Just yesterday I had reached the prestigious Chaplain rank. I learned shortly after that it was a rather rare commodity as most people who are born with mana manipulation usually reach Chaplain by their early twenties but I managed it within two years. Am I a prodigy? I mean if I was summoned here I half expected to be decently strong but it still feels vaguely exciting that I got given abilities.
But with the conditions to attend the magical society one of them was sword training, and I've been kinda slacking with that one. I haven't really got the hang of it but it's enough to probably attend the school. I just need to pretend to work hard on it and I can make it.
Father: Avery, I wanted to talk to you about something.
Avery: Yes, Father?
Father: I can tell you are slacking off in our sword training. I know you are rather focused on magic but I really want you to consider this opportunity. But, if you don't want to do it then you don't have to.
Avery: Uh its not like tha-
Father: Don't lie to me please, im a grown man I can take the truth.
Jeez! Father's taking this awfully serious. I mean to be honest I don't really want to pursue swordsmanship. In my old life I thought it was cool but with magic I feel like that should be more important. But I don't want to disappoint my father, our lessons, while lackluster he looks really joyful teaching me. I want to see him smile for real.
Avery: I want to continue swordsmanship! I'll take it seriously from now on, just please teach me!
Father: Are you sure?
Avery: Deadly.
Father: Very well, I'll call you later for training.
His serious face shifted as his eyebrows tilted and a weak yet fake smile formed upon his face. It felt good to see him happy. I got out of bed properly and made my way downstairs for breakfast. It was about the same as usual, mother cooking breakfast and father sitting idly by on a chair occupied with some random object.
After breakfast I quickly got ready for more magical training, heading out I made my way to the hill and prepared another Chaplain spell. The last one drained me of so much mana it hurt but if I keep using them I will eventually be able to tone down the strain on my body.
Charging up another attack I shot out the giant water bubble, it was still bursting with watery grace and vibrant blue tones. Before flying away and exploding onto the ground below. After casting the spell I fell flat on my back, giggling profusely.
I eventually returned home before being interrupted.
Father: Avery! It's time.
Avery: Oh Ok!
I exited to the side door and arrived at the field up the back. My father sat patiently holding two wooden swords. He sighed before handing me one and assuming a fighting position. It was the same as the last two years. We would spar and I would ultimately lose but today I had the motivation of a dying man.
I charged at him, forcing all my mana into the blade. Unlike mages, normal people can also use mana but only infusing it into weapons. So instead of getting stronger by casting stronger spells they train by mastering a fighting style and infusing more mana into the weapons. Those two components are what makes a worthy weaponsman.
Swinging a blow my blade was quickly caught by my father before being expelled back, catching myself with my foot I gained my balance and charged at him again, with the force of a bull compelling all my energy into the attack.
Bang! My blow was once again blocked and my father maneuvered into a counter attack, within a second a blunt wooden sword smacked me in the head. I fell back lying on the floor in a mix of pain, shock and dread from the loss. Lying in a puddle of shame my father extended a hand.
Thanks I guess. Honestly it's a shock to think somebody could even do that. Like yeah there's magic but whatever this guy just did was no magic. He is some superpowered human. A super soldier descended upon the earth.
Father: Chin up son, remember im a Gold ranked Swordsman. You're barely in the Beginner class. It'll come with time.
Avery: I guess you're right. But the way you fight is so insanely fast it just feels different from other sword fighting.
Father: You're correct! That's because most swordsmen use sword styles. It's the Art of the Sword in a way. A special way of fighting specific to swords. There are three types, Ground Guardian Style or Ground Style, Sky Saviour Style or Sky Style and Demon God Style or Demon Style. I use Sky Style which is why my attacks are focused on quick and precise counter attacks while the others are based on different things.
Avery: May I inquire on the Demon God Style?
Father: Hm? It was invented by a famously evil man known as Alzar. He was the one who wiped all the humans off of the Oblivus Continent. The way he fought was unique, it was an aggressive style which lacked defense, unlike the other two styles and became quite popular among Goblins, Demons and Demi-Humans inspired by their saviour which caused humans to start to use it.
Avery: Oh! Wow.
Alzar huh? Sounds pretty scary but to wipe out an entire continent's worth of humans is pretty impressive, disregarding the negative parts of it. E.g. Killing millions of people. Also I don't know a lot about Oblivus as well as the Lost Continent. I only know about Emperius, the land we live in and Parisen, practically an island of a continent up north.
Father: Alright! That's it for the day. Head on in, Avery.
Avery: All right then, Father.
The next two years of my life were focused on training, if I could attend this magical society it could help me learn more magic which would help me pull lots of chicks and maybe I could meet a powerful mage girl. Focus! As I was saying! The next two years were spent training relentlessly.