The buffet in the Red Castle's grand hall remained lively until nightfall.
The sprawling castle complex, like a chain of small mountains, had enough rooms to accommodate all the nobles of the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.
Inside the Inner Castle.
Madam Meryl, Madam Kunna, and another woman from a collateral branch of the Shadowflame Family were playing cards with Princess Anxia.
Princess Anxia was somewhat distracted, glancing through the window at the lawn outside from time to time.
The lawn was brightly lit as though it were daytime. Russell was instructing Princess Kunlaya as she swung a longsword. There was no physical contact; Russell merely used a wooden sword to occasionally correct Princess Kunlaya's stance.
"The path of the sword is vast and profound. It is easy to learn but difficult to master, and the farther you go, the harder every step becomes," Russell said.
Princess Kunlaya was drenched in sweat, gritting her teeth as she continued practicing. "I have that determination."
"Alas." Russell sighed. "Kunlaya, there is really no need to push yourself so hard. The decline of swordsmanship had its reasons. The emergence of Battle Aura martial arts and Phantom Beast magic severely squeezed swordsmanship's room to exist."
"But Teacher became famous throughout the Grand Duchy through swordsmanship!" Princess Kunlaya replied.
"Me..."
It was somewhat embarrassing to admit, but without the Sword Butterfly Amber Elf's help, Russell's achievements in swordsmanship would certainly have been far inferior to what they were now.
It was not that Russell would have been unable to cultivate his swordsmanship to the profundity level without the Sword Butterfly Amber Elf. Rather, without its assistance, he might have given up midway when his swordsmanship stopped progressing.
Both Battle Aura martial arts and Phantom Beast magic were powerful enough to compensate for swordsmanship's shortcomings.
Unless one cultivated