Chapter 14
With her short-cropped blonde hair and tall stature, Alice looked more like an elegant boy than a girl. Combined with the unadorned navy blue Military Cadet uniform, she was the epitome of a model Military Cadet.
In a formal duel, one must return the greeting.
Cadet Ekinesia Roaz drew her sword, carelessly dropping the scabbard to the floor. It was an attitude that showed little respect for the sword. Several of the watching Military Cadets openly frowned.
The sword in her hand was the same. A cheap longsword that hadn't been properly maintained. Compared to the sword, her attire was excessively flamboyant in the eyes of the Military Cadets. The sword and the woman were as mismatched as pieces of a puzzle.
Eki held the sword in one hand and grasped the hem of her dress. Her right hand held both the sword and the hem of the dress. She moved her right foot back, lowering her body, bending and straightening her knees slightly. Returning her foot to its original position, she straightened her body and waist, then released the dress.
If it weren't for the sword in her hand, it would have been perfect lady's etiquette. It was a greeting that had never been seen before from a Military Cadet at the academy.
Whether it was the customs of the academy or the etiquette of knights, they were all made with men in mind. A lady was someone to be protected, not a knight, so a female Military Cadet should not be a lady from the moment she became a Military Cadet.
But a lady holding a sword, a Military Cadet giving a lady's greeting. It was an image no one had ever imagined. Therefore, her greeting felt extremely foreign and repulsive. An awkward murmur spread among the Military Cadets.
Ekinesia was not interested in the Military Cadets' reactions. In fact, she was half out of her mind. If she had known that she would be appointed as Yuriene's Squire, she wouldn't have deliberately provoked Alice. Her head was so messed up that she couldn't act properly.
Preparing for battle with a sword in that state made it difficult to hide her energy. She needed to control herself, but with her head in such a mess, she wanted to swing her sword around. She was barely suppressing that urge. Fortunately, her opponent was a greenhorn in her eyes, so she didn't feel motivated.
And Alice, facing her, sensed that atmosphere. Alice's gray eyes narrowed.
'Something... is different.'
Something was different from when they first met during the day. She was clearly a woman who smiled brightly and spouted sophistry, and she seemed like a noble lady who didn't know anything about hardship.
But now, a suppressed ferocity emanated from Ekinesia. Her appearance was as delicate and fragile as a greenhouse flower, but it felt like a man-eating Monster was imitating a person.
Alice readjusted her grip on the hilt. Tension filled her hand.
Ian Pelletro, having confirmed that the two duelists were ready, drew his sword. Ian's sword was placed horizontally between them. Ian checked both sides once more, then quickly raised and removed the sword. It was the signal to start.
As planned, Alice attacked first. Out of courtesy, she started with a glancing thrust. An attack that seemed to pierce the neck but grazed past it. But it was very fast. So fast that it was difficult to recognize it as a feint.
Eki didn't move. Alice's sword grazed her neck, and her hair fluttered in the wind. It was Alice who was flustered by the opponent's lack of reaction. She quickly retrieved her sword and took a step back.
She didn't move until Alice retreated and regained her stance. It was only when Alice's second attack came that she began to move.
Generally, swordsmanship is ultimately an application of the basics. Blocking, thrusting, and cutting. Swordsmanship styles such as Imperial swordsmanship and Southeastern swordsmanship were ultimately just extensions of these basics.
Of course, that extension was incredibly diverse, and when combined with the individual characteristics and habits of the many swordsmanship schools, countless swordsmanship styles were created.
Therefore, a somewhat accomplished swordsman would have enough individuality to be distinguished by their swordsmanship alone. This was common knowledge for aspiring knights.
Therefore, the Military Cadets watching the duel couldn't help but be bewildered.
There was no individuality in Cadet Ekinesia Roaz's sword. There was no will, no fighting spirit, no color.
She didn't use any special techniques either. Only the basics. Blocking incoming swords. Thrusting when there was an opening. Cutting when there was space.
However, her stance wasn't clean enough to be in a textbook either. It was a haphazard form that could only be seen in a beginner who had just picked up a sword. Compared to Alice's elegant and refined sword, it was even crude.
She didn't even make an active offensive. It was just a series of improvisations or reflexes in response to Alice's attacks.
Nevertheless, it didn't reach. Ekinesia's sword was always in the path of Alice's sword. Or nothing existed at all.
Most of the Military Cadets wondered why Alice couldn't break through that haphazard response. But a few of the more skilled ones clearly realized it.
At first glance, it seemed like Alice, who was pouring out attacks quickly, had the advantage, but in reality, Ekinesia was overwhelming her. It was almost as if Ekinesia was playing with Alice.
She wasn't responding seriously at all. It was the level of reaction of casually hugging a child who was whining to play. Yet, Alice couldn't beat her.
'What is she doing right now?'
Alice, the person involved, realized that point more clearly than anyone else. Her face gradually turned pale.
All of her attacks were blocked by the casually moving sword. The sword didn't even touch her flowing dress. When she casually parried the blade and thrust in with the recoil, even though there was no intention to attack, the sharpness alone sent shivers down her spine.
As they blocked or deflected every attack, the trajectories drawn by the intertwined swords looked like a pre-arranged sword dance. The fluttering dress, the lace-trimmed sleeves, and the ribbons added to that impression. It was more like a waltz at a ball than a duel.
Eventually, Alice retreated. Even though she retreated with her openings exposed, Ekinesia didn't follow. She simply stopped in her place and lowered her sword.
Alice gasped for breath, her face flushed red. She felt like she was being toyed with. Especially the fact that she wasn't attacking to finish it. Even though they were facing each other with swords, it felt like she wasn't being taken seriously.
The woman who was responding so playfully was even wearing high-heeled women's shoes. Even when sparring with knights who were far more skilled, she had never felt this miserable.
Alice gritted her teeth and asked.
"Why... why aren't you attacking?"
"...Ah."
The expression returned to Eki's face, which had been expressionless all along. She felt inwardly embarrassed.
In fact, her swordsmanship also had its own characteristics and individuality. She certainly had her own techniques that were difficult for others to imitate. She just didn't want to reveal those characteristics, and she hid them because it was enough not to reveal them.
But not attacking and only responding was a mistake, not an intention.
Ekinesia was the owner of the Demon Sword, and when she lost her reason, she was influenced by the murderous intent residing in the sword. So, she had a habit of not attacking at all when dealing with people in a confused state.
'I should have finished it quickly.'
Her thoughts kept wandering elsewhere. But apologizing here would be even more insulting. Daydreaming during a duel. Eki closed her mouth and moved her sword.
A narrow first step, a wide second step. In just two steps, the blade was thrust in front of Alice's nose.
Alice was flustered and raised her sword to block. The swords collided at the same height, and following her long training, Alice pushed her sword forward the moment the swords touched. Her blade, sliding along the opponent's sword, aimed for Eki's face and thrust in.
At that moment, Eki's response was simple. She raised her wrist. She accepted the force without resisting it and only changed the direction.
As a result, Alice's sword, which was riding on Eki's sword, lost its balance and floated upwards. Eki's sword rotated half a turn, using the recoil from shaking off Alice's sword.
The blade was swung towards Alice's temple. And it stopped accurately, leaving a gap of about half a finger's width. Alice's short blonde hair fluttered and then settled down in the wind of the sword.
A low murmur spread among the Military Cadets. For the first time, a proper sword strike came from Ekinesia. It was a simple and common technique that was also included in the swordsmanship textbook. And the duel ended with that first attack.
"...I lost."
Alice said as if spitting it out. Eki sheathed her sword and bowed. The same lady's greeting as before. Alice felt it was like mockery.
'This... wasn't a duel. That woman wasn't focused at all.'
Her insides were boiling. Still, a duel was a duel. The victory and defeat were decided. Alice sheathed her sword and bowed neatly. She couldn't help but her voice trembled.
"I... acknowledge my defeat. I will no longer interfere with you."
"...I was the one who was rude, Miss Winterbell."
Eki said with considerable sincerity. But Alice didn't seem to take that apology sincerely. The look in her eyes as she straightened her back was cold. Ian clapped as if to lighten the mood.
"Good job, both of you. I'm glad no one was hurt. Oh, and since this duel is before the first ranking match, this duel will not be reflected in the rankings."
As soon as Ian finished speaking, Alice turned around and left the training ground. The Military Cadets, having confirmed that the duel was over, also began to leave, murmuring.
She's pretty good, but not good enough to be appointed as a Squire on the first day of enrollment, right? What's so good about that? The blonde kid, her opponent, was just bad. How did she become a Squire? It's nothing special. But the last attack was good. I can do that much too. If she's a Squire with just that, then I'm a Squire too.
The Military Cadets exchanged such conversations and left one by one. Eki picked up the scabbard she had thrown away earlier. Ian smiled awkwardly and spoke to her.
"You were amazing."
"...What was?"
"Don't pay attention to the kids who don't know how to see real skill. It was an excellent sword. I'm looking forward to the ranking match."
She wondered what he was talking about. She didn't pay any attention to such words. Eki gave a rough greeting.
"Thank you, senior."
"Then see you tomorrow, Cadet Ekinesia. 9 o'clock, don't forget."
"Yes."
Ian spoke gently and turned around. Eki suddenly remembered something and called out to him as he walked away.
"Um, senior!"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know why I became Yuriene... Commander's Squire?"
She almost called her Yuriene. It was because she kept calling her that in her mind.
Ian tilted his head. His blue eyes, which were much darker than Yuriene's and closer to navy blue, scanned Eki silently. It was a gaze that seemed to be observing.
"Until I became a third-year, I served as the Commander's temporary Squire a total of three times. Ah, I'm still her temporary Squire now, and it was always comfortable serving her. Why do you think it was comfortable?"
"...I don't know."
"She was easy to predict. Regular life, rational judgments that didn't deviate from chivalry, respect for the law. She was truly worthy of being the owner of the Holy Sword. Do you know what Giosa the Holy Sword Rangiosa is made of?"
"Yes."
Just as the Demon Sword Bardelgiosa was made from human malice and murderous intent, the Holy Sword Rangiosa was a Giosa made from human sense of duty and justice. When Eki nodded, Ian continued.
"She doesn't act on impulse or spontaneity. She doesn't make decisions that are difficult to understand. But this decision, well, it's hard to understand. Really, I'm the one who wants to ask you."
Ian smiled, narrowing his eyes. It was a strangely chilling smile. He asked kindly.
"Why did the Commander appoint you as her Squire? Do you have any connection with her?"
