The final, low-frequency hum of Alaric's sword faded, leaving an immense, suffocating silence in the wake of the duel. The air, which had moments ago been a swirling vortex of energy and sound, now hung heavy and still, thick with the scent of ozone and freshly upturned earth. In the center of the yard, the ground was a testament to the brief, terrifying dance that had taken place. Gouges and long, jagged cuts marred the carpet grass, some so deep they had exposed the rocks beneath. A single, small stone lay shivering on the ground, a victim of the final shockwave.
Alaric and Sir Eddie Gable stood opposite each other, their bodies no longer a blur of motion, but solid, tangible forms. Alaric sheathed his training sword back on the rack with a soft click, his casual posture a stark contrast to the destruction surrounding them. Eddie simply held his blade, the tip pointed toward the ground in a posture of conceded defeat, his chest rising and falling with a steady, rhythmic cadence. He seemed perfectly calm, yet Elias could still feel the raw power simmering just beneath his skin.
Elias's own hands were trembling. He felt a profound sense of awe and inadequacy, a sudden, crushing weight of how far he had to go. He glanced at Aina, expecting to see a similar reaction, but her face was calm, her gaze fixed and analytical. She was not processing the fight with emotion, but with a cold, logical precision.
"Well then," Alaric said as he walked back towards them,his voice cutting through the silence.
"What did you two make of that?"
Elias stammered, his mind still a whirlwind. "Father... the speed... it was incredible. And the way you were both using your Flow... the Reinforcement and Infusion. I could feel it."
Alaric nodded, a small, proud smile on his face.
"Good. You felt it. That is the first step. The infusion of Flow into the blade to increase its cutting power, and the reinforcement of your body to increase your strength and speed, are the basics. They are the foundation upon which all else is built."
He looked at Aina, his gaze expectant. "And you, Aina? What did you observe?"
Aina's eyes darted from Alaric to the scarred ground, then back again.
"Sir Eddie's style... the Phantom Blade. It was all misdirection and feints. You were a master of defense, meeting his attacks, not with aggression, but with a simple redirection of momentum. The Stellar Aegis, as you described it. You shouldn't have been able to counter attack since each and every attack could be a feint but you did so by predicting your opponents movements, anticipating the worst." Her voice was soft, but the words were precise and unwavering.
Alaric's smile widened, a hint of genuine delight on his face.
"Very good, child. You were paying attention."
"But," Aina continued, her head tilting slightly, "the end... it did not fit. Sir Eddie's last move, dropping his sword, sweeping your leg, and catching the blade for a final, lethal strike... it was pure Phantom Blade. It was a move that should have been uncounterable, especially with you off-balance and falling. And your escape… your counter... it was not an evasion. It was not a parry. It was... a vanishing."
The words hung in the air, a profound question that cut through Alaric's casual demeanor. Elias felt a sudden jolt. She had seen it too. That was the moment that had confused him the most—the impossible escape.
Alaric let out a low, warm laugh, the sound rippling through the tense air.
"Astute, as always, my dear. That is an excellent observation." He walked over to her, ruffling her hair with a large, affectionate hand.
"You're right. That last move was not part of the Stellar Aegis. It's a little something I've been working on for a long time now."
He winked, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.
"Don't you worry. Once you reach a high enough level, I'll teach it to you myself."
His words, however, did little to quench the questions burning in Elias's mind. Was it a technique born from his Trait? But what was his Trait?
Alaric's words only served to deepen the mystery, and Elias was left to wonder about his father's true power.
Just then, the grand wooden doors of the keep opened, and Lady Elara stepped out. She was no longer in her travel clothes but a simple, flowing white gown, her beautiful face now tired but with a gentle, serene smile. Her eyes scanned the yard, and the smile faltered slightly as she saw the scattered stones and deep marks in the ground.
"My dear," she said, her voice like a soft chime.
"What was all that commotion? It sounded like a storm had broken out in the yard."
Alaric's entire demeanor changed. The playful, intense warrior vanished, and in his place stood a loving, concerned husband. He walked over to her, his movements a graceful contrast to his earlier martial prowess, and pulled her into a warm embrace.
"It was nothing, darling," he said, his voice a low, reassuring rumble. He gave a playful wink at the children, a subtle signal.
"Just a small demonstration for the kids, nothing too over the top. I told you to rest. You've had a long night of travel, and those northern merchants can be a handful."
He pulled away just enough to look into her eyes, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Let's get you inside. You can tell me all about it over breakfast. I'll have the servants bring some tea, the one you love."
She patted his cheek, her touch as soft as a falling petal.
"Thank you, my love. I would be grateful."
As he gently guided her back toward the keep, he glanced over his shoulder. His eyes met Aina's, and he gave her a subtle nod. "Aina," he said, his voice carrying just enough to be heard.
"Why don't you take it from there?"
She simply nodded in response.
Alaric and Elara disappeared into the shadows of the doorway, leaving a lingering aura of love and quiet power behind them. Sir Eddie Gable, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, offered a brief, respectful bow to Elias and Aina. He then sheathed his sword, turned, and walked away, his job for the day completed.
Elias was left alone with Aina, the vast, empty yard now feeling even larger than before. The echoes of the clash of steel and the roar of power still seemed to hang in the air, a ghost of what had just transpired. He looked at the deep gouges in the ground, a physical manifestation of a level of skill that seemed utterly unattainable. His mind reeled with the new revelations: his father's rank, his mother's true power, and the profound mystery of his father's vanishing act.
He glanced at Aina, who was walking over to one of the gouges, her finger tracing the outline of a cut that had gone deep into the earth. She seemed completely unbothered by the display, her mind already moving on to the next task. He knew he had a long, arduous path ahead of him and he was determined to one day reach their level.