"I often practice sword forms and spar with my Senior Sister at the Water God Style dojo. Previously, when we were practicing the Water God Style Sword Formation (Flowing Water Sword Formation) together, she said: 'This formation emphasizes unified advance and retreat; if you hesitate even slightly, the momentum of your sword breaks.' I pondered this for a long time before realizing she could perceive the frequency of my breathing while I practiced. It was like a sword sheath and a blade that shared a single mind. Now, I offer those words to you: I am willing to become Senior Sister's sword sheath. Even if a thousand armies press in like collapsing mountains, I will be her strong support, letting arrows pierce the clouds and wind blades shatter armor, ensuring her back never bends even slightly."
My brain cells must have been working overtime to squeeze out those words. I hoped the mother-in-law would be satisfied... I felt a bit cowardly.
It seemed like I said something, but also said nothing. This was too difficult.
Izoruti's mother didn't press further. She took Izoruti and left. Just as they were about to exit the main door, I remembered something.
I called out to Izoruti. Her parents didn't stop; they seemed prepared to wait for her outside the main gate. I handed her a black box I had prepared for her tomorrow and secretly told her, "I was planning to give this to you tomorrow when we set off, but now I don't know if I'll see you again. Take this first; consider it an early birthday present from me."
She looked at me blankly and said, "Such a big box, what gift is inside? I can't accept it."
I smiled and ruffled her hair, "You saved my life. This gift is worth far less than my life. I'll slowly repay the remaining debt to you later. Remember, don't let your parents find out. Open it only when you get home and are somewhere no one else is."
After Izoruti left, I returned to the villa. I was departing tomorrow, so I needed to take inventory of what I would bring. Besides the set of Guardian gear I used to visit Ariel, I had prepared an extra set for Izoruti. If she didn't come, I would have the servants take it home.
Daily necessities were handled by Lilith; I didn't need to worry about those.
Besides the healing and detoxification magic scrolls I brought before, I also packed some attack magic scrolls. I entrusted these scrolls to Lilith for self-defense.
I had a dagger with an added magic effect: poison and paralysis. The poison required an Intermediate Detoxification Spell to counteract. The paralysis only slowed body movements, but even a High-level Detoxification Spell couldn't dispel it. I hoped I would never have to use this dagger.
There was also an ordinary staff inlaid with an egg-sized magic stone. I had someone find this staff for me at the market; it wasn't expensive, only worth one gold coin. This would be my prepared main-hand weapon.
I didn't want my trump cards to be known, so I would use this staff outside as my weapon to mislead enemies, making them think I was just an ordinary magician.
My melee main-hand weapon, meteor, was already wrapped in black cloth. Because it was short, I would hide it behind my back, covered by my cloak so it wouldn't be visible.
After finishing my preparations, I took a bath at home, climbed into bed, and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning at 8:30, Lilith and I set off. I drove the sturdiest carriage selected from home, equipped with two strong draft horses capable of withstanding the cold.
After all, Lilith had brought many cooking utensils, spices, and clothes. I certainly didn't want to end up carrying everything myself.
We picked up Teacher Bladiconde as agreed and departed together. At 9:30, we arrived at the North Gate of Yars, the place where I had agreed to meet Izoruti yesterday.
She wasn't there. It made sense; she was only a ten-year-old child. Who would let a ten-year-old go traveling on an adventure?
After leaving the gate, I prepared to look back at Yars one last time, but I unexpectedly saw a blue-haired girl smiling at me.
"I was planning to run behind you and quietly ask you, 'Guess who I am?' But you turned around so unceremoniously. Ah, I was easily discovered."
"Haha, Senior Sister, I told you before. A true master can sense someone behind them from a great distance, and I am that master. Next time, I should pretend not to know and take the opportunity to let you try my grappling technique."
"Do I look good today?" She turned around in her clothes. The clothing probably wasn't the main focus; the colors were similar to when we went out together before, but the clothes were more practical. However, I noticed the blue color tied at her waist.
It was a beautiful sword I found in the warehouse. After appraisal, the blade was forged from Cold Abyss Fine Iron and Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow. The entire body was translucent ice-blue, like solidified stream water, refracting shimmering light when light passed through it.
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