He gasped and turned around, snatching his hand away from where it was about to touch the roots. The Professor was looming over him, even at the few inches of distance between them. The man glanced at the tree for a moment and then back at him.

“Did you … hear something?” He asked cautiously.

Emilio shook his head. He had not really heard something. But he had felt something, though he did not feel the need to inform the man about it. It was a feeling that he himself had a hard time understanding.

The man did not look like he believed but he did not ask any more questions. Instead, he raised his hand and threw something at him. Emilio caught it on reflex and then looked down to examine the object in his hand. It was a long sword, sheathed in a simple yet beautiful black scabbard.

He looked up at the man in surprise. “For me?”

Students were not allowed swords of their own so they usually borrowed from the Armory of the Academy. But this one was clearly above the standard grade in the Armory. He pulled it out, admiring the sheen on it. Perhaps not the most expensive sword, it was of ordinary steel. But it was something you would usually see on low ranking knights or adventurers, not students.

When the man only nodded in answer, Emilio smiled. “Thank you.”

It would not be hard for the Duke to acquire this at all. All he had to do was send someone to the local smithy. But the consideration itself meant a lot to Emilio. He never thought he would find such consideration outside the Barony.

The man only inclined his head once, before turning around. “Follow me.”

With that, the man began walking in the direction of the woods. Emilio frowned slightly but nonetheless followed him. It was when the man entered the woods that he paused. The woods themselves were not the issue. He had always found solace in nature. But … these woods got denser the deeper you went, with little light and more shadows. He felt a bit hesitant to go into that darkness with a man who commanded it.

The man walked a few steps before pausing as he realized that Emilio was not following him. He turned around and tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”

Emilio bit his lip. He could not very well tell the man that he was uncomfortable going into the woods with him to his face, not when the man himself offered to help him and he agreed. However, he did not need to speak.

“Are you scared?” The Duke asked.

Once again, surprise came over Emilio’s face, before he averted his eyes guiltily. He heard a soft chuckle come from the man.

“You wear your heart on your sleeve, don’t you?” The man asked.

Emilio flushed lightly. He did not look at the man but he could hear his footsteps getting closer and closer. He could not help but take a small step back out of nervousness. He felt his guts twist, and kept his eyes averted.

The man stopped about an inch away from him and leaned in slightly. “You need to be more careful. Especially if you wish to keep your cards hidden from the Prince.”

Emilio blinked, finally looking at the man. He had not expected the man to go down that line of thought. The man seemed to glean his thoughts too. He gave a knowing smile.

“See? You show too much of your emotions.” He sighed. “It’s not bad. But you should be careful of who you show it to. Because there are people who would use it against you. As for me-” the man leaned in slightly, causing Emilio to lean back, “I am a Master Level Mage. If I wanted to harm you, I would not need to go into the shadows.”

Okay, that was true.

The man finally straightened. “That place does have a lot of shadows. You know what else it has a lot of? Trees and vines and everything nature. It’s your turf as much as it is mine. You will have a lot of help. Besides, if you ever go out into the wild, the people who attack you won’t be very considerate of you. So, you have to learn combat in difficult conditions. What’s more difficult fighting against Shadow Magic in the shadows?”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Okay, that made sense too.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself hesitance and cowardice would do him little good here. He had promised himself that he would get stronger. And so, he would, no matter eh cost. He nodded determinedly and followed the man into the woods. They walked for a good while before the man stopped amongst a crowd of densely situated trees. Emilio looked around, feeling the buzz of nature around him.

He looked around. Even though he was sure it was broad daylight, this place made it seem like evening was approaching on a cloudy day. The place was cold and damp and dark. The trees towered over them like giants, roots piercing deep into the earth. He could feel it all.

Shhiiing! The sound of the sword being unsheathed brought his attention back to the man standing opposite to him. The sword glimmered ever so slightly even in this darkness.

Emilio looked up at the man, only to find him staring back at him. “First, I will assess your swordsmanship properly.”

“But… I fought with Evan in front of you…”

“You did.” The man nodded. “And I was impressed by what I saw. But Evan is a commoner used to street fights whereas you have been trained by an elite knight. He did give you a hard time but I believe he was not able to bring out the true extent of your abilities. I need to see it for myself. Draw your sword and come at me!”

Emilio sighed softly and took the sword he was given out of its sheath, taking his stance.

Emilio's muscles tensed as he faced Professor Sullivan, who only watched him with indifferent red eyes. It made him shiver. Deep down, he knew he was no match for this man. He took a deep breath and closed the distance between them, bringing his sword down to strike. The clash of steel filled the air as their swords met. Professor Sullivan's experience was evident in his every move as he parried and countered, his sword a seamless extension of his will. Emilio could only be pushed back, unable to find any opening.

With a growl of determination, Emilio lunged forward, his blade cutting through the air towards his Professor’s shoulder. But Professor Sullivan's response was swift and precise. He deflected Emilio's strike with ease, redirecting the force of the blow and forcing Emilio off balance.

Seizing the opening, Professor Sullivan moved in, his blade a blur of movement aimed at Emilio's side. Emilio managed to dodge just in time, his heart pounding in his chest as he realized the danger he had narrowly avoided. But Professor Sullivan didn't relent, his attacks coming in rapid succession, each strike calculated to exploit Emilio's vulnerabilities. Emilio realized that the man was coming for those very openings that Captain Killian always scolded him for, except he was doing it with such speed and intensity that Emilio could barely get the time to respond.

Emilio blocked, parried, and evaded as best as he could, his movements a mix of desperation and determination. He managed to counter a few of Professor Sullivan's strikes, his sword finding its mark, but it was clear that he was on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the relentless assault.

As the minutes ticked by, Emilio's energy began to wane. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his movements slowed just a fraction. Professor Sullivan's eyes gleamed with a mixture of respect and firm resolve. He saw the potential in Emilio, the spark of a skilled fighter, but he also understood the harsh reality of combat.

With a final, decisive move, Professor Sullivan feigned a strike towards Emilio's shoulder, then swiftly changed his trajectory, his blade sweeping low and catching Emilio off guard. The flat of Professor Sullivan's sword connected with Emilio's leg, sending a shock of impact through his body.

Emilio stumbled and fell to one knee, his sword clattering to the ground. He looked up at Professor Sullivan, a mixture of exhaustion and acceptance in his eyes. Professor Sullivan lowered his sword, his expression now softened into something resembling a mixture of amusement and fondness.

"You fought well, Emilio," he said. Emilio was not sure if he was mocking him, but for the peace of his mind, he would like to think he was not. "Most of my first and second year students would have been out within the first few strikes. You are very well versed in swordsmanship, as I expected."

Emilio got up with a soft grunt. “Thank you, Professor.”

“Most children of nobility do not bother to polish their swordsmanship beyond the basics.”

It was a question, hidden in a statement. The Duke’s tilted head and questioning gaze were proof enough of it. Emilio could not help the bitter smile that graced his lips.

“Well… when you do not have the privileges most children have, you tend to find other ways to prove your worth.”

The space between them was silent for a long moment before the man sighed.

“Alright then. Time to begin your real training.”

Emilio frowned at him. “Real training?”

The man smiled.

The shadows around them began to condense.