Night, the woods behind the village.
Sylvia stood quietly with closed eyes in the moonlit forest clearing. The silvery moonlight fell upon her, making her hair and dress shimmer with a faint halo, serene and slightly divine.
She first slowly adjusted her breathing, gradually seeking the subtle blood rhythm within her body. Then, she progressively immersed herself in it, synchronizing her breathing, heartbeat, and consciousness. A strange sensation spread throughout her body.
The state of every part of her body gradually surfaced in her mind. From the sensation of her skin, the presence of her muscles, and the activity of her internal organs, to finally the subtle sound of blood flowing—everything became clearer bit by bit.
She had never felt her own body so vividly, as if she were taking control of this vessel for the second time. Fresh and delicate sensations came from every part. It was a bit strange at first, but she quickly adapted, making her perception more acute and improving her control over her limbs.
Now, Sylvia opened her pale blue eyes and looked up at the branches and leaves not far above her head. Her fingers nimbly reached into the gaps between the leaves to pick a green flower-fruit from the dense foliage. Throughout the process, she didn't touch a single leaf. This feeling was quite wonderful.
It was just like a ping-pong match. When the opponent hits the ball over, even if you know you should counter-attack, your wrist might not necessarily synchronize with your vision. Sometimes you swing and miss, or you can't determine exactly where the ball will land on the paddle.
Brain: I think I can catch that ball.
Hand: No, you can't.
But when her perception and control over her body improved, she could precisely determine where the ball would land on the paddle in an instant reaction and better manipulate the force to produce unexpected effects, whether it was backspin, reverse, or even more specialized moves.
Breathe... adjust the frequency... perceive the blood rhythm... synchronize and immerse...
In the sea of consciousness, that dense and slender blood-colored network completed its cycle once again. During this process, the Nature within the blood also increased slightly.
('Breathing Technique' completion +6)
After completing this cycle, Sylvia eased her breathing and emerged from that strange state. At this time, a bit of soreness also came from all parts of her body.
She could only practice this much for today; otherwise, internal injuries would accumulate. She checked the progress.
[Breathing Technique Lv.0] (Blood Law): An ability that has not yet taken shape, current progress (24/100)
Today, she completed a total of three cycle exercises, and her cultivation progress increased by 12, 6, and 6 respectively. At this rate, it would probably take about another week to fully master it.
Ending her Breathing Technique practice, she picked up the wooden sword placed under the tree, recalled the basic techniques taught by Frien during the day, and practiced swinging the sword.
At first, her movements were very slow as she constantly adjusted her posture to make the exertion smoother. This was where the benefits of the Breathing Technique became apparent. Because her control and perception of her body were stronger, she could detect subtle differences between movements. Thus, she could continuously correct her actions based on those differences.
If an ordinary person learned swordsmanship without a qualified instructor, they would at most learn the general movements, possessing only the form but finding it difficult to truly enter the gate, eventually reduced to a sort of performance-style swordsmanship.
With a qualified instructor's guidance combined with actual combat and constant correction, one could slowly find the most suitable way to exert force and technique after years of hard work. After becoming familiar with these and etching them into muscle memory, one could then become a swordsmanship master. This process could take as little as five years or as long as over a decade.
'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +12
Basic Swordsmanship Lv.0: A skill still being learned, current progress (36/100)
After practicing the full set once, Sylvia felt a bit tired. Her eyes blinked as she looked at her progress, thinking that if she worked a bit harder, she might be able to reach Basic Swordsmanship Lv.1 by tomorrow.
By the way, her [Discernment Pupil] couldn't see other people's achievements in skills and techniques; it could only be used to observe her own progress. Perhaps she would need to increase her essence rank to further enhance this ability.
Today's harvest was not small. She put away her sword with satisfaction and walked toward the cabin where she lived with light steps.
Pushing open the door through which a bit of lamplight could be seen, Sylvia walked into the room and found that Talia was not yet asleep. She was leaning over the table, staring boredly at the candle. When Sylvia entered, she suddenly looked up, her eyes instantly filled with joy.
"Tia is back." After spending the last two days together, their relationship had become much closer. At the girl's request, her form of address had become more casual, no longer using honorifics.
"Mm."
The girl nodded, sat down in the chair opposite Talia, stretched her legs, and gave a small yawn. Her slender waist's curves were fully revealed. This lazy appearance inadvertently exuded an inexplicable charm, leaving Talia somewhat dazed.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Seeing Talia motionless, Tia waved her hand in front of her and tilted her head curiously, her silver hair and blue eyes exceptionally moving.
"It's nothing." Talia bit her lip slightly to clear her head.
"Tia, did you just finish practicing your sword?" After they had dinner together earlier, Tia told her she was going to practice.
"Yes, since I'm currently wandering outside, it's better to learn some means of self-protection." Sylvia placed her hands together on the table, then rested her head lightly on one arm, staring at the quietly burning candle before her.
"Tia is so hardworking."
Talia wasn't so diligent; she only had a three-minute passion for anything. If something was boring or tedious, she would find it hard to persist. Therefore, she greatly admired people who could endure boredom to learn, and her sister Winnie and Tia happened to be such people.
Motivated by Tia, Talia felt that she should also study the Breathing Technique properly tomorrow. If she really learned it, that would be amazing—even those big guys in the village wouldn't be able to beat her.
At the thought of such a scene, Talia almost chuckled secretly. However, in Sylvia's eyes, this look seemed a bit silly.
What is this child thinking about again? Sylvia shook her head and leaned on the table to relax and rest. She didn't really want to move right now, but she still had to take a bath later. Sigh.
...
On the afternoon of the fourth day, in the forest clearing.
Sylvia and Talia were sparring with wooden swords, the crisp sounds of clashing echoing out.
Bang, bang, bang...
The two wooden swords collided from time to time as they swung them.
In another exchange, Sylvia flexibly adjusted her steps, lightly dodging Talia's attack, and then flipped her blade, flicking the wooden sword out of Talia's hand.
The thrown wooden sword drew an arc in the air and then stabbed diagonally into the grass.
"Whoa, what was that technique just now? Suddenly, my sword just flew away." Talia was curious and excited.
"This... I did it on a whim." Actually, Sylvia couldn't say why she did that either; it was just a sudden inspiration. She felt that doing so could flick the sword away, and she could easily manage it, so the movement happened naturally.
"Tia is so amazing~" Talia by the way praised her.
During these few short days together, Talia clearly felt that Sylvia was the kind of person who was very smart and had exceptionally high talent, learning everything very quickly.
"Can you teach me, Tia~"
She began to learn how to act spoiled in front of this girl. If the other young men in the village saw this, they would probably be shocked, because usually Talia was just like a boy and occasionally fought with her peers in the village.
"I can try." The girl thought for a moment and decided to give it a go.
"Great!~"
Talia picked up the wooden sword again and then slowly practiced according to the method Frien had taught.
"No, the exertion for this movement isn't like that." The girl shook her head. Although it looked similar, in terms of details, Talia's performance was really lacking.
"Stay still for a moment, I'll help you adjust." She walked over, supporting Talia's arms and shoulders, adjusting each subtle movement.
"Like this..."
...(Talia's 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +1)
"Right, straighten your legs, use your waist..."
...(Talia's 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +1)
"It's like this, look at my movements..."
...(Talia's 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +2)
About two hours later, Talia sat under the tree exhausted, her wooden sword tossed aside.
"Whew, whew, so tired..." Although she cried out that she was tired, her eyes were full of excitement and thrill.
"I think I've found some tricks. Tia is too amazing, even better than what Lord Frien taught!" She said this from the bottom of her heart.
At this, the girl nearby was also somewhat happy, and she sat down gently while holding up her dress.
"If you practice like this for another five or six days, you should be able to learn Basic Swordsmanship." Today, Talia's swordsmanship proficiency increased by a total of 17 points, current progress (24/100).
"Mm-hmm! \(^o^)/~" If she hadn't run out of strength, Talia would have wanted to cheer loudly.
"I'm going to tell Grandpa that I can become a powerful Adventurer in the future too!"
As a child, she had heard many exciting experiences told by her grandfather; she could recite those stories by heart: 'Dealing with corrosive slugs in the city's sewers for a noble', 'Climbing Wind-Howl Mountain to burn down the nest of a Grey-Feather Vulture', 'Battling a Poison Lizard in the forest'. Even now, there are still a few dark green Poison Lizard scales in her grandfather's cabinet.
"Tia, listen to me, my grandfather has been to so many places back in the day..." Talia was introducing the old village chief's past glorious achievements to the young girl with great enthusiasm.
"It really is something to yearn for." Looking up at the bright sunlight filtering through the leaves, Sylvia also fantasized about that kind of exciting adventurous life, just like the countless games she had played before, where the various monsters, labyrinths, and battles were always so captivating.
If she had the chance, she also wanted to travel around, taking advantage of missions to properly see this vast and wonderful world.
The seventh day.
Sylvia was already a familiar face in Basswood Village. Almost every villager knew this extraordinary, exceptionally beautiful, gentle, and kind young girl and was fond of her. If it weren't for the huge disparity in status, many young men would likely have come forward to pursue her and compete with each other.
"Alright, you have all trained enough." Carrying a wooden spear, Frien walked slowly in front of the crowd.
"The two of you who practiced Basic Swordsmanship and spearmanship the best have already mastered them. If others don't know how, you can ask them for advice in the future." As he spoke, he turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd once more.
"As for learning the 'Breathing Technique', don't force it. If you really can't learn it, just eat more, exercise your strength and agility, and you can still enhance your power." Among the young people taught this time, only Sylvia had learned the 'Breathing Technique'.
"I am leaving tomorrow. If your strength improves in the future, come to 'Three-Tower Town' to find me. After passing my assessment, those who qualify can join the patrol. If your strength is even greater, there will also be a place for you in the cavalry under the Baron's command."
Compared to ordinary work in the village, the pay for the patrol was much better, and there was even some extra income. As for the cavalry, they were the core force under Baron Holin, responsible for dealing with various emergencies in the territory, and could occasionally receive rewards from the Baron.
"Is Lord Frien leaving?" a trainee asked.
"That's right, departing tomorrow." He nodded, inserting the base of the wooden spear into the ground.
"I have been recuperating here for a week, and my fracture has healed quite well. It is time to return and report back to the Baron. As for that 'Red Wolf', I know you are all worried that it might come back."
"However, I cannot stay in the village forever. After all, I am still responsible for the road safety of every village and town within the Baron's territory."
"I believe that with the village's barrier in place, it shouldn't rashly attack again. If you are really uneasy, then go to the Adventurers Guild in Cinderstone City, post a bounty notice there, and I think someone will come to handle it."
"Alright, that's it for training today. Dismissed!"
After everyone dispersed, Frien found the silver-haired young girl in the back row, and the two talked under a tree.
"Miss Tia, you are going to Cinderstone City, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Frien." The young girl's voice was soft and moving.
"I will be heading in the same direction as you for a part of the way when I return to 'Three-Tower Town', but we will have to part ways when we reach Riverstone Town. By then, you can travel with a merchant caravan to continue on to Cinderstone City. The markets there are prosperous, and there are many people coming and going, so you should be able to find some clues."
"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Frien."
"There's no need to be so polite. You saved quite a few of my team members that day; it is I who should be thanking you. Here, I give this sword to you." As he spoke, he picked up a short sword he had prepared from behind the tree and handed it to Sylvia.
"Take it, use it for self-defense on the road. The village blacksmith cannot forge such a good sword."
Taking the sheathed short sword, Sylvia expressed her gratitude once more.
[Refined Iron Sword] (Quality: Good): Forged from iron, crafted with skill, currently in good maintenance.
Drawing the short sword from its wooden scabbard, Sylvia tried swinging it; it was a bit heavy, but it wasn't a problem to use.
"Your strength is not enough yet, so you shouldn't use a sword that is too heavy. Fortunately, you have already learned the 'Breathing Technique'. If you use the 'Breathing Technique' to train, your physical strength will gradually catch up, and you won't be any weaker than a sturdy young man of your age." Frien was quite satisfied with this temporary student.
"If you can take it a step further and reach Breathing Technique Lv.2, then many strong soldiers won't be able to compare with you in explosive power and speed."
"As for Breathing Method Lv.3, I'm not exactly sure, but I have seen those knight lords. Their strength allows them to easily lift wild boars and lions larger than themselves, and they can crush human bones with ease."
"I see." Sylvia nodded, indicating that she would work hard on her training afterward.
"I assume you don't know anyone in Cinderstone City. Here is a letter of introduction from me. You can hand it to Miss Mairin at the Adventurers Guild. She is a distant niece of mine, and we have a good relationship; she should be able to help you."
"Alright, no need to say any more words of thanks. If you have the chance in the future, you can come to 'Three-Tower Town' to find me. That is where Baron Holin's castle is located, and I will be stationed there."
Although Frien told Sylvia not to thank him, warmth and gratitude still welled up in the young girl's heart. The things he gave her might not be valuable, but to her, they were all urgently needed and solved too many problems.
"I will definitely visit you in Three-Tower Town when I have the time."
...
The day of departure was approaching. At night, Sylvia couldn't quite sleep. It was rare that she had become familiar with life in the village, and now she had to go to another strange place. However, just as Frien said, staying in the village would make it hard to grow, and there weren't enough resources. If she wanted to find opportunities, she could only go to larger places.
Tossing and turning slightly in bed, the young girl lifted her hair up a little to prevent it from getting bent. Over these past few days, she had also learned how to take care of this beautiful yet troublesome long hair.
On the other side of the room, Talia was fast asleep on the wooden board, occasionally muttering incoherent dream talk, seemingly fighting monsters and eating good food. Sylvia was already accustomed to this.
Tomorrow, she would be setting off tomorrow. She raised her hand, looked at those slender, soft fingers, and some information surfaced in her mind.
First was the Fate Disk, surrounded by invisible threads and emitting a halo. In the center was the [Sleeping Maiden] card with a silver vine border. Of the three empty slots below, one was filled. At this moment, a card with a pale red border emerged, with faint deep red veins printed on its border, as if blood were flowing silently.
Inside the card was a hazy, indistinct black humanoid figure, with a silhouette similar to the young girl's. Inside the figure, a light red heart beat to a strange rhythm. Several blood vessels spread out from around it, penetrating deep into the black humanoid figure, and from time to time, wisps of bright red flowed out and in.
[Breathing Technique Lv.1] (Blood Law): Relies on breathing to regulate the flow rate of blood, driving and enhancing the strength and reaction speed of the whole body. This ability has load requirements on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods (recommended not to exceed 1 minute/day); (Completion: 56/300)
Even after learning the Breathing Technique, her daily completion rate was still rising steadily. In about ten days or so, she would be able to enter the [Breathing Technique Lv.2] stage. This situation puzzled Sylvia, because according to Frien, the further one went, the greater the difficulty of practice would be; one might practice the cycle just like any other day, yet the practice progress would not move at all.
It was because of this reason that Frien's Breathing Technique had been stuck at the second stage for nearly ten years.
Forget it, no need to think about this. Her current understanding of the Nature is limited, so she probably wouldn't be able to figure out the reason; she could only explore it later.
As for the swordsmanship and spearmanship she was taught, she had also mastered them quite well.
Basic Swordsmanship Lv.3: Basic techniques for using a sword, the foundation of combat, current progress (125/900)
Basic Spearmanship Lv.2: Basic techniques for using a spear, the foundation of combat, current progress (246/300)
She learned these two items particularly quickly, and while teaching Talia, she could also gain some growth herself. It's just that she didn't know if there was a so-called limit; after all, no matter how powerful Basic Swordsmanship was, it was still just Basic Swordsmanship.
With these, Sylvia touched the scabbard by the bed, and finally felt a sense of security in her heart.
Phew, she should be able to get a good night's sleep. Departing for Cinderstone City tomorrow.
Her side-lying body arched slightly, silver-snow hair sliding down her neck and shoulders. Before she knew it, she had drifted into a peaceful slumber...