Verse of Amendment (1) (being edited)

[3RD PERSON]

It had been a month since Vane's life began in the fort, and he had mostly adapted to the place. Fortunately, the researchers hadn't arrived yet.

"997, 998, 999, 1000—OK, you may stop now, take some rest, and we'll get back to it again," Barbados informed, diligently counting the sword swings Vane had performed; something Vane considered inefficient.

He wiped his sweat off his face, drank some water from the leather pouch, and rested by the walls of the warehouse—the place where they trained every day.

After a short break, they began, with Barbados helping Vane refine the techniques he had learned.

They trained in situational drills, and Barbados crafted scenarios in a fight where Vane needed to respond, predicting attacks before they emerged.

Barbados slashed at Vane from the right, similar to the time when Vane had tested Varbadoes.

However, this time Vane raised his sword to funnel Barbados' sword and pushed it away.

Nevertheless, Barbados was stronger, and while Vane was pushing it away, Barbados lifted his right leg to kick Vane; struck by the agility difference.

Vane was too busy parrying the sword, and he was sent flying, but they continued regardless, performing various other drills.

"Haa- haa- haa-…," Vane inhaled greedily as they trained for more than 10 minutes.

Barbados, however, didn't even break a sweat—a testament to his strength.

"Good work, Vane. You kept up with my full strength, which is extremely commendable, considering you're only a peak mortal," Barbados praised.

"Thank you, sir," Vane expressed while getting up, recognizing his progress.

Ever since their deal, Barbados mentored Vane for two hours daily in sword techniques and situational drills, and they sparred often.

He absorbed all the techniques Barbados taught him, igniting his neurons to find efficient pathways for his procedural memory.

He made sure his calorific needs and rest were met appropriately, sleeping 9 hours a day while eating protein and carbs.

Vane had made substantial progress in swordsmanship, according to Barbados, and he never directly voiced Vane's talent, but there was an unsaid acknowledgment.

His strength had increased as well, something which he didn't expect.

After all, his body stood at the peak of humanity back in his previous world, and even a slight increase in strength was nigh impossible.

The escorts stood witness to his progress, surprise etched on their faces every now and then, but never voicing it out.

Vane held his side of the deal, providing Barbados with scientific techniques to improve his physique.

Vane advised him to progressively overload, eat protein-rich food with a lot of carbs, and get plenty of rest, which he lacked.

Barbados was skeptical at first, but after a while, he didn't complain, and Vane could feel he was getting stronger as well.

He bid goodbye to Barbados and decided to rest in his room, not before eating and showering, wiping out all the fatigue.

Nothing to do once he reached his room, his bored mind was a victim of devil's plays. He wanted to do something.

He looked at the stack of books on this world's magic and mana.

The thick books were at least 500 pages, and his inability to use mana limited his comprehension.

Especially terms like, 'Feel the mana in your mana core,' or 'Shape the mana to the requirements,' both of which he couldn't do.

He debated to go outside for a relaxing walk before;

KNOCK KNOCK

A familiar knocking, something he had grown accustomed to.

"I'm coming," he informed, opening the door, his mind broken from the chains of monotony.

The door opened to a beautiful woman in her 20s, wearing casual clothes, facing him.

"Hello~ Vane~, what are you doing~?" the beautiful nurse spoke, as if singing, sporting a wide grin.

The escorts grew accustomed to this, and they never interfered, merely relaying information to the officers.

"Hello, Celine! You seem to be in a good mood today, what happened?" Vane questioned the nurse, and she sat down on the bed, the only seating available.

"Hmm~, guess what happened?" she posed, prompting Vane to think.

He didn't know why she was in a good mood, but he guessed from her habits, and;

"You don't have duty today?"

"Bingo!" she snapped her fingers and pointed at him.

It was a rare occurrence, as she needed to be in the hospital ward most of the time, tending to the soldiers who subjugated the monsters.

He never set foot out of the fortress, ever since his arrival, so all he could see were soldiers arriving at odd times of the day;

Sometimes happy, sometimes sad—burdened with the loss of a comrade or suffering grave injuries.

Thankfully, the fortress was never threatened, and many times, he saw different faces every now and then, so the defence was robust.

Barbados had already served his duty and was working as a reserve force along with Remy and some others.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Vane asked her with a smile.

"You suggest something! Everything here is boring, gosh! I'm going to leave this place after I earn enough!" she vented, and understandably so.

"You sure will, and let me think, hmm... " he assumed a contemplative pose, and she looked at him, curiosity evident in her eyes.

Usually, they conversed, since she did not get much free time, and they wound up reading books or playing card games.

Since this was the first time she got a break, he decided to take her somewhere-

"What is it?" she impatiently let out when he thought for too long, and he quenched her doubts after settling on a thought;

"Maybe we can go ride a horse?" he suggested, not minding her impatience.

"Really? I thought horses were only for soldiers?" she questioned, an understandable doubt.

"Don't worry, I can get us some horses, as long as they're available and the soldiers aren't busy," he told her, and she looked overjoyed.

"Really!? Then it's perfect! The soldiers returned just now, and they had a good hunt, so we can go now right?" she asked, sporting a childish smile.

"Yes, we can, then, shall we go?" he asked her, to which she nodded fervently and stood up.

She took his hand and walked him out of the room, his heart rose at the sudden gesture, but he calmed himself quickly.

The escorts duly followed them, discomfort evident on their faces.

Celine practically dragged him to the stable, with a childlike fervor.

Her action reminded Vane of the times they met together.

In this unfamiliar world, he had someone who he could act casually around; Celine.

- - - -

[VANE'S POV]

Perhaps, it was her disposition, but she truly was ignorant—truly.

Maybe that's why I found it easier to be with her, and maybe that's why I was feeling this tightness in my chest.

My pensive face contorted into a smile when she turned back to look at me when we neared the destination.

We reached the stable, and I made small talk with the keeper, while he loosened the rope around the horse.

"I'm so excited Vane! It's my first time riding one, but, I don't know how to ride one. So, how will we do it?" she asked, innocently, sending pangs of guilt into my body.

As much as I didn't want to lead her on-

"I guess I'll be riding with you, come on!" I called her with a smile, but my chest tightened as I met her face.

"EH! What! W-wait, V-Vane, I'm not rea-!?" she averted her gaze, trying to say something, but I ignored it;

I grabbed her waist.

"EEEH! VANE!? W-what… are you doing?" Celine flailed around, while I grabbed her slender waist and lifted her.

"You're short Celine, so I thought I might as well lift you," disgust surged as I spoke those words, knowing she could've just used the stirrups.

She didn't complain whatsoever and hid her face, looking down—not out of sadness.

I jumped, gracefully mounting the horse, and sat behind Celine.

A pleasant floral scent wafted from her hair, her petite frame situated a head below me, and she wore a white dress with blue flower patterns.

"Shall we go?" I asked, and she only nodded.

I took control of the reins and commanded the horse to walk, and my bond complied, walking slowly.

Despite her excitement, Celine looked down, both of her hands gripped the horse tightly as it walked, eliciting a neigh.

NEIGH

"Celine, you shouldn't grip the horse too tightly; it will feel pained," as I said that, Celine quickly removed her hands, balling them and held them close to her abdomen.

I removed my hands from the reins and grabbed Celine's fists, guiding them to the horse's reins, and throughout the encounter, she didn't reject my touch.

The serene atmosphere allowed for a pleasant evening;

The dim sunlight painted the day in a wintry landscape as we rode around the grassy field, the escorts following us; trailing behind.

I maintained silence for a while, letting the escorts stray away from us, allowing for privacy.

Seizing the opportunity, I asked Celine;

"Celine, I'm curious, when do the guards usually go for the monster hunts?" I asked Celine, and she slightly jerked and looked at me.

Her soft jaw looked as if it were sculpted, her fair skin was laid with large brown eyes, coupled with her small nose and rosy lips, and my heart raced slightly.

I immediately composed myself and repeated my doubt;

"They seem to be gone at odd times; how often do they go?" I asked her, curiosity ringing my voice.

This time, she was broken out of her stupor, realizing I asked her something, she began to move her lips;

"Um—I-I'm not exactly sure, but they leave every 3 days or so... during emergencies, the entire army is sent immediately, but around three days," she answered in a low tone.

"Is that so? I mean, I never see them, haha, I never noticed, also, they leave every 3 days or so?

I see them leaving every 3 days though," I asked, leaning forward slightly, causing Celine to turn her gaze away, but still answered;

"T-That's true… I um... stayed before my shift once and uh—I saw them some of them leave a day earlier—I think, and they disappeared," she said, her fickle state surrendering extra information.

"Oh? They disappeared?" I asked.

"Y-yes, I think so, um—I think I saw some soldiers near the utility building that day," she gave me the final piece of the puzzle, a productive encounter, truly.

It all made sense now; the soldiers left—not after 3 days like people assumed, but rather after only a day—quite confusing, but very elaborate.

No wonder why, when I asked Remy and Barbados, they didn't know anything much, but now, I've found a critical point in my plans.

Now that I had the final piece of the puzzle, I rode for a few minutes l, before—

"Celine, it looks like you're uncomfortable, let's stop this; we'll go back," I said, already pulling the reins before she could answer.

Given my assertion, she didn't say anything, but merely nodded, and the escorts could breathe a sigh of relief as we neared the stable.

I dismounted the horse, holding out a hand for Celine, but she seemed to be in a world of her own;

"Hello—hello, Celine, can you hear me?" I said while waving my hand, yet, she seemed too deep into her stupor.

"Celine!" I shouted lightly, eliciting a wild jerk from her, and she finally looked at me;

"Come on, let's go. We'll go back now," I held out my hand, but she seemed hesitant.

This was going on for too long so I pulled her limp body;

"Ah!" She faltered, but I held her just in time, supporting her till she regained balance, and finally, she dismounted the horse.

"I apologise, Celine, but we have to leave now," I apologised, but my heart betrayed it—such trivial matters weren't relevant.