Chapter 7
The Sword Dance Beneath the Waterfall
Nyesra tightly grabbed Eryx's hand before quickly pulling him along the stone pathways of the Ashvaris Clan.
"Hurry up!"
Her cheerful voice echoed through the quiet morning air while her long dark hair swayed behind her.
Eryx remained silent as he allowed himself to be dragged forward.
Cold mountain winds brushed against his face while distant sounds of sword clashes echoed from the clan's training grounds nearby.
After walking for some time, Eryx suddenly noticed something.
They were not heading toward the main training grounds.
His crimson-black eyes narrowed slightly.
"Sister," Eryx called calmly, "the training grounds are that way."
Nyesra immediately turned toward him while continuing to walk backward with a playful smile on her face.
"We're not going there."
Eryx blinked slightly.
Nyesra proudly placed her hands on her waist before speaking again.
"Mother and I have our own secret training place."
A faint curiosity appeared within Eryx's eyes.
"Secret place?"
"Mhm!"
She nodded excitedly before grabbing his hand once again.
"Just come with me. I'll show you."
Without waiting for another response, Nyesra immediately dragged him deeper toward the mountain paths surrounding the clan territory.
The further they traveled…
The quieter the surroundings gradually became.
After some time, Eryx began noticing the faint sounds of birds chirping echoing from deeper within the forest.
A calm, cold breeze brushed gently against his face, carrying a refreshing aura that strangely soothed both his mind and body.
Even the spiritual energy here felt purer.
Eryx quietly observed the surroundings while walking beside Nyesra.
Towering ancient trees surrounded the mountain paths while silver mist drifted gently between the forest.
The atmosphere here felt completely different from the rest of the clan territory.
Peaceful.
Calm.
Yet strangely mysterious.
Suddenly, Nyesra pointed forward excitedly.
"Eryx, look! We're almost there!"
Eryx slowly lifted his head.
And then—
His eyes slightly widened.
Hidden deep within the mountains was a breathtaking place untouched by the outside world.
A crystal-clear waterfall descended from towering cliffs, its flowing waters shining brilliantly beneath the golden sunlight. Ancient trees surrounded the entire area while soft rays of light passed through their branches, illuminating the forest like a dream.
Birds rested peacefully upon the branches, their gentle chirping making the entire place feel alive.
Some small spirit birds danced playfully above the water while glowing droplets floated through the air like tiny stars.
For a brief moment…
Even Eryx became speechless.
Then he noticed her.
Beneath a massive silver-leaved tree near the waterfall, a woman sat quietly upon a smooth white stone.
Her long silver-blue hair flowed gently alongside the wind while sunlight reflected softly across her figure, giving her an almost ethereal appearance.
She wore a white and light-blue saree embroidered with delicate silver patterns that moved gracefully with the breeze, perfectly matching the calm and serene aura surrounding her—like still water beneath an open sky.
"Mother!"
Nyesra waved her hand excitedly.
"I'm here! And look who I brought with me!"
The woman slowly turned toward them.
As she gently brushed aside a few strands of hair, her calm eyes landed upon Eryx.
Under the sunlight, her face seemed to glow with a serene warmth that made the entire atmosphere around her feel peaceful.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Oh?"
"You brought Eryx with you this time."
Eryx and Nyesra slowly approached their mother before respectfully greeting her.
A gentle smile appeared on the woman's face as she softly placed her hands upon their heads, gently caressing them with affection.
The warmth of her touch felt calm and comforting.
Eryx's expression changed slightly.
For some reason…
Whenever his mother treated him with such kindness, a strange softness always appeared within his heart.
A feeling he still wasn't completely used to.
His crimson-black eyes trembled faintly before a small smile slowly appeared across his face.
Then, he suddenly looked up toward her with visible excitement in his eyes.
"Mother," Eryx spoke softly, "can you show me your sword techniques today?"
His mother blinked slightly.
Eryx continued speaking, his voice carrying genuine curiosity.
"I've only read about them in books before… but I want to see them with my own eyes."
For a brief moment, both his mother and Nyesra stared at him silently.
His usually calm face was now filled with excitement, while a faint light seemed to shine within his eyes.
Seeing that expression, Nyesra immediately covered her mouth while giggling softly.
"So even little Eryx can get excited like this."
Eryx immediately looked away with a slightly embarrassed expression.
Meanwhile, their mother softly laughed before gently patting his head once again.
"Of course."
"How could I refuse when my adorable son asks me like that?"
Eryx's eyes instantly brightened.
"Really?"
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"Yes, my son."
She slowly stood up from the white stone beneath the silver-leaved tree while the waterfall continued flowing peacefully behind her.
Then she looked toward both Eryx and Nyesra.
"Come."
"I'll show you how your sister and I usually train here."
Nyesra immediately smiled proudly before placing her hands on her waist.
"Mother's techniques are amazing, Eryx."
"You'll definitely be shocked."
Their mother lightly shook her head before pointing toward a nearby stone near the waterfall.
"Sit there and watch carefully first."
"The sword is not simply about strength."
"It is also about understanding."
Eryx quietly sat down upon the stone while his eyes remained fixed upon his mother.
The cold breeze continued flowing through the forest while silver leaves drifted gently through the air.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
He was finally about to witness the true techniques of a powerful cultivator with his own eyes.
His mother slowly stepped forward beneath the silver-leaved tree.
The waterfall continued flowing peacefully behind her while countless glowing droplets drifted through the air.
Then—
She raised her sword.
The moment the blade appeared, the atmosphere around the entire forest quietly changed.
A calm wave of spiritual energy spread outward.
Eryx immediately noticed it.
The air itself felt heavier.
His mother slowly closed her eyes.
For a brief second…
Everything became silent.
Then her sword moved.
A silver-blue streak flashed across the air like flowing water beneath moonlight.
Her movements were graceful and smooth, almost resembling a beautiful dance rather than swordsmanship.
Yet every swing carried terrifying precision.
The surrounding leaves began rising into the air one after another as spiritual energy flowed around her blade like streams of water.
Slash!
A distant boulder instantly split apart.
Eryx's eyes widened slightly.
He had not even seen the exact moment her sword moved.
But suddenly—
Splash!
Water exploded upward beneath the waterfall as Nyesra instantly appeared before their mother with her sword drawn.
Eryx's eyes widened even further.
He had barely managed to follow her movement.
Nyesra tightly gripped her sword before smoothly shifting her footing backward.
Her breathing remained calm and steady.
Then—
She suddenly stepped forward.
The ground beneath her feet cracked slightly as spiritual energy gathered around her blade.
"Moon Water Slash!"
A crescent-shaped wave of silver-blue energy instantly burst forward alongside her sword strike, resembling a half-moon formed from flowing water.
The attack sliced through the air with incredible speed.
Yet their mother simply smiled softly.
Clang!
With a gentle movement of her blade, she effortlessly redirected the attack.
The crescent wave shattered into countless droplets of spiritual energy before disappearing into the air.
Eryx silently stared at the scene unfolding before him.
The movements of both mother and daughter were impossibly elegant.
Their swords flowed together like streams of water beneath moonlight.
Every movement connected naturally into the next without interruption.
It did not feel like battle.
It felt like watching two spirits dancing alongside the waterfall itself.
For a brief moment…
Eryx was reminded of the fairies he once read about in books during his previous life.
Beautiful.
Graceful.
Yet terrifyingly powerful.
Then the training finally came to a stop.
Nyesra exhaled softly while lowering her sword.
Their mother slowly walked toward her before gently placing a hand upon her head.
"You're improving quite quickly."
Nyesra's eyes brightened slightly.
"Really, Mother?"
"But I'm still nowhere near as strong as you."
A faint trace of disappointment appeared on her face.
However, their mother simply smiled warmly before softly patting her head once again.
"You're still growing."
"You have a long path ahead of you."
"And one day…"
"You may even surpass me."
Nyesra's eyes widened slightly.
Then their mother's expression became calmer and more serious.
"But remember one thing."
"A sword should never be raised against the weak."
"If you possess strength, then you must use it to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"My techniques were never created to spread bloodshed."
"They exist to protect the people precious to me."
Nyesra listened carefully before nodding seriously.
"Yes, Mother."
Then both mother and daughter smiled softly toward each other.
Meanwhile, Eryx quietly sat upon the stone nearby while replaying every movement he had just witnessed within his mind.
Yet despite his excitement…
He still felt confused.
A few moments later, both Nyesra and their mother walked over before sitting beside him near the waterfall.
Their mother smiled gently.
"Did you understand anything, Eryx?"
Eryx immediately nodded with excitement.
"Yes, Mother!"
"That was amazing!"
"The first attack you used… and the way Sister countered it…"
"It was beautiful."
"When Sister used that technique…"
"It looked like a half-moon made from flowing water."
Nyesra immediately crossed her arms proudly while raising her chin slightly.
"Hmph."
"So? Am I strong?"
She asked proudly, though her voice still sounded soft and playful.
Eryx immediately smiled.
"Yes, Sister."
"You're amazing."
"And much stronger than me right now…"
"But one day I'll definitely surpass you."
Nyesra blinked slightly before narrowing her eyes.
"Oh really?"
"We'll see about that."
The two siblings immediately began staring at each other competitively before bursting into soft laughter.
Meanwhile, their mother quietly watched them while a peaceful smile rested upon her face.
Then—
Eryx suddenly became thoughtful again.
He slowly turned toward his mother.
"But Mother…"
A faint confusion appeared within his eyes.
"The techniques you used today…"
"They're completely different from the sword techniques written in the Ashvaris Clan books."
The moment those words left his mouth—
The atmosphere around them suddenly became quiet.
Even the sound of the waterfall seemed softer than before.
Nyesra blinked slightly before turning toward their mother.
Meanwhile, Eryx quietly observed her expression.
For a brief moment…
Their mother simply stared silently toward the flowing waterfall.
Then she slowly smiled.
"Yes."
"My techniques are indeed different from the Ashvaris Clan's sword arts."
Eryx's eyes narrowed slightly with curiosity.
And at that moment—
He suddenly realized there was far more mystery surrounding his mother than he had originally thought.
End of Chapter 7
To Be Continued…