"…know your enemy first."

Lucas nodded obediently.

Silvara narrowed her eyes slightly.

"And what do you know about Aldric?"

Lucas answered immediately.

"Nothing."

Silvara let out a long exhale, clearly irritated.

"Fine. Listen." She looked straight at Lucas, her voice steady and technical.

"Aldric comes from the Rosevelt family. The Rosevelt lineage is known for sword techniques that rely on extreme speed."

Geralt and Anya straightened reflexively. Even they knew that reputation.

Silvara continued without pause.

"Their swordsmanship relies on acceleration and light momentum. They thrust and slash before the enemy can even react. But—"

She raised one finger.

"—their weakness is mass pressure. Quick strikes are useless if stopped by a heavier, more weighted swing. To break through their guard, you need an attack with maximum weight transfer."

Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.

"So… brute force?"

"Not just brute." Silvara shook her head.

"Timing. Angle. And weight. Aldric will try to intercept your movement every time you lift your sword. You must force him to take one full impact—that alone is enough to shake the typical Rosevelt stance."

She paused briefly.

"That is why your training must follow the same principle."

Lucas straightened his posture.

"What principle?"

Silvara slowly raised her sword, pointing to the ground in front of them.

"Applying pressure he cannot ignore."

She stared at him coldly.

"Starting now, we train your strike output. Speed is not your focus. Swing weight, hip stability, and heel–to–core transfer—that comes first."

Silvara pulled her sword back slightly.

"You can use my sword first to—"

Lucas exhaled. In an instant, The Great Hoe appeared in his hand.

"No need. I'll do it with my hoe!"

"Huh?" Silvara frowned. "You intend to fight him with that hoe?"

Lucas nodded with confidence.

"You're insane." Silvara dropped the hand that was about to draw her sword.

"Why are you so obsessed with hoes? You used to look for hoes everywhere, threatened money lenders with ho—"

She stopped abruptly and straightened her posture.

"I understand…"

"Hmm?" Lucas raised a mocking brow at her.

Silvara inhaled slowly.

"Y-you can increase or decrease the hoe's weight without anyone noticing, can't you?"

"Exactly," Lucas replied without hesitation.

Silvara did not answer immediately.

Her gaze softened—barely—but enough for Lucas to notice.

"To be honest," she said quietly, "I don't believe you can win."

Lucas blinked.

Silvara continued, voice low and steady, as if stating a fact rather than an opinion.

"Aldric is stronger, faster, and more experienced. If you lose…"

She took a slow breath.

"…then I will protect you. Even if I must become a fugitive for defying the dueling laws."

Lucas swallowed hard.

That was… dark.

And extremely concerning.

"Relax," Lucas forced a half-smirk.

"Just teach me how to fight him. I'll do my best to win."

Silvara studied him for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Very well."

Her posture returned to its rigid, knight-like focus.

"Then you must use mana to reinforce your strike at the exact moment you attack. Make sure your hoe carries the same weight it did before—like when those money lenders couldn't even lift it."

Lucas nodded.

"Okay. But uh… how do I use mana?"

Silvara slapped her forehead.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper—clearly worried Geralt and Anya might overhear.

"Do you not have mana in your world…?"

"Nope," Lucas answered casually.

"In my world magic is just fantasy."

Silvara let out a long, resigned sigh.

"Fine. But you want to learn, yes? Besides… you're not that idiot."

She stepped in front of him.

"Close your eyes."

Lucas obeyed.

"Control your breathing according to my instructions," Silvara said, her tone turning calm and precise.

"Listen carefully to every word I say."

Silvara lifted one hand near his chest—close, but not touching.

"First… feel your heartbeat."

"Second… match your breath to its rhythm."

"Now… reach inward."

Her voice lowered, becoming almost ritualistic.

"Mana exists in all living beings. Find the spark inside your core. Even if it is faint, it will answer you—if you focus."

Lucas kept regulating his breathing slowly.

In… out… following Silvara's instructions.

In the middle of his concentration, a strange sensation began to surface.

Very faint—like a subtle vibration moving inside his body.

Sweat trickled down his face, slid across his neck, and flowed slowly downward.

Silvara, standing in front of him, saw the droplet.

She swallowed unconsciously.

Her fingers twitched slightly when she noticed the line of his neck damp with sweat.

A faint blush touched her face.

A small reaction, but unmistakable.

The memory resurfaced instantly.

The moment in the cave.

A moment she had never spoken of, yet could not forget.

She wondered for a second…

Had this man already forgotten that incident?

Then she shook her head slightly in her mind.

No. He was likely just avoiding the topic… Silvara thought.

Silvara drew a slow breath, trying to regain focus.

Lucas kept his eyes closed, still feeling that faint sensation, completely unaware of Silvara's reaction.

Silvara had only been watching Lucas's breathing at first.

But a few seconds later—her eyes widened instantly.

Mana began to gather.

At first, it was thin.

Then it grew denser.

As if the air around Lucas was being pulled straight into his body.

Silvara tensed.

Lucas… wasn't just sensing mana.

He was absorbing it from the outside—fast, like a newborn vortex.

"Stop!" Silvara shouted suddenly.

Lucas flinched, eyes snapping open.

"What? What happened?"

Silvara stared sharply at him.

"You were about to tear your own body apart. The amount of mana you absorbed is far too much for a beginner."

Lucas froze, stunned.

"Seriously? That bad?"

Before Silvara could answer—

[DING~! ☆(≧▽≦)☆]

[+30 EXP!]

[Reason: You have learned Basic Mana Control! Amazing, host~!]

Lucas blinked and rubbed his temples.

Not bad. He thought

He looked back at Silvara.

"So it's really that easy? Just focus… breathe… and boom, mana?"

Silvara nodded without hesitation.

"Of course it's easy. Even new academy student can do that before entering the academy."

Lucas went silent.

"…Ah. Uh."

His face flushed slightly.

Internally, he could only mutter:

Damn… I was just starting to feel special.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from their side.

A lightly armored soldier appeared, his breath slightly uneven as if he had been running from a distance.

He immediately bowed deeply.

"I am a messenger from Sir Aldric," he said firmly.

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