“Alshy~.” I hear my sister calling my name. Sure enough, as I turn around she’s standing there with a wide grin plastered over her face.

“Lili, what have you got there,” I ask as a smile naturally begins to form on mine.

“It’s a present for you,” she exclaims happily as she thrusts her hands towards me.

My smile widens as I take the berries and place them into a basket next to me. Making sure to thank her before I go back to preparing our meal.

As I go back to skinning the rabbit that had been caught earlier that day, Lili crouched down next to me. She started staring intently at what I was doing. Her light brown hair drifting over her green eyes as she leaned forward.

“If you don’t pay more attention, that hair’s gonna burn off,” I warned in a joking tone.

She jumped back while letting out a cute cry as the smell of singed hair filled the air.

“Alsh, I didn’t teach you magic so you could pick on your little sister,” said a tired voice as the owner stepped into the clearing.

“Uncle Ralph~,” Lili cried as she ran towards him.

“I remember you saying lessons are best learnt from pain,” I replied instantly earning myself a hit to the head.

“Take good care of her. You’re the only one left.” He says while glancing off to the side.

For some reason Uncle Ralph is always checking his surroundings. It unnerved me at first, but now I’ve gotten used to it. When I asked about it in the past, he just laughed and said something about gambling.

“The way you say it makes it feel as though you don’t like us,” I reply smartly. A second bump to keep the first company appears on my head.

“Uncle...”

“Yes, Lili?”

“Uncle won’t stay?” She asks with those two adorable eyes drilling a hole into his.

“Hahaha,” he picks her up and says, “I’ll stay for lunch at least.”

“Tch, always eating our food then disappearing,” I complain. I should really stop antagonizing him. My head is starting to look lopsided.

The rabbit stew is completed shortly, and we all sit inside to eat. Lili’s enjoying the stories from the city that uncle Ralph always shares.

Like always, he spoils her with some sort of trinket saying he won it in a bet that day, but I know where it comes from.

Uncle Ralph happened upon us a few weeks after our parents died. He found us inebriated and on death’s door. Taking pity on us he took us under his wing, and taught me how to fight.

Over the years he opened up and told me his story. How he was forced to participate in a coup as the vice commander of Iadra. The resulting failure and slaughter of his family, and his fall into crime. Acting as the head of the feared Silkworm Bandits.

I have to admit that he’s been an adamant teacher. Cultivating my skills much faster than I could on my own. We’ve covered basic spells and augmentation, and up to intermediate of the Twin Fang sword style.

“Hey, Alsh.” I’m drawn away from my thoughts.

“Yes, uncle Ralph?”

“If something happens to me… find Kevin in Werfold.”

The mood grows a little somber to all but Lili.

“What is it this time?”

“It’s James. He’s been acting shady these days.”

“He’s a band-” and another bump.

“Shadier than usual. Won’t stop heading out of the cave these days.”

“Alright, alright,” I say while rubbing my head, “just write it down for me.”

“Do you lack common sense boy?!” A rare shout from him. Seems he really is stressed.

“Anyways, today I’ll be teaching you the final base forms. Meet me at the usual spot.” He says as he picks Lili up and puts her down.

I grab my two swords from the rack and put on my worn leather armor.

“Lili, I’m going to be training, so make sure you study, ok?” I say to her before leaving. She nods before burying herself in the book.

She may not have went to school, but she’s one smart girl. That head of hers almost scares me sometimes, but it seems like it can’t process complex emotions too well.

Ah well. I’d see that as a blessing. Wrapped in my thoughts, I nearly walk straight into the river.

Whoa whoa whoa, that was close.

“Know your surroundings.” Shit, the training’s already started.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I relax my body and mind. Focusing on nothing in particular. The whole world grows dull as I let go. A slight pressure from the right along with a flash in sight.

I bend my body backwards and to the left as my hands fluidly draw out my blades. Continuing along their path before striking down the piece of wood.

“Keep your spirit constant, but movement ever changing.”

Rocks fly towards me at an alarming pace, but I somehow manage to keep my calm demeanor. I can tell that the projectiles are being thrown at varying rates to keep me on my toes.

Suddenly a giant straw dummy is heaved towards me. A spear sticking out of its abdomen.

“Should your opponent show weakness?”

“Tear out his very soul.” I reply as a light sheen trails behind my blade. The blue light painting a captivating afterimage as it slices cleanly through the straw.

“It seems you understand the underlying principles of twin fang fairly well.”

“The fang of water to grant serenity, and the fang of flame for its constant change. It’s a good concept, and portrays the human spirit well.” I reply.

“I don’t much care for what it is. Just how it works.” Ralph says in a dry tone.

“Alright, with today’s lesson you’ll be considered an advanced student of the Twin Fang. Draw your blades and assume the first stance.”

I do as he says. Blades at my sides, swaying gently as if in a breeze. My eyes half closed and muscles relaxed to reduce any strain.

“Now feel your range and swing your swords. Do so until you’ve fully grasped it.”

I sway in all directions. My body moving in ways that show off my impressive flexibility. The swords carve paths of light as they pass causing the air to shimmer.

“Good, now continue that while running the third course.”

The third course consists of a path full of obstacles and targets. Traps placed so that they’ll spring at inopportune moments.

I keep at it as I enter the familiar trail. Jumping over the logs that lay in the way, my swords cutting furrows into the dirt below. Knowing that my blades would get stuck in the encroaching trees, they seek a path of least resistance.

My range isn’t shrinking, but molding itself to the surroundings. I feel calm as ever even as the darts fly towards me in the air. Each fluid swing taking out a swath where my body would be.

Before I realize it, I’m at the end of the path. Ralph is waiting there with a smile of pride on his face.

He gives me a pat on the back and we return home.

“Here, this is for you.” He says as he hands me his own swords.

They belonged to the former general who spearheaded the coup, and they’re beautiful. Thin and elegant, unmatched in sharpness. It’s made of mithril which is famous for it’s ability to host a swordsman’s aura.

I grab them as fast as I can before he even has a chance to change his mind. Even if my swordsmanship wouldn’t be able to feed us, we’d have more than enough to live if I sold them.

“Still, giving this to me just because I’m advanced in the twin fang?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. There is no twin fang style.”

“What?” I’ve got a perplexed look of my face.

“Yeah, just taught you a bunch of random things from when I was a rank A/4 merc.” He’s laughing.

“Soo, what’s it really called? I can’t just call it nothing.”

“Why not? It’s not some form of art. Do you name the way you eat?”

Like this we find our way back at the house. Lili’s already waiting at the entrance with a pout.

“Well, I gotta go back and make sure the boys are working. Take care kids.” He waves as he walks off into the forest.

“Hey Lili, why the face?”

“A mean lady told me I couldn’t see uncle Ralph anymore!” A few tears start forming on her brave little face.

I’m startled. “Who was here Lili? Can you describe her? Is she still here?”

There shouldn’t be anyone out this far, especially since the Silkworm bandits had already claimed this as their territory.

“I was reading my book, but then I felt really sleepy. The mean lady was really pretty.”

“Oh Lili,” I hug her, “you just had a bad dream.”