Kian Goldmaul POV

  It has been two weeks since I was adopted by Thaddeus.

  I’ve just finished the usual morning classes with my father, and now I’m heading to Thaddeus’s house for swordsmanship training.

  After passing through the portal, I close the closet behind me. I change into my training clothes, leave the room, and make sure to close the door as I head toward the office.

  Even if Thaddeus isn’t there, I should at least find the butler.

  When I arrive in front of the office, I knock before entering.

  As I look inside, I only spot the butler, with the other desk empty. Thaddeus is likely somewhere else in the house, or simply not here at the moment.

  I walk up to the butler, who notices me the moment I enter.

  “I want to go for training. Can you call Niko to pick me up?” I ask.

  He nods gently, wearing a grandfather-like smile, and reaches for his phone. He dials a number, and after the call is picked up, he begins speaking.

  “Mr. Niko, Kian is here and waiting for you to pick him up… Alright, thank you.”

  After placing the phone aside, he gestures toward the couch.

  “Please, sit down and wait while he’s coming. He will be here soon.”

  I sit on the couch. After about four minutes, someone knocks on the door before entering.

  Niko steps inside, nods respectfully toward the butler, and then motions for me to follow him as we head outside.

  When we arrive at the training grounds, I’m immediately greeted by the sight of far more people training than usual.

  There are three times the usual number of people today. I think to myself.

  Helmut nods at Niko and me before speaking.

  “Today, we will not be doing any sword training. Instead, you’ll be doing heavy physical training. After you’re done, you’ll spar with Nicolas when he arrives. It’s about time you spar with someone who isn’t overwhelmingly stronger than you.”

  I feel a bit surprised at the mention of sparring.

  While Nicolas isn’t as skilled as Helmut or Niko in technique, and I might be better than him in actual fighting experience, he still has longer reach, as well as superior endurance and physical strength due to being older.

  Keeping that in mind, I begin today’s training under Helmut’s guidance.

  Although Helmut is technically training me, he isn’t fully focused on me alone. He’s also guiding other knights and military personnel training nearby.

  Niko, on the other hand, keeps most of his attention on me and Nicolas. Even so, I can already tell that Helmut’s training routine is far more refined and efficient than what I had before with Niko.

  I spend an hour doing physical training that leaves me completely exhausted. I’m only given a ten-minute break before sparring with the training doll, which is controlled by Helmut this time.

  Usually, Niko controls it, but Helmut wants a full understanding of my current level.

  I fight the doll in both swordsmanship and martial arts.

  Unsurprisingly, I don’t manage to land a single hit in either.

  I mostly end up getting beaten down while Helmut points out my mistakes from the side, explaining what I did wrong and how I should correct it next time.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  After what feels like fifteen minutes of getting thoroughly overwhelmed, Nicolas finally arrives with Niko.

  I didn’t even notice Niko leaving. I think as I try to catch my breath.

  Helmut walks over and heals me, removing both the lingering ache and the exhaustion from my body. Once that’s done, he begins explaining.

  He looks at Nicolas first.

  “Nicolas, you will be sparring with Kian today. You’ve spent too much time fighting the dolls we control, which has resulted in you not knowing how to properly fight someone with similar technique. Today, you’ll fix that.”

  He pauses, then looks at both of us.

  “There are some simple rules. First, you are not allowed to attack the neck, the back of the head, or the eyes….”

  “You will spar with swords first. After that, you’ll both be healed, and then you’ll fight using martial arts.”

  “Due to the height difference, Nicolas will use a slightly shorter sword, while Kian will use a slightly longer one to balance things out.”

  After finishing the explanation, we start preparing for the spar.

  We put on soft armor covering us from head to toe to prevent injuries. Helmut tells us to wear it because, unlike him and Niko, we can’t perfectly control our strength yet and might seriously hurt each other otherwise.

  We each pick up wooden swords with rubber edges. The rubber is noticeably thicker than what I’m used to.

  Once we take our positions and Helmut gives the signal to start, I immediately close the distance.

  Even with the sword length adjustment, it doesn’t make up for Nicolas’s superior strength and endurance.

  As I move in, I shift my sword handle to my right side at stomach height and thrust forward in a straight stab. He barely dodges it.

  After dodging, he counterattacks with a horizontal slash aimed at my left side, which I manage to block.

  He tries to create distance, but I press forward and launch an upward attack from below, which he blocks.

  After that quick exchange, I allow him to create space. If I kept pushing recklessly, I’d risk falling into a disadvantage if he suddenly rushed me.

  Once some distance forms between us, neither of us attacks for a few seconds.

  Then he moves first. With a quick step forward, he launches a tricky horizontal slash coming from below toward my right shoulder.

  I sidestep to my left while blocking at the same time, then immediately follow up with a slash of my own. He barely manages to dodge.

  We continue exchanging attacks until the two-minute limit ends, resulting in a draw.

  We rest without being healed, as Helmut wants us to get used to exhaustion. During the break, he points out our mistakes and explains how to avoid them next time.

  We spar two more times with swords, and this time I manage to win both rounds.

  After that, we’re healed again, removing all exhaustion, before changing gear.

  We remove the armor used for sword training and instead wear head, leg, and stomach protection, along with boxing gloves and shin guards.

  Once we’re ready, we create distance again. At Helmut’s signal, we begin.

  This time, I’m much more cautious. Aside from technique and experience, Nicolas has the advantage over me in nearly everything else.

  I’m going to get hit a lot, I think to myself as I consider how to approach this.

  Before I can think too much, he slowly walks closer, cutting off my thoughts.

  As soon as he enters his range, he throws a punch. I duck to dodge it, step in, and aim a punch at his liver. He steps back just in time to avoid it.

  He follows up with a whip kick, which I evade by pulling my leg back, then counter with a whip kick of my own that lands cleanly. However, right after that, his fist connects with my face as my guard dropped for a moment.

  He tries to press the advantage, but I force him back with a front kick that lands solidly.

  We continue fighting, and by the end, each of us wins one round.

  After training ends, Helmut has us sit on the benches. He says he’ll explain some things we’ll need to know in the future.

  Once we’re seated, he immediately begins speaking.

  “I’ll explain the Strength Levels, as you need to understand this.”

  “For now, I’ll explain the difference between a Knight and a 1st-tier soldier. A 1st-tier soldier is the strongest a normal human can be with our current core and physical limits.”

  “A newly promoted Knight can defeat ten 1st-tier soldiers. What makes a Knight different is that they undergo surgery to improve their core, bones, and muscles, making them significantly denser and stronger.”

  “Just like soldiers, Knights have rankings, from 3rd tier, which is the weakest, to 1st tier, which is the strongest. Advancement depends on mastery and physical strength.”

  “Oh, and one more thing. Knights are not the same as medieval knights. We use the term simply to refer to someone who has surpassed normal human limits.”

  “You’re probably wondering about horns, or secondary cores. I’ll explain only what I’m allowed to.”

  “A secondary core allows control over external Veythar. This enables the use of what we call Superior Magic, which is stronger, more stable, and faster than normal atomic magic.”

  “Anyone who gains a horn becomes a Semi-Pillar. For example, Nicolas’s mother is a Semi-Pillar Swordmaster. Above Semi-Pillars are Pillars, like Thaddeus.”

  I raise my hand, and he gestures for me to speak.

  “What’s the difference between a Semi-Pillar and a Pillar?”

  He answers calmly.

  “In everything. Magic, technique, and physical strength.”

  “Of course, there’s more, but I’m not permitted to explain that to non-military personnel or civilians.”

  Nicolas throws a small tantrum at that, but Helmut doesn’t elaborate further.

  “By the way,” I ask, “what’s the difference between a 1st-tier soldier and a 5th-tier one?”

  Helmut thinks for a moment.

  “All fully trained military personnel are at least 2nd-tier soldiers. There’s never been a fight between a 1st-tier and a 5th-tier.”

  “But if I had to explain it, it’s like an adult with magic and a gun fighting a child who barely knows how to walk and run.”

  I nod at that explanation.

  Chapter End