgana had allowed them to train there since she knew of the pressure of training around knights. The mockeries could get to one's head.

"You're lucky to be even training here," Sariah suddenly spat out with a frown. "I'm not sure what Lady Vera sees in trash like you, but I'll make sure she sees you for who you really are."

I laughed. "Are you jealous that I'm the one spending time with her?"

I could visibly see from where I stood how tightly Sariah's jaw suddenly became.

"I've seen how much closer you got to her. I know there's something weird about you. I just can't prove it! It's only a matter of time before I expose you!"

I just smirked as I swung the lump of metal in my hand with decent sleight of hand. I had never held a sword in my life, so I thought I was decent for a first time.

I sighed. "Can you stop imagining things in your head? Let's start this training session."

I wasn't sure if it was normal, but Sariah had said that a sparring match was the first thing they needed to do with each other. I wasn't too keen on having one, but she heavily insisted that it was to see my strengths and weaknesses. I thought it was an opportunity to beat me up.

Sariah unsheathed her sword smoothly as she swung it in the air with much more precision than I could manage. It was as if she was one with the sword.

"Fret not. I'll go easy on you, servant. In fact, I'll give you three strikes. Make sure to use them wisely."

I nodded as I became serious all of a sudden. I could get seriously hurt because of this sparring. I needed to take this seriously if I didn't want to go to the infirmary.

I tightened my hold on my sword as I dashed forward, looking frankly pathetic to Sariah, who had a smile plastered on her face.

I wound up the sword over my head and swung it down with as much strength as possible. However, the effect was… clearly mediocre. Sariah simply held her sword before her; she did not move a single muscle. I simply wasn't strong enough to make her take this seriously.

If a head-on attack wouldn't work, I decided to try a feint.

But that also quickly failed and was parried away.

"One strike left," she said with an evil-looking smile.

I thought for a moment, but I knew that whatever I'd try would be a failure. I decided to swing my sword at her with as much strength as I could summon, but it was once again easily blocked.

"My turn now…" she whispered under her breath as she released all of the frustration she had accumulated earlier.

She dashed forward, moving her sword at a speed I could not even see. I felt cuts appearing all over my body in the span of seconds.

"Argh…"

"H-How is this fair?"

I could feel my hold on my sword weakening, and it was only a matter of time before I dropped it.

"It's not. It's an assessment of your abilities," she said with the same evil smirk as earlier.

[You have received a Quest.]

[Quest Name - Survive]

[Quest Details: Stay conscious for the next minutes and prove your worth to Sariah, who despises you.]

[Quest Reward: +1 Affection Heart from Sariah Elis]

My eyes widened.

When I finally thought that everything was lost, a sudden boost of energy took over my body as I focused and regained hope with a single objective in mind: to survive for more than five minutes against this monster of a swordsman.

Sariah looked surprised that I had not yet given up as she continued to have her fun, giving me cuts literally all over my body.

My arms, legs, chest… it was torture disguised as training.

Yet, I still stood on my feet.

"Is that all you can do?"

"You have a stronger will than I thought. Maybe you're not so useless after all."

[Intimate Presence I has begun to take effect. Sariah Elis will start being more obedient toward you as you continue your training sessions.]

[Current Obedience towards you: 0 -> 3]

It had only increased by one point, but it was already a good start. With the Affection Heart that I would gain by the end of this, I'd be able to advance much quicker.

[30 Seconds Left before the Quest's Completion.]

I only needed to hold on a little bit more as Sariah began speeding up; she looked annoyed that I could still fight after all this time. She began moving with more vigor, clearly aiming to knock me out.

The seconds passed by as I could feel her getting closer and closer to having me on the ropes.

[5 Seconds Left.]

As that message appeared before me, I felt Sariah appear before me as she gave me a swift hit against the back of my head, knocking me out in one swift motion.

Before my eyes closed, a bunch of messages from the system appeared.

[You have completed the Quest.]

[Sariah Elis's Affection has increased by one.]

[Affection: ♥♡♡♡♡]

[Because you resisted against Sariah Elis for more than five minutes, you have gained +3 Strength and +1 Agility.]

While I had gotten knocked out, I had still managed to accomplish my objective. Sariah would slowly see me as someone useful through this training.

But then something happened that no one would have ever expected.

The sword in my hand began vibrating slightly, accompanied by a system message.

[Wyrmsteel Rejection: Bonding Progress <20%>.]