The sun climbed higher, and the town of Skywalk felt alive in a way that made everything seem a bit more active, more spirited. It was as if the entire town was beating at its own pace, and I was just trying to stay in tune. We walked through the crowds, squeezing our way past the students and locals, each absorbed in their own routines. That’s when I spotted Victhor and his group. They stood out, as if they belonged under a spotlight, with Victhor especially drawing attention. There was an undeniable aura around him, like he was always the center of whatever was going on. It wasn’t surprising when our eyes met, and he made his way toward our group, walking with the same purposeful stride.

As Victhor drew nearer, my gaze shifted to Hans. He appeared nervous, avoiding eye contact with Victhor. My mind wondered if there was a history between the two, but I chose to respect his privacy and refrain from prying. Interfering in matters that didn’t concern me was just not my thing.

When Victhor stood in front of me, he didn’t hesitate. “Hey, Arianna, are you free for lunch now?” His tone was casual, as if it were just another normal day. It threw me off a bit. I wasn’t expecting the suddenness of the question.

“Ah… Sure,” I stammered slightly, and glanced at Lina and Hans, hoping they’d come along. “You guys can—” But before I could finish, Lina cut me off with that grin of hers.

“Sorry, Arianna, you go ahead. There’s a store I want to check out, right, Hans?” She tugged at Hans, who looked as confused as I was.

“What store?” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“You know, that store—” Lina winked, and I instantly realized she was up to something. She had some secret plan in mind, and it definitely didn’t involve a store.

With them off on whatever secret mission they had, Victhor led me to a nearby cafeteria. The second we stepped inside, the smell of cuisines coming together hit me. It was an assault on the senses, but in a good way. We found an empty table, and the day’s earlier events seemed to melt away. It was nice to simply sit down, eat, and not think too much about anything else.

When our plates arrived, I almost didn’t know where to start. The grilled chicken in front of me looked perfect, the juices glistening with herbs and spices that promised to dance on my taste buds. The vegetables were colorful, and the bread? Golden-brown, with that crispy crust I could already imagine crunching into. My stomach growled its approval, and I didn’t waste any time digging in.

As I took the first few mouthfuls, savoring each one, Victhor broke the comfortable silence with a question. “So, how’s your training been going?” His voice was curious, but also oddly… knowing.

“It’s been amazing so far,” I answered between bites. “I’ve been learning all kinds of swordplay techniques. The instructors are great. They make it easy to pick up the moves.” It wasn’t a lie. The training had been tough but rewarding.

Victhor gave me an impressed look. “I heard you ranked first in your class after winning the freshmen swordplay tournament. That’s quite an achievement.”

I felt my face heat up at the mention of the tournament. “Oh, it’s nothing. Maybe I just got lucky that day,” I mumbled, trying to downplay it. But even as I said it, I knew he wasn’t buying it.

Victhor chuckled, seeing through my modesty. “Don’t sell yourself short. I should’ve seen your duels, but I was busy.” Then, his attention shifted entirely to me. “My friends who did watch said you used some… unknown technique that countered Seraphus’ family sword style. Mind telling me about it?”

The mention of Seraphus made my stomach twist. I hadn’t meant to reveal the Elemental Seven technique, but now I had no choice but to lie. “It’s the… Seven Basic Swordsman Steps,” I muttered, feeling the weight of the lie as it left my lips.

Victhor raised an eyebrow. “Wait. The Beginner’s Dance?” He looked at me as if I’d just said something unbelievable.

“Yeah,” I said quickly, avoiding his gaze, hoping the discomfort didn’t show too much. “That’s the one.”

“I didn’t know the Beginner’s Dance could be so effective,” Victhor said thoughtfully. “I mastered it when I was nine.”

I almost dropped my fork. “You what?” I asked, blinking in surprise. Nine? That was insane.

Victhor shrugged, like it was no big deal. “It’s a solid technique. But I stopped using it after mastering it.”

I couldn’t help but feel a bit of admiration for him. He wasn’t just some casual fighter. He was really skilled. I forced myself to smile. “Well, the Beginner’s Dance… it’s got a lot of potential. It’s all about adapting and improvising.”

Victhor nodded, understanding the gist of it. But then, he hit me with something unexpected.

“Who would’ve thought the Beginner’s Dance could beat one of Nova Aeria’s prestigious family sword styles?” he mused.

I blinked rapidly, processing what he had just said. “What do you mean by that?”

Victhor leaned back slightly in his seat. “Seraphus is from the Steincraft family. Their Whirling Vortex used to be ranked third in the kingdom before they fell out of favor with the Royal Court. It’s a technique known for its precision and speed.”

My jaw nearly hit the table. I’d beaten that technique with the Seven? I wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or guilty for making Seraphus look bad. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how significant that was.

I couldn’t resist asking. “So, which sword style holds the top rank now?”

Victhor’s face lit up. “That would be my family’s style, the Whirling Flash,” he said with clear pride. He didn’t just say it as a fact. He said it like it was part of who he was, part of his legacy.

I stared at Victhor, trying to picture this “Whirling Flash,” the style that everyone in the kingdom apparently considered number one. I could feel my respect for him growing, deepening just a little more. The guy wasn’t just brilliant; he was royalty in the sword-fighting world. For a fleeting second, I wondered how my skills would stack up against his.

But I dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it came. I didn’t even think I’d stand a chance against someone from a family with a top-ranked style. Not unless I unlocked the full potential of the Elemental Seven.

I tried to shake the thought off. My focus should’ve been elsewhere, but then I remembered something, and I almost blurted it out without thinking. “Oh, I almost forgot. Congratulations on becoming a Magic Swordsman. I heard about it from the school announcement a week ago.”

Victhor blushed slightly, and his modesty caught me off guard. “Thanks,” he said, brushing it off with a casual wave. “Honestly, I mastered the Magic Blade before I even started my first year here. I just didn’t make a big deal out of it.”

“Seriously! How talented and strong are you?” I wanted to say out loud what I was thinking, but my mouth just hung open in surprise. My brain took a moment to process. He’d mastered the Magic Blade before even starting school? That was beyond impressive. Victhor wasn’t just some flashy guy riding on his family’s reputation. He was legit. And yet, he acted like it was no big deal.

Before I could get lost in admiration, Victhor quickly shifted the conversation back to me. “Enough about me,” he said, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “Tell me more about your family. Where did you learn your swordplay?”

I wasn’t expecting that. It threw me off a little. My mouth suddenly felt dry. I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. It was one of those questions that could easily lead to uncomfortable territory. Still, after a moment, I decided to share about my life on Lower Earth.

I told him about growing up with my mom in a small cottage and how I’d started swordplay at a young age. But I left out the most important parts, the ones about my dad, about Johan, my master, the tough years, the mistakes, and the lessons that had shaped me. It felt too personal to share. Instead, I mentioned enrolling as a trainee swordsman at the Sword Guild in my hometown when I turned ten. It was a half-truth that conveniently avoided the details. Through it all, I couldn’t help but notice the eager expression on Victhor’s face, like he was a kid hearing a captivating story.

After lunch, we strolled through the streets of Skywalk. The sun hung high, and the markets were hurried with life. But I wasn’t really paying attention to the stalls or the students chatting nearby. My mind was elsewhere. And that’s when I saw him. Seraphus.

He was walking alone, which was not strange. The guy was always by himself. But it wasn’t just his solitude that caught my attention. It was the look on his face. That sharp, controlled expression I’d gotten so used to seeing from him was gone. In its place was a sad emotion that was hard to miss. It was clear. Losing to me in the tournament hadn’t been easy for him.

Our eyes suddenly locked for a second, and in that instant, I saw the surprised flash across his face, quickly replaced by something darker. Like an anger boiled up in him that almost seemed like he couldn’t control it. His jaw clenched, and in the blink of an eye, he turned on his heel and stormed off, disappearing into the crowd. It was so… intense. I didn’t want to admit it, but I felt guilty at the sight. Most likely because the swordplay tournament meant something significant to him. And I just snatched that away from his hands.

I turned my head. And there was Victhor, still walking with that effortless swagger of his, completely unaware or perhaps just unfazed by Seraphus’ exit. The crowd parted for him, as if they recognized the weight of his presence. Students stared, some smiling, others admiring him from a distance. It was hard not to notice. Victhor seemed to have that… it factor.

He casually nodded at a group of girls who melted at the gesture. Their admiration was so obvious it almost stung, though I couldn’t figure out why. Then, without thinking, I found my hand pressed to my chest, as if to steady myself. Why was my heart beating faster all of a sudden? What was that fluttering feeling I could barely control? I shook it off quickly. There was no room for whatever this was, no room for distractions. But as I watched Victhor, with his charm and calm confidence, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was exactly what I needed, someone who made things look so easy, someone for whom certain things came naturally.