In Eternal Star City, the excitement caused by the prince's return had subsided (or perhaps it was just being suppressed, waiting for the next outbreak). At least Mindis Hall, which was closed to all visitors, was no longer as crowded as before. Thales enjoyed a rare period of peace and quiet.
But this did not mean that he was at ease from then on.
From the second day onwards, before Prince Thales could properly enjoy the power that came with the great identity of "master of Mindis Hall", the Royal Teaching Group led by Gilbert ("Royal Fresh Meat Packaging Company" — the duke's indignant words) entered Mindis Hall in an orderly manner.
First of all, the instructor for grammar classes, which included the language of the Ancient Empire and the common language of the elves, was the renowned Grand Scholar Bonar from Wang Liwen Law School.
To be able to hire him, one could not help but say that he was a good and cheap teacher.
On one hand, Grand Scholar Bonar's bald head, which was so smooth that it could reflect light, saved a lot of lamp oil in Mindis Hall and conserved resources.
On the other hand, his soft, deep, and intermittent voice ("I'm dying of illness" — the mean D.D. who could never speak loudly again) forced the entire Mindis Hall to maintain absolute silence during class hours, benefiting the environment.
Third, his profound knowledge and wide range of fields almost compressed the prince's five subjects (grammar, logic, rhetoric, the language of the Ancient Empire, and the language of the elves) into one, allowing Thales to understand the answers to the following questions:
How much would the language, which even has a completely different word order from the common language such as the troublesome language of the Ancient Empire and the damned common language of the elves, bring about changes to grammar? How would it affect the principles and expressions of logic? What kind of challenges would it bring to rhetoric? How would they affect the current language and way of speaking? How would they change people's habits of thinking? In the end, how would they cruelly and mercilessly nibble away at Prince Thales' precious sleep time?
"Your Highness, y-y-you can't recite it all? T-then sleep a little later … Anyway, you young people are lying when you say that you sleep early. You do everything but sleep in bed … What, it's not good for your hair? Oh, that's not important … Your Highness, do you know about wigs? Who in the palace doesn't wear wigs and fake breasts … What, you won't grow taller if you sleep late? Hey, Your Highness, won't you be tall enough if you wear the crown … "— The trembling Scholar Bonar, whose words caused the prince's face to change color three times.
Gilbert personally took charge of the history lesson. Compared to Scholar Bonar's extensive quotations and farsightedness, the Foreign Affairs Minister's goal was simple and clear: to turn Prince Thales into a humanoid version of 'From the Ancient Empire to Constellation: Two Thousand Years of General History Encyclopedia'.
"'Index!' Your Highness, I must correct your joke. It's just an index of the Encyclopedia. It's enough to scare … Ahem, it's enough to show your erudition. "— The Stern Gilbert)
As for mathematics, it was perhaps one of the few subjects that could bring comfort to the Duke of Star Lake. Scholar Julio was rather surprised by Thales' level in geometry and algebra, especially when the prince had wasted six years in "the godforsaken Eckstedt".
But what gave Thales a headache was that, as Julio's confidence in him grew higher and higher, in order to teach an unprecedented "Prince of Mathematicians" ("After you're crowned, you must remember to allocate funds for us. Look, oh my, these naughty little formulas are so beautiful and cute. Don't they look like they're smiling at you?" — Scholar Julio, who kept waving his orchid fingers) The excited former was enthusiastically and rapidly expanding their course syllabus.
For example, one day, Scholar Julio finally combined algebra and geometry, and began to plan for Thales to use algebraic equations to calculate the trajectories and changes of celestial bodies.
"These basic equations don't match up, do they? The movement of the Highest Star is too strange … And you know, is it possible for us to grasp these immeasurable movements? A few scholars from Dragon Kiss Academy imagined that as long as we divide this movement process into different parts, and then continue to divide it, we will be able to get the answer. Let me show you the calculation formulas they came up with … Hey, Your Highness? What's wrong with you, Your Highness? Wake up, wake up, Your Highness! You should finish the questions first before you faint! "— Scholar Julio, who was young and promising but had turned pale.)
And the course materials they used had already expanded from the mathematical problems in ancient books to the actual figures of the people's lives. There were even a few times when Julio suggested that they might as well try to estimate the future annual income based on the country's previous annual income, or estimate the figures of all of Constellation based on the population growth in the Central Territory. Thales had reason to suspect that if he did not behave stupidly and slow down the course, it would only be a matter of time before a terrifying bell-shaped curve and a series of concepts appeared in his books.
As for the nature course, thankfully, when the knowledgeable Lord Monton talked about astronomy, geography, culture, and customs, he was often humorous and captivating. If the prince did not often interrupt him and embarrass him.
"Why is the Highest Star in the East? What are the components of Crystal Drop Ores? If we kill all the whales one day, we won't have any more Eternal Oil to use, right? Are werewolves and vampires really cursed monsters? Are they related to wolves and bats? Dragon-Kissed Land is a basin, so isn't its climate a little strange? Are the fog and whirlpools over the Twin Mist Seas really formed naturally? There were so many witnesses to the legend of the sea monsters in the Devil's Sea. Has no one ever doubted it? Why can the beliefs of Sunset and Bright Moon coexist with their temples and churches? Man-eating flowers are like Great Dragons. How do they deal with their energy consumption? Is the Capital of Triumph and the homeland of the Empire really under the Eye of the Sea of Eradication? How do the Blood Clansmen in Grand Banquet Hill rule? There must be different terrains and climates in the Great Desert, right? Is the desert city Caligri real? Why didn't the mighty force that created the Great Crack and Sink form a whirlpool and suck in the two continents? Where did the plague in the Three Kingdoms of the Mystery Sea start? Why is the interval between the two eruptions of Sanra Volcano so short? Is it because of the direction of the ocean current that the speed to reach the Eastern Peninsula from different ports is different? "— The prince's" One Hundred Thousand Whys ".)
As for the art class, after seeing and listening to the paintings meticulously prepared by the Duke of Star Lake and the lute performance, the prestigious Master Uhran gently told Thales, "Actually, you don't have to be a creative artist to learn art. You can also be an art appreciator. I think, the duke is very suitable to be an art appreciator who will leave his name in history, very, very suitable …"
In short, this week of the prince's refresher course made Thales miss his former life in Heroic Spirit Palace even more, except for the dead face.
'Why, why didn't I kidnap Little Rascal and bring him to class in the first place?'
Thales, who felt like his body was being hollowed out every day, silently wept as he thought.
It would have been better for him to go back to the desert.
At least the orcs would not force him to memorize the seven types of words, three parts of speech, four tenses, three voices, four pronouns, five word orders, and eighteen different sentence patterns that could be changed according to the situation, including the complicated rules of pronunciation. In comparison, the language of the modern Empire of that nuisance of a general in the Black Track was too simple.
Or the twenty-two variations of the common pronunciation and intonation of the elven language. God, that was practically a vocal music class.
In Mindis Hall, the pressure Thales felt was so great that he even forgot about the banquet two months later, not to mention the power whirlpool in Renaissance Palace.
Even some of the "special" classes that were supposed to be slightly easier were the same.
Like now.
"Do you feel it, Prince Thales?
"As your weapon, it is so firm, straight, and tough, yet it does not lose its tenacity and elasticity …"
The gentle and easygoing voice rose from his left ear and slowly circled to his right ear, making him itch.
"But it is also so impulsive, wild, and has endless desires. It cannot be held back, longing to release itself, to behave atrociously, to conquer … But you cannot easily obey it. You must control it and not let this wild horse out of its cage easily …"
Thales' cheeks were red, and his breathing was rapid. He had no time to pay attention to the voice beside his ear.
"Exert strength in your waist, hold it steady with your hands. Yes, that's it. Maintain this posture and direction. Try to straighten it, do not tremble …"
Sweat flowed down Thales' cheeks. He suddenly trembled.
'Oh no!'
The voice became stern.
"I know this is difficult, but you must persevere! Straighten it! Straighten it! Raise it higher! Don't let it fall … "
But Thales could feel that he was already …
'No.'
An uncontrollable numbness spread throughout his body.
'Oh no, oh no.
'I, I can't persevere anymore …'
Thales felt dizzy.
He was about to …
About to …
'Ah!'
Finally, with a dull thud, the practice sword in Thales' hands fell onto the sand along with the weight wheel hanging on the blade.
The Duke of Star Lake breathed rapidly. His arm was sore and numb, and his gloves were drenched in sweat.
Footsteps rose. Mallos walked up from behind him and stared at the sword on the ground with a contemplative look.
"The time … is a little short?"
Thales swung his sore arm in frustration. He stomped his feet on the training ground that was temporarily emptied in the courtyard to soothe the numbness.
"It's fine," the prince said resentfully.
"I'm just not used to it.
"Northlanders don't teach like this. They tend to train against each other. "
Mallos snorted softly.
"Then perhaps … you should go back to Northland?"
Thales was instantly rendered speechless.
The setting sun shone on the courtyard of Mindis Hall, elongating Mallos and Thales' shadows on the ground.
Behind them, Doyle stood under a pillar and said something to Glover beside him.
"Obviously, our prince has not gone through systematic training."
Doyle shook his head.
"Looks like the Northlanders who are good at fighting are limited in their abilities."
Glover pursed his lips.
'That's right.'
At that moment, Thales was listlessly attending the "martial arts lesson" personally taught by Lord Mallos. Obviously, after an entire day of torturing his brain, the duke was not very interested in his personal guard captain's lesson of standing in a stance.
But Mallos seemed to be enjoying it.
"Sword forms and sword stances are important parts of ancient knight training." The watchman still had that polite smile on his face. He was not troubled by the prince's failure and attitude at all.
"Especially the 'Seventeen Knight Swords'. This is a classical and orthodox knight technique. It has been passed down in the palace since the Empire.
"After Constellation was founded, it went through the careful research of countless masters, and it became what it is today."
Under the gaze of a few Royal Guards who sparred with him, Mallos walked into the field and elegantly picked up the prince's metal practice sword. He hesitated for a moment and did not pick up the weight-bearing wheel as well.
"Every movement and posture has been carefully considered and verified countless times." Mallos turned the sword around and handed it over. He was gentle and elegant, and there was not a hint of impatience.
"And you need to pay full attention to it, carry it through to the end, and execute it to the extreme. Let it be deeply embedded in your body and become instinctive."
Thales, whose mind was still filled with word order, cases, and arithmetic formulas, sighed and took the sword that Mallos handed over.
But when Thales pulled, the longsword did not move at all!
Thales was shocked and snapped out of his listless state.
He raised his head and found that the sword was held firmly in Mallos' palm. He did not let go.
"So that at any moment during the battle, you can return to the most familiar and safest posture."
Mallos stared at him deeply and started to become serious.
"For example, every time you attack, no matter what the outcome of the battle is, you must instinctively and quickly return to defend and remain alert."
In the next second, Mallos suddenly let go. Thales swayed a little due to inertia before he stood firm.
In the face of this rather unfriendly 'reminder', Thales forced a smile and swung the sword in a familiar manner.
"Even when the enemy is dead?"
Mallos' gaze turned cold.
"Even when the enemy is dead."
Thales was shocked.
Mallos continued.
"I guess the Northlanders did not teach you about the 'rear attack'?"
"Even if you cut off your opponent's head, his body will still retain inertia, and he can completely continue to complete the move he made before he died, such as cutting off your head."
Thales paused for a moment.
"In fact, the Northlanders did."
The young duke turned his eyes and noticed that Doyle and Glover were watching from afar. Doyle even yawned rudely.
"But, you know, what they have to face is the orcs' near-death counterattack." Thales shrugged. He decided to make a bet on this topic and quickly complete his portion for the day.
"If they let that kind of counterattack come out, regardless of whether they block it or not, and whether they block it with a strong or weak sword, it is basically a matter of time. There is not much meaning in returning to defend.
"So they emphasize on offense as defense, and they advocate suppressing the situation and pursuing the enemy while they are victorious …
"They believe that the most perfect battle is to make the opponent unable to fight back from the beginning until the end."
Thales shook his head. 'Nicholas the Star Killer, Tolja the Fire Knight, Monty the Raven of Death …'
Hmm, among the Northland elites he met, there did not seem to be many who were particularly good at defense.
On the contrary, in Constellation, from the Fortress Flower to the Legendary Wing, and even the Knight of Judgment in the Prison of Bones …
As for the Kingdom's Wrath …
Alright, that was an unusual existence that even the Northlanders were wary of.
But Mallos looked at him with a profound gaze. He then took two steps forward, pressed down on Thales' shoulder, and moved closer to his ear.
"Then you better remember that your life is much more valuable than most people's."
"What you need to do is to survive, Your Highness, and not to die a moment later than your opponent.
"Survive."
Mallos' tone was wary and mysterious. He sounded a little like a ghost story, and it made Thales shudder subconsciously.
"Also, most of the opponents you will meet in the future — if there are any — will be humans." Mallos let go of Thales' shoulder expressionlessly. "When you face their 'attack from behind', it is very important to be able to return to defense in time and intelligently."
Mallos' smile had long since disappeared.
"After all, what you learned is sword fighting, not suicide fighting."
Thales frowned. He could sense Mallos' displeasure. 'It seems that my carelessness just now has offended him?'
Mallos walked out of the arena and said coldly,
"Return to the posture you were in when you received the sword and put on the weights.
"Try to persevere for another half an hour and let your body get used to it."
'Half an hour?'
Thales' face instantly turned sour.
He had only experienced twelve hours of training since six in the morning.
'Does he still want to eat dinner?'
Mallos did not even turn his head around.
"I know that this process is very boring, empty, and tiring. There is no opponent, and there is no goal.
"Only you."
The watchman's words contained a hint of coldness.
"There is only loneliness, desolation, forbearance, perseverance, and no helpers or enemies."
Thales exhaled.
"In truth, your greatest enemy is living in your own will."
Mallos turned around abruptly. His tone was incredibly firm.
"Kill it.
"Take back your will."
Thales could not help but raise his eyebrows again.
'Really?
Why did the lines in this training session sound so much like an inspirational story … '
But even though he criticized in his heart, Thales could only do as he was told. He pulled out the standard knight's posture for receiving the sword and tried his best to make his body meet the requirements.
'It's just that my mind is a little adrift.'
Thales thought in resignation.
Soon, in less than ten minutes ("It should be almost time, right?" After Thales, who was drenched in sweat and looking forward to it), the tip of his sword began to tremble. His movements gradually changed, and he could not quite bear it anymore. Muscle strength had never been Thales' forte.
But this time, Thales secretly called out to his most familiar comrade.
Soon, that habitual fluctuation came to him in a hidden and obedient manner. It spread to his right arm, soothed the soreness and burden in his muscles, and endlessly injected new energy into it.
Thales gritted his teeth and exhaled. 'Not bad, I feel much better.'
The trembling at the tip of his sword also slowly subsided.
He tried to stretch his body and return to the most standard knight's posture for receiving the sword.
Outside the field, Mallos' eyes lit up as he observed attentively. He started to nod.
Even Glover and Doyle's attention was drawn to him.
"Wow, I underestimated him just now."
Doyle scratched his head.
"The Northlanders do have some skills."
Even though he did not use hell's senses, he had more or less enhanced his hearing, and he delivered these words into Thales' ears faithfully.
The prince's lips curled up.
"Not bad …"
Mallos walked into the field with great interest.
"Not bad, Your Highness.
In fact, it far exceeded my expectations. "
Thales could not help but straighten the line from his arm to the tip of his sword.
Then, Mallos nodded in understanding and smiled mysteriously.
"It's really not bad …"
The watchman's gaze swept past Thales' steady arm and standard posture. In his most gentle and elegant tone, he gasped in admiration.
"… Where's the Power of Eradication?"
At that moment, Thales, who had been focusing all his attention on maintaining his sword posture, was shocked!
'What … did he say?'
The tip of his sword trembled slightly.
On the other side, Glover and Doyle looked at each other with puzzlement in their eyes.
Mallos smiled softly.
But he suddenly extended his hand and seized Thales' sword hilt!
Suddenly, the Sin of Hell's River, which was already active, surged up, causing Thales to instinctively pull his wrist back!
A huge force surged over. Mallos' expression first changed, then he curled up the corners of his lips and let go of the sword hilt.
It was as if he had discovered something.
Thales took two steps back due to inertia and looked at Mallos in shock and bewilderment.
* Thud! *
There was another muffled sound. The weight-bearing wheel slid off the sword again and rolled hopelessly on the sand for the last time.
The captain of Thales' personal guards exercised his hands calmly and nodded slowly, as if he was still reminiscing about the contest of strength with the prince just now.
But his expression calmed down, as if he had understood the truth.
Thales understood something and found it increasingly hard to believe.
Since six years ago …
Since the first time the strange power known as the Sin of Hell's River awakened in his body …
Other than Black Sword, whose power came from the same source, no one had ever taken the initiative to discover his secret in the past six years.
It did not matter whether it was his enemies in Northland and the desert, or his old friends in Constellation.
Thales was also happy to hide himself and preserve his trump card. Whether it was against the Star Killer, the Raven of Death, or against Shadow Shield, this trump card that he revealed at the very last moment had a pretty good effect.
But …
Thales stared at Mallos in a daze.
Today, the Sin of Hell's River …
Finally …
He was discovered.
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