Chapter 7: Eventful Days

  Coming back to the present, I awoke energetically this morning. I hurried to dawn my clothes, and brush my teeth in the half bathroom connected to my room. It still confused me how we could have clean running water without any form of electricity to pump up the water into the house, but I supposed magic made just about anything possible.

  I was excited today because I would finally start sword drills with Reon. He had promised to help me get the Swordsmanship skill as an early birthday present, after I had asked him about combat skills. I was half way to the door of my room, when I heard a scream that sounded like it came from Reon. My parents were already rushing past my door by the time I opened it. They threw open Reon's door and hurried inside. As I soon reached his doorway, my mother was already casting her healing magic, and my father was rummaging through a bag filled with vials.

  Not sure what to do, I decided to use Appraisal to see what was happening.

  Appraisal(Rank 1):

  Race: Human(3 star).

  Name: Reon II Blackwood.

  Health: 18 of 50.

  Mana Core: Red Tier

  Mana Capacity: 1 of 15.

  Description:

  “Reon II Blackwood, eldest son of Leon and Maria Blackwood. Mana Core recently awakened.”

  I gaped for a second before shouting “Reon, you've awakened your magic!”

  Reon made a slightly strangled sound before giving me a shaky thumbs up and saying “Yeah, your older brother is kinda awesome.”

  Mom smacked his hand down as she said “Oh yes, so awesome you nearly killed yourself with mana drain by subconsciously channeling all of your mana into your skills at once. Now, shut up and let me heal you.”

  I gave my brother a concerned look, before saying “So much for sword drills today, huh?” and I chuckled as he grimaced under mom's less than gentle touch.

  Reon opened his mouth to say something, when Mom cut him off- “Unfortunately, your brother won't be doing much of anything until he's fully healed, and rests for a day or two at least.”

  Reon frowned, but nodded, saying “I'm sorry, little bro. It looks like we'll have to take a raincheck.”

  Our father, hearing the conversation, then said “If you're really wanting to start training with a sword, you could always go find Alfred. He is a Rank 4 Swordsman afterall.”

  This gave me hope that my plans for the day wouldn't go completely wasted, so I hugged my dad and ran out the door saying “Feel better soon, Reon!” To my brother.

  As I searched the house for Alfred, I finally spotted him through a window in the dining hall. He was outside standing in the rear courtyard, sitting at a sturdy wooden table reading a book.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Over the past almost 4 years, I had come to get along with the Knight well enough. At one point I accidentally called him a butler out loud, and he laughed so hard I thought he was going to die.

  From then on he regularly teased me by exaggeratedly asking what I ‘required’ of him.

  Making my way out into the yard to talk with him, he greeted me in his usual way, with a slight bow and said

  “My, if it isn't young Lord Loxus, how may I be of service for you today?”

  I gave a hesitant smile as tried to keep my face from twitching as I said

  “My dad said you could teach me the basics of how to get the Swordsmanship skill… Could you please teach me?”

  ***

  Alfred Steel-Arm's Point of View:

  The youngest son of House Blackwood has been somewhat of an enigma to me thus far.

  He's always been a smart boy, but the actual scope of his intelligence, and just how quickly he absorbs new information has left me baffled.

  Because of his quick wit it's been hard at times, to remember he's merely 5 years old.

  When he came to me in the rear courtyard asking me to teach him the basic drills required to learn the Swordsmanship skill, I thought little of it.

  Like I did with his brother, I taught him the basic drills, then left him to his own devices. I expected him to get bored of them after about an hour or so at most.

  One might think it crass, but I had no desire to train youths who lacked the patience for it. I left the young lord in the back yard, and went about my business. I had other duties to attend to, and the young lord knew not to wander off, so I wasn’t worried about leaving him.

  What I did not expect was to return 3 hours later, and find him still practicing the basic drills.

  His commitment to the training spoke to me on a level I hadn’t felt since my youth, almost 90 years ago. Perhaps seeing his dogged determination resonated with my own Swordsman skill, because I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should help the boy. I decided then and there I would train him in the process to the best of my abilities.

  I started by correcting his posture, stance, and swing. It wasn't much, but the young Lord absorbed the instruction just as quickly as he had anything else.

  At the rate he’s going, just the little instruction I gave him should cut the drill practice he needs in half.

  After another hour passed, I suggested the young lord take a break, when I noticed his hands starting to blister… But he simply replied “Not yet.” and he continued to swing.

  I decided to check in on him every half hour after that, and offer more instruction where I could...

  “I'm beginning to think he's going to unlock the skill today. Wouldn't that be something?” I mused to myself, as I watched him from afar.

  ***

  Loxus Blackwood's Point of View:

  A grueling six hours later, with blisters on my hands from swinging the wooden practice sword, I was finally met with a chime.

  I quickly turned my attention inward and celebrated as I read the notice.

  *You have unlocked the Combat Skill: Swordsmanship(Rank 1), would you like to accept?*

  *Yes/No?*

  I quickly gave the nod, and the follow up message chimed.

  *You have learned the Combat Skill: Swordsmanship(Rank 1), you have used 3 of 10 skill slots.*

  Current skills:

  Appraisal(Rank 1): Level 35

  Literacy(Rank 1): Level 15

  Swordsmanship(Rank 1): Level 1

  A voice brought my attention outward once more as Alfred, having reappeared after quite some time, said “I take it you gained the skill?”

  I used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe my face of sweat before offering a winded “Yeah.”

  “Why don't you head in and take a bath before dinner, I'll clean up the practice equipment.” Offered Alfred, a mix of emotions visible on his face for only a second, before vanishing beneath his aged visage.

  I nodded, and headed inside.