>>45525262
>"After the lesson"

>>45525262
"After I'm done, I'll give you your match." You say, much to Verna's delight.

"YAY!" The blue-haired girl shouts. Damn, has she ever heard of lowering her voice?

You sigh as you grab a dummy and bring outside to where the princess was waiting for you.

"What took you so long?" Hilana inquires.

"Verna." You say.

"That makes sense." The princess walks towards the dummy and draws out her blade.

"Ok, There's the vital areas of your opponent." You point to the arms, legs and chest. "Disable those, and you've got the advantage."

"I see." Hilana nods.

"Ok, I want you to strike a body part with that strike I showed you earlier." You state.

Hilana swings her blade and hits the dummy's left shoulder.

"Good. Now try another part." You say.

Hilana strikes at the chest twice. It seems Claudine's lessons are starting to pay off.

After watching Hilana slice at the dummy, you clap your hands, signaling the end of the session. "Ok, I think that's enough for today. You can go and rest." You say.

"Ok..." Hilana wipes the sweat off her brow and trudges inside. You then see Verna burst outside and nearly bump into the princess.

"Oops, sorry, highness!" Verna squeaks.

"For Atran's sake, be careful!" Hilana glares at her bodyguard as she goes inside and slams the door behind her.

Why did you get the feeling she locked you in with a dangerous animal?

Verna wasn't helping by smiling like one either. "I'm ready!" She shouts as she draws out her blade and points it at you. "Show me what you got!"

You gulp as she rushes at you. Did everyone follow the "Rush and attack" style?!

What do?
>Parry her attack.
>Dodge!
>Deflect the blow.

>>45525827
Voting time extended.

>>45525827
>Dodge!

>>45525827
>>Deflect the blow.

>>45525827
You quickly dodge the attack and swing your blade onto her back, but she flips out of the way and swings at you again. Damn, she's fast!

"Come on! Stop playing around and fight me!" Verna shouts.

What does she think you're trying to do?! You quickly thrust at her, but she blocks your attacks and makes a lucky hit on your shoulder.

Ow.

You quickly go on the defensive as Verna keeps attacking you. This was getting ridiculous. You have to do something.

What do?
>Sweep her feet.
>Use one of your techniques.
>Feint an attack.

>>45526417
>Use one of your techniques.

>>45526417
>>Sweep her feet.

>>45526417
>Sweep her feet.

If she's the type to just rush her attacks with strength and speed instead of skill, we may be able to take advantage of her footing.

Besides, not sure how she'll react to a feint and Spinning Slash may not do much for us. All conjecture, of course.

>>45526417
You decide to employ one of your master's favorite tactics: leg-sweeping. You quickly kick Verna's feet from under her, causing her to stumble as you strike a blow onto her shoulder, causing her to yelp.

"Ow!" She cries out. "That's not fair!"

"Neither is bum-rushing me!" You retort as you move in for the kill, but Verna tackles you and sends you staggering back. She then swings her blade at you. You manage to block it just in time and swing your blade, creating a vacuum wave that crashes against her and knocks her onto the stone floor.

Damn, that was intense.

What do?

>Help Verna up.
>Fall on your butt.
>Treat your wounds.

>>45526717
>Help Verna up.

>>45526717
>Help Verna Up.

>>45526717
>>Help Verna up.

>>45526717
You decide to wobble over and give Verna a helping hand. "You ok?" You ask.

"My everything hurts." Verna moans.

"You're ok." You sigh as you help her up.

"Where did you learn that move from?" Verna asks in curiosity.

"From my master." You grunt out, checking yourself over. Aside from a few cuts and bruises, you're fine.

"Who's that?" The blue-haired girl presses on.

"Claudine." You say, noticing the look of shock on Verna's face. "Why?"

"You're big sis's student?!" She shouts.

Wait, what?

>"You're her sister?"
>"Somehow, I'm not surprised."
>"...What?"

>>45526949
>"Somehow, I'm not surprised."

Mainly because everyone in this kingdom seems to be related to someone else that we know, or know that we're related to someone important.

>>45526949
"Somehow, I'm not really surprised." You sigh.

"Why not?" Verna frowns. "I mean, it's not like I'm her real sister or anything, I look up to her as one, that's all."

"I get it." You groan out. No wonder Verna was acting like a wild animal. Apparently, your master's quirks has passed on to her.

"So, how's she doing?" Verna asks.

"She's a trainer in Grandale." You say.

"Ooh! I didn't know she left to live next door! I should visit her!" Verna jumps up and down. "But I'd have to ask permission first."

"I'm sure you'll have no problem getting it." You assure her. You shudder to think of her presence in Grandale. Then you think to yourself that your master would keep her in check. On the other hand, your master wasn't exactly a role model either.

"Anyways, do you want to show you around town?" Verna offers.

>"Okay."
>"Not right now."
>"Let me get cleaned up first."

>>45527330
>"Okay."

>>45527330
"Sure, why not?" You say. You really didn't mind walking around town in dirty clothes.

"Yay!" Verna then grabs your hand once again and drags you off. Gods, why doesn't she just haul you over onto your shoulder while she's at it?

Soon, you reach the town of Rioel, and it looks like one of those old cities you saw in a history book. Verna has a large smile on her face as she drags you past various stores and homes, not bothering to stop in and take a look.

"Verna, where are we going?" You ask.

"To the arena!" She shouts. "My brother is fighting today!"

You really weren't surprised. Rioel was all about might and muscle.

As you reach the admittance booth, you see a familiar face among the crowd. Was that...Herschel? What the hell was he doing here?

What do you do?
>"Hey, Herschel!"
>"Well, well, if it isn't the wussy man."
>"....Hey."

>>45527723
"....Hey."

Might be mistaken or someone else.

>>45527723
"...Hey!" You wave at Herschel... or so it seems as the man turns around, his face adorned with a beard. "...Never mind, thought you were someone else."

The man angrily turns back around and enters the Colosseum. You were really starting to lose it.

"Who's Herschel?" Verna asks.

"A guildmate of mine." You reply.

"Oh, you have a guild where you come from?" The swordswoman asks. "We have one, but most of the guild members are always out on missions a lot."

"...That's nice." You say.

"So, do you want to visit the guild after the match?" Verna asks.

>"Sure."
>"Maybe later."
>"I don't know..."

>>45528149
>"Maybe later."

>>45528149
>"Sure."

>>45528149
"Sure, maybe later." You reply.

Verna nods and the two of you head inside the arena and take your seats. To be honest, you've never been to a fight between two men duking it out before. You wonder why many people don't come and see this.

A loud clang from the gong and two men emerge from the opposing gates. One of them was dressed in eastern grab, carrying a foreign blade on his waist. The other was carrying a giant hammer and little armor. A gladiator, you supposed.

The gong rings out again as the gladiator rushes towards the warrior from the far east.

"He's never going to stand a chance." Verna says.

"I don't know..." You murmur, keeping an eye on the swordsman.

Just as the gladiator is about to strike down his opponent, the warrior unsheathes his blade and cuts him down.

Now you remember what these kinds of people were called... samurai.

The gladiator drops onto floor, bleeding in pain.

"The victor is Raido, from Kotai!" The announcer shouts loudly.

"Nuts! I wanted the big guy to win!" Verna pouts.

What do you say?

>"I'm sure your brother will win the next one."
>"I told you."
>"Appearances can be deceiving."

>>45528555
voting time renewed.

>>45528555
>"Appearances can be deceiving."

Appearances can be deceiving."

>>45528555
"Hey, not all big guys can win against little ones like him." You say.

"Hmph!" Verna just sulks into her seat as you keep watching the fights until Verna brightens back up and cheers at someone with the same hair color as her. That must be her brother.

He was clad in armor and carrying a large blade on his back. You were glad it wasn't you facing him down there.

And his opponent was a beautiful woman wearing crystal armor and carrying an elegant blade. This must be Crystal that Krieg was talking about.

"GO BRO! YOU CAN WIN!" Verna's shrieking is hell on your poor eardrums.

Although, you had to wonder... How was your sister doing? Strange thing to think about during a match.

(Cont)

>>45529312
You are Kaire Bueller, and you are eating water monster meat after you killed the beast lurking in the spring. Served it right for trying to restrain you.

The cooked meat tasted like fish, probably because it ate most of the fish in the pond. Thank the gods you killed it to sate your hunger.

Although the scene of a naked warrior woman near a campfire would probably raise a few eyebrows if there were any people nearby.

You let out a sigh as you dress yourself, rummage through your belongings and pull out your map. Which way should you go now?

>North.
>East.
>West.

>>45529355
North

>>45529355
You decided to keep on going north. Your instincts never failed you before, and they weren't going to now.

As you keep traversing the forest, you keep hearing sounds. Strange sounds. From the looks of it, they weren't very friendly.

You decide to keep walking, keeping a lookout just in case for any nasty surprises. As you see a clearing in the woods, you sense something moving at you, quickly moving out the way as an arrow hits the tree you were at before.

"You will not leave this place, outsider! You are heading into sacred lands!" A deep male voice rings out through the forest. "Leave now, or face our wrath!"

>"I just want to get back to the town."
>"Fine, I'll take a shortcut."
>"I need to get through here."

>>45529498
>"I need to get through here."

>>45529498
"I have to get through here. I need to get to a town." You state.

"Then perish!" The voice yells as arrows fly from the trees towards you. You let out a sigh. This was so not worth the time.

With a quick swing, the arrows are deflected back at their owner via sword spin. Men wearing feather headdresses fall from the trees, arrows embedded into their chests.

"W-What are you?!" The voice shouts in a shaky voice.

"My name's Kaire. And I'm going through." You say in a firm tone.

"S-Stop! You must not defile our lands with your feet!" The voice quivers. "It is forbidden!"

"Why?" You ask.

"Because our goddess demands it!" The owner of the voice appears, clad in a mask and robe. "I am her herald, and I will not allow you to pass! I will bet my life on it!"

"....Is that so?" You slowly point your sword at the robed priest.

"Prepare yourself for judgement!" The priest shouts as he summons magical energy into his hands, surging with power. This might be a fight worth your while. At least he wouldn't leave you bored, unlike his friends.

>To be continued.

Thanks for playing. See you all next Monday.

>>45529849
Blast I missed it again!