"Unnecessary." That word was stuck in my head as soon as I awoke from that dreadful nightmare, I have got to ask that shadow pervert how to permanently get rid of them, they just come and go as they please.
I look out and it's still light out, 'did I only sleep for an hour?' They're not here either, I got up and went downstairs to freshen up.
'But I feel refreshed? Maybe this is a new skill?' I finish up and my stomach starts acting up.
'Fine.' I quickly go back and grab my sword and robe and left the inn.
The streets were filled with people carrying swords so I'd fit in quite well, I walked around looking for the tavern we ate at last night.
Then something caught my attention, 'that was quick.' I look to find out that the wanted posters were already hung up on a board.
'Dead for me, dead or alive for Pandres, and alive for Angel…'
'If these were any accurate we'd be in deep trouble, this town is filled with bounty hunters.' I continued walking and found another dual about to start in the middle of the street.
It was between a giant bald man wielding a giant sword that was as tall as a normal person and a foreign man that had dark skin which probably meant he came from a faraway country from the west, he was wielding two short daggers.
It looked like an interesting matchup so I ignored my whining gut and watched for a bit.
The foreign man made his first move and lunged at his opponent, one of his daggers was positioned to defend against any incoming attacks and the other was to attack. The bald man who had his sword in a low position simply shoulder-tacked the foreign man and sent him flying.
The foreign man immediately jumped to his feet but his knees buckled and he was gasping for air, the bald man was significantly bigger and made contact with his chest so it must've felt like a boulder hit him.
The bald man simply stood there and observed his opponent gasp for air, he didn't move a muscle.
The foreign man cursed in his language and finally regained control of his legs and stood up.
Now they were just watching each other for any kind of movement.
Eventually, the bald giant lifted his sword and the other man lunged at him once again and succeeded in landing a hit with his dagger.
The dagger was lodged into the bald man's abdomen and the foreign man tried to pull the blade out but struggled.
When he noticed it was time to abandon his dagger it had already been too late.
He was cut in half and blood poured out of the man as he lay on the ground.
He let out a weak laugh and then closed his eyes.
"Another win for Archibald, as expected."
"Poor guy didn't know what he was getting into."
The crowd then started to disperse and I looked at the bald giant who had his hand on his chest and was doing a sort of prayer, there was no blood on him, and the dagger failed to get through his armor and got stuck.
'A warrior who left his homeland only to die in some random town, nobody will even bother to bury you. Just another idiot.' I look beside me to find the bald man towering over me.
"You, what's your name?" hmm it would be a good opportunity to spread Pandres' name if I defeat this guy in a dual, he seems to be pretty well known.
"Sebastian." He puts his hand out.
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"No last name eh? Just like me, the name's Archibald." I took his hand and shook it, his strength was probably far superior to mine, but I could probably beat him.
He looked back at the body, "Do you know why I'm talking to you?" To dual?
"Because you stayed while the others left, you stayed and mourned a fellow warrior." Uh no, quite the opposite actually.
"You're mistaken-"
"Let me buy you a drink in his honor." Maybe he's trying to trick me? I looked into his eyes and he was being honest, with no hints of any ulterior motives.
"I don't drink, but thanks for the offer." I try to walk away but he still had my hand in his grasp so I was stopped in my tracks.
"Then let me treat you to a meal." No.
"Grrrrrr." Couldn't you shut up for one minute?
"Fine." Couldn't say I wasn't hungry as an excuse, and to be honest I had no reason not to accept, he was a fool so just take advantage of his foolishness.
He then leads me to a tavern.
I ordered some soup, he may be treating me but I wasn't going to push boundaries by ordering a feast.
He just ordered some beer and sat across from me.
"So Sebastian, are you new around these parts?" I wish the food would get here as soon as possible so I could just eat and leave.
"Yes, traveling with a friend."
"I see, if you ever need someone to show you around then I'm your guy." He then went on to explain how he worked as a guide part-time.
"That's nice."
"Did you know that the Twilight Knight went by the nickname of the First King's Sword?" I just hummed an agreement.
"Did you know that the Twilight style was invented and perfected in a cave?"
"Yes." He then went on to explain how the Twilight Style was the most superior style of swordsmanship.
"Would I be wrong to assume that you're a Twilight swordsman?" The food arrived.
"Yes." I immediately started to eat, I was going to get out of this conversation as soon as possible.
"Oh, then what style do you use?"
"Daybreak."
"Oh, I've heard of that one…" surprising.
"Yeah, that one lady opened up shop around here and went around advertising her style." Huh?
"…tell me more." I stopped eating and started listening because this sounded very weird.
"She opened up shop and started begging people to learn her style, that's all I know."
"When did she arrive?"
"A month ago and some." I chugged down the soup and stood up.
"Lead me there." He asked about why I was in such a hurry but I was already out of the door.
My stomach growled some more but I just ignored it, 'I'll feed ya later.'
This just didn't sound right, why would that prideful woman go into her rival's territory and start begging, it just didn't sound right.
I slowed down as soon as I realized I was just going to get lost and waited for the giant to catch up.
He then guided me deeper into the town until we arrived at a disheveled old building, I tried the doors but they were locked.
"We should probably wait-" I immediately kicked down the doors. The inside was nicer than the outside.
I ventured inside with the giant following saying we were trespassing, I looked through the rooms that looked more like living spaces than training rooms and found no one.
I looked at a closet and heard light breathing.
I pulled out my sword and pointed it at the closet "Get out of there." The door slowly opened and revealed the person who was posing as my master.
"Welcome! To the daybreak school, I'm impressed you found my hiding spot." It was a woman that I recognized.
"Have you no shame posing as our master and lowering her already low reputation?" I lowered my sword.
It was one of my seniors, one who dropped out and left after having had enough of my master's ways.
"Sebastian, is that you?" Her expression changed from fear to glee.
"Oh, it's been so long, look how you've grown!" She tried to get closer for a hug but I simply backed away.
"Don't change the subject, what're you doing posing as master and shaming the Daybreak's name by begging people to learn it?" She looks at me dumbfounded and then showed her true face.
"Come on, is this what you're here for?" She scoffs and sits on one of the chairs.
"Have you already forgotten the number one rule your master taught you? Use everything to your advantage, shame doesn't matter in a fight." Before I could respond she continued.
"You'll probably say, 'But this isn't a fight!' But that is just ignorance, my little junior."
"Life itself is a fight and I'm simply using an already existing style to make money, who cares if I shame that idiot's name."
"Trinity… I will not warn you again, drop this nonsense and get a real job. I don't want to hear about this again." And with that, I went for the exit.
"If anything, I'm doing that idiot a favor by spreading her obscure style." I continued walking.
"Why do you even care?" and I continued to walk.
'That lady hasn't changed one bit since she left, still every bit childish and shameless." I opened the doors and was face to face with Pandres.
"Oh, you woke up? I thought you had passed away, you slept through the whole day yesterday." I look down to find Angel holding a wooden sword.
"What're you doing here?"
"We heard of a place that was teaching that style you use and Angel wanted to check it out."
"Sorry to disappoint, but this place is a scam. A complete fraud is running it." I usher them to leave but it was already too late, two people were standing right behind me.
"Oh, I didn't know you had a family, Sebastian!" She excitedly waved to Angel who pulled down her hood to hide her face.
"Not my family and also piss off." I continue to usher the two away from her and now I was finally out of the building and got a breath of fresh air that didn't taste like dust.
"Your wife's a looker, how did you manage to trick her eh?" The giant pushed past her and was now standing between us.
"The man has made it clear he doesn't want to speak to you, I believe you should respect his wishes." The giant said in a firm voice.
"Who's he?" Pandres asked.
"I couldn't tell you, but he just gave us a golden opportunity. It would be rude to waste it."
Now that I think about it turning my back on that snake was a foolish decision.
"At least let me get a look at your kid." The stupid snake tried to pull off Angel's hood.
But thankfully Pandres immediately pulled Angel out of her reach.
"Listen, lady, I don't you what your relationship with Sebastian is but try something that stupid again and you'll lose your hands." She put her hand on her hilt and put Angel behind her.
I walked between them and stood in front of Trinity, "Senior or junior, friend or foe, strong or weak, teacher or student. You should know by now that I don't care about that stuff, there won't be a third time for you if you push your boundaries with me." And one slap later we were heading back to the inn.
'I shouldn't have let my anger take a hold of me but that snake deserved it.'
I didn't look back but she was on the ground loudly crying and shouting nonsense at me, 'As I said, she hasn't changed one bit.'
We were now out of sight of that snake, "Sebastian!" I look back to see the giant running after us.
"What now?" I told Pandres and Angel to go ahead and waited for him.
"I just wanted to say I'll make sure everyone knows that she's a fraud and that you shouldn't worry, when word gets around that someone is a fraud they get shunned right away."
"I'd appreciate that." I turned on my heel and left.
'She better stop with that bullshit if she knows what's good for her, If it was anyone else I would've cut them down…'
'I probably should've, now that I think about it.'