Being an early riser, Rei found himself awake by dawn. He yawned and stretched his limbs, feeling slightly stiff from sleeping on the couch all night. The lilac couch was a staple for noble taste with upholstery button-tufting, and elaborately carved solid wood, but sorely lacking the comforts of a bed. His joints and muscles creaked like rusty gears as he got up. He glanced at the large four-poster canopy bed, his sharp senses catching the sound of her soft breathing. Without much thought he found himself drawn to it, like a sailor to a siren's call.
Despite her attempts to hide her scandalous attire the night before she'd subconsciously kicked off the thick covers in her sleep. He caught her in a rather tempting position with the thin slip of a dress riding up her slightly raised shapely legs, peaceful and curled into herself. He should leave and get ready for his day but for some reason he couldn't bear to part from this sublime view. He stood there watching her chest rise and fall, as her ruby lips occasionally pouted in a frown, or her arched brows scrunch up like she's experiencing something distasteful.
'Just what are you dreaming about young lady?' He wonders with a helpless smirk unconsciously appearing on his lips.
He reaches down, using his finger to try to ease out the frown on her lovely face. She shies away from his touch like a sly fox, temping him in only to run away at the last minute.
'She's driving me crazy.' He retracts his hand, straightens his waist, and puts some distance between himself and the clueless minx on the bed.
'I need to do something to clear my head.' He heads back to the guest bedroom he's been staying in to grab his training gear. Later, he'll move his things to their wing. For now, he makes his way to the knight's training ground. As an orphan he never imagined he'd ever get to train in such an upscale facility with automated training dummies powered by magic stones. A single dummy costs a knight's monthly salary, yet the duke could afford a field full of them.
Thinking of the duke made Rei recall the one-sided beating he'd received on this very field. He's never gone to an oracle to determine his current level, but he's always assumed it was above average, at least to the level of a junior knight. The defeat last night made him realize he still has much to learn, the reason for the fight may have been questionable, but the wake-up call was much needed. He should return to the basics, stop relying so heavily on his swordsman skills and master his blades.
"Oh, I didn't expect another person to be out here so early." David looks surprised to spot him on the field. He'd been away from the castle, so he wasn't aware of Rei's morning routine. He wasn't wearing the dark armor of before, dressed only in a plain tunic shirt and linen pants. He looks more like a simple traveler than a decorated duke. The elegant yet terrifying long spear from last night loosely held in his hand as he stood at the tunnel entrance to the training grounds.
"I usually train first thing in the morning sir."
"I respect your discipline." David nods, prepared to give the youngster space while he runs his own drills.
"Sir! I-it would be an honor if you could give me some pointers." He never expected to hear the usually sure teen to stammer while requesting guidance. Last night's defeat must have engraved a lofty image of himself in the boy's heart.
"I'm not a swordsman though" the duke looks to be at a loss, tilting his head in a familiar manner as a certain heiress.
"I am aware, however I was told that one can only grow by challenging a higher existence in combat."
"That too is true." David gives him a warm smile and no longer tries to dissuade him, returning to the center of the field. "Fine, come at me. My challenge to you is for you to break my defense. I will not move from this spot. If you manage to push me back three yards I will count it as your victory. You can even use your sword skills, I don't mind. I will only defend against you."
"Thank you, sir!" Rei wasn't arrogant, he had no illusions of holding back, gripping his twin blades he charged at the target. He used the skill dash to shorten the distance, following up with a cross slash hoping to overpower the other by unleashing the skill at such a close range. David looked unperturbed, canceling the skill with a simple twirl of his crystal spear. It's to be expected, Rei wasn't discouraged and changed tactics, leaping up to divert the spear's trajectory with a spinning kick. The crystal spear barely budged a few inches, instead his legs felt a numbing sensation upon landing back on the ground.
"There's no rush, why are you so anxious. Steady your breathing and strike with meaning." The old drill sergeant in David took over as he repelled and deflected Rei's erratic onslaught of attacks. He was not disappointed with this son-in-law of his, what the boy lacked in formal training he made up for with his quick reflexes and sound judgement. His hit and run tactics were becoming harder to predict, becoming more versatile and explosive. It's almost like he's beginning to understand David's timing. It's a preset handicap he gave himself to give his son-in-law some hope but it's still astounding that the boy caught onto it in such a short time.
"Raging storm!" Inevitably, Rei unleashed a tempest of illuminating blades of light. They whirled around the duke, attacking at every possible angle, forcing him to perform a light dance on the spot to evade. It was unknown when Rei reappeared at his side to use his foot to kick up the duke's crystal spear, bearing the numbing sensation of before, before striking down with his blade. The mana powered strike wasn't something he should bear head on, the duke's battle instincts worked against him, forcing him to evade and retreat.
"I…pant…did it…" Rei was out of breath, sweating and panting but feeling very satisfied. To prove his success a familiar green glow enveloped his crouched form, followed by a heavenly feeling of rejuvenation. He'd successfully leveled up.
"Indeed, you have the capability to grow beyond your wildest dreams. Don't falter, keep moving forward. When the time comes, I will be entrusting you with Ariellia's safety." The duke retracted his spear and left the training field. Perhaps it's due to his prior fatigue, it's only later that Rei's able to digest the full extent of the duke's declaration. It's as if he knew of their upcoming trip to the capital, but how could that be? Ariellia couldn't have told him yet, she doesn't even seem to know that she'll be tagging along too.
Did Jasper tell him? If so, what else did he say...no way...did he mention the divorce agreement!