Beginning Cultivation

Hilde realized there was a very serious problem.

Money was not everything.

But without money, nothing was possible.

Though her family could be considered nobility, lower-ranking knights were nobles without even a hereditary title. They were not much more exalted than commoners, and the paltry sum they got each month was nowhere near enough to support Hilde spending freely here.

Of course, Hilde definitely would not spend recklessly.

But she still had to think of something.

After all, no matter how frugal she was, the cost of living here in the royal capital made it impossible to save money. Not to mention that she needed some funds for emergencies.

She would have to think it over when she had time...

Early the next morning, Hilde got up at the crack of dawn.

After a full night's rest, her back, which had hurt last night as if it were about to cramp and have the skin flayed off, already felt much better. Though she could still feel it if she moved too violently, as long as she did not cross hands with anyone, there should not be much of a problem.

Hilde estimated she would be fully healed within a week.

She washed up.

Changed her clothes.

Hilde casually filled her stomach with the discounted bread she had bought by the roadside last night, then hurried off to the dojo.

As expected, the dojo doors were already open.

At the entrance, that same boy from the other day was still sweeping. If Hilde remembered correctly, this child should be called...

"Good morning, Tantris."

"...Good morning, Hilde."

Tantris stopped cleaning.

He looked up at Hilde, surprise showing on his face.

"Is your injury all right?"

"It's fine. Lord Water God showed great restraint and didn't hurt anything vital."

"I see... Please come in. Teacher Linus will be a while yet."

"All right."

Hilde nodded.

Just as she was about to head inside, she suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, what is Isolte's relationship with you?"

"She's my younger sister," Tantris said without even lifting his head.

"Thank you. Sorry to bother you."

Hilde entered the dojo.

It was still early, and the dojo was silent.

She could not hear the sound of sword swings either.

It looked like she had arrived even earlier than Isolte today.

Heh heh...

Hilde felt a little smug, but soon calmed down.

She took off her coat and picked up a wooden sword.

Sigh, sword practice, sword practice.

After a while, the sound of a sword being swung also came from the other side of the corner by the wall.

So she was here, Isolte.

But what a pity.

Today, I got here first.

Thinking this, Hilde did not stop moving.

The sound of the two of them swinging their swords rose and fell in turn, like waves coming one after another, continuous and unending, never ceasing.

As if whoever stopped first would be smashed dead by the other on the beach.

Until the sun rose, and the number of people in the dojo gradually increased.

"All right, take a break. You've both been practicing all morning."

Linus's voice came from the side.

Hilde slowly stopped moving and turned her head to see Isolte and Linus standing nearby. Isolte's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and her gaze toward Hilde burned bright.

"You two rest for a bit and get yourselves in order. Formal training will begin shortly." After Linus finished speaking, he left for the moment.

"Hilde, come sit over here."

Isolte patted the wooden floor and handed her a water jug.

"Thanks."

Hilde took the jug and drank deeply.

Neither of them mentioned the sword practice from just now, when they had seemed to be competing with each other.

After they had rested for a while, Linus arrived.

"We'll begin today's training with the basic forms. Hilde, show me the moves you've learned."

"All right."

Hilde immediately stood up and began swinging her sword.

After a while, Linus nodded, having gained a basic understanding of Hilde's swordsmanship.

In short, her fundamentals were very solid, but there was still room for improvement in the details.

That was not to say Hilde was careless. It was just that even within the same Water God Style, the same techniques would show slight differences depending on a person's understanding and habits of use.

Of course, changes of that degree did not affect their use.

If anything, because they fit the user better, they were even easier to use.

However, over the course of transmission, those tiny differences would accumulate bit by bit, until in the end the form grew more and more unlike the original.

That was why the so-called main house existed.

It represented the most orthodox, most standard Water God Style.

"Next, I'll demonstrate once. Watch carefully. Isolte, you watch too."

As Linus spoke, he began to swing his sword.

Linus was a Water Saint.

In terms of swordsmanship alone, there were others in this dojo stronger than him, aside from the Water God herself. But when it came to teaching ability, no one surpassed him. Even a genius like Isolte continued to improve under Linus's guidance.

As one move after another unfolded from the sword in Linus's hand, Hilde widened her eyes and observed closely.

Details...

The gap showed in the details.

Whether it was the force or speed of his swings, they were not much different from hers, but the transitions between techniques were far smoother. They were like a ceaseless murmuring stream, never breaking off.

Then she thought back to her own swordsmanship.

Taken apart, there was no problem with any individual move, but in a high-intensity battle, the instant of stiffness between techniques could become an opening.

This was also the reason Hilde's swordsmanship had failed to advance any further for a very long time.

"As expected, coming to the dojo to learn was the right decision."

Hilde nodded to herself.

After finishing the set of forms, Linus sheathed his sword.

"Begin training. Show me your results today."

"Understood."

"Isolte, join her too. If you see Hilde misunderstanding anything, correct her right away."

"Yes!"

Isolte answered with great enthusiasm.

She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the pleasure of being the senior disciple.

Training in swordsmanship was always dull.

For the entire rest of the day.

Aside from practicing with their swords, the two of them did nothing else.

At noon, they casually ate a little something to fill their stomachs, rested for an hour, then got back up and continued swinging their swords. Sweat soaked both of them through again and again, until by the end, water could practically be wrung out of their clothes.

By evening, Linus came to inspect their results.

Hilde adjusted her condition, performed once in front of him, and received a satisfied appraisal.

"Not bad comprehension. We'll stop here for today."

Linus said.

The sky was growing late, and the sun was sinking in the west.

Hilde suddenly realized that an entire day had actually passed just like that.

"Let's go change together," Isolte invited.

There was a room in the dojo specifically for changing clothes, and Hilde's casual clothes and the sword she carried with her had both been left in the changing room.

The two of them went to the changing room together.

A faint smell of sweat lingered in the changing room, and a simple label was stuck to Hilde's locker.

Hilde opened her locker and took out her shirt and short skirt. Then she took off the training clothes that were already soaked with sweat. It felt a little uncomfortable to change without showering first, but the dojo had no bathing facilities, so there was no point worrying about it.

Her clothes slid slowly down along the slender lines of her body, revealing the smooth curve of her shoulders, her skin glowing with a warm sheen.

Isolte stood shoulder to shoulder with Hilde and likewise took out her change of clothes, but from the corner of her eye, her gaze kept drifting toward Hilde despite herself.

Hilde seemed not to notice.

She raised her hands and tied up her long hair, lifting her neck and revealing the fine line of her jaw.

Isolte's cheeks burned. She didn't want to look anymore, yet the soft rustle of fabric rubbing together drifted to her ears, making her itch inside. Unable to help herself, she glanced over again—only to meet Hilde just as she turned around, already dressed.

"What are you looking at?"