Jinnie said no more. After treating his new wounds, she told Tales to get some proper rest and promised that tomorrow she would make his life "return to normal" before leaving his room.
But Tales still slept fitfully that night.
The experiences of the past few days had been far too bizarre and eventful.
The heart-stopping dangers of Red Quarter, the shocking secrets of Mindis Hall, and the desperate struggle for survival at Weed Manor had left him utterly exhausted from overthinking.
Worse still, even after reaching this point, Tales still could not get used to the soft bed beneath him. It seemed the "fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow" trait from his previous life had vanished without a trace.
Sighing, Tales rolled his eyes.
After flipping over countless times like a pancake, he habitually rolled off the bed, went to his "designated spot" in the corner, curled up, and lay down.
Hard surfaces really do suit me better, Tales thought, licking his lips.
At this time two days ago, he had still been worrying about the livelihood and safety of the other five young beggars in the Ruined House, while preparing his grand escape plan.
In the life full of upheaval that followed, he was like a rootless duckweed drifting in a gale, struggling desperately in this world filled with malice and misfortune, doing everything he could simply to survive.
I only wanted to live a good life.
But with this identity, Tales looked above the fireplace. In the dim room, a gigantic Nine-Point Star Pattern was faintly visible.
"Live well" and "become a free person"—Tales let out a deep sigh. They were probably nothing more than wishful thinking.
Not to mention...
With a vacant look in his eyes, Tales raised his right hand and gazed at the cut covered by bandages in the moonlight.
What exactly was this? Tales recalled the explosion and flash of light when he had freed Rolf from his shackles. What kind of power was it?
And that little Vampire—whenever Tales remembered her Mummy-like appearance and the two nearly invisible holes in his neck, a chill ran through him.
Now, Tales had also confirmed that the inexplicable flashes of memories from his previous life in his mind were not Fragments. What kind of memories could support him, causing extraordinary energy and willpower to erupt from him at the most dangerous moments?
In the fifth year since his transmigration, Tales was disappointed to discover that his doubts and confusion about this world had not diminished. They had only grown more numerous.
Tales was still called awake in bed beneath the blankets. He had no idea who had stuffed him back in during his sleep.
But the atmosphere today was clearly different.
First, Jinnie had replaced the person who came to wake him. She patiently explained to the flustered Tales how noble clothing was supposed to be worn. Second, his breakfast had changed from bread and beef to delicious cake and milk. The guards in the hall hurried back and forth, carrying in objects that had obviously only just been delivered that day.
Then Gilbert appeared with a solemn expression and informed him that Tales's privately tailored lessons would begin at nine in the morning and continue until nine at night.
That made Tales truly feel that his daily life had completely changed. The very first lesson that morning covered something he had never encountered before.
"After the events of the past few days, and following careful consideration and deliberate selection, Young Master Tales..."
After breakfast, Jinnie led Tales to the backyard of Mindis Hall. On a cleared patch of ground covered in soft sand, Gilbert Carso leaned on his exquisite cane before a dazzling array of weapon racks, sword targets, archery targets, punching bags, hitching posts, and a young foal, and solemnly told him:
"We believe you urgently need basic training in combat skills and self-defense techniques. Moreover, a child raised beside Lord Mann should naturally be familiar with horsemanship and basic swordsmanship."
"Rest assured. We—or rather, Lady Jinnie—will ensure that the training does not affect your existing wounds."
"What?"
Tales took a deep breath, then watched in surprise as Jinnie stepped forward and said coldly:
"Don't be surprised, child. Morning is the best time for physical exercise. Since you are the future heir of the Star Kingdom, you naturally need a body capable of bearing such a heavy burden."
"And I will guarantee that."
Tales looked at the mature Jinnie beneath the morning sun, at her elegant court Female Official's attire, and then at the empty surroundings. He scratched his head.
"Why isn't Yordel teaching me? He seems very skilled." The boy recalled the secret guard's swift movements as he darted through the city.
"Do you expect one of the few Extreme Realm Experts in the entire kingdom to teach a beginner the most elementary things?" Gilbert took over, clasping his hands behind his back. "Besides, believe me, Yordel's methods do not suit your identity or your characteristics."
Tales nodded as if he understood. "What is the Extreme Realm?"
At that moment, Jinnie clapped her hands, walked to the center of the training ground, and beckoned to Tales with one finger.
"Gilbert will explain this theoretical knowledge to you during your training."
"Now, attack me with all your might! I need to assess your current foundation."
Tales stared foolishly at Jinnie as she stood in the center with her hands behind her back, until she urged him on again.
All right, training and leveling up. Wasn't this what the predecessors loved most? Tales finally exhaled, then thought it over and decided not to draw his dagger.
The next second, Tales charged at Jinnie with the street-fighting skills of a competent young beggar.
"Combat is the oldest and most enduring art in human history."
Without even moving her supporting foot, Jinnie lightly tripped Tales, whose momentum was too great.
"Bang!"
Meanwhile, Gilbert slowly began his explanation:
"Human history is a history of ceaseless battles against foreign races and against ourselves."
"Thousands of years ago, through their battles to win the right to survive in this world, humans gradually summarized the techniques and principles of fighting with weapons or with their bare hands."
Tales was tripped for the second time and fell into the training ground, covered in dust.
"Compared with the other races, humans were vastly inferior in physical ability. By mastering these techniques and skills, they achieved victory against the strong despite their weakness, defeated the many despite their few, and overcame the large despite their small numbers."
"Much later, among the Warriors who mastered superb skills in battle, some awakened powers within their bodies that even humans themselves could scarcely imagine."
"These powers gave humanity choices beyond merely 'struggling' and 'resisting' in this world. Different powers granted different advantages, from extraordinary speed and agile reactions to keen insight and exceptional strength."
This time, Tales nimbly dodged Jinnie's trip, cleverly seized her high boot, and was immediately kicked down again by the deft application of her strength.
"These extraordinary humans used their powers to mount rare warhorses and lead skilled Warriors into a world fraught with danger."
"They were the earliest 'Knights,'" Gilbert said with a deep sigh as he watched the disheveled Tales fall to the ground for the fourth time. He continued, "And the powers they awakened were collectively known as 'Transcendent Power.'"
"Today, after The Ending War, people—especially swordsmen—prefer to call it 'Ending Power.'"
"It was precisely because of the appearance of 'Transcendent Power' that the world gained its first divisions of power. We customarily call Warriors who skillfully wield combat techniques and excel in battle 'Mortal Tier.'"
"As for those who have mastered Transcendent Power or an equivalent power, and who possess meticulous control and observation skills and are perfectly at ease in combat and slaughter, they have already surpassed the category of ordinary people. Thus..." At this point, a sharp glint appeared in Gilbert's eyes.
"We call them 'Transcendent Rank.'"
"That's enough!"
Jinnie raised her left hand, stopping the unwilling Tales as he tried to charge forward again, and pushed him down onto the sand.
"Quick-minded, adept at dodging, and capable of exerting force to the fullest. His body simply hasn't matured yet—I know what to teach him." Jinnie exhaled, turned around, and pulled out two wooden sword-and-shield sets from the weapon rack. She tossed the smaller one to the flustered Tales.
It's so heavy.
Tales struggled to right the shield. Following Jinnie's example, he used the straps behind the wooden shield to fasten it to his left hand, only to discover that the position put tremendous strain on his shoulder and arm.
Tales seized the wooden sword with his right hand. Good grief, compared with the JC Dagger, this wooden sword was as heavy as the water vat in the Ruined House!
"Turn your body sideways, left foot forward and right foot back! Keep your center of gravity between both legs. When defending or receiving an impact, shift it backward at the proper moment; when attacking, lean forward!"
"Raise your shield and point it at your enemy! Center everything around it and protect your chest—don't block your eyes!" Jinnie's voice suddenly turned stern and harsh. "No matter the circumstances, keep the shield in your left hand raised!"
"There are only two situations in which you may lower it: when you are dead, or when your enemy is dead!"
Tales struggled to raise his left arm. Before long, soreness began to spread through it.
"Swing your right arm. Treat the sword as an extension of your forearm. Use the weight of your shield and your body's forward momentum to swing it like a whip!"
Already panting from exhaustion, Tales shakily raised the sword in his right hand and struggled to wave it from side to side. He heard Gilbert say:
"Ah, the ancient Northern Military Swordsmanship." At that moment, Earl of Caso's voice was filled with remembrance and reverence.
"In the bards' poems, it is the final weapon of mortals, the Knight's unyielding body, the northern barrier of ice and snow, and the bane of the Orcs on the battlefield."
His next words made Tales's eyes widen.
"And, of course, the Origin Sword of Transcendent Power."