A week had passed since the recent event...
And everything had turned to normal, with sari going out early and coming home late, while Alaric had been doing his workouts and reading books to gain more knowledge about the world, he’s in.
Because he was a strong believer of the phrase, ’Knowledge is Power.’
Meanwhile...
The sun hung high overhead, casting golden rays over the courtyard. A gentle breeze whispered through the air, rustling the leaves and carrying the sharp whoosh of a blade slicing through air.
Alaric moved in seamless rhythm, locked in his intense training.
Sweat trickled down his temple, his shirt clinging tightly to his lean, defined torso.
Each swing, each stab mirrored the technique Sari had drilled into him.
His feet slid across the ground with precision, one step flowing into the next.
He slashed down, then twisted his wrist and without missing a beat, raised his other hand.
Fwoosh!
A fireball burst from his palm and flew straight ahead, crackling through the air before smashing into a wooden dummy lined along the courtyard’s stone wall.
The impact scorched a blackened crater in the chest of the target, smoke curling from the splinters.
A faint smirk tugged at Alaric’s lips.
The first time he’d used that spell, it had wobbled like a drunken torch. Now, it struck clean. Accurate. Controlled.
He was getting better.
Then he exhaled slowly, lowering the sword. He sat down, cross-legged, and closed his eyes.
The wind swept by again, tugging gently at his sweat-dampened hair as he meditated for ten, maybe fifteen minutes. He calmed his breathing, letting stray thoughts fade like ripples across still water.
Then he opened his eyes again, and rose, blade in hand, returned to position.
But this time, he moved differently.
He adjusted his footing just a little. His shoulder loosened, the grip on his blade relaxed.
He inhaled deeply, and this time, his movements flowed like a stream splitting over rocks.
The blade’s arc changed slightly, intentional, an attempt to blend the precision of Sari’s style with the instinctive rhythm of his own.
Swish!
But halfway through a sweeping strike, his footwork staggered, just a fraction. His shoulder tensed, killing the flow.
"Haa..."
"Haaa..." he exhaled hard and lowered the blade.
"Not quite right. But better than last time."
[It happens, host. Your old style and this one are vastly different. Integrating them won’t be easy.]
Alaric gave a faint nod and rubbed his chin. Brows knitting in thought.
"Yeah... but it feels like I’m missing something."
He lingered in thought for a few moments, then pushed the idea aside. Maybe it would come to him later, when his body and instincts truly started to align.
With that, he turned and noticed her.
A tall and elegant woman was standing just under the shade of the pergola by the edge of the training yard.
Raven-black hair spilled over her shoulders like ink, her Emerald-green eyes were sharp and steady as they followed him. The forest-green gown she wore clung to her curves, swayed lightly with the wind.
She watched him silently, arms folded, and an unreadable smile tugged her lips as he walked toward her place.
He’s learning faster, she mused.
And to wield the sword this proficiently, even as an Elemental Path user...
Her eyes flicked to the dummy still smoldering with fire.
Impressive.
Without a word, she reached out and passed him a canteen.
Alaric gave a respectful nod and took it, his fingers brushing briefly against hers.
Then he sat down nearby on the stone steps.
She watched him as he drank, sweat still trailing down his temple. He gulped it down without pause, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm.
A sly smirk curled at the edges of her lips.
I’ll definitely make you under me... no matter what.
The wind rustled again, and silence settled between them.
Selene broke the silence first.
"You’re getting the hang of it," she said, her voice warm but composed.
Alaric gave a small nod, catching his breath. "Trying to, my lady."
Then, without much ceremony, he pulled off the sweat-soaked shirt clinging to his frame.
His lean, muscular body gleamed under the fading light, defined not by bulk, but by taut lines and hardened discipline.
Selene’s gaze lingered a moment too long before she looked away and spoke again.
"What will you do after this?"
Alaric blinked, caught off guard, and turned to her. "Pardon?"
He reached for his tunic, slipping it on as he waited.
She gave a sly smile.
"Surely you don’t plan to stay with Sari forever, do you?"
"No, my lady. . She’s... devoted to her duties. Has a rhythm of her own. I’d rather not bend it around myself."
Amused, Alaric shook his head.
"No, my lady. She’s been kind, but... she has her own life to live. I wouldn’t want to intrude any longer than I already have."
He looked down at his hands for a moment, flexing them.
"And besides," he said more quietly, "It’s not like I have anywhere to return to. I don’t have any home, there’s no one waiting for me to return to."
Selene didn’t answer right away. Her eyes flicked to the scarf draped around his shoulders.
A faded black fabric with uneven red thorn embroidery along the edges. Roughly stitched, clearly handmade, its ugliness made it stand out.
She stared at it for a moment, then said softly, "It doesn’t match your clothes. Or you, really. But..." she said softly. "It suits you."
Alaric reached up, fingers brushing the scarf’s fabric.
A pause.
Then he nodded. "I guess it does."
Selene watched him in silence.
Then, as if tossing something light into the air, she said, "How about going out with me tomorrow?"
[Main Quest: Subjugate Selene Gilmore (50% Progressed)]
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Chapter End.
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[Ding!]
[A/N]
[Yo, guys thanks for reading this far. I hope you guys are doing fine.]
[Though I wanted to ask you guys something... Is the pace going too slow?]
[Or it’s okay?]
[Please do tell me about it in the comments, so I can try improving for the upcoming Chapters.]
[That’s it for today.]
[Thanks again for reading.]
[Bye, bye.]
[Enjoy.]