I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 18: Mana training method (3)

The quiet intensity of my movements mirrored a wolf concealing its claws. Each step carefully closed the distance to Raynard.

My breathing was controlled, low and steady. With each inhale, my muscles contracted; with every exhale, my vision expanded.

The instant I crossed a certain point, both Raynard and I swung our swords simultaneously.

Clang!

The clash of steel rang out as we entered each other’s range. After briefly testing my strength against Raynard’s, I spun on my heel.

The breath I had held burst forth, sending mana coursing explosively from my heart to my entire body.

Thud!

My right foot stomped hard against the marble floor, the mana-enhanced limb channeling even greater force into my rotation.

Screech—!

The sudden shift in direction caused my shoe soles to screech against the polished floor, and a blue arc of energy-laden sword light slashed toward Raynard.

Shuaaak—!

The azure strike rushed forward, only to meet a short blade swung at the last moment.

Kaang!

Our swords locked in a battle of strength. I stared at Raynard through the shimmering blue edge of my blade.

Despite pouring everything I had into my attacks—even using mana—Raynard’s expression remained calm, unchanging. It was clear he still had strength to spare.

“Impressive…”

Raynard’s words were cut short as I broke the lock and followed with another swing.

Kaang!

Our blades clashed again. Each blue flash of energy lit up the arena, accompanied by sharp, ringing impacts and fiery sparks.

It felt like an insurmountable wall. No matter how much effort I poured into my attacks, Raynard easily deflected them.

His left-hand sword would follow up immediately after I knocked away his right, and the power behind each swing, despite their lightness, was enough to push me back.

“Tch…”

I gritted my teeth. I was the one attacking, yet Raynard seemed to be toying with me, merely countering each strike.

As time passed, the recoil from my mana use began to take its toll. Every time the mana coursing through my body split and surged toward my limbs, the sharp pain intensified.

I needed a solution—and fast.

“I have to be faster.”

Other than the basic moves of the Imperial Light Swordsmanship, I lacked formal training. 

The various techniques stored in my memories felt disjointed when I tried to cobble them together, resulting in clumsy attacks.

There was no sudden stroke of genius. My blessing was tailored for adopting others’ memories, not creating something new.

So, I decided to focus entirely on what I knew best.

Kaang!

My strikes grew faster. The mana coursing through my body exploded outward, compensating for my lack of muscle.

The pain intensified with each surge of mana. It became so severe that even breathing felt torturous. Yet I endured.

There was no grand justification—I simply wanted to. I wanted, with all my might, to land a meaningful blow on the smug face smirking back at me.

Thud!

Mana erupted violently from my core as veins bulged on my forehead. Ignoring the pain, I swung my sword once more.

Voom—!

My eyes widened in shock. This time, something was different. Right before the swing, an excess amount of mana flowed from my fingertips into the blade. The azure energy began to vibrate along the sword.

BOOM!

The clash of blades sent a deafening shockwave through the arena. My stance crumbled from the force.

But in that instant, I caught a glimpse of Raynard’s eyes—wide open, gleaming yellow, like a serpent’s. His follow-up movements mirrored a snake’s, as if slithering toward its prey.

Shwip—!

A white snake coiled forward. That was the impression I got from Raynard’s sword strike.

As the white serpent wrapped around my legs, my small body was lifted into the air.

“Ah…”

Pain didn’t follow. Before Raynard’s blade could touch my legs, a burst of blue mana erupted from the sword’s tip, launching me into the air instead.

My body spun midair. Though the situation was disorienting, I realized I was unharmed. Determined not to fall clumsily, I adjusted my posture.

Whirl—

Like a cat descending from a high place, I landed gracefully in a crouched position.

The outcome was clear. The match was decided.

“I’ve lost,” I admitted.

“Impressive,” Raynard said, genuinely surprised. “You’ve really put a lot of effort into learning the Imperial Light Swordsmanship. Your stance and precision are commendable. Especially that final strike—you caught me off guard. What kind of refinement technique are you using, if I may ask…”

Raynard’s praise trailed off as I, paying him little mind, licked the back of my hand to smooth my hair and turned to leave the ring.

Before stepping down, a passage from the Azure Wings Manual came to mind: When a spar ends, you must show respect to your opponent.

I stood upright and struck my left chest twice with my fist.

I didn’t fully understand the etiquette of this place, so I performed the most respectful gesture I knew—the salute of the White Frost Tribe, reserved for acknowledging a superior warrior.

Raynard tilted his head, intrigued.

“What does that mean?”

“It’s a gesture… of respect my tribe, the White Frost Tribe, shows to strong warriors.”

“Oh…”

Raynard’s perpetual squint softened into a wider smile. He seemed pleased by the unexpected recognition.

I rotated my stiff shoulder as I descended the steps of the training grounds, occasionally hopping down multiple steps to save time.

Next up was Theo. With a fiery gleam in his eyes, he dashed forward, radiating competitive energy.

“My turn!” he declared.

“Well, aren’t you an eager one,” Raynard replied with a grin.

“Prepare yourself! I’m stronger than Saeorin!”

My face scrunched into a scowl. Theo wasn’t wrong—among the trio, I was indeed the weakest. But the bluntness of his comment stung.

In my mind, Theo’s favorability dropped by two levels.

Unlike me, Theo didn’t use the Imperial Light Swordsmanship. He wielded the technique he had been honing his entire life.

His aura shifted. The childish glimmer in his eyes darkened as his legs widened into a lowered stance. Gripping the back of his sword, he lifted it, pointing its tip downward.

A palpable intensity filled the air—a resolve to bet everything on a single, decisive strike.

Flora and I held our breaths as we watched. Though we had spent significant time together, the trio barely knew one another’s abilities.

Theo’s sharp, focused demeanor was almost unrecognizable. I found myself observing something entirely new.

“Interesting…” Raynard murmured, his perpetually narrow eyes now wide open.

For a moment, he appeared genuinely surprised. Then, like a snake locking onto prey, his golden, slit-pupil eyes gleamed as he adjusted his stance.

Raynard held his short sword forward and his long sword behind, their subtle movements mimicking a serpent’s poised strike.

“A junior’s attack deserves respect!” Theo declared. “My preparation takes time, so please wait a moment!”

“Heh…”

Raynard accepted Theo’s spirited request, standing still to give him the time he needed.

“Phew…”

Theo exhaled deeply, feeling the pounding mana surging from his heart. He let out another breath, and a crackling blue spark flickered in the air.

Crackle—

The moment a blue bolt of lightning flashed, Theo’s body shot straight forward.

Boom-!

“What…?”

“What just happened…?”

It had all happened so quickly. Flora and I expressed our confusion as the sound of the thunder belatedly followed.

It made sense. Theo, who had been standing at the edge of the training ground, was now embedded in the wall outside the arena, as if it had happened in the blink of an eye.

I immediately shifted my gaze to look at Raynard, who was still standing on the training platform.

Raynard appeared unscathed. Although his expression and posture had changed, there were no visible signs that he had suffered any harm from Theo’s attack.

With a faint smile playing on his lips, Raynard rolled his shoulders. The strike had been quite menacing. 

But that was all there was to it. An attack that couldn’t even be aimed properly was useless in a real fight.

“Next!”

At Raynard’s call, Flora glanced at Kanok, her gaze asking if it was alright for her to step in. Kanok merely gave a slight nod.

As Flora made her way onto the training ground, I approached Theo. He was unconscious.

My gaze fell to Theo’s sword. Blue lightning crackled and danced along the blade, still imbued with Theo’s lingering mana.

I turned my head to gauge Kanok’s reaction. His focus remained fixed on the training platform.

‘Hmm…’

Theo, the sword’s owner, was knocked out cold, and aiding a comrade would serve as a convenient pretext. I didn’t want to let this opportunity slip by.

“Theo. Wake up.”

My small hand slapped Theo’s face. A bright red handprint formed on his swollen cheek. Still, he didn’t regain consciousness.

With a sigh, I grabbed Theo’s hand with my left and then gripped Theo’s sword with my right.

Crackle—

Lightning.

I felt the surge of lightning through the sword.