บท 100: Strip and Get In

And so, Alex became Alicia's disciple—not that he was given a choice in the matter.

He soon learned where he was: Alicia's private manor, located in the heart of the capital of the Grand Duchy of Eryndor.

The Grand Duchy was not far from the borders of the Ashkart Kingdom. While smaller in size, Eryndor was renowned for its cultural richness, strategic influence, and vibrant economy, making it a significant power despite its size.

The room Alex now called his own was nothing short of extravagant. It was spacious and filled with luxurious furnishings that made him feel out of place. The adjacent room, situated at the far end of the corridor, belonged to his master, Alicia.

As for her friend, Priscilia Aurelian, Alex quickly learned more about her. She was an S-rank healer, which she earned not only through her incredible skill but also due to her rare affinity.

Priscilia possessed an S-rank affinity for the Light attribute, a rarity that was highly coveted by everyone.

To put her uniqueness into perspective, out of approximately 10,000 registered or known S-rankers across the world, only about 100 were healers. Her rarity and ability made her highly sought after, yet here she was, casually staying and relaxing at Alicia's manor.

Alicia herself was no less extraordinary. Ranked 267 among S-rank adventurers, her prowess with the sword had earned her the moniker "Sword Empress" and her reputation preceded her wherever she went.

The rest of the day passed relatively uneventfully as Alex, Alicia, and Priscilia spent time talking and familiarizing themselves with each other.

Though Alex found himself overwhelmed at times by Alicia's intensity and possessive demeanor and offset by Priscilia's occasional dry humor, creating a strange dynamic that Alex couldn't help but find intriguing.

But amidst the introductions and newfound connections, a sudden realization struck Alex—he had completely forgotten about Sherry. Panic surged through him as he scrambled to contact her, his voice tinged with guilt.

He quickly assured her that he was safe, explaining the chaos of recent events. However, when it came to fulfilling his promise to help her, he could only apologize and ask for her understanding—it would have to be postponed for now.

Sherry's reply, though tinged with worry, was understanding, and Alex promised to make it up to her as soon as he could.

As Alex lay back in the comfort of his bed, his mind refused to settle. The revelations and uncertainties of the day weighed heavily on him.

"Aurora," he murmured, his voice barely audible, "what do you think? Do they already know about my Dark magic affinity?"

Aurora's voice, calm and steady, echoed in his thoughts. "Yes, they should already know. When you were unconscious and that healer, was near you, I tried to control your mana flow. But with you not awake to allow me, I couldn't fully conceal everything. She would have sensed it."

Alex's frown deepened, unease flickering across his face. "Did they... check or do something while I was unconscious?"

Aurora hesitated briefly. "No, they didn't need to, specially not that healer. Don't underestimate the senses of an S-rank individual. With her level of talent, she could discern your affinity with just a glance at your mana. But don't worry—they wouldn't know the full extent of it. They might have sensed your affinity for Dark magic, but they wouldn't realize it's an SS-rank high affinity. That level of precision is beyond even her."

Alex let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. The faint tension in his chest refused to dissipate. "It still doesn't sit right with me. Even if they don't know everything, the fact that they know anything at all is risky. If someone starts digging too deep, it could lead to... questions. And answers I can't afford to reveal."

Aurora's presence in his mind seemed to soften, her voice almost soothing. "You're right to be cautious. But consider this—if they sensed your Dark affinity and chose not to react, that says something. Priscilia didn't appear alarmed, and Alicia... well, she doesn't strike me as the type to care about such things. In fact, her possessive attitude toward you might work in your favor. She's clearly decided you're her disciple, and if that means protecting you, I don't think she'll let anything harm you—or your secrets."

Alex grunted in acknowledgment, though Aurora's reasoning did little to ease his anxiety. Here he was, in the midst of two extraordinary individuals—one a world-renowned healer, the other a legendary swordswoman—both with the power and insight to unearth truths he'd fought to bury.

For now, he could only hope that Aurora was right.

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Alicia stood in the center of the expansive training hall, her piercing gaze fixed on Alex as she gestured for him to ready his stance.

The sheer size of the hall, with its reinforced walls and intricate designs, gave the impression that even the fiercest battles could take place within it.

"Your foundations are a complete mess," she began, her voice sharp but not unkind. "your body and mind move as if they belong to two entirely different people. Yet somehow, you've managed to make it work—barely. That's both intriguing and frustrating."

Alex shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny.

"And as for your physical constitution," she continued, circling appraising him, "you might be stronger than the average person, but that's about it. It's not enough."

She stopped abruptly, her icy blue eyes locking onto his. "Tell me, my disciple, what are the basics of any sword technique or skill?"

Alex hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "Uh... stance, attack, defense, timing, and control?" he offered cautiously.

Alicia's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Not a bad answer." she conceded. "Broadly speaking, you're correct. But let's strip it down to something more fundamental. There are five key elements: Slash, Stab, Parry, Counter, and most importantly, Footwork. Get these right, and everything else will follow."

Alex nodded slowly, repeating the words in his mind to commit them to memory.

"For now," Alicia said, her tone firm, "we'll start with the basics. I'll break each element down and rebuild your foundation from the ground up. At the same time, we'll work on strengthening your body. A weak body can't support what's about to come, and you have a long way to go."

Alex straightened his posture, determination flashing in his gray eyes. "Understood, Master."

Alicia's expression softened for a moment before she quickly masked it with her usual stern demeanor. "Good. Now, draw your sword and prepare yourself. The first lesson starts now."

The weight of her words settled heavily in the room, but Alex steeled himself for the grueling training ahead.

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They trained for six grueling hours without a single break. By the time they finally stopped, Alex was drenched in sweat, his legs trembling under the weight of his own exhaustion. Each breath felt heavier than the last, but there was a small sense of accomplishment in having endured Alicia's relentless pace.

Alicia, as composed as ever, didn't seem the least bit fatigued. She gestured for him to follow her, leading him to a room adjacent to the training hall. Inside was a medium-sized jacuzzi, its bluish-green water emitting a faint mist that curled lazily into the air, obscuring the depths below.

"Strip and get in." she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Alex froze in place, his face heating up at her blunt instruction. "You mean… all the way?" he asked hesitantly, shifting uncomfortably.

"Yes, fully." Alicia replied without a hint of hesitation. She crossed her arms, her sharp gaze fixed on him, amplifying his discomfort.

Seeing his reluctance, she let out an exasperated sigh, though a faint flicker of amusement danced in her eyes. "Don't be so shy. I've already seen everything once before, remember?"

It clicked for Alex then. He recalled waking up in clean clothes after the battle, his bloodied and torn garments nowhere to be found. The realization of how it had happened made his ears burn. "That was… necessary." he muttered, avoiding her gaze.

"So, what's the problem now? Quit wasting time."

Her words did little to ease his embarrassment, but after a moment of pleading glances that got him nowhere, Alicia rolled her eyes.

Finally, she turned her back to him with an irritated huff. "Honestly, what's there to be modest about in front of your master, my disciple?"

Grateful for the small reprieve, Alex quickly undressed and slipped into the bath. The water was hot—almost too much to bear at first—but he gradually adjusted, the soothing heat seeping into his aching muscles. The herbal aroma of the mist began to calm his nerves as he sank up to his neck.

Aurora's voice chimed in from within his mind, her teasing tone unmistakable. "Well, well, look at you, blushing like a maiden. Who knew you'd be so bashful?"

Alex groaned inwardly. He focused instead on the water's strange properties. Its bluish-green hue shimmered faintly, and the mist carried an almost magical quality. Before he could dwell on it, Alicia returned, holding an assortment of small vials and containers.

"Stay still." she instructed, kneeling beside the jacuzzi. One by one, she poured the contents into the water. Each vial released a faint hiss or burst of color as the liquids dissolved, their scents intensifying—herbal, metallic, and subtly sweet.

"What… what is all this?" Alex asked, watching the water swirl with the new concoctions.

"This is a restorative bath." Alicia explained, her tone as matter-of-fact as ever. "It'll repair your muscles and accelerate your recovery. The alchemical solutions I've added will also strengthen your body and increase vitality."

Aurora's voice returned, now laced with genuine curiosity. "Wow, the stuff she's using is top-notch. I'm impressed. That's not something you come across every day."

Despite his lingering embarrassment and Aurora's constant commentary, Alex felt the day's exhaustion begin to melt away. The soothing warmth of the bath, combined with its mysterious alchemical properties, was working wonders.

For a brief moment, he allowed himself to relax fully, sinking deeper into the water.