Chapter 6. The Benesse Knights Captain

'Asher. You've returned.' Javier's voice sounded as I warmed up in the outer training grounds. It was already mid-afternoon, the trees of the forest rustling with life. Soon, the afternoon patrols would begin and I would have to leave again. There was still some time to train, though.

Javier approached. 'You're late. Did the trip to the Temple take long?'

'Ah... I had a small chat with the Chieftain, thats why...' I couldn't easily tell him I spoke to Yurielle for some time. Not only was I slacking off on duty, but Javier and Yurielle's friendship had fallen apart a while ago. It was Yurielle who had walked away. 

Holding a band between my lips, I snaked two fingers through my hair. After a few twists, I secured my hair into a half-up ponytail. I stretched a little, rolling back my shoulders. 

Javier folded his arms. His face was red under his freckles and sweat beaded down his neck. That's odd. I thought, observing him closer. It was unlike Javier to tire so easily. 

'Anyway, fine timing.' Javier sighed. 'His Grace is here today too.'

Lucien is?

'The Captain is training today?' I inadvertently echoed.

It wasn't uncommon that Lucien would join us during daily training sessions. But he had been so busy recently I had almost forgotten what it was like to have him present. While there was an inescapable pressure to not disappoint nor fail in front of him, it was easy for someone like me to go unnoticed. 

After all, Lucien only ever sparred with Javier. 

The Blazing Sword of the North, and the Storm Knight. When their blades clashed, sparks flew. Mana rushed around them, a tornado of lightning and fire, ruthless and deadly. 

Come to think of it, have I ever fought with Lucien before?

'Sir Asher, was it?' The familiar voice resounded, directing my attention away from Javier.

'Huh?' I misspoke, staring into the golden depths of Lucien Avery Benesse. They gleamed with a peculiar shine, like molten coins. He was stood in front of me in a plain shirt and black pants, his sword sheathed at his waist on a black leather belt. I quickly composed myself. 

'Yes, Your Grace.' I bowed my head promptly, a hand on my leather-plated breast. 'Sir Asher, Senior Knight. At your command.'

For a moment, Lucien was quiet, his gaze resting on me.

'So it was you who fainted at the Temple the other day.'

I fell silent at his words, holding my breath.

... What's this? I thought inwardly, an uncomfortable sensation running through me. Am I in trouble? 

Javier had seemed concerned about me when I woke up, that I didn't think too much about the Duke. After all, had I caused too much of a problem by crashing out of the blue...?

Though Javier assured me that everything was fine... 

'The Duchess was awfully concerned about you. Seeing as you are back at training, I assume that everything is well now?' Lucien spoke, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword sheathed at his waist. I straightened. 

"Yes, I apologise for worrying the Duchess. Thanks to the assistance of Your Grace's people, I have recovered well. I am deeply grateful, Captain." Difficult though it was to meet his eyes, I did so as I spoke. It was a strange thing to speak to the male lead of the novel so directly. 

Now that the novel is ended, are things starting to change...?

No. I took back my thoughts. 

What wasn't written in the first place, couldn't change. 

Things from now were completely unscripted. 

Then, for some reason, Lucien's lips curled upward slightly. Something like a scoff left his lips. 

'Sir Asher, you are one of my people.' He waved his free hand dismissively, turning as he started back towards the training grounds. 'Since you've recovered, I'd like to spar with you. Would you be okay with real swords? These ash wood swords break easily.'

Wait... Huh?

'He's only just recovered, Lucien. Isn't fighting against you a bit too much?' Javier followed after.

'Javier, you told me he was one of your best.'

'Even so...!'

Dazed, Lucien and Javier's words slipped past me. Really? Was I about to go up against the Duke Benesse? The man who had single-handedly taken down the entirety of the Count's knight order when they kidnapped Lunaria? Or successfully fought against bandits with high level mages when they attacked his carriage? 

The male lead with plot armour on top of his metal armour, reinforced with magic, as well as his own endless pool of mana.

'No, up against that guy... won't I just die?' 

'Come on, Sir Asher.' Lucien called, snapping me back to the surreal moment. 'While I'm being nice, I'll go easy on you.'

I stepped forward into a clear space. Murmurs started to roll from the other knights. A few snickers. 

Ah... how irritating.

They were probably all thinking something along the lines of 'this should be interesting.' Someone like me standing opposite the Duke for a duel, training though it may have been.

It was like a mouse in a lion's cage. 

I picked up a sword from the wooden stand on the side, the silver blade glinting in the sun. It wasn't my usual sword, the hilt bare and the blade slightly shorter, so the weight felt off. Still, it wasn't something that would bother me too much. Standing in front of Lucien, I poised myself. He had a smile that was more smug than I'd liked, the confidence of a main character. But there was no malice or hostility. 

"Sir Asher. You are one of my people."

... Did Lucien really mean that? Someone who couldn't even remember my name, even if he wanted to?

'I'll let you strike first, senior knight.' Lucien lifted his blade defensively. A sense of foreboding lingered at the bottom of my chest. 

I probably can't slack off. I concluded. Against the Captain of the Benesse Guard, pretending to be inept was dangerous for two reasons. For one, I doubted he would truly go easy on me. I couldn't read the subtle waves in his eyes. Whether Lucien liked me or not, it was something I have never thought about before. But this seemed like a make-or-break moment.

And If I failed to meet his expectations here... 

I have a bad feeling.

As for the second reason...

I would get a hell of a scolding from Javier later. 

With a discomfited feeling, I sighed silently. My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword and I raised it too, stepping one foot back. 

'Then, please teach me well, Your Grace...!'

With a harsh jump, I lunged forward, swinging my sword in a vertical arc. Expertly as expected, Lucien blocked, his red hair swaying. Clangs resounded in the air. Back and forth, I swished and dodged, my feet touching the ground for milliseconds before leaping again and again. 

The hell is he so fast? I thought, feeling my breaths slowly get heavier. He was almost as fast as Javier. The trade-off was strength. While the Storm Knight was known for his agility, his power was less than that of the fierce Duke. 

And yet, I was still struggling to keep up with Lucien.

He was seemingly calm. Rather than the smug smile from before, he had a focused face. I struck again, swinging my blade sideways. Lucien stepped back and I stepped closer. But when I brought my sword down, it was blocked once more.

Thud! A kick to my stomach sent me flying backwards, the pain suddenly hitting me. 

'Urgh!' A coughing gasp scraped up my throat. 

'Not bad.' Lucien flashed a smile. Though I didn't feel pleasant at all. I watched Lucien approach at a terrifying speed, rolling hastily to my side and kicking myself up back to my feet. Clang! Not a second later, I was blocking his blade once again, pushing it away with a harsh ringing sound. 

Too busy trying to keep up with Lucien, I could neither see nor hear the crowd which had gathered. The muttering had ceased, the rest of the knights and trainees now watching intently. Javier was staring too, an observant look in his greyish-green eyes. 

Huffing, I watched Lucien. While I was starting to feel a strain in my arms and legs, Lucien was standing completely fine. Was it his ability to use mana? Or was it that he simply had that much stamina? 

Even though I know I have a chance close to nothing, this is still bothering me. 

Lucien's placid face was neutral, neither hostile nor friendly. Still, I was starting to feel irked. My gaze deepened inadvertently as a thought came to my mind. 

Then... Should I try that?