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Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: A Look Into Luxion’s Data Banks – 4

Chapter 8: A Look Into Luxion's Data Banks – 4

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Kingdom of Holfort

Bartfort Barony

Training Field

Omni POV

Observation Period: Year 4 (Continuation)

The morning air over the Bartfort training grounds was cool, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and sweat. 

Wooden weapon racks lined the edge of the field, and the soft clatter of sparring gear echoed in the distance.

Sir Geralt greeted his lord with a small bow. 

"My lord," he said.

Balcus sighed immediately.

"Now how many times have I told you? There's no need for the formalities between us, after all we are brothers" he spoke gesturing to the wolf insignia tattoo that was on both of their arms.

Gelralt did not budge.

"You are the lord of these lands, my lord. The knight's code requires me to address you as such."

Balcus rubbed his forehead, half-exasperated.

"Even for a Brother?".

"Neither of us is still in the service, Lord," Geralt stated.

"What is that the Captain always said?".

""Once a soldier, always a soldier"" they said at the same time.

The two men stared at each other for a moment.

Then—both of them broke into light laughter, the tension easing naturally between them.

Balcus exhaled, glancing back toward the training field.

"So what brings you here, Lord?" Gelralt asked.

"I came to see how much my son has grown under your tutelage."

Gelralt turned slightly and extended his hand towards the field.

"See for yourself, Lord."

In his section of the field, Leon was moving through his katas.

His small body contrasted sharply with the weight and precision of his movements. Each strike drained his strength but he persisted.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, dripping onto the packed dirt beneath his feet.

Gelralt watched him closely.

"He really is pulling through," Gelralt said quietly. "I had originally thought he would give up after a few weeks, then return to it later when he was older. But here he is—six months in—and he still perseveres."

Balcus crossed his arms, a proud smile forming on his face.

"He has the will of a warrior."

The two men stood side by side, watching Leon continue his forms.

Gelralt nodded slowly.

"Tell me honestly, Gelralt… does he have talent for the arts?"

Gelralt did not answer immediately. He watched Leon complete another sequence before speaking.

"Like I've never seen before, my lord. His eyes… they are the most pronounced I've ever witnessed."

Balcus frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean his perception is extraordinary. He can clearly read an opponent's movement and immediately identify weaknesses in their form."

He paused.

"The only thing holding him back right now is his body. But I am certain—once he grows, he will become something far greater."

Balcus smiled to himself, quieter now.

"You are blessed, my lord. The gods gave you two sons of strong mind, heart, and body."

At that, Balcus's expression dimmed slightly.

His gaze drifted for a moment—just briefly.

 If only they could have blessed all my sons…" He whispered it under his breath.

Gelralt heard it, but chose not to respond. It was not his place to do so.

The wind shifted slightly across the field, rustling the wooden training dummies.

"How would he manage in a mock battle with Nicks?" Balcus asked.

Gelralt folded his arms again, considering carefully.

"He would put up a good fight, I'm sure… but victory would elude him."

Balcus raised an eyebrow.

"So you're saying I shouldn't arrange a battle between them?"

Gelralt shook his head.

"I encourage it Lord, this way he would have a goal to strive for".

Balcus nodded slowly, looking back toward Leon.

The boy continued his training, unaware of the conversation being held about him—each movement precise, each strike deliberate, each breath controlled.

########################################################################

When news of Leon and Nicks's fight spread.All hell broke loose on the island.

††

Two low-ranking soldiers were making their way from their post toward the noise.

"Hey, hurry up! The fight's about to start!" Dave called out, waving his arm impatiently.

"I'm coming, I'm coming… geez, don't rush me," Greg replied, picking up his pace anyway.

By the time they reached the brothers a circle had already formed around them—

They froze.

The entire area had turned into a betting pit.

"I'm putting 50 bronze coins on Young Master Leon!" Harry shouted, tossing a small pouch into the center.

"Ohhh! If it's like that, I'll put 60 on Young Master Nicks," Jim countered immediately.

"My whole wage on Lord Leon!"

The moment Gary said that—

The entire circle erupted into laughter.

"Hahaha! You've got a death wish, Gary! If you lose, Carol will kill you!" Jim said, barely holding himself up.

"But if I win, she'll love me!" Gary shot back, puffing out his chest.

"Just don't come crying to us when she kicks you out of the house, Again" Harry added.

"Shut up, Harry!" Gary snapped.

††

Back to the Center

The brothers stood in the middle of the circle.

Facing each other.

Silent.

Watching.

Waiting.

The noise around them faded into the background.

"I'm counting on you, Lord Leon!" Gary shouted from the crowd.

"Shut up! I'm trying to concentrate here!" Leon snapped back at him.

The circle burst into laughter again—

But this time, Gelralt's sharp glare swept across them and it shut them up for a bit.

Instant silence.

Leon's POV 

Leon exhaled slowly.

Focus.

"You're ready, Luxion…" he whispered under his 

breath.

"Uploading combat simulation," Luxion's voice responded through the hidden comms.

To everyone else—

Nothing changed.

But to Leon—

The world was born anew in his eyes.

Omni POV

Luxion began processing, analyzing, and calculating.

Every shift in Nicks's posture—

His field of vision—

Where he looked—

Every twitch of muscle—

Every micro-adjustment in balance—

Was broken down and reconstructed into prediction models.

And then within Leon's vision—

Lines formed.

Angles.

Vectors.

Possible movements.

Likely actions.

Optimal counters.

"Combat simulation uploaded," Luxion confirmed.

Leon's eyes narrowed slightly.

He could see it now—

Nicks's center of gravity.

His guard positioning.

The tension in his shoulders.

"Sir, I must point out that our chances of victory are exponentially low," Luxion stated calmly.

Leon didn't look away.

"You don't have to sugarcoat it, Luxion," he replied quietly.

"I already know I'm going to lose."

He paused.

"I just want to know…"

His gaze sharpened.

"…how big the gap really is."

The wind brushed across the field.

Dust shifted under their feet.

Then—

"Begin!" Gelralt announced.

And just like that—

The fight started.

As he had been taught by his instructor, Nicks moved first.

He stepped in and charged Leon with a straight punch simple and direct to test the waters.

He closed the distance in moments.

"A block is highly advised," Luxion said

.

To Leon's credit—

He did it.

Without hesitation.

He raised his elbow and tightened his entire arm, bracing for impact.

Thud.

The force traveled through his body.

It hurt—

But he didn't falter.

He immediately countered.

An open-palm hammer strike aimed at Nicks's midsection.

Nicks reacted instantly.

He stepped back, just outside Leon's range.

"That was close," Nicks said with a grin.

"If your arm were a few centimeters longer, you would've got me."

Leon clicked his tongue.

"Why don't you come a little closer and I'll show you more?"

The circle chuckled.

"Be careful what you wish for, little brother."Nicks said before getting back into the fight.

This time—

Nicks moved faster.

His body shifted forward, shoulder turning—

An uppercut.

"Feint detected. Real attack is a leg sweep coming in 3… 2… 1…" Luxion counted.

Mid-motion—

Nicks changed.

His body dropped.

Leg sweeping low.

Leon reacted instantly.

He jumped.

A vertical spin—

Transitioning into an axe kick.

But—

Nicks was ready.

He caught Leon's leg mid-motion.

Twisted.

And threw him.

Leon hit the ground hard, dust bursting around him.

The crowd exploded.

Cheers. Shouts. Laughter.

Even Gelralt's glare failed to silence them this time.

Leon pushed himself up and rushed back in.

No hesitation.

Needle strikes—Fast and precise.

All of them—

Missed.

Nicks weaved through them with footwork alone.

"Yes, Lord Leon! Don't ease up on the pressure—we almost have him!" Gary shouted.

"Lord Nicks! Don't let him corner you!" Jim fired back.

Leon's attacks grazed only air.

Barely missing.

Again and again.

Nicks, on the other hand—

Landed the occasional hits.

Not heavy ones.

But consistency was key there.

Nicks stepped in.

A lateral hook.

"Backward retreat is optimal," Luxion advised.

Leon rejected it immediately.

His legs no longer had enough strength for that kind of manoeuvre.

 

Instead—

He bent forward, letting the strike pass over him

.

For a moment, It worked.

Then—

"It's a trap" Luxion began.

Too late.

Nicks's knee rose—

Filling Leon's entire field of vision.

Boom.

Leon's body lifted slightly from the force.

Then—

Everything went dark.

The last thing he heard—

"AHHH! MY PARLEY!" Gary screamed in despair.

††

Later that day—

At the Bartfort residence.

The door opened.

Luce froze.

Her eyes widened.

"Ahhh! My babies! What happened to you?!"

Both boys stood there—

Bruised.

Scraped.

Dirty.

Leon especially.

Nicks straightened slightly, stuck between a rock and a herd place, he didn't want to snitch on his father but he sure as hell wasn't about to lie to his mother.

Leon, however—

Wasn't feeling conflicted.

He made his choice instantly.

"It was Daddy," he said instantly.

"He made us fight."

No hesitation.

No mercy.

Balcus felt a chill run down his spine.

"W-Wait, Luce—it's not what you think—"

"Children," she said sweetly, smiling. A little bit too sweet.

"Why don't you go inside? Your father and I need to have a little chat."

"Okay, Mama," Leon said happily.

He walked off without a second thought.

Already imagining the world of hurt his father was in for.

Steam filled the washroom as Leon eased into warm water.

His body ached.

Everywhere.

"That was awfully petty of you, Sir," Luxion commented, uncloaked since they were alone.

Leon leaned back slightly.

"He made me fight a losing battle in front of a crowd," he said flatly.

"I think I'm entitled to a bit of payback."

††

Outside—

"AHHHH—LUCE, WAIT—!"

A grown man's cries echoed through the house.

"I just wanted to know what my children could do! Is that so wrong?!"

Leon closed his eyes.

Relaxing.

"...Worth it."

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[Chapter Image]

I am writing my A Levels this year so I'm already stumped and if you add the time I use writing I think I'm entitled to POWER STONES sooooooo give them to me

P.S

Let it be known that the Story is undergoing a Rewrite, hence if you read the unedited chapters its on you, they are no longer part of the story.

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