Chapter 152: Sparring and Tea

Chapter 152: Sparring and Tea

He also strapped a short dagger to his waist.

This was a perfect chance to try out the techniques Lambard at the mansion had taught him.

"Lambard, huh?"

Dominic asked, noticing Shiao Yi’s weapons.

Shiao Yi nodded and Dominic picked up a large wooden training sword while swinging it to feel its balance while smiling.

"I’ve heard you’re quite skilled. This will be fun. No holding back. Injuries are normal during training, and Sayu will be here anyway," Dominic said.

"You won’t hold back either, right? If I get hurt, you’ll patch me up, won’t you?" Shiao Yi asked.

He wanted to give it his all.

Dominic must have understood that, because he gave a wide, manly grin.

"Be prepared," Dominic said.

Shiao Yi couldn’t help but admire him.

Dominic was irresistibly strong and confident.

I wish I could be a cool guy like him.

Maybe I still can...

They faced each other in the small training area.

Small, though it was still fairly spacious.

Beyond the covered walkway separating it, a much larger training ground could be seen through the pillars.

The training grounds ranged from massive fields for mounted mock battles to medium areas for several squads to spar and smaller spaces for individual or single-squad training.

Everything was set up according to the scale of the exercise. Truly impressive.

The area they were in now was the smallest, designed for individual combat.

Still, it was as large as a station terminal.

Because magical attacks and spells could be used, the area was intentionally spacious to allow room for maneuvering.

Shiao Yi and Dominic stood a short distance apart in the center, facing each other.

Around them, in the corridors and from the windows of surrounding buildings, the other soldiers had gathered to watch.

Do your own training, Shiao Yi thought, but even supervising them, Louis had taken a prime spot to watch.

"Here I go!"

"Come on!"

And so, their long-awaited first date officially began.

Dominic swung his wooden sword diagonally forward with a natural, calm motion.

Shiao Yi who is aiming to strike first kicked up the dirt and closed the distance in an instant.

He knew their skill levels were not equal.

Dominic was far more experienced in combat.

That didn’t stop Shiao Yi; he went all out, holding nothing back.

Even so, he knew he probably couldn’t win.

His goal was to see how close he could get.

He aimed a short dagger strike at Dominic’ chest.

It was lightly blocked by the wooden sword, and the counter strike’s force sent him leaping high into the air.

While doing a backflip, he threw three knives midair.

As his feet touched the ground, Dominic’ sword knocked away all the knives.

Shiao Yi barely blocked it with his dagger.

A sharp high-pitched sound rang out—far beyond what wood should make.

Heavy.

The impact made his hands tingle from the force.

Shiao Yi pushed back with both hands, throwing the dagger as he redirected himself behind Dominic.

He threw the remaining three knives while runnning, aiming at Dominic’ back.

He had calculated the delay in Dominic’ sword return, but Dominic was faster, he knocking every knife away before Shiao Yi could even see them.

It was instinctive skill honed by experience.

"Wow... if he blocks it like that, I can’t even attack properly," Shiao Yi muttered.

"Not bad. That had me nervous for a moment. Your movements are sharp," Dominic said easily while standing tall.

He casually flicked his sword through the air—a habitual gesture—and let it hang loosely downward.

Shiao Yi’s excitement surged uncontrollably.

"Hey, Dominic. Can I use telekinesis? You try using magic attack. I want to see how much I can stop your magic attacks with telekinesis," Shiao Yi said.

He wasn’t fully sure about magic, but the energy that came out in magic attacks was real, physical force in some form—fire, compressed air like wind cutters, or lightning.

If it had physical presence, maybe telekinesis could manipulate it.

He had actually managed to bend the trajectory of Dominic’ magic attack back in Dalmasca, but it was too sudden, and he wasn’t sure how effective it really was.

Now he wanted to test it properly.

Dominic called Louis and Louis ran off quickly.

"Let’s take a break until the mage who can set up the barrier arrives," Dominic said.

Shiao Yi looked around and nodded in understanding.

With Dominic’ magic attacks, who knew what kind of damage could happen.

As they moved toward the knights’ dining hall, the soldiers led them instead to a room that looked like a lounge.

It was on the first floor of the building next to the training ground and seemed to serve as a waiting or rest room.

Chairs and a table were quickly arranged, and once Dominic and Shiao Yi sat cross-legged opposite each other, cups of hot tea were placed before them.

A small dish of baked sweets also appeared, though Shiao Yi wasn’t sure whether it had been prepared by the dining hall or secretly grabbed by someone.

"Ah, thank you?"

In what seemed like a magic trick, the tea and sweets appeared in an instant, and the soldiers vanished.

The room was now just Dominic and Shiao Yi.

Is this... the ’tea date’ setup? Shiao Yi thought.

"Everyone’s really thoughtful, huh?"

He felt strangely embarrassed at the formality and didn’t know how to react.

"Is that so?"

Dominic didn’t seem bothered.

He calmly sipped his tea, and just being alone with Shiao Yi, his mood seemed very good.

"You surprised me. You’re stronger than I thought. Your movements are different. No wonder Lambard praises you."

"I’ve been trained for combat. But I still can’t match you. Your basic abilities are on another level. My training was specialized more for operations and intelligence rather than direct combat. I really admire your sword skills," Shiao Yi said honestly.

Having sparred with him, Shiao Yi truly appreciated Dominic’ strength again.

Dominic smiled, a little shy but clearly happy, and Shiao Yi stared at him, savoring the warm, soft feeling.