Shun was running while keeping Alice in his hands. He was running not very fast in order to make Alice’s “travel” as comfortable as possible. Also this allowed to have a conversation.
- By the way, S-Shun. How did you break my spell?
Asked Alice. He was certain in her defensive spell so it looked odd that Shun was able to break it easily. Shun looked in her eyes.
- For the martial artist there is no problem breaking a magic spell...After all, everything that affects the environment the martial artist is able to sense. Then the only thing left then is to apply some power in order to make the nature revert all the changes.
While telling it, he was looking in her eyes. Alice wanted to avert her gaze but she was surprised that Shun was able to move while not looking in front of him at all. But at the same time she deeply impressed by the information Shun provided. “Martial Arts are too strong…”
- And every martial artist is able to do it?
If it were true then it meant that her spell was useless.
- Well...Not really. It requires a high-level proficiency in the martial arts. Though there still a chance that some unknown hermit will be able to find your place.
- I see...Maybe you know some way to prevent that?
The idea of leaving her house defenseless made her worry.
- Don’t bother. High-level martial artist would not care about breaking into someone’s house...
- But you did it!
Alice was angry at Shun. Despite chatting with him, she held a grudge against him due to his brusque intrusion.
- I am a special case!
Said Shun and smiled. “Could it be that he did it on purpose?” sudden thought appeared in Alice’s mind.
----
Inside Alice’s house, Kenta was sitting in chair, waiting for Shun’s return.
- I wonder how Shun is going to catch her...But his speed was incredible! I should ask him teach me that.
Muttered Kenta. In his heart, he was amazed by Shun. “His items, his knowledge, his skills…Who gave him that? The teacher he mentioned - could it be him? If his student knew that much, how great would be the teacher?” Kenta’s head was filled with such thoughts.
Recently he heard a roar. It was similar to wolf’s roar but it was too loud as it was a pack of wolves crying at the same time.
- What was that...It came from the direction where Shun ran...Well, whatever.
Kenta’s heart did not worry about Shun. Shun was much stronger than Kenta and even hundreds of wolves would not be able to do something to Shun.
The Kenta looked towards the direction when Shun ran and saw Shun running back with Alice in his hands. “Well I guess everything was resolved...Wait. Why is that woman tied?”
Shun entered the house. He put Alice on the sofa.
- Untie me already!
Exclaimed Alice. She did not want to be defenseless in front of two men. Shun looked at surprised Kenta and then told Alice.
- Don’t be afraid! Kenta is the fan of the princess. And I am a gentlemen.
“You expect me to believe that?” thought Alice. As reading her thoughts, Shun nodded. Then he untied Alice and she instantly moved to another chair, looking at Shun suspiciously. Shun shook his head.
- Okay. Let me introduce again. My name is Shun. I am just a traveler. This is Kenta.
Shun pointed his hand to Kenta.
- He is a traveler too.
Then directed his hand to Alice. “Cannot be helped…”
- My name is Alice and I am living here.
- Amazing!
Exclaimed Shun. His cry surprised Kenta, while Alice did not understand whether Shun was mocking her or not.
- Okay, let’s get to point. Kenta, this is our new teammate. She is a magician, so now we have a complete set of specialists. Hahaha.
Kenta looked at Alice and then at Shun. Seeing Alice not opposing Shun’s statement, he came to conclusion that Shun somehow convinced her to join. “I wonder what is behind that....”
Shun then moved towards the free chair. Alice was sitting in front of him in the chair on the left and Kenta was on the right.
- I am sure you wondering what I am planning. As now as we are all here, I am going to tell you.
“Finally!” rejoiced Kenta. He wanted to understand why Shun granted him with the martial arts ability. Alice on the other side, wanted to know what was hiding behind Shun’s actions.
- What do you know about the Western Empire?
Asked Shun sudden question. The topic surprised Alice and Kenta.
- Erm...I know that it is stronger than the kingdom.
Said Kenta. He came from the small village and his knowledge was lacking. Also access to the royal library had only those who was studying in the academy. So common folks could not know a lot.
- The Sky Empire was built on the remnants of the Forgotten Empire. They even claim that they are continuing Forgotten Empire’s legacy. Sky Empire has a huge military power with a lot of magicians, swordsmen and martial artists. The emperor is believed to be a descendant of the rulers of the Forgotten Empire.
- Sky Empire?
He heard the term for the first time as everybody around had been referencing the country as the Western Empire.
- It’s the real name of the Western Empire. But it’s rarely mentioned in the books. Anyway, the most interesting thing is that Sky Empire has a sacred sword, which according to the rumors can grant a power to a person if the person is cut by it. So that sword is not the same artifact as the kingdom hero’s relics, which are simple the equipment the hero used.
Told Alice. “The power granting sword...It seems I know one.” thought Kenta and looked at Shun’s sword.
- As expected from the person who reads a lot.
Nodded Shun and glanced at Alice’s bust. Alice covered it with her hands. Shun continued.
- Indeed. That is just a common information. What are you actually know about the Battle Festival?
- Battle Festival?
Kenta never heard about it.
- It is tournament which being held every 50 years where strong people fight each other in order to get the gift from the emperor. No one know what the gift is. Even the books do not have the details about it. But it seems a lot of people are trying hard in order to acquire it.
Said Alice. Shun stood up.
- Exactly! But to be more specific the tournament requires to create a team consisting of three contestants...A martial artist, a magician and a swordsman.
Now Kenta realized.
- So that is why you made Alice join us?
- Yup! We’ll participate in the tournament as the kingdom’s representatives.
- But kingdom never participated in the tournament!
Objected Alice. She had never saw information about it.
- That is wrong. The kingdom participated, but it was utterly obliterated in the first rounds many hundred years ago. Also that is the reason why the kingdom did not spread the information about that. It’s common knowledge that the power difference between kingdom and empire is huge. But this fact would make a lot of people afraid of the empire, so the kingdom preferred to spread the story about the hero who defeated empire’s forces.
“So the empire is indeed strong”. Kenta heard many stories about empire’s military power. Some of them felt as the fantasy. But Kenta now was wondering, what was Shun planning to do in order to join the Battle Festival.
- But how we can become representatives? I doubt the kingdom would like to see a defeat again...
- You, Alice and I will participate in martial arts, swordsman and magician tournaments and come up as the winners by a high margin. Then I ask the king to send us to the tournament! After all, the princess told me that I acquired the right to have an audience with the king.
“That plan is crazy!” thought Kenta. “I’ve just gained the ability to use martial arts and Shun is already planning to participate in the tournament with the most skillful martial artists on the continent!”
Looking at the confused face of Alice and Kenta’s shocked expression, Shun was slightly disappointed. “Hm...I thought they would display more excitement…” Then Shun heard Alice’s voice.
- S-Shun...But will we be able to pass even preliminary rounds? Because winning the tournament here and participating in the empire’s festival are the complete different matters.
- Yes, Shun. I mean compete against the pillars of the martial arts world of the kingdom is one thing, but the other is to compete against the continent’s best martial artists.
Said Kenta. “As the tournament requires three contestants, maybe Shun is planning to use us just as a support?” that was the only explanation Kenta could come up with.
- So that is why...I see, I see.
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Sad Shun. Then he smirked and gave thumb-up.
- As the most knowledgeable person, I’ll be your personal trainer for the next two weeks. During that time...
Shun turned to Kenta.
- I’ll transform you into a capable martial artist, who will be able to be on par with the strongest Sword Saint of the kingdom! Though you may lack experience but before the festival we will be able to resolve it somehow.
“Wow! Just in two weeks I’ll be able to rival Sword Saint! His plan is insane”, thought Kenta.
Then Shun turned to Alice.
- About you...You have the talent and the skills. What you lack is the power.
- How you...
- I was able to get it, when I tested you traps. They lacked the power, because if it could be possible, you would made it much stronger.
Shun exhaled and continued.
- Your amount of mana is simply not enough to create truly strong high or supreme level spells. You can defeat several high level magicians and even can fight the supreme magicians but mana handicap prevents from truly reaching the realm of a supreme magician in the end.
Alice’s eyes opened wide. She was considered talented by the normal people’s standards. Three elements spell caster, spell creation and even the magic eyes. Everything was exceptional. But her lack of mana was not enough to become truly strong.
Her teacher said once
- The heavens gave you the tools of the exceptional quality, but they crippled your hands.
Therefore, Alice put all her efforts into developing the ability to use the magic effectively and expand her magic knowledge. Alice remembered teacher’s words, so she dedicated herself to reading the books and creating new spells in order to use everything she had as full as possible. However, somewhere inside her heart, she wanted to break that limit of her and reach the peak of her magic abilities.
Shun put his hand on Alice’s shoulder and said.
- You’ll be able to acquire the power and break the chains that the nature gave you.
Alice heart started to beat faster as she never expected that Shun said something she had been always wanted to hear.
- At the time of entering the Battle Festival your power will rival Obadiah.
Shun nodded and then made a several steps back. He sat in the chair and continued.
- Winning in the kingdom’s tournaments will be the exam of yours. If you fail, then we’ll have to wait for the another Battle Festival.
Laughed Shun. His eyes were sparkling.
- But if everything will go according to my plan before the Battle Festival we’ll go on special training to polish your skills...I’ll tell you about it when the time comes.
Alice and Kenta exchanged glances.
----
Serpentia.
The king was sitting in his room. Suddenly somebody knocked the door and the king told to enter.
- Sir, did you called?
Asked a young man in a golden armor who just entered. He kept in his hands a helmet with a hawk sign.
- Leyten...Yes I called you.
Said MakKonnell. He asked Reiren Castello to call for Leyten as soon as he arrived and he did it.
- The leader of Elite Soldiers told me that you wanted to ask something about the person Elizabeth and I met in the Mirani town.
“It seems Reiren did more that I asked for. “, thought the king. He originally wanted to ask himself the necessary question but seeing Leyten ready to tell him about Shun, the king gave up.
- Tell me, all that you know about the person Shun.
Leyten nodded and started his speech.
- Well...He was quite an interesting person. Originally I thought he was a swordsman but he has a student whom he is teaching the martial arts! Moreover, he is the same age as me.
Said Leyten. His voice was full of admiration towards Shun. “Interesting. He is 20 or 19 and teaches somebody martial arts. Truly admirable”, thought MakKonell. “And if he appearead to be the swordsman then he might be a perfect candidate for the Sword Saint title. I need to ask Jin(1st Sword saint) to test him personally if possible. If his skills are indeed that great then he might even get a position of the Sword Saint leader instead of Leyten”. The king did not want to write off Leyten, but if Shun was more experienced than Leyten he would prefer Shun instead of Leyten. “Though the question of loyalty remains...”
The Sword Saints had the obligations towards kingdom. Their main purpose was to defend the kingdom when it was in danger. “If Shun prefers to wander then there is nothing I can do...” MakKonell did not want to make an enemy of Shun.
Leyten continued.
- Overall he felt like a good person. He was not angry when nobody came to help him and did not make any trouble at all. Also he did not want to be transported in the carriage.
“Well...I too in the past liked to travel by foot. Maybe we’ll be able to get along with Shun”.
- Also I forgot. His student’s name was Kenta and Shun said that Kenta was going to participate in the Martial Arts tournament in Ivelen!
“Ho...I should send somebody to observe the tournament and gather information about his student. By the student we will be able to judge Shun’s ability”.
The martial arts were tough in learning and most of the artists did not have a teacher. The only known martial arts teacher was the great monk of the Sage Mountain.
When Leyten finished talking, the king thanked him and asked to call the princess.
Elizabeth entered the room.
- Father, did you call me? Do you want to ask something?
- Yes. How are feeling?
- I am fine but I doubt you wanted to ask that...
“Of course I am interested in my daughter’s well-being.”, muttered the king.
- I want to ask you about Shun.
Said the king. Elizabeth’s eyes opened wide.
- Him…
“Hm...Her reaction is odd”, thought MakKonell.
- Tell me, Elizabeth. What did you [see]?
Elizabeth had a rare talent. There were many descendants of the first Magic Eyes bearer. During the centuries, the power of the eyes was weakening and sometimes even mutated, providing the bearer of the Magic Eyes with the abilities that even the original owner did not have.
Elizabeth had such mutated ability in her eyes. She was able to sense the human's emotions and oddly enough always was able to find the needed words to say in order to gain the favor of that person. It was something similar to reading the soul. This ability allowed her to control the flow of the conversation with any person. It was a very useful ability in the world of politics.
She saw every person as cloud with different color. If the person was angry the color was red, if the person was happy the color was yellow, if the person had some bad intentions he would have a black color.
- I saw...Nothing.
Said Elizabeth. The king froze for a moment. He never heard such words from Elizabeth before.
- What do you mean by that?
- You know, father, I see every person’s emotions. Yours, Leyten’s and other people’s around. But that person...He was completely blank. For example, his student Kenta had a yellow color. Shun had no color at all. I saw him only him as a person only.
- What...
King stood up. “No emotions? Impossible!” Elizabeth was able to sense the emotions of every living being. Even animals. Having no emotions meant that the person was not a living being at all. King felt that Elizabeth wanted to tell something more. She opened her mouth and told.
- I sensed nothing from that person...But he was giving the same feeling as my teacher and sir Jin Yakoi. I wanted to ask my teacher about that.
“Obadiah? Jin?” Obadiah lived for the several centuries and his knowledge in magic and the world was second to none. “With a high possibility he might know something…” Jin was the most experienced Sword Saint. He went through many battles and lived for two centuries too. He even visited the empire. Jin was the second oldest person in the kingdom after Obadiah. However, for the grant royal magician Jin was nothing more than a child.
King understood that he should vary of Shun. “He might be the person who could be at the same level as Obadiah and Jin...It is possible that he lived much longer than just 20 years”
- I see. I am planning to go and ask Obadiah now. Do you want to go with me?
- Oh? No. I ask him during the lessons.
- Okay. Thank you for the information, Elizabeth.
- Oh! Also I said that he should visit you, when he will arrive to Serpentia.
- Good. Thank you.
ELizabeth bowed and left. King stood up and went towards the window.
- We should definitely befriend Shun...