The next day began as usual. After finishing breakfast, we headed out for sword practice, sticking to the regular morning routine. However, something was different—Yumiko seemed eager to help me with the sword. I wasn't sure why her mood had shifted, but I appreciated the change. That said, her inability to hold back during sparring and her short temper still made her intimidating. Once, when I blocked her sword incorrectly, she struck me without hesitation.

Later, I practiced my magic, managing to cast four water balls at once for the first time. The excitement pushed me to keep casting for over an hour while Yumiko and Rina sparred nearby. Seeing my progress in both magic and swordplay filled me with a sense of accomplishment. Small steps, but progress nonetheless.

Now, here I am, sitting beside someone who might be the most exasperating study partner ever.

"Tell me what it says here!" Yumiko demanded.

Her reading skills were basic—functional but stunted when it came to anything beyond common words.

"It says, 'cliffs.'"

"Oh… Yeah, of course. What's that?"

I sighed. Learning about the Dead Lands on my own would've been easier. Why did I think involving her was a good idea? She clung to me like a shadow, and now I was stuck explaining every other word.

"It means…"

Her questions came every five to ten minutes, derailing our research. At this rate, I'd barely learn anything about the Dead Lands. Still, I had to admit she picked up a few new words during our session—if she could remember them later.

As time passed, I prepared for our lesson. This time, I'd brought history books and research materials to keep her engaged.

"Hi, miss."

No response. Where was she? Yumiko was usually punctual—sometimes even early. I set up the books and waited. Minutes passed, and still no Yumiko.

"Hey, Yumiko!" I called out.

The silence persisted, broken only by faint, hurried footsteps growing louder.

"Kaito!" she burst into the room, grinning widely. "Father told me the festival is soon!"

Did she really need to come barreling in just to say that?

"What do you mean? What kind of festival?"

"Huh? You don't know!?"

"No. Could you explain it?"

"It's the festival to celebrate the Luminara Kingdom. We do it every year in September!"

That sounded interesting. I couldn't help but feel curious.

"Oh, nice. So, uh, what month is it now?"

"It's August, of course!"

Ah, so the festival was close.

"And what's today's date?"

"Uhh… I don't know."

I chuckled. Keeping track of the days must be harder here without modern conveniences like phones.

"Ah, that's okay. Don't worry about it."

"It's going to be so fun!" she said, her eyes sparkling. "Fireworks painting the sky with colors, amazing food—my stomach's already excited!"

"Yeah, it sounds incredible," I said, though I gently redirected her back to the task at hand. "Now, let's focus on today's lesson. I brought some interesting books that you might actually enjoy."

"I don't wanna read again!" she groaned, but she still sat at the table without further complaints.

Sliding her a book titled Dead Land, I explained that it contained stories about the harsh and dangerous environment of the region. To my surprise, she dove into the book quickly, though she mostly flipped through the pages, admiring the illustrations and occasionally skimming the text.

"Hey, look at this!" she exclaimed, pointing to an image.

I leaned over. "Huh… oh, wait. What is that?"

"I don't know. It says… um…"

"It's called Thraxxor," I read aloud for her.

She perked up. "What does it say about it?"

"A colossal beast, towering over most creatures, its muscular body ripples with raw power. Jagged, bone-like protrusions rise menacingly along its spine, resembling twisted horns but growing from its back instead of its head. These spiny bones arch outward like natural armor, giving it an intimidating silhouette. Its massive frame is reminiscent of a bull, yet far more fearsome and robust, with legs like tree trunks. Each step shakes the ground, its thick, scarred hide bearing the marks of countless battles. Its dark, fierce eyes seem ready to charge at any moment—a living nightmare of the Dead Lands."

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Yumiko's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Ohhh, that sounds so cool! I wanna fight it!"

"Yeah, it's fascinating, that's for sure."

"Maybe someday we'll face it ourselves!" she said, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Maybe," I agreed, chuckling. "For now, why don't you read about some other creatures from the Dead Lands?"

She nodded eagerly, flipping the pages again. Watching her genuinely try to read made me smile. It was rare to see her this focused.

As she continued exploring the book, I returned to my own research, trying to uncover more about this world. Information on regions outside the Dead Lands was scarce, though, and I couldn't help but wonder when I'd finally get the chance to travel.

Would Yumiko come along? Rina likely couldn't—her duties bound her here. And Yumiko? Being a noble might prevent her from leaving. Still, she seemed like the type to run off and join a guild in some distant kingdom if she ever felt like it.

"Ugh… ahhh…" Yumiko groaned, breaking my thoughts. She stared down at her book, clearly struggling.

"You're reading, right?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah."

Well, at least she was trying.

"Yumiko," I said after a while, "in about ten days, we'll have a test on everything you've learned. I'll quiz you on the Dead Lands, so make sure to pay attention during our lessons."

"Oh… okay, I see."

Satisfied, I nodded. If we kept this up, she might actually learn to read better. Writing would follow naturally—hopefully.

Eventually, our lesson came to an end.

"We're done. Do you think you learned anything today?" I asked.

"Yes! Finally! Of course, I learned something!" she shouted, stretching her arms high above her head with a loud yawn.

Her energy was endless, but I couldn't deny her enthusiasm was starting to grow on me.

Now that the lessons were over, I decided to join her for sparring again. I needed the extra practice, and Yumiko seemed to be in a good mood. With any luck, I'd avoid her punches and yelling—at least for today.

part 2

"No…! You need to hold it like this," Yumiko said sharply, demonstrating a new grip on her sword.

"So, like this?" I asked, trying to mirror her.

"No…! Idiot!" she snapped.

It seemed Yumiko had shifted her focus to training me, taking a surprisingly strict approach. If I made a mistake, she'd yell; if I failed to block properly, she'd hit me. Rina, of course, found Yumiko's unique teaching methods entertaining and watched the whole ordeal with a smirk.

Painful as it was, I had to admit Yumiko's tough-love approach worked.

"See? Hold your left hand tightly above your right," she instructed.

"Wait—you mean the opposite, right? You're holding your right hand above your left," I pointed out, feeling a headache forming.

"Of course, that's what I meant! I just said it wrong!" she huffed.

"Oh… yeah, sure," I muttered.

I adjusted my grip to perfectly match hers, but she still shot me a disappointed look.

"Ahh, that's good enough," she said.

What do you mean? I'm holding it exactly the way you showed me!

"Now, get ready to block!" she barked.

Wait… she never actually explained how to block. Before I could ask, she charged.

"Oof!" I grunted as her sword struck my stomach.

"You still got it wrong!" Yumiko scolded, glaring at me. "Why don't you ever listen to my advice?"

What advice? She hadn't said a thing about blocking!

"Sorry. Can you explain how I'm supposed to block again?" I asked, trying to keep my frustration in check.

"Yeah, like this," she said, repositioning her sword. She held it upright in front of her, tilted slightly sideways and down. Then she shifted her body to the side, stepping forward smoothly. "That's how you block."

"Ohh, okay, I think I understand now," I said.

"Good. Let me show you—attack me. Aim for my stomach."

Nodding, I did as instructed. She effortlessly repeated the movement she'd just shown me, dodging my strike while perfectly blocking my sword.

"Now your turn. Get ready," she said.

"Yeah, sure."

This time, I followed her instructions closely, gripping the sword as she'd shown me. When she rushed toward me, I stepped forward and to the side, angling my sword to block her attack.

The clash of our wooden swords echoed in the yard. I'd done it—I blocked her attack.

I didn't counterattack, unsure how to follow up, but I felt a surge of pride. My heart raced, and the sound of the blades meeting was oddly satisfying.

"Good job, you did it!" Yumiko said, her voice tinged with surprise and approval.

"Yeah, I did! Thank you, miss," I replied with a grin.

"Of course," she said, standing tall with a soft smile. Her cheeks flushed faintly, pride evident in her expression.

"Good job, Kaito. That was pretty well performed," Rina praised, walking over to join us.

She turned to Yumiko. "You good to spar?"

"Yeah, of course, Rina," Yumiko replied eagerly.

I stepped aside, sitting down on the ground to watch. These two sparring was always a spectacle.

Yumiko launched the first attack, but Rina parried it with ease. Using the momentum, Yumiko vaulted off Rina's sword, flipping through the air and preparing for a follow-up strike. Her agility and precision were breathtaking.

The wind from their movements swirled around them, stirring up dust, while the clash of their blades filled the yard. Watching them fight was like witnessing a live-action anime battle—intense, fluid, and mesmerizing.

The two sparred for another 20 minutes before it was time for dinner. Dinner here was typically served between 6 and 8 PM, and the meals were always a treat. Tonight, we had perfectly cooked beef, creamy mashed potatoes, and a side of fresh vegetables. The salad included some unfamiliar greens and a bit of bitter cheese, which balanced the flavors nicely.

The maids who prepared the meals truly outdid themselves. The mashed potatoes were smooth and flavorful—likely made with fresh milk—and the beef practically melted in my mouth.

At the dinner table, I sat quietly, still a little on edge in the company of nobility. Yumiko, however, was her usual animated self, recounting her day with enthusiasm, sometimes even talking with food in her mouth. Despite her occasional lapses in etiquette, her cheerful energy kept the atmosphere lively.

During the meal, Julian mentioned the upcoming festival. It was set to start in ten days and would last for five, with each day having a unique theme. He explained that nobles and citizens alike would gather to celebrate, with dancing and feasting planned at the mansion. It sounded like an incredible event, and I found myself looking forward to it.

After dinner, I returned to my room, collapsing onto my bed with a full stomach and a sense of accomplishment. Today felt productive. Yumiko had warmed up to me, my training had improved, and I'd even started piecing together more about this world.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges and opportunities. The mysteries of this place continued to pull me in, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was just over the horizon.

22 days left.