No More Heroes

by RLTygurr

Thrown into a brand new world sounds like a dream, right? Not for Flynn Blackwood, who is summoned only to have his Vassal Axe stolen very shortly after. With only a day's worth of experience (and no longer able to speak the local language), everything is an adventure. A world-ending threat? Hell, I can barely pay for dinner!

7. Chapter 7

O shiz waddup, here come dat boi.

Answering some more questions from reviews: Mirellia isn't meant to be some perfect monarch. She's realistic in the sense that she takes advantage of every possible asset she can. Even in the previous chapter you know that Flynn isn't too happy about it. Expecting her to be fair and just is extremely naive.

This story takes place roughly a year or so before the events of canon.

Enjoy the next chapter! I remember this being a fun one to write.

I really, really hate this.

Why does fate have it out for me? The sun isn't even close to being up yet, it's freezing cold, and I was so comfortable in my bed too! This fucking sucks! Who in their right mind wants to do this crap? No wonder half of her knights look so tired all the time.

I shivered as I trudged my way toward the castle courtyard, backpack filled with most of my belongings slung over my shoulder. It's not like I want to be a knight; Queen Mirellia essentially forced me into it without giving me any realistic way to decline. It was either I do as she says or be in debt to her for years from tutoring costs.

It's like having student loans but the bank threatens you instead of charging interest. On second thought, it's basically the same thing.

I snorted out a laugh. Maybe if I cause as many problems as possible for my instructors, they'll beg the queen to get rid of me. I could play the rebellious act; do most of what they tell me to but ignore just enough to piss them off beyond belief. Ha! Maybe this won't be as boring as I thought after all.

Mirellia may have forced me into being a knight, but she didn't say anything about not getting kicked out for bad behavior.

The two guards posted outside the courtyard barely moved as I approached. Upon further inspection, I could see that they were shivering uncontrollably within their metal armor. I'd feel bad for you if I wasn't about to be stuck out in the cold too.

A fairly large group of people stood in the corner of the courtyard as I entered through the main gates. Like myself, they held bags filled with their possessions and shivered in whatever outfit they'd chosen to wear this morning. My eyes spotted a boy that looked no older than fifteen amongst them.

Who the hell sends children to be soldiers? He probably hasn't even hit puberty or started liking girls yet!

"You are late, soldier! The one thing you were asked to do was show up on time!"

I groaned as the instructor yelled at me in a distinctly feminine tone. She stood in full knight's armor and seemed completely unbothered by the fact that we may as well be standing on a glacier. All heads snapped toward me the moment I was called out. If my cheeks weren't already red from the cold, they sure as hell are now. Good thing I'm too tired and freezing to care that much about appearances.

I mumbled a lazy "Yes..." and set my bag down among the rest of the trainees. I'd hoped she would leave me alone and move on with whatever she was doing, but my hopes were all for naught. The knight strode up and glared straight at me with the intent to kill. Beneath her helmet, I could see a very beautiful face with two piercing blue eyes that were as cold as ice.

"What is your name? You are not making a very good impression on your first day!" she yelled even though she was right in front of me. The warm puff of air from her breath made me flinch.

"Flynn Blackwood."

"Blackwood? That is not a noble name I have ever heard before. Where is your house from?" She searched my face for lies but unfortunately for her, the truth is just as unbelievable. She's wasting her time. Plus, why did she automatically assume I'm a noble?

I sighed, suppressing another shiver as my eyes rose to meet her own. "It does not matter. I am here now, so let us just do what we are here to do."

"A noble should be ashamed for acting in such a disrespectful manner! Any proper noble should always strive-"

"I am not a noble, and if they are anything like you, I would not want to be one." I cut her off, letting my eyes wander away from hers and glaze over out of laziness.

That's right; I'm not even going to bother looking at you anymore. Deal with it.

Her intense glare could probably cut steel. Rather than yelling at me again, she scoffed and returned to the front of our group before turning to address us all. "Let this be your one and only warning: so long as you represent the great country of Melromarc and Her Majesty, you will do everything you are told without question! Disobedience will not be tolerated! Laziness will be beaten out of you until you are the shining example of a knight! The honor of being a knight should-"

I tuned her out and did my best not to fall asleep standing up. I've always hated these types of speeches. They're just grandiose nonsense that may as well say "I own you, so do as I say". My eyes drifted away to a carriage that was passing through the courtyard, still halfway listening to the woman's rambling but not really registering any of it.

"-gin with basic training! All knights are expected to maintain a high level of fitness at all times. Be warned: you will be worked to the bone! A knight is the face of law and order! As such, you will be trained in everything from basic combat to rescue and suppression operations! Today, we will begin with ten laps around the castle! Now go!" the knight roared, pointing toward the direction we should run. Many of the others around me scrambled to get moving, but as I did the same, the woman snagged my arm in an iron grip.

"You will run fifteen laps instead, Flynn Blackwood," she spat with a scathing tone. "You can thank your tardiness and your attitude for the additional training. Do not make it a habit. Am I clear?"

"Yes, yes, whatever. Can I go now?" I rolled my eyes, eager to get moving so my muscles could start to warm themselves.

The woman snarled, disdain clearly written on her face. "Make it twenty laps. Breakfast is right afterward and we will not wait for you. Now go!" She released me and I began my suffering. It was freezing, and my hoodie wasn't doing enough to keep me warm from the icy air as I ran.

This is such a hassle. What does the queen gain from me being a knight, anyway? It's not like I'm committed to serving her for the rest of my life. Once this training is over, I could just run away. I'm sure Elhart would forgive me for dropping by his shop even if I'm a wanted fugitive.

Besides, I'd much rather be out in the cold by choice hunting some giant monsters than this crap. At least then I wouldn't have some batshit crazy lady screaming at me first thing in the morning.

Between the cold air and my sluggish legs, I found it difficult to keep my mind focused on anything other than how much this sucks. I'm already behind the rest of the group by quite a bit, but it gave me a chance to evaluate the rest of the trainees. The difference in fitness was shockingly apparent; the younger ones and the elderly ones lagged behind while the middle-aged or young adults were much further up. It was still only the first lap, though, so hopefully these people will make it through all ten of their laps.

Me? I have double the amount for being a smartass. Even if it sucks, that tiny act of defiance felt so good.

I may not have been the most athletic person back on Earth, but even I knew that starting out at a full sprint is a great way to burn out long before the finish line. A lot of the other trainees don't seem to know that; at least three of them already seem exhausted from how fast they're pushing themselves to run. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Finishing first means nothing.

The castle is a massive structure when you take the other wall into account. A single lap is probably close to a mile on its own, and we have to run over ten of them? How long is this lady expecting us to be out here? At this rate, we may not finish our laps until late in the morning. Maybe even noon for me personally.

Letting my mind wander was the only way I could possibly handle twenty laps around the castle walls. Even with my slow pace, I started to overtake some of the slower trainees. I focused on my breathing: in...out...in...out. Along with the beautiful scenery around the castle, it kept my mind at ease despite the thumping of my heart in my chest.

My first lap finished without any major issues. One or two people had to slow to a walk as they hit their first milestone, but I refused to slow my pace. I'd be out here all day if I did that. Besides, I still feel fine somehow. It must be my stats at play here; normally I would be huffing and puffing by the end of a single mile. If my stats get even higher, will I be able to run for even longer than this? Maybe I could run a lot faster, too.

...Now that I think about it, how can I tell whether I'm in shape or not if my level and stats are always affecting my performance? How would they know whether I'm fit or just at a high level?

Does that even matter? The result is the same in the end, I guess.

I stopped keeping track of how many laps I'd finished by the end of lap four. The last mile is sure to be the hardest one, so the less I think about it the better. Maybe an hour or two later was when I really started to feel the exhaustion creeping in. The more I ran, the less people I saw running around the castle with me.

Have they already finished their ten laps? But then how many more do I have? It's hard to focus on anything with how much my lungs are screaming at me.

The scenery quickly got repetitive and I found it difficult to focus on it. I wish I had the opportunity to enjoy it without feeling like death was holding me by the throat. My pace started to slow a bit to a fast walk, but I refused to let my legs stop moving. I've already gotten this far and there's only so much left to go!

My vision was beginning to blur from lack of oxygen and my head felt heavier than my legs. Maybe mouthing off to that knight like a spoiled brat wasn't such a good idea after all. What was her name again? I don't think she ever told me. Maybe she told everyone before I got there.

I rounded the corner, passing in front of the courtyard gates once more. The two guards that stood outside hadn't said a word during our training run. They probably weren't allowed to. Curiously enough, that knight from before was standing there watching me as I went by. She also said nothing to me. She just stood there and judged me silently.

It doesn't matter. Nothing matters except finishing these stupid laps so I can go and pass out.

I didn't think I would make it. My legs felt like lead weights as I moved around the castle, and at any moment they could give out on me. I would fall into the frosted grass and die from exhaustion or simply pass out and get frostbite.

A part of me almost wanted to laugh. I was never much of a delinquent back home. I always obeyed the rules and did what I was told without making much of a fuss, but something about coming to this world made me feel free. I don't have to deal with a crappy 9-5 job anymore. I get to choose my own lifestyle and my own working hours, all while traveling to unbelievable places and seeing incredible things.

I mean hell, I met a dragon! And I lived, too!

Giving up that newfound freedom for the humdrum knight-in-training lifestyle feels like I'm reverting right back to what my old life was like. It's comfortable having a schedule, but I've been satisfied with how I've been doing so far. I have to admit, Queen Mirellia is not one of my favorite people anymore. She was my favorite during my time in the castle while learning Melromarcian, but her name has been officially crossed off my list.

I rounded the corner once more and my foot caught something on the ground, sending me face-first into the dirt. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't move anymore.

It hurts...Everything hurts...

My nerves are freaking out from the combination of freezing temperatures and my burning muscles. This is too much for me. How many laps have I finished? The sun is way up in the sky now, so is it already noon?

Even the warm glow of the sun didn't keep the cold away as I gasped for air. Each breath only froze my throat even further.

The sound of footsteps and the clanking of armor barely registered in my brain. "You surprised me, Blackwood. I did not believe you had what it takes to run twenty laps around the castle," the female knight from before said.

Please...no more. I might actually die.

Instead of more harsh words like I expected, she grabbed my arm and lifted me effortlessly before slinging my arm over her shoulder. The cold metal of her pauldrons actually had a small layer of ice on it that didn't help the frostbite that I probably have. With her supporting most of my weight, I was able to actually breathe again.

Curiosity got the better of me and I mustered the strength to look at her. Inside of her helmet, I could see the slightest traces of strawberry colored hair. Who would have thought such a hardass could have pink hair?

The woman silently helped me walk through the castle gates before turning right, down a hallway that I'd never been through before. The warmth of the castle made my body relax so much that I couldn't tell if I was still moving my legs at all or not. She eventually stopped in front of a door and opened it to reveal a small room with eight beds. I noticed my backpack sitting in front of one of them, and the woman helped me flop onto its soft sheets.

"I do not know why you are here, but so long as you are, I expect you to follow orders. Maybe if you did, you would not be suffering so much. Understood?"

"Yes..." I groaned into the bed, thankful for the chance to let my aching muscles relax.

"Good. I want you back on your feet and in the courtyard within an hour. If you can, I suggest you grab some food from the kitchens. Training on an empty stomach is dangerous, and I will not have trainees collapsing from malnutrition under my watch."

"Okay..." With that, the knight left me on the bed by myself.

"AAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGHHHHHHH..."

I let out a loud groan of agony as my body became one with my bed. Being snarky may have felt good for a few minutes, but it definitely wasn't worth it. I should have shut my mouth and taken my fifteen laps and been done with it.

Still...what I just accomplished is kind of impressive. That was probably close to twenty miles that I just ran with little to no rest at all. Something like that was unthinkable for me before. Now it's something I know that I'm technically capable of, albeit with a lot of self-hate and suicidal thoughts involved.

My stomach growled in fury. I need to eat something or I won't have any energy to survive the rest of the day.

I finally managed to slide off the bed like a slug after about fifteen minutes and headed toward the kitchen. Thank goodness I remembered where it was from my previous stay in the castle; I'd actually cry if I got lost right now. The kitchen door opened and all eyes were on me in an instant. I grabbed a plate with a conservative amount of food and sat by myself in the corner.

If I'm being honest, I'm not in the mood to listen to anyone talk shit about me. I've suffered enough for a day.

"Hey, you! Why'd you talk back to Captain Seaetto like that? Are you out of your mind?"

Any attempt at laying low for now was bound to fail, it seems. The young man who shouted at me was short, probably in his late teens with an innocent-looking face. I scowled as he slid into the seat beside me without even asking first. My frown got even worse as I noticed how all conversations had effectively stopped the moment I sat down.

Can't you people find something else to gawk at?

"No. I just do not like her type, that is all," I responded, biting into the eggs on my plate. They were delicious, as always, but I found it hard to appreciate the flavor with how much pain I'm in. The thought soured my appetite.

"Don't like her type? Are you sure you want to be a knight?"

I shook my head, eliciting confusion from some of the others. "I never wanted to be a knight. I was forced to be here."

"Forced?" the boy asked, looking at the other trainees who shrugged in unison. "Nobody else here was forced to sign up. We all want to be here."

I grumbled and forced my retort back down my throat before I could say it out loud. I sure as hell don't want to be here, that's for sure. My lack of response must have told them that I wasn't in the mood for conversation, since the boy left me alone to eat in relative peace. I only say 'relative' because I had to eat slowly or I would probably vomit.

Thankfully, I managed to feel a little bit better by the time I finished eating. A little nutrition was just what my body needed. My legs still ache like a bitch, but at least I've had some time to let them rest. No more running for the foreseeable future, though.

I finished my meal and rested my head on the table. Its cool surface felt like heaven compared to how warm my entire body felt. I must have fallen asleep, since I was shaken awake by the boy from before. I tried to ignore him, thinking he was just going to ask more questions, but he told me that the hour had passed and we needed to return to the courtyard for more training.

The part of me that wanted to go back to sleep was beaten into submission by the part that didn't want to be punished with more laps. However, my walking must have been too slow for him. He quite literally pulled me along toward the courtyard despite my legs refusing to move any faster.

He exclaimed how important it is to be punctual as a knight, and how "Captain Seaetto" would punish me if I'm even a few seconds late. I groaned and allowed myself to be dragged through the hallways of the castle. The last thing I want is to piss her off again for the rest of the day. I've had my fill of rebellion for now.

The weather outside was considerably warmer than it had been this morning. Finally, a temperature I can work with! I was worried my bones would be stiff and freezing all day!

We lined up in front of our instructor at attention. My legs and arms were too tired to do it properly, so I had to pray that she wouldn't call me out for it. "Alright trainees! Since some of you decided to be late this morning, I will reintroduce myself. My name is Eclair Seaetto, and I will be your captain during your training period at the castle." I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

So I still got called out, but for a different reason. Wonderful. At least there aren't more laps involved.

Clearing her throat, Eclair began pacing in front of us. "The foundations of being a knight lie in traditional swordplay. Each of you, grab a training sword from the rack on your right."

Deciding to follow orders without complaints for now, I grabbed a wooden sword from the rack and gave it a once over. It's lighter than my longsword, but the "blade" is pretty thick in comparison. A lot more of the weight is in the "blade" of the sword rather than the hilt. Taking a few practice swings, I noticed that slashes felt slower than usual. Is it actually the sword, or is it because I'm so tired that I might fall over at any moment?

"Okay! Now that you have a weapon, I will demonstrate proper technique. Many of you have at least some experience handling a sword, so this may be a little basic for you. However, never let your foundations get rusty! It is critical that you master the basics so you do not develop bad habits!" Eclair said, holding her sword out in front of her with two hands. "Now then, copy my stance as best you can. I will go around and adjust you if necessary."

Finally, something I can actually learn!

I studied the woman's stance and mirrored it to the best of my ability. My feet were spread, knees slightly bent and ready to move at a moment's notice. I angled the sword out in front of me, presumably to deflect incoming blows.

Is this really practical, though? Most monsters fight with claws and fangs, not swords and axes that can be deflected without a shield. Unless you have the brute strength to force them back with just your sword, you're better off dodging and countering as they recover. Taking the blow head-on and trying to deflect it is just too risky unless you know you outmatch your opponent from the beginning.

My muscles still burned from my morning exercise, but I held my stance as rigidly as I could. A hand gently moved my forearm so the blade was slightly further away from me. "Close, Blackwood, but keeping the blade too close to your body will put you at risk of bumping yourself with the hilt as you pull back to swing," the captain said, providing actual assistance for the first time rather than more words. Without her helmet, her pink hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. The sunlight peeking through the clouds gave her an almost heavenly glow from above.

I shook my head. There's no time for that poetic nonsense. Besides, it would probably be wasted on someone like her.

I found myself watching her as she went around assisting the other trainees. Some had obviously received training at some point and had very little to fix. Others were almost completely green, much like I was when I first arrived in this world. We had to hold our stances until Eclair was done fixing every single person's posture.

"Okay, you all look good. Remember the feeling you have right now, as it will serve as a base for all of your future lessons. Now, let us move on to slashes."

Our training went about as one might expect. We were shown everything from slashes to stabs and blocks to parries. I found that blocking was much more difficult for me than anything else. The muscle memory for dodging is so ingrained in me that blocking feels not only unnecessary, but wasteful of energy. Every time I anticipate my sparring partner's strikes, I have to stop myself from dodging by reflex.

"Blackwood, is something the matter? Your blocks are not just tired, they are lazy. I thought we went over this earlier. Or do you not care for my lessons?" Eclair asked, one eyebrow raised and arms crossed under her chest. She must have noticed my lack of enthusiasm earlier and decided to come lecture me personally once again.

Wonderful.

I looked up from the bench where I'd been spending my break and shook my head. "No, but dodging always feels like the better option. It's easier and there's less risk of being hurt. Blocking an attack feels completely unnecessary."

"Oh? And what makes you think that?" I took a few deep breaths to calm myself before I said something that would land me in trouble again. I didn't want it to show, but the fact that she seems to be singling me out for every minor thing is getting on my nerves.

"If you can block an attack, then you can just as easily dodge it as long as you have space. Most monsters charge with all of their body weight. That leaves them open to a counterattack. If you try to block claws or fangs, you run the risk of being overpowered."

I have a little too much firsthand experience with that for one lifetime. If it weren't for the miracle of healing potions, I'd be dead as hell right now.

The look on the pinkette's face was hard to decipher. Is that a smug look, or an impressed one?

"Well, since you are such an expert on the subject, how about you try to dodge my attacks?" she said, challenging me. I rolled my eyes. She's practically begging for a reason to smack the shit out of me now.

"Fine."

I stood across from her, putting my practice in the basic stance to use. She held her own practice sword in the exact same stance that she'd taught us earlier, but she looked completely natural while doing it. "Are you ready?" Eclair asked. I nodded in response.

Even though I expected her to be fairly strong, I wasn't ready for what happened next.

We stood across from one another, staring each other down in silence. Then, in a flash of a moment that seemed impossible, she was right in front of me. My body rolled backward a few times before sliding to a stop as I clutched my chest in pain.

Air simply wouldn't return to my lungs for a few moments because of the shock. "What...the hell?..." I mumbled in English. Across from me, Eclair flicked her training sword as if cleaning blood from it before stabbing it into the dirt.

How the hell is she so fast?!

"Now do you see why dodging is not always an option, Blackwood?" she said with the slightest trace of a smirk on her lips. I growled, rising to my feet in defiance before spitting out a small glob of blood.

"Maybe it is not always an option. But if I can barely see your attack, the only way I could block it would be pure luck."

My response made her face scrunch up in frustration. "Perhaps, or perhaps not. Based on my stance, you should have been able to predict where my sword would strike you."

"That is bullshit and you know it."

Eclair's cheeks turned red with anger, but she seemed to force it down before she said something unladylike. I smirked a little. So I can crack her perfect little image? This might be a little more fun than I thought. Seeing that kind of response is so, so satisfying.

"Blackwood," she said, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. "I didn't know you liked running around the castle so much."

"Huh?"

"Go run another three laps, and make it quick."

I felt my eye twitch. God dammit.

"NOW!" she boomed, scaring some of the other trainees. I rolled my eyes dramatically and took off running. My legs still ached from earlier, but now my chest hurt from the bruise that was undoubtedly forming. She really didn't hold back; that strike hurt like hell. As I passed back by the entrance, the guards actually laughed and asked what I'd done to be running again already.

I ignored them, lest I get mad at them too. All they did was stand at a post all day, so who's really the loser here?

As much as I hate her, I have to wonder about her teaching methods. There's no possible way I could have dodged or blocked her attack unless I saw it coming. Her level must be incredibly high to move so quickly. She may be right about technique and predicting your opponents moves, but there are some things that can only be done by having bigger numbers than your enemy.

I can't react to something I can't see, after all.

The three laps didn't take as long as I expected. Maybe my body is too numb from being abused all morning, or the distance was simply too short in comparison to bother me anymore. When I returned to the courtyard covered in sweat, Eclair was busy showing the rest of the trainees some kind of footwork exercise. When she demonstrated once more, I realized it was footwork for properly dodging.

That bitch, working on dodging as soon as I'm gone!

Regardless, I silently fell in line with the others as she continued teaching. To my surprise, she didn't bother me at all and focused on the others. I thanked my lucky stars that she did; I doubt I could handle any more laps today and I had no interest in talking to her for any reason. Even when I tried not to, I found myself talking back to her by reflex. Before I knew it, the day was over and we were ushered back to the barracks for a bath before dinner.

I sniffed myself and grimaced at my stench. I guess running a marathon all day long will do that to you. I want nothing more than to crawl in my bed and fall asleep until tomorrow, but I have to eat or I won't have the nutrition or energy I need for the next day of hell. If there's one thing worse than running a marathon, it's running a marathon on an empty stomach. Plus, I'll feel gross if I don't bathe before I fall asleep.

I do have some decency, you know. I'm not some savage who goes two weeks without bathing anymore.

The men's and women's baths were right beside one another with a sign above each door with the symbol for "male" and "female" respectively. I followed the other men into our section and began undressing. It's basically just a locker room like one in a gym, so seeing naked men is nothing out of the ordinary. Just keep your eyes on your own business unless you're into that kind of thing.

"Hey...Sir Blackwood?" the young man from earlier asked as I started removing my underwear.

"Just call me Flynn," I replied, dropping my underwear and wrapping a towel around my waist.

"But aren't you a noble or something? It feels disrespectful to call you anything else."

I shook my head with an exhausted sigh. "No, but our wonderful captain seems to think so."

"You really don't get along with Captain Seaetto, do you?" he asked, undressing beside me and putting his sweaty clothes into a locker. "Are you...into being punished, or something?"

I raised an eyebrow for a second. "Not really. And no, I do not like her much." She's arrogant, bossy, short-tempered, and a stickler for rules that aren't super important. I kept those thoughts to myself, not wanting to seem like too much of an asshole on the first day. I may have my own little rebellion, but there's no need to drag everyone else down too.

"I see. Well anyway, my name's Ake! It's nice to meet you, Sir Blackwood!"

"I told you my name is Flynn, but it is nice to meet you as well."

I didn't bother hiding the soft smile that found its way to my face. Ake seems like a nice kid. He's a little innocent and goody-goody when it comes to the rules, but he's alright in my book. I'd been like that when I was his age, too. Based on what little I know about him, he holds a lot of respect for knights in general. Maybe something like this has always been his dream?

If that's the case, I'm the last person he should be associating with. I want nothing to do with knighthood or its "honor".

After washing myself off to the side of the bath, I gently submerged myself in the water. The warmth made me let out a sigh of pleasure as I leaned back and rested my head on the cool tile. My aching muscles would be jumping for joy right now if they could. I bet I could fall asleep right here and it'd be heaven.

Okay...maybe not everything about being a knight is awful.

I tuned out the other guys who chatted amongst themselves in the bath. Their conversations were of nothing important; just training and bits about their lives before this. Those conversations all ground to a half when a few of them lecherously tried to find a hole in the wall that separated our bath from the women's bath. I rolled my eyes at them.

Even the little fifteen year old is with them! I mean come on, people! What the hell are you teaching your kids?!

I left the bath earlier than most to avoid the trouble that would undoubtedly find them if they get caught. On my bed was an off-duty uniform that was provided for us. It looked to be a pair of white slacks with some kind of navy shirt that buttoned all the way up. The shirt had the royal crest of Melromarc on the left breast, but other than that it was kind of...plain. I assume I'll have to wear this pretty much everywhere whenever I'm not training.

Screw that.

Instead, I threw on my usual pants and shirt. They're a little worn at this point, but they're the most comfortable clothes I own. The only thing keeping me from crawling into my bed and passing out was the angry growling of my stomach. I didn't eat a whole lot today because of all the running, so I need to make sure I'm prepared in case we have to run even more tomorrow.

A few of the female trainees were already sitting down and eating when I arrived. They only gave me a cursory glance before returning to their conversation. That's good; I can practically feel my eyes shutting on their own. The less I have to talk, the better.

I grabbed a plate full of food and sat in the corner by myself once again. The food here really is delicious. One day, I need to find the castle chef and ask for tips or tricks. I know a little more than just the basics of cooking, but I'm no master chef. If I'm lucky, I bet I could recreate a relatively simple dish if I know the ingredients. That all hinges on whether the exact same vegetables, fruits, meats, and spices all exist in this world. I know that some of them are identical, but others are completely different from what I'd expect.

Eh, I'll figure it out one day when I have to cook for myself more often. Maybe Emilia can help if I ask nicely.

"Hey, you over there. Flynn, was it? Don't you want to sit with us?" I almost jumped as I was shaken from my musings. Why am I so jumpy? I must be more tired than I thought.

The girl who called out to me looked a bit more mature than the others, maybe in her late thirties. Her brown hair was cut short in a pixie style that framed her face nicely. The other girls took turns looking from her to me, as if they weren't in agreement about me coming to join them.

"Uh...sure," I replied, picking up my plate and moving over to join them at the main table. I picked a seat at the far end, hoping beyond hope that I wouldn't be the main topic of conversation. That was a far-fetched dream.

"Why aren't you wearing your uniform?"

"Why do you annoy the Captain so much on purpose? Do you like her?"

"Were any of the guys trying to peep in the baths?"

I absent-mindedly swirled some noodles using my fork. "To answer all of your questions in order: I do not like the uniform or think it is necessary, I really do not like her much at all, and yes they were."

The girl who asked the final question slammed a fist onto the table, making me jump again. "I knew I felt someone's pervy eyes on me! Who did it, Flynn? Who needs to die?!"

"Calm down, Tanya." The first woman placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "We'll ask Captain Eclair to have the baths inspected for peeping holes later. We should be glad that Flynn actually told us the truth."

Tanya, the girl with blonde hair tied into a single braid behind her, took a few deep breaths. "You're right, Sasha...Thanks, Flynn. For a troublemaker, you aren't half bad." I let out a tired sigh.

I guess I can't refute that claim. Even when I don't try to, I manage to wind up in trouble one way or another. It doesn't help that the captain seems to have it out for me. There's nothing wrong with following the rules, but she takes it way too far. Besides, doesn't she know that I don't even want to be here?

Did the queen not tell her anything about the people she's training? Not even a background check?

Eclair isn't so bad when she's actually teaching. I can't deny that she knows her way around a sword far better than I do, but she has this strange need to be insufferably prim and perfect all the time. All she has to do is keep the "honor of the knights" out of her mouth for ten minutes and she'd actually be tolerable.

The training and learning part isn't too bad, but her rants about honor and duty and responsibility make me want to tear my ears off. She just goes on and on. That might motivate someone who dreams of being a knight, but it means nothing to me.

In the end, I'm stuck here until further notice anyway. All I have to do now is be just enough of a nuisance that Little Miss Strawberry can't stand my existence and wants me kicked out. That's something the queen can't do anything about...at least I don't think she can.

She wouldn't torture a Captain by forcing her to put up with an unwilling soldier, would she? The scary part is that I don't know for sure.

The girls turned out to be relatively nice. Sasha, the middle-aged woman, has a husband but no children yet. She joined the knights for the benefits provided by the crown, which would help her afford having a child. She already has the motherly vibe down pat, so I think she'll be a great parent one day.

Fion, the youngest of the four girls here, is the oldest child of a poor family. She'd always had to help take care of herself and five siblings ever since her father passed away from some disease that I couldn't pronounce. She joined the knights to help her mother afford food for her brothers and sisters, who were all under the age of ten.

I can't personally relate to her plight, but she's definitely got a good heart. It takes a strong person to step up and commit yourself to something so dangerous for the sake of others, even if it is your family.

Yusagi, the only redhead in the group, is somewhere around my age. She mentioned cross-country carriage rides with her father to trade goods, so their family is probably pretty wealthy. She says she joined the knights to protect her home and country. It's a noble motive, but it feels a little empty to me. Shallow. Almost like it's an excuse.

I can't judge her, though. It's a better reason for being here than mine.

The final girl in the group is Tanya, and she...well...she's a bit of a hothead. She's the loudest of the group by far, and she gets even louder when she's excited. She's an only child and loves a good fight. According to her, she joined the knights so she could "beat up anyone who disrespects Her Majesty!"

I guess that includes me. Whoops.

When it came time for me to introduce myself, I came up with a massive lie to hide the fact that I'm from a completely different world. The queen may know about it, but I don't think advertising it all over the place is a good idea. My fabricated story painted me as the only son of a family from Zeltoble who ran into financial troubles. I was here to raise money to build a new farm in the mountains to the northeast.

"But why do you piss off Captain Eclair so much if you're here just to get paid?" Yusagi asked as she took a bite of beef. "It doesn't make a lot of sense to get on her nerves. She'll just make you run more laps, and nobody wants that."

Fion rested her head on the table. "How the hell did you survive running twenty laps around the castle, anyway? I was dead tired by the time I was done with ten."

I felt some color vanish from my cheeks as I recalled the recent memory. "I am...not exactly sure how I survived at all. It was miserable." Shaking my head, I cut into a slice of filolial meat. "And my reasons are as I said: I do not like her much."

Sasha was obviously not convinced, based on the look she gave me. "What about her do you not like? It's not her fault you showed up late and gave her an attitude on top of it."

"I..." My gaze drifted down to my food. "I was an adventurer before this, so I am used to doing things my way. I have no problem with following the rules, but I am not used to being told what to do all the time. Not anymore."

"If your way ends up earning you extra laps every day, it can't possibly be worth it."

I shrugged. There's no way they'd understand my situation, given my fake backstory. How am I supposed to tell them that the queen blackmailed me into joining the knights? If something like that got spread around, I'm sure I'd find myself on a private date with Mirellia in the torture chamber.

Yusagi put down her utensils and leaned forward onto the table. "Why open a farm in the mountains, though? The ground there probably isn't suitable for growing much."

I waved my hand dismissively. "The farm itself is not so important, though I probably could make a small fortune selling crops there if I can manage it. The cost of living is very high because of how dangerous the area is. I always figured my family would run the farm while I hunt down any dragons that wander too close. They are tough, but I have visited the area and killed plenty of them myself."

"Dragons? You've killed dragons?" Tanya was amazed, sparkles in her eyes at the mere thought. "How big were they? How many have you fought at once? Are they super fast like the ones the knights ride? Are they-" she continued rambling off questions so quickly that my ability to translate couldn't keep up. I held up my hands placatingly.

"S-sorry, I...um...I have a hard time understanding you when you talk so quickly. Melromarcian is not my best language."

She blinked for a moment then blushed a dark shade of red. "O-oh...sorry. I have a habit of talking too fast when I get excited." The way she gets so excited reminds me a little of Wyndia. It's cute. There's always something about people who are passionate about their hobbies that is endearing. They're better than shallow folks who care only about their appearance.

Take the captain for example. Eclair is beautiful, for sure, but her personality completely ruins it. What could a woman like her possibly consider a hobby? Drinking tea while discussing politics? Probably something similarly snobbish.

The rest of the women and the men eventually showed up for dinner. A few people asked the usual question of "Are you crazy or something?" but I brushed it off with my usual response.

"I just do not like her much."

The girls intentionally kept the topic of conversation away from me for a while. I have to admit, they're pretty perceptive. The sheer number of questions were starting to make me incredibly uncomfortable, so it feels nice to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere. I don't feel like quite as much of an outsider anymore.

Said atmosphere included Sasha restraining Tanya from ripping into the guys for peeping, but it was fun for me. Perks of not being a creep.

Then, the door opened and the room fell completely silent as the captain entered the kitchen. She raised an eyebrow when her gaze landed on me, but to my surprise, she didn't say a word. She merely grabbed a plate of food and sat down at our table to eat.

I almost breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't bother chastising me for my outfit. It's probably such a small thing compared to my earlier transgressions that she decided it wasn't worth the effort. Either that, or she's had about as much of me as she can handle for one day.

Good. The feeling is mutual.

But...I don't want to make things awkward for everyone else here.

"I am heading to sleep early. See you all in the morning," I announced, picking up my plate before moving toward the sink to wash it myself. Maybe the castle chefs are supposed to handle the cleaning, but I know from experience that it isn't a glamorous job. Besides, cleaning dishes is a little therapeutic. The cool water helps me relax. Good thing they have faucets and sinks just like back home.

It's a bit nostalgic. I don't necessarily want to go back, but a small part of me misses it.

"If you have a personal issue with my being here, please do not keep it to yourself," Eclair said, tone irritated as always. I felt my face twist into an annoyed scowl. "As a knight in training, a certain level of respect is expected to-"

"Respect is earned, Eclair," I spat back, silencing the kitchen once more. The look of pure shock she made gave me a bit of smug satisfaction that I tried my best to hide. "To me, being a knight is not some special award which alone deserves praise. It is a job, just like any other. As long as I do my job, nobody should complain."

"You are not wearing your uniform, Blackwood."

Are you serious?! She changed the subject without even acknowledging what I said!

"And?"

She sighed. "When will this rebellious attitude end? You are acting very childish." I rolled my eyes and turned my back to her, focusing on washing my plate. A few quiet murmurs could barely be heard over the sound of the running water.

Whatever this plate is made of, the food sure sticks to it like glue.

"Blackwood, when everyone is finished eating, you will clean their dishes. All of them," Eclair said in an exhausted tone. I sent her a thumbs up without turning around to look at her. Luckily, I found a spare apron in the kitchen. I tied it around my waist and rolled up my sleeves so I wouldn't get my clothes dirty.

Conversation slowly began again, though I could tell it was strained. I feel bad for them. It's not their fault that I was forced into this stupid training program under a woman who would need to win a high jump competition to escape the stick in her ass. They're here for their own reasons, and me being a loudmouth asshole is just ruining their dreams.

...And it isn't Eclair's fault, either. Dammit...

Maybe Sasha is right. Maybe it isn't worth it. I've been acting like a spoiled child this whole time even when I'm not trying to. Something about our pink haired captain just makes me want to fight back. I can't help it.

I sighed in defeat. I'll dial it back on the revenge...just a little bit. Enough to piss off Pinky from time to time, but not so much that it's openly disruptive. I may as well take advantage of the free training while I'm stuck here. Technically everything is free while I'm here.

After it seemed like everyone was finished eating, I calmly and quietly asked if they were finished. I swallowed my pride and asked the same for Eclair, adding her plate to my stack. She seemed surprised that I have a single shred of decency in me.

I didn't choose the rebel life; the rebel life chose me. Thank your queen for that.

Regardless, I went to bed and passed out within minutes. The wakeup call in the morning wasn't pleasant at all, with it being - you guessed it - Eclair's shouting voice. The one person whose voice I don't want to hear would be my morning alarm from now on. Talk about tragic irony.

I'll have to make a habit of waking up before her so I don't have to hear it. It'll be hard, nearly impossible, but I'll have to if I want to stay sane. There's no way I can have a good day when she's the first thing I hear as I wake up.

My morning stretches helped wake me up as they always do. While many of my bunkmates barely slid out of bed and got dressed, I was already wide awake and ready to suffer another day. I smirked as I got dressed in my off duty uniform for training. It's meant to be used casually, so this should get on Eclair's nerves a little without being too much of an issue.

I feel a little ridiculous for making such a big deal about it yesterday, though. It fits perfectly and is actually really comfortable. If it didn't look so goofy, I wouldn't mind wearing it around town or the castle.

I wound up unbuttoning the top few buttons, leaving my collar open for at least a little room to breathe. That's much better! I think I'll call it my "Knight's Casual" outfit.

Who knows, maybe I'll become a trendsetter.

"Good morning, soldiers! We have a long day of training ahead of us, so if you are not awake yet, I suggest you hurry it up!" Eclair announced as we made our way outside. Aside from us and the two guards stationed outside the gate, the courtyard was empty. The weather was noticeably warmer than yesterday, warm enough that I'll be perfectly fine once I get moving.

Once her eyes drifted over to me, she slapped a hand over her face. "Blackwood, why are you wearing your off-duty uniform to morning training?"

I shrugged. "What? It is more comfortable than I thought. Warm, too."

"It looks good on you, soldier. Just be sure to keep it clean and pressed regularly," she said, turning back to face the rest of our group. I'm a little surprised that she didn't raise more of a fuss about it. "We will warm up today with five laps at a fast pace today. Blackwood! Since you love running so much, you will set the pace."

"Wait, what? But he was so slow yesterday!" one of the male trainees complained.

She crossed her arms. "Yes, but he also had to run twice as many as you all did. And he did it without whining either. Do not think for a second that I missed how exhausted you were after only three laps, Morian," Eclair shot back.

I have to hand it to her, the woman knows how to fight with words.

"Now get moving! I want an early start on swordplay today so we can get some live practice in! Move it!"

"Alright, follow me," I said, starting with a relatively slow pace as the others fell in step right behind or beside me. A few of them looked like they were itching to move faster, but I wanted to make sure those who were less fit or still tired had time to get their muscles moving. My own legs still ache from yesterday, so I don't want to push myself too hard just yet.

Once we'd made it around the first corner, I sped up a little so we were at a slow jogging pace. "We will go faster on each lap. Let me know if you need me to slow down a bit," I announced back to them. I received a few thumbs up and a few snide comments in response, but I ignored them in favor of keeping my pace steady. After the fourth lap, I announced that we would sprint the rest of it.

"Are you kidding? We can't sprint a whole lap around the castle! You really are nuts!" Fion complained as she nearly stumbled over her own feet. "I'm ready to keel over already! Can't we slow down?"

"Enough complaining. The faster we move, the faster we can be done with running," Morian said. He's much more agreeable now that we're setting a decent pace. I'm still trying to remember all of their names. Only Ake and the few girls from yesterday ever introduced themselves to me personally, so the rest are basically strangers.

We rounded the final corner and I pushed my legs even faster to finish out our last lap. I know some of the others won't be able to keep up, but I just want to be done with running. Moving any slower would just tire me out more from running longer. Everyone showed varying signs of exhaustion as we re-entered the courtyard, with a few people even laying down and gasping for air in the grass.

Eclair regarded us with interest. "You finished sooner than I expected, and all together too! Considering your leader, I half expected him to run ahead and leave you all to catch up." I was breathing heavily from sprinting, but it was nothing compared to yesterday's torture. I managed a bit of a glare.

"I take offense to that, Eclair," I said, crossing my arms in front of her.

"Call me Captain, Blackwood. Surely I deserve at least that much respect from you."

"No."

The downturn of her lips told me that my response bothered her. "Very well, then. You get to run an extra lap in the morning for every time you refuse to address me properly."

"Sounds fine by me, Eclair."

"That is one more for tomorrow, Blackwood. Keep it up; maybe you will become a professional runner by the end of this winter."

I grit my teeth and refrained from teasing her any further. Her reactions are fun, but not when they add extra laps around the castle. I'll keep that particular jab to a minimum. I'll never address her as Captain unless she really earns it, though.

"Now that you are all warmed up, grab a training sword. Break into pairs and go over what you learned yesterday, but no mock fighting yet. We will save that for later once you all have the basics down," the pinkette ordered. We did as we were told, and I paired up with Ake.

We took turns making slow slashes and blocking, switching after a few attempts each. Then we switched to thrusts, then to dodges, and finally to general footwork. Ake looked a little winded by the end of it, but he kept up with me very well. I have to admit, he's tenacious if nothing else.

"I've been meaning to ask you, but how long were you an adventurer before this, Flynn?" Ake asked, quietly so Eclair couldn't hear our conversation. It seemed he was a lot more worried about her punishments than I was.

"Maybe...two months?"

"Only two months?!"

"Hey! No chit chat, you two! Focus on fundamentals or I will personally beat them into you!"

Based on my first impressions of her, Eclair doesn't like anything that isn't strictly by the book. Even when it comes to training and practice, she has to keep everything flowing smoothly or she gets her panties in a twist.

Ha! Little does she know that's exactly what I want.

That moment from yesterday replayed in my head on loop, taunting me with my inadequacies over and over. She defeated me in a single strike that I couldn't even see coming. No matter what level she is, or how fast she is, I'll eventually get a feel for her style. The only way to train my eyes to see those small details is to fight her over and over. One way or another, I will find a way to defeat her. Not out of some childish need for revenge, but simply to prove to myself that I'm improving.

My level isn't going up since I'm not getting any EXP here, so I need to gain something out of this.

The best way to get Eclair Seaetto to fight me is to rile her up. The easiest way to do that is to not follow orders. That's not a good idea unless I want to run more laps around the castle, so the trick is to not follow them perfectly.

"Yes Ake, I was only an adventurer for two months before this," I carried on as if the pinkette hadn't said a word. The young man looked absolutely terrified. "I had to make money while my family adjusted to living in Melromarc, and I got to explore the mountains quite a lot."

"U-u-um...F-f-flynn? Th-th-tha-that's nice and all, but..." the boy stuttered, pointing behind me. I plastered a smirk on my face, already expecting the outburst.

"BLACKWOOD, WHAT DID I JUST SAY ABOUT CHIT CHATTING?!" Eclair roared, getting up in my face. I was taller than her by nearly half a foot, so I smirked down at her.

"What, do you not like the sound of my voice?"

"I would like to rip my ears off every time I hear it."

"Ha! Touché, belle femme."

"What did you just say?" she asked, confused as I switched to French. My smirk grew as I found yet another way to push her buttons. I still remember a few fancy words from all sorts of languages like Spanish and French, and even a bit of Japanese. Since there's no way she knows anything about those languages, I can say whatever I want and she'll have no idea what it means.

Boom. Genius.

"Oh, nothing. Do not worry about it," I said, turning back to Ake. "Come, Ake! I want to practice blocking a bit more! I thought of something else that might work better!" I went back to my partner and began blocking his strikes once again, completely ignoring the look on Eclair's face. I bet it's priceless, but it's way funnier to act like I don't care enough to look.

And such began my routine for the next week. Every morning I woke up and ran laps around the castle for being a smartass and calling Eclair by her name rather than her title. It was usually only one or two, but there was one day that I couldn't resist and wound up with five. Then we warmed up with a few practice swings and dodges before moving on to mock fights. I was always paired up with Ake, though I suspect it was because Eclair knew the boy would at least make an effort to keep me out of trouble.

Or she just liked kicking the crap out of me personally like some kind of stress ball.

"Agh!" I cried as my arm flared with pain, forcing me to loosen my grip on my sword. It was enough for my opponent to flourish her own weapon, catching my blade and flicking it hard enough to fly from my grasp. My opponent's wooden training sword was pointed right in my face.

"You lose again, Blackwood. You were fast enough to see my sword coming this time, but you lack the technique to block my strikes. It was easy to land a crippling blow to your forearm and disarm you," Eclair said, withdrawing her weapon. I rubbed my sore arm, feeling the bruise forming already.

"Damn...I thought I had you this time."

She scoffed. "Not a chance. Get back to Ake and fight. I want to see you working on parries from now on, or I will give you extra laps tomorrow."

"Yippie, more laps! My absolute favorite!" I said sarcastically, giving a dramatic fist pump. "C'mon Ake! Do some more laps with me!"

"H-huh? Heck no! Run them by yourself, you maniac!" the boy shouted back. I chuckled as we began sparring again.

I can't help but enjoy the little dynamic we have going on. I'm the troublemaker, always tempting him to break the rules with me. He's the innocent "good boy" type who just wants to stay out of trouble. Thank goodness Eclair never forced him to run with me. It's all just for fun.

"Aww, but you know I love running, Ake! It gets so lonely out there by myself!"

Eclair pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't see you parrying, Blackwood! You are already up to four laps tomorrow morning."

"Woohoo!"

Eclair's laps were always designed to break me enough to follow her orders, but I think something else might have broken instead.

After day four of my punishments, I started to enjoy running in the morning. I enjoy when Eclair pulls me aside and teaches me one on one because I get to experience a level of training that's more intense than just slowly slapping training swords together with Ake. For someone who always wanted to be a knight, the boy is surprisingly meek. He isn't afraid to swing a weapon by any means, but he prefers to be on the defensive whenever we spar.

I still hate her attitude, though. Eclair is, and probably always will be, an extremely uptight woman who needs to chill out with the rules and conduct lectures.

My body was in a constant state of pain by the end of the day, but I've gotten so used to the pain that I'm able to keep moving in spite of it. I'd already been accustomed to moving around day in and day out from adventuring, but something about this is on a whole different level. This isn't just walking around; this is constant, boundary-pushing training every single day. It's barely been a week and I feel like I've improved more than I have in the past two months as an adventurer.

My level isn't necessarily going up, but I feel stronger anyway.

After our daily training ended and we all ate dinner, I found myself feeling restless. Walking around the castle alone was discouraged so I decided to walk around outside. It was cold, for sure, but not terribly so. I wouldn't feel any pain as long as I kept moving.

The knights stationed outside didn't bat an eye as I walked past them in the middle of the night. Some of them even know me by name from how many laps I've run. I looked up to admire the beautiful moon high in the sky. It's really something to behold. The cold, slightly blue-ish white glow is a little relaxing.

Just how long have I been in this world? Two months? Three? I'm starting to lose track of the days now that I'm so busy all the time.

It's a little crazy to think about. Not even half a year ago, I was stuck in a room playing games on a computer to procrastinate on work some days. Now I have a stable paycheck from a job I don't necessarily hate, I've learned a completely new language, and I've met some of the most interesting people I could imagine. The thought brought an actual tear to my eye. I wiped it away before it could freeze to my face.

That's enough introspection, though. Time to burn off the rest of this energy so I can go to sleep.

I began walking around the castle, just like I usually do for my laps. That walk slowly became a jog, then a run, and finally a sprint. I forced myself to ignore the shadowy figures that wandered in and out of the castle, as they were apparently welcome. The knights at the gate allowed them inside without a fuss, anyway.

I finished my nighttime run close to midnight and decided to hit the baths before bed. In the changing room was a mirror that almost never got used. The one in the women's changing room probably saw quite a bit of use, but this one didn't.

The men probably don't want each other to know they care about their body image so much. Now that I'm alone, it doesn't really matter.

I flexed in front of the mirror, admiring the way my muscles showed themselves. I wasn't horribly out of shape before, but I've certainly packed on some muscle. My shoulders are a bit larger, arms a bit stronger, and chest a bit bigger. I even have a bit of a six pack on my stomach. I would have killed for a body like this back home! I don't look like a bodybuilder or anything, but I'm proud of myself.

All of those laps paid off, I guess.

I whistled a quick tune from an anime I used to watch as I washed myself clean of all the sweat and grime I'd accumulated throughout the day. A happy sigh forced its way from my lips as I dipped into the warm water. Nothing beats a hot bath at the end of a long day.

Now I understand why the Japanese swear by baths rather than showers. They're so much more relaxing. Showers feel more like a quick way to clean oneself, but a bath is a way to unwind at the end of a long day. Maybe I'm overthinking it a little. Either way, it feels heavenly.

The peaceful sound of water gently pouring into the bath drew me into the ultimate state of bliss. It's just me, the bath, and my thoughts. This is amazing.

But a tiny sound, just barely within earshot, ruined my immersion. What in the world?...

I scooted around the bath until I found the source of the sound: the wall separating the men's and women's baths. Why is someone in there this late at night, and why are they singing? Nobody but the royal guards should be awake at this time of night.

I know I'm still awake this late, but I have an excuse. A stupid one, but it counts.

The woman's singing voice is definitely rough around the edges. She doesn't sound particularly skilled, but her words are filled with emotion that I can feel even while it's so muffled by the wall. I leaned my head back against the bath, listening to this mystery woman's voice lull me into a state of half-sleep. My curiosity soon got the best of me. I have to know who this siren is.

Remembering the peep hole that some of the others raved about, I leaned forward onto the bathroom floor to see if it's been fixed yet. To my surprise, there was still the smallest crack in the wall that allowed one to see a small section of the women's bath. It's a little ironic that I laughed at the others for peeping earlier when I'm about to do the same now.

The circumstances are a bit different since I'm more interested in simply knowing who is there, but in the end it's still peeping. Once I know, I'll go back to my own business.

Her voice became a bit clearer when I put my ear up to the crack in the wall. I feel guilty for peeping on someone, but I can't help but wonder who would be awake so late at night and who likes to sing. Angling my head a bit awkwardly to see through the crack, I could make out the person's figure. She's definitely in amazing shape. Athletic, but not too muscle-y. She has quite an ass on her, too. Nice and round and-

Eventually, the figure moved and I caught a glimpse of pink hair.

"Oh shi-IIIIIIIIIIIT!"

In my panic, my foot slipped on the slick tile and I fell backward into the water with a deafeningly loud SPLASH! Oh god, no! Why did it have to be her?! She's going to actually kill me! I'm SO dead!

Quick, I have to escape! If I get out fast enough, she won't know it's me!

With speed unlike anything I'd ever managed before, I toweled myself off and haphazardly threw my clothes on before opening the door. Before I could even take a single step toward my room, I felt a murderous aura coming from my left. I gulped, slowly turning my head to meet the furious eyes of my captain.

"Flynn Blackwood..." she said through grit teeth. "What are you doing in the bath at this hour?"

Is that sweat dripping down my neck, or did I miss a few drops of water in my hair?

"Uh...H-hey hey Captain!" I said with a nervous chuckle. "I, uh...felt a bit restless and went out for a quick jog outside and...you know...wanted to get cleaned up."

Her eyes narrowed. "You need to rest or you will hurt yourself. And...did you just call me Captain?"

Shit, she caught that? "Really? Haha...I, uh...I guess I did."

Although I really was feeling restless before, I'd also wanted to have some time to myself. I'd gotten so used to being on my own in the wilderness that it grew on me. Having some quiet time to reflect and sit with my own thoughts is a luxury I didn't think I'd miss. It's hard to think about anything when I'm constantly surrounded by people and I have to translate everything they're saying so I can understand it.

Nobody else would even dream of doing extra laps around the castle at night, so it's the perfect opportunity. It's not like I sprinted the whole thing; I just jogged leisurely around the castle for most of it. I'd purchased a warmer set of clothes in secret just so I can be outside without freezing my ass off.

It also gets me away from Morian's snoring. My god, man.

I forced my eyes to stay locked on Eclair's so they wouldn't wander. The mental image of her naked body kept flashing into my mind and I mentally swatted it away with a baseball bat. Her hair was still wet, tied into a long ponytail that trailed down her back. A tiny tinge of pink dusted her cheeks, but I wouldn't dare ask about it. I'm a little too nervous to crack jokes like I usually do. It would give me away in an instant.

"While it is good that you are finally taking your training seriously, be sure to rest when you need it," she said with a sigh as she crossed her arms.

I blinked. This is probably the first real conversation we've ever had without yelling or fighting. It's a little scary, to be honest. A calm silence fell upon us and I almost sighed in relief for this moment of safety-

"But more importantly, d-did you, um...did you h-hear anything? You know, while you were in the bath?"

Aaaaaaaaaand that moment has passed.

"Nope! Didn't hear a thing!" I said, looking away as my face burned red-hot. It's hopeless! I'm done for! For a few seconds, I thought Eclair Seaetto was hot. Not just hot, really, I thought she was damn sexy.

It makes me want to gouge my eyeballs out.

Eclair crossed her arms underneath her bust. Only now did I truly notice how well her clothes accented her naturally amazing figure. "A-are you sure? I could have sworn I heard a splash from the men's bath. Was anyone else in there with you?"

"N-nope! Just me falling in! Those floors sure are slippery, hahaha!"

My acting sucks.

"You fell into the bath? You are not that clumsy, Flynn. What could you possibly be doing to fall into the bath?" Eclair gave me a skeptical look. "Are you sure you did not hear anything? I find that hard to believe."

Ah shit, she knows. The way her lips curled into a snarl and eyes widened with fury told me everything. "Uh...If it is any consolation, you have a wonderful singing voice," I said, trying to do some damage control.

The woman gripped the front of my shirt and yanked my face down to hers so she could glare at me eye to eye. "You will not speak of this to anyone. Ever."

"Got it-"

"ANYONE. EVER!" she interrupted me, grip tightening around my collar. "If I hear a word of this out of your mouth, you will run laps until your legs break!"

"Okay okay, sheesh! It's not like I said you have an amazing, shapely ass or something and the birth mark on your lower back is cute-"

"WHAT?! HOW DO YOU-!?" she screeched, literally shaking with rage. Suddenly a look of realization dawned on her. "Wait...You...were you peeping on me?"

Oh dammit, my mouth always runs wild when I panic!

"N-no! Not at all! I was just wondering who was singing, that's all!"

Wrong choice of words, apparently. Eclair looked furious. More furious than I've ever seen her before, and that's saying something considering how often I made her angry. This is a different kind of anger, though.

She doesn't look like she wants me punished; she looks like she wants me dead.

"Flynn..." she whispered, fists shaking as she held my shirt. For the first time, she called me by my first name as well. "You know how we are supposed to have tomorrow off, right?"

"Y-yeah?..."

The pinkette took a deep breath. "Tomorrow, you and I are going to have a nice, loooooong chat. On top of that, I will be personally breaking every perverted bone in your stupid body. Am I clear?"

I gulped. "U-um...E-Eclair?..."

"What?"

Her sharp tone made me flinch, but I was shocked that she didn't reprimand me for calling her by her name. "Has anyone ever told you that you have really beautiful eyes?"

She punched me in the gut for that one. Tomorrow promises a lot of pain.