Chapter 4

*clang**clang*

"*huff*..*huff*"

The clashing of swords echoed in the room.

"What's wrong kid? had enough?" The bulky man said, "is this all you got Mr. Perfect prince?"

I could feel a vain pop in my head, "Huh? take this!" I said as I swung my sword downwards. The bulky man however, countered my sword and was already preparing for a counter-attack.

I dashed backwards in order to distance myself, but the man dashed forward in order to catch up to me.

"!!!" I killed my balance, in order to fall to avoid his horizontal slash. Then I rolled to the side and stance myself while I was still low on the ground. Tightly holding my sword, I dashed towards the blind spot of

the bulky man and used my body's momentum to increase the strength of my attack, however--

"Heh! not bad kid!" The bulky man said as he spun around parrying my sword with his and using my momentum to his advantage to knock the sword out of my hand, sending my sword spinning a few meters away.

"*huff**huff* can't you just go easy on me?" I said as I laid in the ground from exhaustion. "your to serious for my swordsmanship lessons Captain Douglas-!*huff*"

"Hahahaha your improving kid, so what's the problem with getting fired up a little?" He said proudly as to deny my complaints.

After catching my breathe, I looked at the bulky man who picking up my sword.

"*sighs*.. What's the use of swordplay anyways? The intercontinental wars had already ended a few years ago. Shouldn't the basics be enough? it's not like I'm going to war or something." I asked the man in a complaining manner.

"heh.." Captain Douglas says almost like he was reminiscing. He then closed his eyes and opened them, this time accompanied by a wide grin stapled in his face.

"I wonder about that." he says in a sly manner.

"???" I could feel my expression drop to a frown from that mysterious answer of his.

"hahaha I'm just joking kiddo." he says while wiping his watery eye from laughing at my expression. "But to me at least, fighting is something that I look forward to in living. Just the thought of exhausting one another by comparing strength excites this uncle." He says after calming down.

"Isn't that just masochism and sadism?" I confusedly asked.

"heh may be your right kid. But there isn't only one way of living yah?" He asked, but it was also as if it was a proclamation. He then threw my sword in the ground in front of me.

"Now come on Mr. Haughty prince! Your not done yet are yah?" He asked, but it was more of a taunt. I felt a tinge of annoyance again, so I picked up the sword and stance myself for another bout.

"Let's get this over with!" I said as I charged to the man.

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A familiar breeze swept my cheeks. As I opened my eyes, the bluish sunlight shined brightly in my bed, I recalled the dream I had when I was younger in my old body. Where I would train daily and rigorously with the captain of the

knight's order to perfect my swordsmanship.

Thinking back, that man always annoyed me to the point of sometimes removing the "perfect" façade I always wore, especially if we were alone. But he wasn't a bad guy, just a tad bit too annoying to deal with.

As I tried to sit up, My body ached all over, giving me a hard time to just sit up straight.

"*sigh* to think I would trash this body this early on.." I said, "what kind of sick luck is this?!?" I complainingly screamed in my head.

As I tried to regain my composure, I recalled about the Bear-like chimera beast who trashed my body and the last of my moments before falling unconscious.

I don't know of how, but I survived the beast and somehow ended up back in my room.

*Slide*

The door slide open as my grandfather and Sophia came into view.

"oooh goody-goody, white your awake." my grandfather said jolly and relieved, but I could feel a tinge of uneasiness in his eyes-- or is it excitement?

"ahh yes yes, here eat. You need to regain your strength. I made i-"

"I. Made it." Sophia cut in

"That doesn't matter!" The old man said huffingly. Eyeing the soup curiously, I took a spoonful of it.

"Delicious!" I exclaimed. This wasn't a lie, the broth was rich and aromatic and the taste had a tinge of herb and meat in it. Followed my the chunks of meat and finely cut vegetables which further enhanced the flavor of the soup.

I hungrily ate the soup as to both regain my strength and to satisfy my palate.

"huhu slow down child," The old man said "try to savor the taste of my dis-"

"My. Dish." Sophia cut in.

"Since when did automatas go against their masters?" The old man huffingly complains.

"Negative. You have already given that authority to Master White."

"But I was still your previous master, which still makes me your master."

"... Your logic is invalid."

I froze at the words I have heard. I'm the master? what?

"???" I tilted my head in confusion. My grandpa, catching my confusion in the corner of his eyes, turned towards me.

The corner of the old man's lips curled upwards forming a wide grin. "ahh yes yes. You're going to the Northern Dominion kid!" He proclaimed.

"... huh?" I asked, still stupefied.