Isaak stood in the middle of the courtyard, while the Vowless gathered on the other side, and Godwyn sat on a broken tree trunk, his eyes fixed on Isaak's terrifying aura. He muttered while placing one hand over the other:
"This training… it carries a strange feeling… but I don't know how to describe it."
Isaak spoke in a deep, commanding tone, his hands firmly placed behind his back:
"Training is the foundation if you want to grow and become someone reliable in battle."
And he added in the same voice:
"We have six months, which is enough time to refine our strength and crush the infrastructure of the kingdom… the Mother of Kings! Leave them to me…"
"But today, I want each one of you to teach Godwyn your own special technique."
Marceline let out a soft laugh and spoke with a slightly mocking tone:
"I apologize for my beautiful laugh, but is there truly anyone in this world who can learn every single skill? I would think it's a rare category… and judging by Godwyn, I don't think he has those qualifications."
Godwyn looked at her with cold eyes, saying nothing. Eric, perched on the tree, spoke in a cryptic tone:
"What Marceline says is true. No one can learn all the techniques, especially when they come from different people."
Tawakizra had his eyes closed, but then slowly opened them, stepping into the middle of the courtyard. He spoke in a deep tone:
"Excessive talk is forbidden — those are the words of Saint Sin in his writings. So we don't know until we test it. Isn't that right, Godwyn?"
Godwyn's eyes widened, and he whispered to himself:
'Those words… I heard them from Saint Sin himself! It seems Tawakizra is knowledgeable and wise, not reckless.'
Godwyn stood up and walked into the center of the courtyard, standing only a short distance away from Tawakizra. He smiled faintly and spoke softly:
"Wise words from you, unlike some who think so shallowly."
Tawakizra returned the smile, then said in a calm voice:
"There's no need for empty chatter… I'll show you the technique I learned. Simply, you'll see a blade heading toward your stomach, but in truth it will be aimed at your head… and two blades will appear before you, but you must avoid the real one."
'What a complicated and terrifying move… I want to learn it badly.' Godwyn muttered under his breath.
"Now, I'll show you how it's done with this wooden sword."
Tawakizra swung his sword and whispered an inaudible word… before Godwyn, two blades appeared. He was stunned, unable to tell which one was real.
'What?! How am I supposed to dodge this?'
Godwyn quickly stepped back, but Tawakizra advanced. He tried to misdirect his movement, yet Tawakizra had his eyes closed.
Suddenly, he appeared behind Godwyn and struck his back with the wooden sword. Smiling, he said:
"Do you have eyes on your back, Faithless?"
But the wooden sword had not touched Godwyn at all. Instead, he angled his own sword just right to block the real strike.
Everyone was shocked, some murmuring to themselves…
"I've been with Tawakizra for a long time, but I've only managed to block his strikes a few times," Marceline said in amazement.
"I expected him to be remarkable just from his muscles, meow~," Julian spoke with a charming tone, clasping his hands together and smiling.
Meanwhile, Lady Arlequin watched with half-lidded eyes, utterly indifferent, her gaze as cold as ever.
Godwyn smiled, brushing his messy hair back, and said:
"This seems to be the Cross-Reverse Blade Art, which traces back to the Forgotten Hunter, Pantry Stone…"
Tawakizra set his sword aside, speaking in a steady tone with a cold smile:
"So, you know a thing or two about the Reverse Blade Art? Impressive…"
"You should know, there are people who can summon a hundred illusory blades. Until now, I've only managed to summon one."
"I noticed your lips moved — what did you say before swinging your sword?" Godwyn asked curiously.
Tawakizra was slightly surprised, but answered in a steady voice:
"Sharp of you to notice… I uttered the incantation that summons the blade."
"Anyone who learns this art must think of a word with a grand, ancient resonance. And not everyone can master it."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"But you? I bet you can do it… Before you swing your sword, whisper the word, and you'll summon both a false and a true blade — your enemy won't know which is real."
Godwyn looked at the wooden sword in his hand, his mind searching for a profound word… until he recalled one, ancient and terrifying.
He swung the sword quickly, whispering softly. A wavering illusory blade appeared alongside a real one. Everyone was stunned.
Isaak smiled silently as he watched. Tawakizra also smiled, as if he had expected it… but as he tried to discern the true blade, the illusion vanished.
Godwyn, too, was shocked as he stared at the wooden sword. Tawakizra spoke, astonished:
"I don't know how to express it, but you've surprised me… you need to practice this move many more times. It seems the word you chose was truly great."
Faithless smiled faintly and spoke in a calm tone:
"Yes, it was great…"
'Archimedes… the king who died standing, and whom soldiers feared to approach for a hundred years.' Godwyn whispered to himself.
Tawakizra turned with a smile… but before Isaak could speak, Marceline stepped forward into the courtyard, standing tall in front of Godwyn and lowering her head toward his face, since she was taller than him.
She spoke in a beautiful, teasing tone, one hand resting on her waist:
"You've truly surprised me with your potential, Prince Godwyn…"
"How about I show you my skill? And let's see if you can learn it as you did the Cross-Reverse Blade Art."
Godwyn replied with a cold tone, smiling at her beautiful face:
"I like challenges — especially when they come from a beautiful lady like you."
Marceline's face flushed red, like a rose blooming in spring. She turned away and gave a radiant smile.
"At first, I couldn't master this move myself… it is called Royal Guard."
"You must block your opponent's strike at the perfect moment, precisely. If you succeed, a crimson aura will appear and reflect the attack back at its source."
Godwyn touched his chin with his finger and spoke with astonishment:
"Royal Guard… from the name alone, it sounds like it carries an ancient legacy. And it seems to be an absolutely perfect technique."
Marceline scratched her nose and said with confidence:
"Correct. It comes from the kingdom of Van Persan. My father learned it there and taught it to me as well… and now, I want to see if you can learn it."
Godwyn smiled and said:
"No harm in trying."
Marceline smiled and placed her right hand in the shape of an L, then aligned her left hand horizontally near the right one. She lowered her body slightly, with her right foot positioned ahead of her left.
"This is the guard stance, called Royal Guard… now I want you to strike me with the sword."
Godwyn raised the wooden sword and struck at Marceline… but she failed the first time.
"See? I need to do it quickly, just a fraction of a second before the sword strikes me. That's why my body carries many scars — though I keep them hidden," Marceline said as she looked at her hands.
"Try striking me again."
Godwyn swung once more, but she failed again… after four attempts, Godwyn struck, and Marceline perfectly blocked the blow. A crimson aura burst forth.
The strike rebounded onto him… Godwyn was thrown back, shocked, and just before he hit the tree, Marceline caught his body.
"You see? It takes a lot of time to master… do you want to try the move yourself?"
Godwyn nodded his head… stepping into the middle of the courtyard, he trained in the Royal Guard stance. After several attempts, he managed to hold the position, though not yet swiftly.
"Good, you've learned the stance. But now let's see if you can block a strike perfectly," she said with a smile.
Marceline continued:
"Now, I'll swing the sword, and I want you to block it perfectly."
Marceline swung the sword for the first time, but Godwyn failed to block.
"That's fine. The first time is always off, so try again."
Strike after strike — the second, the third, the fourth… until the fifth attempt, when a red spark appeared, but vanished quickly as his stance shifted.
Marceline was astonished and spoke in a stunned tone:
"You learn quickly… I bet next time you'll manage to———"
She didn't finish her sentence. Someone had grabbed her shoulder. It was Lady Arlequin, who then walked past Marceline and advanced toward Godwyn.
Standing before him, she spoke in a sharp voice:
"It seems you have talent, son of the emperor… what do you say to a light duel… between you and me?"
Everyone was shocked, and no one uttered a word… but Marceline spoke in an angry tone:
"Arlequin, don't you see we are in the middle of a training session?"
Before Lady Arlequin could reply, Isaak placed his hand on Marceline's shoulder and spoke in a heavy tone:
"Please, my dear Marcy, would you return to your place?"
The anger faded from Marceline's face, and she went back to her spot. Julian spoke in a low tone:
"Is a duel going to happen between them?"
Eric answered, half-asleep, his words barely audible:
"I don't care… but most likely, yes."
Isaak spoke, his eyes fixed on the two of them:
"It seems Lady Arlequin wants you in a duel… what do you say, my prince?"
Godwyn smiled as he brushed a lock of hair back:
"It's fine. If Lady Arlequin desires a duel… then so be it."
Lady Arlequin gave a mysterious smile and said to him:
"You have a beautiful smile, Lost From Faith."