"Haah!"
With all of the guards present, all of them seemed to be mages.
It seemed like the only ones present with weapons were Brandon and Evelyn.
Though they weren't duelists at all.
Evelyn was a mere pretender, and Brandon was just fixated on learning the sword.
While the rest of the guards trained separately. Some even loitering around, completely content with their current abilities.
Brandon on the other hand, continuously swung his blade forward.
Slash—!
He tried to get the timing right. Increasing the force of the swing, at the same time his foot stomps the ground.
Slash—!
Sweat trickled down his face with each swing. His clothes started sticking to his back.
An hour passed.
The heads had already left to go about their own business.
It was time for lunch. For that reason, the guards left the private training grounds.
Everyone except Brandon.
And....
"What were you doing?"
Evelyn.
She approached him, lowering her hood.
Brandon halted his movements and turned his head, acknowledging her presence.
"Waiting for you. I had to do something. Else, I would've died from boredom."
"Hah."
She chuckled.
"We can't be too suspicious. If they see us suddenly become close, they'll be suspicious. My reputation is kind of.... aloof?"
"I see."
Makes sense.
Now that they were on the topic.
"Actually...."
Brandon leaned close and whispered in her ear.
Evelyn's eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"Mhm."
"That's such a coincidence.... Do you trust him?"
"Yes. Just like us, he wants the syndicate to fall."
Brandon paced himself and walked towards a more open area. Evelyn followed closely from behind.
Since the two were the only ones who used weapons, it wouldn't be weird if they got along.
They just needed to make the pace more believable.
"For now, let's use wooden swords. Here."
Evelyn tossed him a wooden sword and Brandon caught it with ease.
"First, I need to assess where you stand. Remember, no magic."
"Okay."
Brandon nodded his head.
The entire arrangement was ironic.
The two were mages, and yet, they were having lessons about swordsmanship.
Evelyn stood straight and extended her hand forward. The tip of the sword facing Brandon.
"Tsk."
He clicked his tongue.
'He's a failure.... So why am I....'
Clicking his tongue once more, he raised his head, meeting Evelyn's gaze.
"Don't be disheartened. Just like me, your body isn't built to become a duelist."
All of a sudden, Evelyn's eyes began to glow a hollow color.
"Since I needed a proper identity, I had to develop my own way of fighting, without relying too much on my affinity."
Evelyn picked up another wooden sword, facing the tip forward.
"I did study swordsmanship. Along with my knowledge, and a bit of creativity, I've come to develop something for myself."
"That is...?"
"Well, it's general knowledge that mages cannot ever be as physically strong as a duelist, right?"
It was for that reason why most mages had never picked up the sword.
"Yes."
Brandon nodded his head.
Evelyn continued.
"Then I'll show you what I've been working on for the past six months."
Her brows suddenly knitted, and Evelyn fixed a battle stance.
"Come."
Listening to her provocation, Brandon picked up another wooden sword and positioned himself.
Swoosh—!
All of a sudden, Evelyn disappeared from his peripheral view.
Brandon kept his guard up and looked around, trying to trace her figure.
'Didn't she say no mana...?'
Although despite his complaint, he could tell Evelyn had not used mana at all.
There were no traces of mana from where she once stood.
"....!"
Suddenly, Evelyn appeared right below him. The tip of her wooden sword aimed to thrust at his sternum.
Having no time to react, Brandon only reacted as much as he could before the sword met his sternum.
"Ukeh!"
Too fast!
He was caught off guard, causing him to let out a groan, feeling his rib crack a little.
Staggering back and clutching his chest, Brandon started coughing.
"Cough! Cough! What... was that?"
"I only said no magic for you."
Then that meant, she was using magic.
However....
"I couldn't sense your mana though?"
"Yes. This is the sole principle of my swordsmanship. Subtly using mana in bursts to assist and enhance our muscles."
For that reason, they can enhance the speed and force of their attacks.
"At the same time, it simultaneously trains your mana control efficiency."
She had a point. Though mana was present inside everyone, the abundance was different.
For that reason, not everyone chose to become mages.
And unluckily born with a fragile body, they opted to become normal people instead.
'Skill issue.'
Is all he could say.