"The winner is Sir Benedict," Elizabeth declared.
"Thank you for the opportunity. It was an excellent fight," Benedict respectfully said, bowing to his opponent.
It was normally expected to return the courtesy, yet Lady Kalasena, as reticent as she always was, stared at Benedict intently, picked up her sword, and directly left the room. Her expression remained cold and unreadable. Everyone was stunned by her impoliteness. She suggested the spar, so she should have been prepared to lose. It was childish to throw a tantrum because she lost, especially for a Grand Lady. Her two maids seemed unsurprised and hurried after her without explaining. Only Lord Fredrick and his guard lingered.
The boy chuckled, "Please do not take offense to her behavior. Lady Kalasena is a very proud and confident person by heart. She probably didn't expect to be beaten so quickly, and so easily, by you. It must have been quite the shock to her. You don't need to worry."
"I see…" Benedict replied, unsure of what face to show.
"Well, I won't bother you anymore. Princess Elizabeth, I will investigate the materials we discussed. I can't make any promises, but I will endeavour to provide an update within five days. Goodnight, everyone." Lord Fredrick left with his guard.
"Lady Kalasena… won't come back to cause trouble, will she?" Freon asked.
Elizabeth paused. "I don't think she's that kind of person. Besides, there's not much she can do against Benedict anyways. He's officially a Royal Guard and my Protector."
"Even if she's a Grand Lady?"
Shrugging, she stated, "The Dewshard Household doesn't have the influence."
At the same time, Shirley teased Benedict, "I have to say… beating a girl wasn't the best way to show off."
"I'm not trying to show off though." Benedict was perplexed.
"Hmm…" She observed his face closely, trying to sense any falsehood. "Well, since you won't admit it, I won't poke any further. I'm curious how you managed to break her technique on the third try. Did you know about her style beforehand?"
"Lady Kalasena?" He collected his thoughts. "No, I didn't know anything about her combat style. This was the first time I saw her fight, aside from the short skirmish in the marketplace."
"Then it was luck?"
"No, I figured out the essence of her sword style in the heat of the moment. If I had to explain how… it's because I've seen a few sword styles like hers before. That's why I could understand what she was doing and break through. You could say it's a product of my Sword Attainment."
"If I recall correctly, you said you've reached Major Sword Form."
"I'm one step away from perfect."
"What about Lady Kalasena then? What was her Sword Attainment?" Shirley wondered.
"Probably… Minor Sword Form? I'm not really sure. The line between Basic and Minor Sword Form is quite fuzzy, like Fundamental Realm Novice and Adept. It's hard to tell the difference."
"I never realized Attainment could be that useful. Maybe I should work on it too."
Benedict tilted his head. "I always thought your Halberd Attainment was relatively decent."
"It is?" Shirley was stunned. How come she did not know? "That can't be. I never studied different halberd styles, and I haven't fought against other halberd users. My Attainment can't be that high."
"The 'Form' Attainment Level means to have the right 'form', and to master every 'form' that your weapon can take. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to study for it. You have more than enough practical experience to call yourself a master."
"But I'm just swinging my weapons around on instinct," she admitted wryly. "I can't say that I've mastered the form of anything."
"If you can swing your weapons around on instinct, and still win against more seasoned opponents, then I think you can call yourself a master."
"That sounds convenient…" Shirley was unconvinced.
"Talking about the spar?" Elizabeth joined.
Benedict smiled. "We were talking about Attainment Levels."
"Did you reach Perfect Sword Form?" Freon was surprised.
He coughed. "No… Not exactly."
"That isn't important," Shirley said. "Elizabeth, aren't you worried that working together with Lord Fredrick would harm the Imperial Empresses?"
She froze. "I forgot. But… I can limit what information I give him. It shouldn't be a problem. Probably."
"Let's leave already. I'm tired. And I didn't get anything to eat either," Freon moaned.
After paying, they went their separate ways. Elizabeth rode her carriage alone to the central district, near the central Asaparagon Tree and the Celestial Court. This was where the land was worth its weight in gold. Only the truly powerful, wealthy, and influential could live here, people who could sway the entire Zino Kingdom with a snap of their fingers. Being a part of an Engelsheft Family was the standard here. Elizabeth had inherited a luxurious mansion from the previous Royal Ambassador, Queen Samanthie. She stepped out of the carriage and was instantly greeted by a group of maids and guards. Despite having her every need taken care of, she wore a cold and unfeeling face, a stark contrast to her face in the restaurant. This was her persona as the Royal Ambassador!
In truth, she wanted to remove her façade and relax, especially in her own home. However, everyone who worked here was the definition of competent and serious. They were the very best at what they did. Anything less, and they could not serve a princess! Their extreme dedication to their work made it difficult for her to shed her princessy behavior. She suppressed a sigh. It would have been more tolerable, had Benedict and Shirley been with her. They were her Protectors, after all. It was their duty to protect her. But she did not force them. They needed their own space, as did she. Even Sir Winstin, her former Protector, did not accompany her all day and all night. Her protection was handled by other guards during that time. Elizabeth spoke a few words, took a quick bath, and went to sleep.
Benedict walked and chatted with Freon for half an hour, before he returned to a cheap inn, off the beaten path. The building was old and rickety, the rooms were small and pungent, and there was little in the way of comfort. Benedict struggled to light a candle in the darkness. The gloomy interior illuminated. He had rented a single room for himself. Typically, only travellers with very little money came here. It was hardly the establishment for a Royal Guard or a former Grand Lord. He did not mind though. He was not like those other nobles with their unreasonable demands. It was good enough for him, until he arranged for somewhere more permanent. That said, he was embarrassed to mention it in front of Elizabeth, and the others. He chose to keep his living quarters a secret.
Walking through the creaky hallways, he saw none of the other patrons. The building was eerily quiet, which did put him on edge. His hand was hovering around his sword. The biggest issue with these inns was the lack of security. Theft was common, and even murder was not unheard of. Of course, being a Perception Realm, he was confident he could handle most threats. Still, it was better to remain cautious. Overconfidence could kill! One good thing that came out of this was that no one had the chance to recognize him. They would surely be shocked that a Royal Guard was living here… The last thing Benedict wanted to do was attract unwanted attention. He fetched a pail of water, went back to his room, wiped his body, and slipped into bed. He wanted to fall asleep, but his heart was restless. His thoughts kept drifting back to tonight. What was wrong with him? Clueless, Benedict laid there wide awake.
Shirley went her own way back home. She and her family were still living in the same mansion that Queen Samanthie graciously gifted her last year. It was in the middle district, on the opposite side of the city from where the restaurant was, so she had a long way to walk. She casually toured the night markets and bought some things she thought her brothers and mother would like. Her hands were filled with cloth sacks. They were heavy, far heavier than what one would assume, but she lifted them with defying ease. She had already reached Half-Perception Realm, one step further than Fundamental Realm Master. It symbolized that she had mastered controlling her body and achieved basic mastery of Martial Energy. She could now muster power that betrayed her appearance. It took her around an hour and a half before she made it home.
Her mansion was not as impressive as Elizabeth's, except that was a difference between having three courtyards versus two. They were still far beyond what a normal family would see! In fact, her mansion was so big, that she had no idea what to do with the empty space. There were more than a dozen bedrooms alone… Although she did invite Benedict and Freon to live with her, they politely declined, a baffling decision. When she opened the doors, her two brothers were the first to greet her, though they seemed more interested in what she brought than her. Shirley chuckled and let them be. Her mother was the one who asked about her day and what happened. They talked over snacks. The mood was warm and joyful; the opposite of what Elizabeth and Benedict were currently experiencing. Shirley had the most 'complete' family by far.
As for Freon, after he split from Benedict, he needed to hail a carriage to another district. His housing situation was… complicated, to say the least. Originally, he and his sister lived on the second floor of a wheat shop in the commoner district until they were attacked and the building came crashing down. Shirley offered to house them and their uncle when they returned to Firecast. Then, the war happened. While he and Shirley were away, his uncle wanted to secure a place of their own. He had the power, connections, and wealth necessary. It was supposed to be easy, but it did not go according to plan. His uncle failed to get what he wanted. Left without a choice, they rented a place like their previous home, the second floor of a clothing store.
Freon walked up the stairs with a heavy heart. He remained unsure of how to face Nassandra. Sighing, he mentally prepared himself and unlocked the door. Darkness greeted him. Squinting, he could see his sister's shoes in the corner, which meant she was home. She must have ran to her room, to avoid meeting him. It stung him inside. And regarding their uncle, Protector Avin was mysteriously absent again. They had not seen their uncle in a while. They had no idea what he was doing, or where he was; however, Freon was not worried. If a Blue Depth Core Arcanist could not protect himself, then what were they supposed to do? Therefore, Freon threw the problem to the back of his mind. He was about to go inside his room, when he saw a cooked meal on the table. His heart warmed. Despite their disagreements, Nassandra must have prepared him food, since she knew he did not eat yet. By the time he ate and cleaned everything up, it was time to sleep.