This is something Lekti had never brought up with anyone else.
After all, given Lekti's personality, she could never have brought herself to proactively mention it to others.
Today, however, led by Misora, Lekti finally mustered up the courage.
"When I was in Oaechis, I had two very good friends..."
Lekti lowered her head, recounting her past in a voice like a mosquito's.
"They were children from the main branch of the Aisnerach Style. Unlike me, who belonged to a branch family, they were brave and talented from a young age, always staying ahead of me. They learned both the Magic Twin Swordsmanship and battle techniques a step before I did. Unlike me, who was always holding them back..."
The Aisnerach Style was a strength-supremacy philosophy that revered martial might, placing exceptionally harsh demands even on children. Anyone found lacking in talent, or unable to produce recognized results, would be immediately expelled and even banished beyond the borders of Oaechis.
Determined not to be abandoned or left behind, Lekti, despite her inherently timid nature, practiced the Magic Twin Swordsmanship with fierce dedication.
"Thanks to the help of those sisters, I successfully mastered the Aisnerach Style's Magic Twin Swordsmanship, and I was gradually getting the hang of the battle techniques too. Though I always hovered right at the passing line, I at least managed to avoid being expelled..."
Unfortunately, acquiring a skill and being able to use it well or skillfully were two entirely different things.
Because of her personality, Lekti had consistently failed to stably unleash the full power of the Aisnerach Style Magic Twin Swordsmanship.
This exact issue ultimately led to tragedy.
It happened one day when Lekti went out to the streets to shop with one of those sisters.
"At that time, we were accosted by hooligan-like Aerial