Noblesse

Eula came up to the young adventurer. Looking straight ahead, Li Qiuzhi saw her fair face and soft, moist lips. She seemed just a tiny bit taller than him.

Of course, Li Qiuzhi was quite certain that this was due to Eula's higher heels.

"Having read that textbook, you know that Favonius Swordsmanship can be performed equally well with either a one-handed sword or a two-handed sword. That makes it convenient, but also fairly basic. Once people master it to an advanced level, they incorporate their own understanding to create the version of Favonius Swordsmanship that suits them best."

With a faint smile on her face, Eula parted her lips and briefly explained one of the distinctive features of Favonius Swordsmanship.

Li Qiuzhi knew that Favonius Swordsmanship was fairly basic, but wasn't it too early for him to incorporate his own understanding? After all, he had only just learned the basics.

Eula tugged at the sleeves that had ridden up slightly while her arms were folded, covering her fair wrists, and continued:

"I combined basic Favonius Swordsmanship with the steps of the 'Dance of Sacrifice' to create a 'Favonius Swordsmanship' that belongs to me alone.

"So, would you like to learn it?"

A confident smile appeared on her face as she finished speaking.

Although many of the Lawrence family's traditions amounted to little more than remnants of an obsession with the past, at least the dance known as the "Dance of Sacrifice" was pure and noble. It soothed the mind and had brought her considerable comfort.

The Favonius Swordsmanship she had created from it was one of her few treasured possessions, and she wasn't willing to teach it to just anyone.

It's only because you're Amber's friend, and one of the more tolerable people among my "enemies," Eula thought.

[Eula has grown fond of you. Gained 45 Friendship points. Current Friendship level: Lv. 2 (150/200)]

Looking at the sudden Friendship notification, Li Qiuzhi had no idea what redeeming quality of his Eula had thought of.

Still, it was a good thing.

Once Friendship grew higher, gaining more of it seemed to become easier. After all, compared with complete strangers, it was only natural that some familiarity and an existing foundation of goodwill would make further progress easier.

As for Eula offering to teach him her personal Favonius Swordsmanship, Li Qiuzhi naturally wanted to learn. He nodded excitedly and said:

"Of course I do! This is the swordsmanship of the renowned 'Spindrift Knight'!"

The basics of Favonius Swordsmanship were all written down in sufficient detail. He only needed to follow the instructions.

Seeing that Li Qiuzhi had already grasped the basics and had some talent, Eula had little to offer in the way of guidance. With enough practice, he would naturally become proficient.

"Hmph." Eula raised her snow-white chin slightly and said in a rather stern tone, "Once you agree, you can't give up halfway. Otherwise, I'll let you experience the 'Spindrift Knight's' swordsmanship firsthand!"

"Yes, yes. I'll definitely stick with it."

Li Qiuzhi wore a serious expression. After all, learning swordsmanship wasn't something that happened overnight. That meant he would have plenty of opportunities to spend time with Eula, which also meant plenty of opportunities to gain Friendship points.

"Very good."

Eula folded her arms, pressing her pale blue tie against her upper abdomen. Following the soft, rounded contours, it rose and fell slightly in semicircular curves.

"To learn my Favonius Swordsmanship, you must first master the dance. Next, I'll teach you the 'Dance of Sacrifice.'"

The breeze stirred the cape draped over one shoulder behind her. Eula was very satisfied with Li Qiuzhi's answer.

"The Dance of Sacrifice?!"

Although Li Qiuzhi had been prepared for this when he heard Eula's explanation, dancing was still rather unfamiliar territory for him.

He seemed to have learned a few ballroom dance steps in a university elective, but he had long since forgotten them. Fortunately, that experience had taught him that his body was quite flexible, and he could manage even some fairly difficult dance movements.

Besides, after being strengthened so many times, learning the "Dance of Sacrifice" shouldn't be difficult.

"...Hmm, perhaps the complete Dance of Sacrifice really would be a little difficult for a man. After all, it's better suited to girls with graceful, supple figures."

With her arms folded across her chest, Eula lifted her right hand slightly and rested her fingers against her snow-white chin. After a moment's thought, she said:

"You can just learn the dance steps I incorporated into my swordsmanship."

"All right, no problem."

Li Qiuzhi nodded lightly. When he had watched Eula's character demo, he had indeed found her Dance of Sacrifice beautiful and elegant-but that was because Eula was the one dancing.

The movements were also more suited to girls. Watching him perform them might be a bit of an eyesore.

If possible, he would rather just learn the steps incorporated into her swordsmanship.

"Watch my movements." Eula began the lesson in earnest. She extended her right leg, clad in a black over-the-knee leather boot, slightly forward and rose onto her toes. Her left leg behind her did the same.

Her entire body's weight rested on the tips of her toes.

Her leather boots fit her legs snugly. From her toes up her calves, past her knees and all the way to her thighs, every soft contour of her legs was perfectly outlined.

"Incorporating these dance steps into Favonius Swordsmanship lets you flexibly harness the strength of your entire body, giving you a greater advantage against your opponents."

Eula explained as she performed the steps.

Li Qiuzhi watched closely and attentively. Before long, Eula had finished the entire sequence. She turned her gaze toward him and asked:

"Well? Did you remember it?"

"Pretty much."

If Li Qiuzhi hadn't been strengthened by leveling up, he might only have remembered the snowy whiteness of Eula's legs and her elegance and grace. Now, however, he had memorized everything. It wasn't difficult.

"Hmm?"

A hint of surprise appeared on Eula's face. It seemed Li Qiuzhi had a good memory.

Since he had remembered it, she didn't need to demonstrate it again. Eula brushed her fingers through the hair beside her ear and nodded gently.

"Then practice it once, and we'll see whether you've missed anything or made any mistakes."

Li Qiuzhi had no idea that he had missed an opportunity to keep watching Eula dance. Following her instruction, he imitated the movements she had just performed.

"..." Eula raised her icy-blue eyebrows, then gave Li Qiuzhi her assessment. "Very good. You've committed the footwork and movements to memory, but you haven't grasped the most important part: coordinating your body's strength. Of course, no one can master that just by watching once. Next, I'll correct your movements one by one."

The issue Eula pointed out came as no surprise to him. He really had only memorized the movements and forced himself to imitate them, without any practical effect.

Li Qiuzhi continued performing the dance steps under Eula's instructions, while she corrected him with her own hands.

From the force Eula applied as her hands made contact with his body, Li Qiuzhi could tell that she seemed much stronger than him.

At only level ten, he was still a long way from matching one of Mondstadt City's top fighters. He might be considerably stronger than an ordinary member of the Knights of Favonius, but without testing it, he had no idea how much stronger.

Perhaps he could ask Eula to help him test it.

Thanks to "Want to Go Back to the Past" for the 100-coin tip!