Dragon Clouds City, Heroic Spirit Palace, training ground.
Under the gazes of countless Heroic Spirit Palace guards and attendants, the sweating Thales swung the longsword in his right hand, lifted the shield in his left arm, spread his legs apart, and solemnly adopted the Iron Body Style that he had practiced countless times.
Even though he was preoccupied, the prince still had to carry out the necessary outdoor training every day.
"I don't know why you're still practicing this sword style." In front of him, the pale-faced former commander of the White Blade Guards lifted a heavy sword with a disdainful expression. "Even when fighting against the orcs, our army's combat style has been reinvented for hundreds or even thousands of years. And your sword style of holding a sword and shield and waiting foolishly for people to beat you up …"
"Are you going to keep talking nonsense?" the prince said impatiently.
"I remember that this is outdoor training, not satirical poetry writing?"
Nicholas pursed his lips. His gaze was unhappy.
The Star Killer's attitude towards the second prince, which was neither good nor bad, lasted for a whole six years, took a drastic turn for the worse after yesterday's state affairs hearing. He began to scrutinize Thales with a hostile gaze and was extremely harsh towards the Constellatiate teenager during outdoor training. Of course, Thales later found out why.
Thales shrugged, indicating that he could attack.
In the next second, Nicholas widened his footsteps and swung his sword.
* Thud! *
Thales' shield collided with Nicholas' heavy sword. The prince stepped forward and counterattacked with the longsword in his right hand, but Nicholas easily dodged it.
"If you really want to know, this sword style means a lot to me." Thales turned around and quickly aimed the tip of his sword at the enemy again. "A strict teacher once told me that I have to at least practice it to the point where it looks like it."
As he said this, the letter brought by Gilbert Toptille suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Madam Jines emphasized that you have to pay attention to your diet at this age. Don't be picky, especially when it comes to a balanced diet of various foods. Even the bitter vegetables from the Western Desert are of considerable value. You can try it …]
Jines' stern and straightforward image appeared in Thales' mind, and a thought flashed in his mind.
"Practice it to the point where it looks like it?" Nicholas snorted coldly. "Unfortunately, you didn't manage to do it."
The Star Killer dashed forward, held his sword with both hands, and swung it down with the help of gravity!
* Bang! *
He almost knocked down Thales, who was struggling to support his shield.
The prince gritted his teeth and felt the strength in Nicholas' sword gradually increase.
"As for those old friends of yours, please forgive me. I must tell you, ashamed and disappointed, that we still did not find them during the tenth search. Regardless of whether it was the female bartender from Sunset Pub or those child beggars, they are no longer in Eternal Star City. Although this is not the right time, I must suggest to you that perhaps Your Highness should give up on the search for them. First, the result may have already been decided, and second, a search as long as six years is really not in your favor …]
"Where's the boldness you had when you snatched the book from me?"
The Star Killer roared furiously, "Take it out! Don't make me feel like I'm sparring with an idiot!"
Thales lowered his body and twisted his hips with great effort to deflect the opponent's heavy sword. Then, he thrust his sword forward again. "Perhaps you should redefine who snatched the book from whom — Hey!"
However, before the prince's sword could take effect, the Star Killer lowered his body and kicked Thales, who was changing his posture, so hard that he staggered!
Outside the training field, Thales' attendant, Wya Caso, stood by the side with his hand on his longsword. He sighed and said to the silver-masked Ralf, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"You know, I am not slandering the prince. In fact, he is the earliest child I have ever seen. But you have to admit that aside from being good at analysis and planning, when it comes to intense battles where fists hit flesh and blood are involved, he is really …"
Wya looked at Thales, who was flustered and struggling in the training field, and shook his head. "He really … lacks talent."
Ralf frowned and looked at the chattering Wya with a displeased expression.
'This chatterbox.
'He has never stopped talking for six years.
'Is he treating me like a trash can?
'F * ck him.'
Ralf snorted in dissatisfaction. He did not even bother to turn his head as he stuck out his middle finger.
But Wya did not care.
He knew that Ralf, who could not speak, hated talkative people. However, if he could make the Phantom Wind Follower unhappy and enjoy his irrefutable, angry gaze, why not? Just like how Ralf also liked to gloat when he saw Wya's clumsy appearance when he did not understand the prince's sign language.
Wya disliked Ralf's casual and boorish street habits, and was also dissatisfied with the sign language that only he and the prince could understand. The Phantom Wind Follower hated the attendant's confidence and self-awareness as the prince's only spokesperson (which he was). He also looked down on the attendant's almost fastidious attitude towards etiquette and addressing.
That was right. Even though they had fought side by side many times, the two attendants of the prince, who were born into worlds apart, had never had a good relationship with each other.
Wya continued to frown and said, "If he had time and preparation, whether it was chess, negotiation, or even sword practice, the prince would undoubtedly be able to give a beautiful answer. But like this, when faced with a sudden attack, he would easily become flustered, nervous, and lose his composure. To be honest, he is a little like a new recruit, especially those ordinary civilians who are averse to blood and are not used to fighting.
"This is fatal in a battle. If you make a mistake at a critical moment, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
At this moment …
"You can just say that Thales is not good at fighting." Putray walked to their side and watched the training in the field. Surprisingly, he did not take out his pipe.
"Your Grace." Wya nodded respectfully, while Ralf only shook his head symbolically.
"Is there any way to overcome this?" Putray's eyes were bright. "Is there a problem where Thales becomes flustered at critical moments and his mind goes blank?"
"I'm afraid it will be very difficult." Wya turned his head around and looked at Thales, who was knocked to the ground for the second time. He sighed. "Swordsmanship can be practiced, and skills can be improved. But it is not easy to overcome the habits and character that have been around for many years."
At this moment, Ralf suddenly raised his palm gently. With a sinister gaze, he made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Hmm?" Putray noticed Ralf and raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
Wya looked at Ralf and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Erm, I think the mute probably means …"
"… I've heard in the tower that there's a quick way to develop combat instincts. Throw people into a battlefield where there's a slim chance of survival. Blood and death are the most efficient teachers. Over there, even a harmless sheep can turn into a ferocious dragon. Even the weakest warrior and the most unfamiliar recruit can quickly change their bad habits. Of course, the premise is that they don't die."
"And even supreme class elites, whether it's the Star Killer or the Kingdom's Wrath, their extraordinary combat abilities were slowly accumulated through fighting and killing. It's impossible for them to reach supreme class if they train against wooden stakes and targets." Thales' eyes widened.
Ralf snorted softly. It was unknown whether he agreed or disdained Putray.
Putray furrowed his brows.
"Thales is not a Northlander. He is a Prince of Constellation, a Jadestar, and may even become a king in the future." The former vice diplomat shook his head. "He only needs to dabble in the atmosphere of the battlefield. Whether it is personally going into battle or fighting on the battlefield, it should not be a necessary skill for him. He also does not need to become supreme class. His duty is to move the chess pieces in his hands under the protection of thousands of soldiers and horses."
Ralf mumbled something that no one could understand.
Wya exhaled. "But you know, during the Bloody Year, even with the protection of heavy guards, the Jadestar Royal Family …"
At the mention of this word, Putray suddenly turned his head!
The atmosphere seemed to have turned cold in an instant.
"Be careful with your words." Putray's sharp and rude gaze forced Wya's words back into his mouth.
"Do not make rash judgments about things that you do not understand, especially during the Bloody Year."
'And Jadestar.'
Wya looked at him, a little confused.
Ralf snorted coldly, taking pleasure in Putray's misfortune.
"I'm sorry, I should not have talked about the royal family." Wya, who was brought up in a noble family, apologized with great self-restraint. He sighed and found the next topic. "Speaking of which, it seems that you plan to stay for a long time after returning to Dragon Clouds City this time, Your Grace?"
Putray then shifted his attention back to the field.
"Yes," he said faintly, "It may be a little longer than you think."
"Speaking of which, the prince once mentioned it to me." Wya frowned slightly. "Six years ago, where did you go?"
Putray paused for a moment.
"Six years ago, on the second day after King Chapman's coronation, it was also when Lisban started to clean up the mess in Dragon Clouds City. Prince Thales was in a bad situation …" Wya's seemingly idle chatter continued.
"But you left Dragon Clouds City in a hurry without even saying goodbye?"
"Let's forget about that. After all, we've already reunited." Wya retracted his gaze and said a little worriedly, "But what I'm more concerned about is, it's been six years. Why did you have to come back at this time?
"Why not earlier, when the prince had yet to gain a firm foothold, or later, when the prince had to face difficult problems such as marriage?
"Why did it have to be now?
"This makes me a little … worried."
Ralf also frowned. It was rare that he did not express his opinion on Wya's words.
The corner instantly fell silent.
Putray lowered his eyelids. Slowly, he reached into his bosom and took out the old tobacco pipe that he had been using since six years ago.
"You know, a long time ago, when I was still young, our teacher once said during our graduation." The skinny former deputy diplomat filled his tobacco at a leisurely pace, took out a flint and lit his pipe. "Gilbert Caso has a big heart. When he looks at a problem, he is not confused by what is in front of him. He jumps out of the rut and grabs the main point beyond his sight. Perhaps he will be the kind of chess player who has great foresight, is good at long-term strategies and schemes."
"That's why that naïve bastard always thinks too much."
When he heard Putray's incoherent reply, Wya raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Huh?"
"Even if you don't admit it, Wya." Putray inhaled a mouthful of smoke in satisfaction and said with a smile, "There are still many things about you that are very similar to your father …
"For example, thinking too much."
Wya seemed to have thought of something. He shut his mouth and turned around with an unpleasant expression.
He did not pursue the matter further.
In the field, Thales took two steps back. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Putray and Wya, who had a strange atmosphere between them.
While he was puzzled, he could not help but think of another point mentioned in Gilbert's letter.
"Your Highness, please trust Putray as always, especially during this special moment. For your future, please trust him! Also, please maintain the respect you deserve for that new teacher. Be humble and learn from him. He is probably the person I respect the second most in my life. "
Gilbert emphasized twice that he trusted Putray.
'Why?'
His sword flashed. Nicholas attacked again.
This time, Thales, who had been retreating, finally got his chance.
When Putray hit his shield for the third time, the prince blocked the attack and performed the Breaking Edge style that he had prepared for a long time.
He went straight for the enemy's weakest left side, which made Nicholas' eyes brighten.
"Good idea."
But immediately after, the Star Killer swung his heavy sword back and faced this sharp counterattack!
Following the trajectory of his opponent's heavy sword, Thales struggled to swing the shield in his left hand and used all his strength to push away his opponent's counterattack.
* Swoosh! *
Nicholas' heavy sword slashed across the surface of the shield. The wind brought about by the blade swept past Thales' hair!
At that moment, Thales, who felt a chill run down his spine, shuddered.
As this sense of imminent danger assaulted him, Thales felt an inexplicable shudder suddenly erupt from his spine and attack his brain.
In the next second, that familiar yet unfamiliar fluctuation — the Sin of Hell's River — surged out of his body uncontrollably and uncontrollably!
It was like a startled beast that had suddenly woken up from hibernation!
It was also like a sudden freezing storm that attacked every inch of his body, including his brain.
It gave him the desire to risk everything.
But the prince did not feel at ease at all!
Thales felt the Sin of Hell's River go berserk, and he was terrified!
'No.
No! '
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