After the fencing lesson the next would be afternoon nap.

Of course that was the schedule for the boy and someone like me would not be granted an afternoon nap. Vincent was already lying face down in the mat by the time I entered the lounge. The maids then helped him lie down to a more comfortable pillow bench and left a glass of orange juice on the table.

Having said that, someone like me who merely became a full time valet has nothing to do on his free time and as if she had anticipated such, the one who arrived next was his little sister.

「Rion, you are free right now. Am I correct?」Ariel

「Yes...」Me

「Well then, accompany me.」Ariel

「To which place?」Me

「Although we are not on the Wyvungrad yet, my classes begins from this day onwards. You should study with me as well.」Ariel

「…understood.」Me

「Brother, I will borrow Rion.」Ariel

「...mmmm.」Vincent

It seems Vincent was too tired after that fencing class that he didn’t even bother in moving his head to see his sister taking me. He just raised his right arm and groaned his permission towards Ariel.

「Well, then… come Rion. Follow me.」Ariel

「Uhhh, yes.」Me

Though I do not know what her classes were, learning is still a good thing nonetheless. No matter how much I wanted to study back on Earth, I had a hard time. When I was Flay on the other hand, was never given a chance to study or even learn how to read.

Just by being born poor, a person will already be robbed of his potentials.

I immediately remembered that sentence.

It seems she noticed my slow walking that she grabbed my right hand again and dragged me. I was expecting another study room but instead we entered the Severwind Hall, which made me confused on what is the subject of her lessons.

The tables and chairs were all arrange on the corners, making a vast open space at the center of the hall. Even if there are no balls or parties inside, the decorations, chandeliers and curtains were luxurious as ever.

Inside, a woman in her thirties on a dress was waiting for us. She seems to be reading a book until she noticed our arrival.

「Teacher Mayers, I have brought Rion along with me.」Ariel

「Ohh, so that’s him.」Mayers

As though she had refused beforehand, Teacher Mayers was clearly not very happy with my arrival.

Having the vibe of strictness, she seemed to be very fitting for her job as a noble daughter’s tutor.

Although it’s an image that I just selfishly imposed, she has really fitted what I imagined her to be.

「Well then teacher, I am pleased to be in your care.」Ariel

「Of course, Lady Ariel. I’m pleased to be in your care as well.」Teacher Mayers

She made an elegant bow with a proper lady-like aura which feels to be out of her character.

「…What’s with that look? 」Ariel

As I stood there petrified due to being surprised to her sudden change to proper decorum then she gave me a look of displeasure.

Now this is the usual little lady.

「Lady Ariel, isn’t that behavior unbecoming? 」Teacher Mayers

「…Oh my, I have shown you my embarrassing side. I will be very careful from now on.」 Ariel

Again, it changed to that unexpected graceful behavior. I still have no concrete idea on what is this class about.

「Ummm, may I know what is the subject of this lesson?」Me

「Can you not tell by looking? It is the lesson of etiquette and manners.」Ariel

「E-etiquette? I’m participating as well?」Me

「You are not only the valet of my brother but also my…my…」Ariel

It seems she had the discretion that it would be hard to call me a pet in front of her Etiquette Teacher.

「Anyhow, as you are now a person of this household and most especially the personal attendant of my brother, you should learn the good manners and the correct way of interaction with other nobles and attendants. Enough to avoid becoming an embarrassment to the public.」Ariel

「…However, I am nothing but a–」Me

「Even if you are a servant, you are surely to become someone who will always follow my brother’s endeavors and at times, of me as well. Or do you intend to become an embarrassment for us when that time comes?」Ariel

「No, I don’t milady.」Me

「Then you must learn proper etiquette precisely.」Ariel

「Understood…but…」Me

「But what?」Ariel

「I apologize but I may reek of sweat after my previous lesson.」Me

「No you don’t. Stop trying make up things because you will not be able to escape this.」Ariel

But I was not though. It seems it’s hard to go against this girl even for someone like me whom have a considerably older mental age. Was it due to the dignity and charisma that the nobles are born with? Or she is just natural in using her towering authority on others. However I did not feel such a thing from Vincent.

I slowly feel that she will become a fiercely strong-headed woman whom I can never defy in the future.

「Well then for today, the first lesson is the proper dance etiquette.」Ariel

「Yes?」Me

「That’s exactly why I called you. I would need a partner to be with for my dance lesson, you know?」Ariel

「I have no knowledge prior to this about dancing.」Me

Though I remember dancing in my primary school, it is very different from the dance here.

「That is fine, it is my first time as well after all. Well then teacher, let us begin.」Ariel

She got closed to me and grabbed my right hand.

「Rion, put your hand on the back of my hip. Hold me firmly and closely」Ariel

「Uh, Yes!」Me

I am neither nervous nor flustered but it seems the strength in my tired arms is not enough to hold her hand and body firmly that it started shaking.

「And you are the man here, so you should be the one who will initiate and control the dance, and not to be forced into the flow. Wait… why are you shaking?」Ariel

「I am sorry milady, my arms are still tired from the fencing lessons earlier.」Me

「Oh, then make do with those tired arms. This will become your daily routine so get used to it.」Ariel

「Yes…」Me

Like brother like sister…

The teacher then told Ariel and me that we should start first with a greeting and a bow. So we separated from each other first and did the greeting. But it seems my way of bowing isn’t right as the teacher told me how it isn’t.

「No! Don’t bow using your entire body as if you are a slave. Bend only the top half of your body a little towards your partner. Of course, you must still close your eyes but not too long. Put right hand against your chest–」Teacher Mayers

Blah blah blah… such classy ways of greetings. Well, this must be one of the annoying etiquettes in the circle of nobles.

Then after that, the teacher taught us the right posture we should take during the dance, the right grip towards the partner’s hands, the right speed in dancing and many more which I may not remember anymore and will just depend on my body to memorize those.  

Just like back on Earth, they follow same rhythm. But because we are still starting, the teacher just taught us first the most basic part of the dance. So all that happened is just swirling, swaying and lots of steps but no complicated routine yet.

We took a small break to rest our tired feet. Ariel went towards a fluffy comfortable bench to sit and I noticed that there are no chairs here other than Ariel’s and Teacher Mayer’s, so I decided to sit on the floor. But it seems this kind of manner is inappropriate also as I heard another earful from the teacher after she saw me resting on the floor.

「Rion! Don’t sit on the floor! It is not appropriate!」Teacher Mayers

‘Where would I sit then?’ I thought but decided not to speak it out loud. I immediately stood up from my sitting position.

「There is a space near Ariel’s bench so use what you have learned from Walle and me on how to properly ask a lady the permission to seat beside her. Pretend that you are in a dance and Ariel’s seat is the only one available.」Teacher Mayers

There is classy way for that also? Sigh… this is the only aspect I will never envy from the nobles. It is so suffocating if every interaction with others were restricted with etiquette and high class manners. And unfortunately madam, but Walle didn’t teach me anything about any proper lines for asking out.

I don’t have a choice but to find some classy lines I considered a cringe to hear back on Earth. As I came near her, Ariel cannot even find herself to hide her feline smile that obviously tells that she became interested at what I would say to her. Just to be less embarrassing, I will just say the simplest line I could make.

「M-milady, is this seat already taken?」Me

「No, so feel free to sit with me.」Ariel

「Thank you.」Me

She must have been expecting me to say funny lines that her disappointment is showing in her frown.

「Hmm, seems passable enough but you can still improve by using appropriate words such as–」Teacher Mayers

My rest had become a lecture about more words and phrases for talking with the nobles. Then after several minutes of word lesson, I was finally freed. And suddenly, Ariel called my name while keeping her eyes stuck on the book she was reading.

「Rion.」Ariel

「Yes milady?」Me

「Where did you learn on how to do mental arithmetic?」Ariel

She may have heard about what I did in Vincent’s previous lesson.

「Back in the slums milady, the ones who took me in taught me this.」Me

「…and where did you learn on how to act politely towards nobles?」Ariel

「From the elderly who took me in also, milady」Me

I just repeated what I have said to Walle when they interviewed me about my past. I am quite confused on why she is asking me the same questions again. But from what I can see from her eye brows on her side view, she is definitely frowning.

「What is your former occupation in the slums?」Ariel

「I don’t think home chores can be regarded as an occupation but that is what I did before I was captured.」Me

「I will rephrase my question, where did you work in the slums? On what place? Is it an establishment or a house?」Ariel

「On a local tavern milady.」Me

Upon my answer, the air around me suddenly felt cold. Then Ariel strangely breathed heavily a few times and put a pressure on her chest using her right hand as if she is trying to calm herself. My confusion only rose on her actions.

「Haa… and in this tavern, who was working with you?」Ariel

「Hmmm, the innkeeper, the waitresses and the cook.」Me

「…」Ariel

She is not looking at me while questioning so I don’t know what kind of face she is making, but I feel that she is slowly getting angry at me. Though I don’t even know the reason or things I did that may have provoked her.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

「Rion… why did you save my brother?」Ariel

「Eh?」Me

「Just answer me.」Ariel

With how she is acting, I felt that she is trying to probe something from me, making me sweat in buckets. But regarding with her question, I decided to answer honestly as it may help lower their suspicion if they know that I didn’t save him because of some generic “Virtuous, Heroic, Good-Guy” reason.

「Hmm, my first reason is that he-I mean, Lord Vincent can actually help me escape the slums. Of course this is after he displayed his power by cutting the ropes that bound me and healing my wounds. Then later, I realized that he was telling the truth about being the son of a high ranking noble. So I decided to escort him back to his home for the promised reward money that can help me get a new life outside the capital.」Me

「So you decided to help him with the resolve of facing a possibility of getting killed and killing someone?」Ariel

「That milady… just happened. Even if Lord Vincent or the dangling reward money wasn’t there, I would do the same thing all over again. To be honest, if what we encountered at that time were a group of thugs rather than a single man, I would’ve given up the young lord without a fight. I would still prioritize my life.」Me

I slowly realized that Ariel was already looking at me. This is the first time I can finally see her green eyes up close.

Then I looked towards the ceiling, smiled and continued.

「That man… let’s just say that he is a person whom I will enjoy watching scream in pain while I cut off his entire limbs and his manhood, skin him alive, pour boiling water on his eyes and heal them back again. And I will repeat the same process every single day until my life ends.」Me

「…」Ariel

「So what I really did to Lord Vincent was just a major gamble.」Me

She is about to ask another question when Teacher Mayers interrupted her.

「Okay, times up! Back to our lesson. We can now start with the Dance of the Swans.」Teacher Mayers

In the end, I had to accompany her dancing lesson for almost an hour. Luckily, it was just the beginning of Ariel’s dance lessons so that may be why the steps were pretty simple.

I only wished that the energy I spent for this may some worth in the future.

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After the dance lessons with the little lady were over, I came back to the lounge. I found Vincent playing with his spoon using his wind magic to ease his boredom. It seems he is trying to shoot the spoon out of the glass using his magic but was unable to do so. Then he stopped doing so after he noticed me.

「Come Rion, time for the next lesson.」Vincent

His next schedule would be the magic lessons. This is the only part that I won’t be able to learn with him. I merely stood in the corner of the room in order to avoid interrupting the boy who was sincerely focused on grasping the so called “mana” by following what his tutor told him.

Although this is a magic class, it seems he won’t be able use magic very well in today’s lesson.

According to the tutor, the most important part was to be able to grasp and control your mana properly. In order to invoke a magic, you must be able to circulate the mana properly and allocate only the proper amount of it.

After mastering this mana manipulation, it seems the precision and effectiveness of your magic are surely to grow as well.

Presently, that boy is practicing the mana manipulation.

He was softly muttering the aria of magic at times.

It seems the process of chanting were divided in three steps, the invocation of magic being the first phase and second would be the manifestation of mana dwelling inside one’s body.

It seems these steps mostly don’t change no matter what element you have affinity with. Because it’s highly dependent on the imagination of the individual, the arrangement is also accordingly.

In other words, the purpose of uttering the aria was for the individual to procure a mental image easier. With this you should be able to use special abilities even with nonexistent arias.

「“Bestow upon me, the power of healing!”」Vincent

This is the second time I’ve heard that phrase.

Naturally, this will change the effectiveness of magic. For some reason this affects the circulation of mana inside one’s body.

But I feel like something is wrong.

Circulation does not fit how I imagined it.

「“Wind of Cure, Healing!”」Vincent

And the last step was the elements to be used must be established and after imbuing it with wind attribute, turning it to a healing magic. The teacher will then induce the mana residing in his body and the will of the world will act accordingly– is what I was told but which part did the world take action?

It has no part on the explanation of aria neither on the application part. They seemed to have mixed up the spirit and elemental magic. That’s what I thought in regards to my knowledge of fantasy genres in my former world.

Well, it’s only a crude knowledge.

Maybe I should have read more light novels and books back on Earth especially on high fantasy genre.

The will of the world and the four attributes, if those were Sprites then do they manifest when one invokes magic? I looked relentlessly on the surroundings but there’s no trace of them.

Maybe it really is impossible for me to use magic after all.

Several days have already passed since I left the slums, but there was neither a visit from any gods in my dreams to give me generic cheat-like abilities nor visions that will give me something that I can use to gain advantage against my future enemies. Not even the generic so called status window to know my capabilities.

If this was a game, it seems that I am on a “Prepare to Die A Lot” Difficulty.

To be honest, I would rather be in that type of difficulty if the catch is being given the power to respawn.

In every death, I learn.

But the problem is… I don’t even know if there is something called respawn here for me. Or just like a certain main character where he was able to go back in time at a certain point in the past every time he dies.

There is a part of me that wanted to check if I was given such power, but I don’t want to stupidly gamble on something like cutting my own throat or wrists just to test if I can go back in time. There isn’t even a proof or guarantee that I was given something like that. At worse, I never had such a thing and resulted only on getting myself killed in the most stupid way.

Although those sudden power ups or those childish “Nakama power” are generic or cliché and even though they are still a cringe to be read and watched, I had to admit that I am still quite envious of them. Most especially, now that I badly needed those kind of abilities to survive in this hellhole. Reality is truly rude and very hard to swallow.

*Sigh… I take back my previous words, maybe I never should have read those kinds of novels or watch those series. By doing so, I may have remained ignorant of such fantasy. I always found myself comparing my own situation to those characters.

If that’s the case, then the only thing I can do is raise my fighting prowess through learning the proper swordsmanship. I cannot remain powerless like this forever and thinking so I began to focus on my future.

I do not care anymore on what people will say about my origins from the slums or my eyes, no matter how they will see or discriminate against me, I must obtain the power needed, not to survive… but to live in this world.

Maybe I’ll put all my strength and effort on physical training, if fortunate… maybe I will get the same level as that bald hero.

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All of us Sturmhounds were staying at the Sepherald Barracks just a small distance away from the Sepherald Villa. One thousand and four hundred Sturmhounds have left our capital city of Wyvungrad to accompany the Marquis and his family while staying here in the capital. I, Charteau of House Ducsentria, youngest member of the Sturmhounds, embarked on my first day as one of them.

Sturmhounds were one of the most feared Order of Knights in this kingdom. But unlike most knights, we don’t follow the Code of Chivalry or we can just say that we aren’t bound by any code, religion or moral. As long as it can help us serve our lord, we will do whatever it takes, whatever the cost.

The king doesn’t even have the authority and power to command us. We only obey the head of House Windhill. If he wanted us to assassinate the king, we will do so without any question. If he orders us to kill our families, children or ourselves, we will blindly obey without hesitation. The very foundation of our Order is to serve the will of the Windhill, with blind loyalty. Thus the name of our order, Hounds of the Storm.

The marquis and his family were all here at the capital to attend a Royal Ball where an engagement would be announced between House Windhill and House Highland. But due to some unfortunate events, the engagement was cancelled.

Then on the second day, talks of engagement between Lord Vincent and Lady Mylene of House Curthose started. But unlike his younger sister, Lord Vincent may have never been blessed with wit or manners of a noble’s child. He is as arrogant as the worst type of spoiled child which may have started since he learned to start walking. He was always been throwing indiscriminate tantrums to others. Only his sister and his parents were able to control him. So it’s no wonder if the talks for engagement also failed due to his personality.

Even so, we must still continue to uphold our duty in protecting Lord Vincent, as the son of our master.

After the Royal Ball, we would have returned back to Wyndeia by now if another unforeseen and unfortunate event had not happened; Lord Vincent was kidnapped.

It was one of the greatest blunders of the Sturmhounds. It is a direct insult to our pride and honor. We were furious. We raised and turned every rock in the capital to find him. In our desperate efforts to find him, we almost started a conflict with the Drownguards, House Aquismeia’s elite guards. But thankfully, Lady Ariel put a stop to the sparks before it could erupt.

In the fifth day he was missing, I finally found him. I spotted him, yelling at a driver of a carriage in the main highway. He is shouting his identity as the son of Marquis Windhill and was demanding the driver to deliver him to the Sepherald Villa. Telling also the driver that he will be paid if Vincent arrives safely. The driver seems to be in doubt towards the authenticity of his words.

I raced towards him and kneeled in apology for not being able to find him in time. Instead of throwing a tantrum which I expected, he only told his thanks and gratitude for being able to find him then he asked me to give him a lift. I then realized how his appearance was so dirty that anyone who isn’t familiar with his face and his voice, no one would believe his claims as a noble’s child.

And I also noticed that he is carrying something on his back. It was a young child. It is so thin, dirty and smelly that none one would want to go near it. Then I found out that it was a slumborn child. Lord Vincent told me that the child needed some immediate medical help, only then I noticed that it wasn’t dirt on the child’s head and rags, it was dried blood. I also saw many makeshift bandages from torn clothes on the other parts of its body. So Lord Vincent may have tried to reduce the bleeding by tearing his clothes into bandages for the child.

I tried to persuade Lord Vincent a few times that the child may not make it in time. I am a Sturmhound so I prioritize the well-being of the young lord first before anything else. This child may be carrying some sort of disease or may later bring trouble to the main family. But he strongly refused to leave the child behind. It was my first time to see the young lord, being selfish for the sake of someone else.

I then hired the driver and his carriage to carry back the young lord to the Villa, along with the thing he picked up.  

Then two days later, I have heard that the child Lord Vincent had picked up was actually a slumborn with Heterochromatic eyes. But I was even more shocked in hearing that the Marquis have rewarded the child and was hired as the personal valet of the young lord, replacing Walle as a result.

I do not know what is happening anymore.

My father, Erick Ducsentria was the one in charge of training them with sword arts. The young lord and his valet had just finished their daily training and went on a break for the next lesson. And then both of us went back to the barracks and ate our late lunch. The today’s dishes were grilled chicken, hot potato-corn soup, vegetable salad, roasted bacon strips and rabbit stew.

「Father, so how was Lord Vincent’s performance for you?」Charteau

「Hmm?」Father

He seemed to be very busy in chewing his favorite food, the grilled chicken wings.

「I was asking about the performance of the young lord in today’s lesson. How was he?」Charteau

「Hmmm… I feel sorry for him, but I don’t see or feel any potential from him. He already started his training with me back at the Wyvungrad but even so, I never felt any growth from him. It is not because he has no motivation for his lessons, this may be rude to him but for me, he has no talent.」Father

「Then how will you train him to be good then?」Charteau

「I will first try to feel which weapons and stances he is comfortable with, then I will start from there.」Father

「I thought you will be teaching him the way of the sword?」Charteau

「He is not going be a knight. So if he is worse at the sword but actually quite adept in using bows or spear, then that is where I will focus instead. Learning how to use a sword should not be forced. If I trained you in bow and arrows instead of the sword and lance, will you be able to become a good archer?」Father

「Ahh, no… I now get what you meant. But…」Charteau

「Hm?」Father

I picked a strip of bacon with my fork and took a bite. It was juicy and tasty as expected from the first class cooks of this villa but it didn’t help me in getting the uncomfortable gut feeling out of my mind.

「And… what do you think about his new valet?」Charteau

「Hmm, he is the same as his master, no talent and potential skills to become a good swordsman. He is too thin to carry even the wooden sword. But unlike the young lord whom can still make do with what he lacks through magic, that young valet is pitiful.」Father

「Not a single trait or movement that you have noticed to be out of place for someone like him?」Charteau

「Nope, but he has something that already exceeded you.」Father

「That is?」Charteau

「Hm…」Father

I was insulted a bit in hearing that I lost to that slumborn boy on something.  It made me impatient to know what it is. But my father just kept on enjoying his food as if he doesn’t care about what he is talking about. He took a large gulp from his cup of wine then looked at me with smiling eyes.

「What is it?」Charteau

「Ahh… Hmm, a pair of determined eyes that have seen Death and fought it by spilling the blood of another.」Father

「Are you saying that he is better than me in terms of being an experienced killer? It’s true that my sword hasn’t been rusted by anyone’s blood yet, but that is because we are not barbaric. We always use diplomacy and talks in conflicts before violence.」Charteau

「I am saying that he has seen and experienced the worse that you still haven’t. Without your prided armors, he is much dangerous than you or any of the recent Sturmhounds that still haven’t seen the battlefield. A person who have bathe in someone else’s blood will never hesitate to do so again.」Father

「Then that is one good reason that he must be watched at all times.」Charteau

「Don’t worry, that is not your concern anymore. I already made some arrangements regarding that.」Father

Although father tried to ease my worries, I still can’t let go of my gut feelings that there is something else that we had missed.

「…」Charteau

「What? Did you expect him to be some kind of “child with secret background and skills in blade or sword” or “a secret child assassin” or something?」Father

「Ah, n-no of course not!」Charteau

I became embarrassed after I realized that I was only overthinking things. I have known father to be quite perceptive on anything unusual, he is not one of the Sturmhound Captains for show. So if he didn’t sense anything dangerous from the slumborn then all is well.

「Why are you getting red?」Father

「Eh? I am not!」Charteau

「Hmmm… wait! Could it be?」Father

「W-what?」Charteau

I suddenly got nervous as I thought he realized something grave about the boy but it was actually just pure utter nonsense.

「Ahh… my beloved daughter is finally getting interested to opposite sex. *Sniff…As your father, I was quite worried that you may become an old woman before you get married just like your aunt but it seems my worries were unfounded. But I am now worried about your preferences of men. Seriously? An eight years old child? Well, I actually don’t know his age but if we based it on his stature then he may be between 8-9 years old…」Father

「W-wha… what are you talking about? It is one of the duties of a Sturmhound to be suspicious to anyone who gets close to our masters! So of course I am wary of that child with unknown origins! And I am still 18 years old!」Charteau

I truly became flustered at his daily teases regarding my status as single. Almost every day he would always find some way to get back at my choice of remaining single at the moment.

「So you are saying that if you are 18 years old, your preference towards young boys is reasonable?」Father

「N-no!! That’s not it! I am saying that I am still young as such I don’t have any desire or dreams of getting married yet! And how did you even come to that conclusion?!」Charteau

It is natural for us here in the kingdom that any person in nobility who reaches the age of 18 must have a fiancé or was promised already to someone. Almost half of the Sturmhounds were women like me, but only few of us remains unmarried or without any arrangement or fiancés. Each of us would only get 2-3 weeks of break every year as such we have no time to focus on getting entangled with someone yet.

Unless they were already promised or was arranged already by their parents. But as for me, I cancelled my engagement with the heir of House Kernethwale that was already set up by my grandparents even before I was born. I did have a legitimate reason as I will be joining the Sturmhounds. Well, it didn’t have any problem in cutting off the engagement as most of the nobles who minded their bloodline, they never wanted their future wives to be at the jaws of death every day.

For most nobles, marriage was never to get beautiful girls or wives. It was to strengthen their line by getting good capable heirs. My parents were both blessed with high affinity on magic; as such I was born with even stronger affinity. But it is better to get good wives that would rather stay at the castle to give birth rather than get a wife that may die at a moment’s notice. Especially someone who is a member of Sturmhounds.

「Muuhhh! Enough! I will go back to my duty instead!」Charteau

I tried to end it right there before it becomes something more embarrassing. I gathered my plates and cup and put them in the tray. I stood from my chair and was about to leave when my father stopped me to tell something.

「And by the way, as I have mentioned earlier, don’t you worry about him. As I already put someone who watches him in his every step just after he entered into this property. He has already caught the eyes of your cousin, Riza.」Father