The escape plan

Over the next few days, Zhao Si made a respectable effort at learning Ohega's Dancing Blade, then pestered Malenia to teach him the Flowing Sword.

After seeing Ohega's Dancing Blade, Malenia also found it a remarkable sword art. She had never imagined that a swordsman could send his sword flying like a sorcerer's spell, and with considerable killing power at that.

Thus, Ohega's Dancing Blade became Zhao Si's hidden killing move beyond the Flowing Sword. Few would expect a swordsman to throw his sword, have it spin like a drill, and then summon it back into his hand.

Even Malenia, with all her combat experience, had nearly suffered a nasty surprise when she first encountered the move.

Zhao Si truly had an unusual talent for learning swordsmanship. Even Eleonora had not expected him to understand something as abstract as using qi to control a weapon.

What he did not know was that Zhao Si's mind was full of images of sword immortals while practicing Ohega's Dancing Blade, which happened to fit the technique perfectly.

Understanding one thing opened the way to understanding others. He could already manage the Flowing Sword's force-dissipating technique, so he refused to believe he could not figure out Ohega's Dancing Blade.

The Lands Between were a mystical place to begin with, and the identity of a Tarnished was even more mystical.

Zhao Si had a contingency plan for "what if I can't learn Ohega's Dancing Blade?" If learning it normally from Eleonora failed, he would find a way to kill Eleonora and learn it through his Remembrance instead.

He had mastered ghostflame through a Deathbird's Remembrance, so Ohega's Dancing Blade should hardly be a problem.

Fortunately, he had grasped the basics, and through ghostflame at that. This allowed Eleonora to live a few more days.

Controlling a sword with qi was abstract, but using ghostflame was not. He already knew how to wrap ghostflame around a weapon. Following Eleonora's instructions, he then sent the ghostflame outward and controlled it from a distance, producing a respectable [Ghostflame: Ohega's Dancing Blade].

These days had been hard on Mare Mare. His goddess was constantly being pestered by her junior fellow disciple, leaving him fewer and fewer opportunities to spend time with her, yet he could hardly say anything.

Besides, those two fellow disciples were doing exactly what fellow disciples ought to do. He could hardly stop them from sparring and practicing.

"Damn it, damn it all! Why couldn't I have a body fit to learn swordsmanship?" Mare Mare had lost count of how many times he had tipped his head back and sighed, complaining about the Erdtree's unfairness.

At times like these, Helena usually consoled him. "Look at me. I'm blind, but I'm still living just fine. Try to look on the bright side."

"But, but my goddess..." Mare Mare, with his attraction to women with disabilities, truly could think of nothing but Malenia.

Helena said conspiratorially, "Didn't you notice that she smiled at you yesterday?"

"Huh?" Mare Mare froze and racked his memory. He could not be sure whether Helena was telling the truth, because every memory of Malenia in his mind came with a romantic filter.

In his eyes, Malenia radiated pink, heart-shaped bubbles at every moment. Choosing to believe rather than doubt, he nodded firmly. "Yes, she did smile at me."

Helena patted Mare Mare's shoulder. "Exactly. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. See? Now that you're not pestering her, she's starting to like you, isn't she? Hand her a towel after training. Bring her a cup of warm water. That kind of thoughtful tenderness is what girls like."

"I suppose you're right." Mare Mare felt rather touched. No one had ever taught him how to court a girl; he had simply blundered along on his own. Thinking about it now, Helena's advice made a lot of sense.

"Then could you sound her out for me and see whether her opinion of me has changed?" Mare Mare asked.

Helena readily agreed. "No problem. She and I are best friends now!"

Mare Mare did not quite understand the term "besties," but over the past few days, he had noticed that Helena and Malenia were very close. Malenia did not shun her, and the two even touched each other from time to time, holding hands or linking arms.

"Oh, how I wish I were the one holding Lady Milia's hand."

Whenever he saw such a scene, Mare Mare nearly bit through his lip. He was jealous-jealous even of another woman!

When no one else was around, Malenia demanded of Zhao Si, "Do you actually have a plan?"

"Yes. I'm just taking a gentler approach for now. If Mare Mare still doesn't get it, I'll have to give him a stronger dose." Malenia was tugging at Zhao Si's cheek, making his words somewhat slurred.

Malenia was not pulling hard. She was merely expressing her displeasure.

"Then hurry up!" Malenia urged.

Zhao Si pulled free and nodded repeatedly. "I will, I will. I'll hurry. I think the time is just about right anyway. I'll stir up a little trouble and give things a push."

As he left, he turned back to Malenia. "Senior sister, do you consider me your true junior brother now?"

Malenia was silent for a moment before saying, "As long as our interests don't conflict, you are my true junior brother."

She had chosen her words carefully. Zhao Si still held the title of Finger Maiden, after all. If he ever acted against Miquella and his sister, who belonged to the Haligtree's faction, Malenia would cut him down without hesitation.

But those words also represented a promise from Malenia, and Zhao Si was still happy to hear them. "Once I call you my senior sister, you'll be my senior sister for life. Our Flowing Sword lineage will never see its disciples turn on one another."

"Let's hope so," Malenia said, lowering her head.

Zhao Si ventured another question. "Senior sister, once we've taken care of your business and mine, could you come to Leyndell with me?"

"Impossible." Malenia shook her head. "Without the king's command, I cannot enter Leyndell at will."

"What if it were for Miquella and Godwyn?" Zhao Si asked.

"What do you know? What do the Fingers know?" At the mention of Miquella, Malenia's presence grew noticeably sharper. Anyone who dared threaten Miquella would die by her hand.

Zhao Si sighed. "It's hard to say, but once we reach the Academy of Magic, we should have some new leads. I want you to come with me not just because of the Full Moon Queen's abilities, but also because something harmful to Godwyn may be brewing. And anything that affects Godwyn would affect Miquella too, wouldn't it?"

"My brother... is indeed very close to our eldest brother." Malenia moved closer to Zhao Si. "If there's any danger or conspiracy you dare hide from me..."

Before she could finish, Zhao Si smiled and said, "Don't worry, senior sister. If I ever dare hide anything from you, I'll offer you my head to cut off."

There was no benefit in keeping things from Malenia. If she could become a force capable of intervening in the Night of the Black Knives, Zhao Si would have a powerful trump card.

Besides Malenia, there was one other person who might become his trump card.

That was the one imprisoned beneath Leyndell, in the Forsaken Omen Gaol, who possessed the "many faces" and was

despised by others, yet still had a heart full of love-the Demigod Morgott.

Who wanted Godwyn dead remained unclear. But who wanted him alive was perfectly clear.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how to find Fortissax. If that little dragon lord were around, Godwyn would be even safer.

Zhao Si felt he had too much on his mind. At this rate, he might start losing his hair and go bald.

That evening, Mare Mare laid out another lavish feast as usual, this time inviting Eleonora as well. It had all been Helena's suggestion. She had told Mare Mare, "Invite Eleonora to dinner and have him talk swordsmanship with Milia. She'll definitely enjoy it. Then get Eleonora to put in a few good words for you. That'll work much better than singing your own praises."

After several rounds of drinks and plenty of food, everyone seemed a little tipsy. Mare Mare even seized the opportunity to touch Malenia's prosthetic hand, sending his heart soaring and leaving him so dazed that he could no longer tell which way was which.

Eleonora had not expected Malenia to be such a master swordswoman. A few pointers from her benefited him enormously, and a few compliments about Ohega's Dancing Blade left him walking on air.

Eleonora had no memory of how he got home. Once there, he fell into bed and went straight to sleep.

Only when he woke the next morning did he realize something had gone terribly wrong.

"The Executioner's Sword... it's gone..."

Eleonora slapped himself hard twice, afraid he was still muddled from his hangover. But even after searching the entire house, he could not find the absurdly large Executioner's Sword.

When Mare Mare learned of this, he slumped into his chair and nearly fainted. Fortunately, Zhao Si caught him.

"If it's gone, we'll look for it," Zhao Si said with concern. "Don't panic, my lord. Here's what we'll do: keep this quiet for now, and if anyone needs beheading, find something else to use. We'll search for it for you. We're outsiders, so leaving the city won't alert anyone."

"You?" Mare Mare looked at Zhao Si, then at Malenia.

"There's strength in numbers," Zhao Si said earnestly. "How can a man refuse to loosen his grip? Besides, wouldn't you feel more reassured with my senior sister handling it?"

"Ah..." Mare Mare let out a long sigh. "I suppose there's no other choice."