The Phoenix Nest (3)

"Why are you all late every day? Do you want me to beat you all, huh? Start front rolling to the entrance!" a young boy shouted.

In front of him, all the people who were late started rolling.

Just as Auric arrived and was shocked, the boy who was commanding everyone looked at him.

"Oh, Mr. King! Do you want an invitation to roll? Start rolling!" the guy screamed.

But Auric just looked at him weirdly.

"HUH!? Did you not hear me!? Start rolling!"

"You!!! Are you ignoring the commands of your barracks captain!?"

Just as the boy was coming towards Auric with his hands raised and Auric gathering his thunder element to counter, suddenly someone came in between and bowed to the captain.

"Senior! Sorry to interrupt, but this guy just arrived today and doesn't know our ways. Please forgive him!" the one who tried to calm the situation was the same guy who helped Auric before.

"HAH!? A new guy in the middle of the course!? Ah... you're the heir of the Blackthorn House," the captain said to Auric with a smug face, as if mocking him. "So, just because the patriarch announced you are the heir of a house in the direct line, you think you are some kind of big shot?"

The captain neared Auric to grab his collar, and Auric was ready to break the hand the second it touched him.

"Senior... you better be careful. You are not one from the direct line. Although you are allowed to punish him, if you touch him, it's a whole different story," the guy said with sharp eyes to the captain.

"Tsk! You all better be careful in the future," the captain backed off with a glare towards both Auric and the other guy. turning around he shouted, "Now start rolling towards the dining hall!"

"You pieces of shits!! You all better reach the dining hall before I reach it!! Or you all better tighten your asses after lunch!!" shouting at all the boys rolling on the pebbled road, the captain walked towards a building near the training ground, what seemed to be the dining hall.

"Just why are you a trouble magnet, making so much trouble on your first day!?" the guy asked Auric.

"Hah? What are you talking about? That guy just suddenly wanted to start a fight. Of course, I will retaliate. Do you think I am like these cowards?" Auric said, pointing towards the rolling guys. "And if you hadn't come in between, I would have crushed his hands."

"Pft! You? Crushing his hands? Brother, come here." The guy brought Auric closer to him and said, "That guy you are talking about, to crush his hands, he is the third strongest in the whole Phoenix Nest. He can cripple you. But well, although he won't. You are a direct line descendant, and on top of that, an heir to the Blackthorn House. Of course, he can't touch you; otherwise, his bright future might turn into a nightmare, and he knows that," he said with a smile towards Auric.

"So that guy was that strong?"

"yes"

"who is he?"

"the captain?"

"Yeah."

"He is Will, a trainee from the 12-year batch. He is our barrack captain. Ah, we are late! Let's run!"

The guy ran towards the dining hall, and Auric followed him. They passed by the guys who were still rolling, as they all glared at Auric and the guy beside him.

"But why are you not rolling?" Auric asked as he saw that although initially, this guy was also on the ground, at first, he approached Auric, and now he was running, ignoring the punishment.

"Dude, just why are you like this? I am helping you, right? So you want your benefactor to be punished?"

"... No, I guess?"

"Exactly."

"I am helping you get familiar with this place, and you are helping me bunk the punishment. Fair exchange, right?"

They both reached the dining hall, and truly, Auric was amazed. A big hall full of long tables was there, and seated on them were children or rather all the trainees of the training hall.

"By the way, what's your name?" Auric asked the guy.

"Me? I am Samuel. Nice to meet ya," Samuel said with a smile. This guy was also handsome, with spiky brown hair and a good face.

"Nice to meet you too, I am Auric."

"Yeah, bro. Now let's go and find you a seat."

Auric followed Samuel as he made his way between tables and finally sat at a table.

Samuel motioned Auric to sit on the empty seat beside him.

Sitting at the table, Auric noticed Samuel was already familiar with all the other people around him, as Auric saw him talking to them.

But it seemed like they were not happy to see Auric there.

Then a girl sat beside him.

"Hey, Sigarni!"

"Hey, Sam," the girl replied with a monotonous tone.

Hearing both people seated beside him greet each other while he was sitting in the middle made Auric feel awkward.

"Sigarni, he is Auric, the new guy Grodt told us about," Samuel said as he introduced Auric to the girl. "And Auric, she is Sigarni, one of the strongest of the batch."

"Hi," Auric greeted her.

"... Hi," she greeted him with the same monotonous vibe from earlier.

"Ah, bro, she is just like that," Samuel whispered to Auric.

"It's okay; I don't mind," Auric said. Although he wanted to have relationships in this life, subconsciously, he didn't want to. The wound from his past life that resulted in his death made him somewhat distant from females, except for the people he considered family.

*

Auric had breakfast without any misfortune. It was peaceful, well, except he had to ignore the looks the cadets gave him while he was chewing his food.

And then they went to the guidance of Instructor Grodt, the same one Samuel mentioned in the morning.

"So, you are Owen's grandchild?" Instructor Grodt asked him. The instructor had a rather large build and seemed to teach weapon techniques. The place Auric currently was at was the classroom, which seemed like a gym hall. And every trainee sat on the floor.

"Yes."

"Quite handsome, if I must say," Grodt said, rubbing his chin as he observed Auric. "Let's see if you also have the same attitude as my old pal! And yeah, remember, although I am your grandfather's friend, don't expect me to be lenient on you."

"I know."

"Hahaha, that's good if you know! Hahaha. Let's continue today's class then."

"Today, I will be teaching you the Sword Cut."

*

Instructor Grodt stood before the eager class of trainees, the air buzzing with anticipation. The trainees were seated attentively on the ground in front of him, unable to contain their excitement about learning a new technique.

With a practiced motion, Grodt reached into his spatial ring and withdrew a gleaming sword. The blade glistened in the sunlight, a testament to its craftsmanship and history. The class leaned forward, eager to witness the technique known as the "Sword Cut" in action.

"Pay close attention, young ones," Grodt's voice resonated with authority and wisdom. "The Sword Cut is a fundamental technique that embodies the essence of swordplay. With mastery of this technique, you will possess the foundation to excel in the art of swordsmanship."

As Grodt raised the sword, the trainees' eyes were fixed on the blade.

"The Sword Cut is not simply about slashing your blade at your opponent," Grodt explained, his eyes locking onto each trainee in turn. "It's about channeling your focus, your spirit, and your entire being into a single, decisive strike."

The atmosphere seemed to hum with anticipation, waiting for the moment of enlightenment.

With a breath, Grodt began the demonstration. His movements were fluid and mesmerizing, the sword cleaving through the air with a whooshing sound. The trainees observed each nuance of his technique, from the positioning of his feet to the angle of the blade as it swept through the imaginary target.

"Focus your energy," Grodt emphasized, his voice calm but authoritative. "Feel the connection between your body and the sword. It's not just about strength; it's about precision, timing, and control."

As he continued, the trainees couldn't help but be drawn into the spectacle before them. Grodt's expertise was evident in every motion, every sway of the blade. The Sword Cut seemed to come alive, a dance of metal and spirit, weaving a tale of centuries of tradition and skill.

"Remember, the Sword Cut is not to be taken lightly," Grodt's voice carried a note of solemnity. "It is a technique that demands respect and understanding. The blade is an extension of your soul, and the Sword Cut should reflect your true character."

As Instructor Grodt's demonstration neared its conclusion, he took a deep breath, channeling his focus and spirit into one last powerful Sword Cut. The gleaming blade sliced through the air with unparalleled precision, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake.

As the Sword Cut reached its zenith, a gasp swept through the gathered trainees.

SXHHHHHH

They watched in awe as a deep cut seemingly emerged from thin air behind Grodt, extending beyond the point of his slash. It was as if the force behind his strike had left a tangible mark on reality itself.

The cut hung in the air for a moment, a testament to the master's prowess and the true power of the Sword Cut technique. The trainees' eyes widened in amazement. They had witnessed something extraordinary, a display of swordsmanship that they had only heard about.

Slowly, the cut began to fade, leaving the trainees with a sense of wonder and reverence. The air was filled with a charged silence, each trainee processing the magnitude of what they had just witnessed.

And in the midst of them, Auric was even more flabbergasted.

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{ A/N - I want to express my gratitude to all the readers who have supported the novel. Sigarni, Grodt, and others have been amazing contributors to this journey, and I've used and will be using some of your names for characters in the story. If anyone feels uncomfortable with their name being used or has any concerns about their name being associated with an antagonist character, please let me know in the comments, and I'll make the necessary adjustments.

Sigarni's name felt beautifully connected to the female character, and Grodt's name perfectly suited the strong instructor in the story.

ANNOUNCEMENT - The novel will be turned into a premium novel in the upcoming chapters, maybe in the following chapters. I hope to have your continued support as we move forward with the story.

Once again, thank you for your support and the powerstones. Your encouragement keeps me motivated, and I hope you enjoy the story as it unfolds.

Happy reading to all! }