"Lady Elia, it's good to see you returned safely." came a voice as the woman general rode in front of her army, soon seeing the elite general at the front of the city entrance. "I take it your trip went well?"

"Up to just before we made it here, we were attacked by two large danger beasts." the general spoke as she got off her horse, looking around as her troops halted behind her. She then turned to them as she kept her gaze stern, soon shouting to where the could all hear it. "Alright, feel free to head to the tavern or anywhere at your own leisure for the day, you've earned it!"

This got some sound shouts of confirmation before they started to march past her and Darius, Elia soon looking around as she noticed a lack of soldiers. "Where's my father and his honor guard at, Darius?"

"Our father's finishing some negotiations with an envoy from the King of Ilas, Elia." came a voice to her right, making her turn her head in confusion to find Arlus sitting at the steps of one of the houses while reading a book. He then smirked as he closed the book before getting up, turning to her as she kept her eyes on him. "It's good to see you, sister."

"You're outside of your room?" Elia responded, making Arlus' grin only grow as Darius looked at her with a sense of urgency.

"More importantly, you said you were attacked by two large danger beasts?" Darius asked, Elia only nodding as she looked to him. "Yet you're completely unscathed..."

"Say that to the men killed by them when they appeared from the forest." Elia responded, making the two look at her shocked as her gaze turned stern, her troops marching past. "Fortunately for us, however, there was a hunter that decided to hit one of them in a weak spot and distract the two, in fact he was busy fighting the last able bodied danger beast while I took the chance to kill the one he wounded. Our men up front, however, were hit hard, so I had to lead them over while some troops stayed behind to ensure that the bodies of the fallen aren't touched."

"You didn't leave them alone out there, did you?" Arlus spoke as he looked at her, his gaze amused as he noticed Darius just looking at her.

"No, the hunter is with them so that they can return here after I send some city guards out." Elia responded as she looked back to the path she had walked from, the last parts of the troops now marching past them as she remembered the skirmish. "He was quick with shooting the first one with his bow and arrow, and resourceful to use the shield to defend from the second one. However, his skill with a sword and shield were better than any experienced warriors I've seen that have fought in it."

"Was it, now?" Arlus mused, his own mind recalling the man he had talked to a year ago about land. 'It could be the same man.' Arlus thought as he remembered the land they chose being in the same direction. "So their abilities interested you?"

"Yes, actually." Elia responded as she looked to Arlus, who started moving off while signalling the two to follow. The three then began their walk as there were hushed whispers in the daily events of the city, Elia's mind now going through what was said.

"Knowing that road your men marched from, it's more than likely the same man that dealt with some of the undisciplined knights that were in the elite guard over in the tavern." Darius spoke, causing Elia to look at him shocked. "Thankfully so, too, given they should've been kicked out of the corps long ago."

"He dealt with the guards without being arrested?" Elia responded, Darius only nodding as they took a turn that led to the guard barracks in the city, Arlus only smirking as he listened to the two. "How on earth did he manage that."

"By that girl who transferred from the city guard to your army, Elia." Arlus spoke as they entered the barracks, making her look at him confused as the soldiers within immediately stood in attention. "According to the reports from eight months ago, they were treating a waitress there poorly when he stepped in, and after she told him about the weapons code he proceeded to fight all of them unarmed. From what my spies have gathered, she was also training under him in far stricter conditions than we put our own soldiers in."

"You mean Serphia?" Elia asked as she remembered the girl, Arlus only nodding as he noticed a smile starting on her face. the girl had been good in reconnaissance and even in battle during some key ambushes, putting her up for a possibility of ranking up. "She had talked about her instructor a lot when she was moving large stones around the camp, saying he had ordered her to do so for training. To think I had been given a chance to see him fight..."

"You seem to be having some expectations for him, Elia." Arlus responded as Darius walked past him and to the counter, soon speaking to the barrack captain about sending soldiers to the road. "Are you actually thinking of seeing exactly how strong he could be?"

"Maybe, if you know where his house is." Elia responded, making Arlus only shake his head as he sighed.

"He made his home in a part of the forest that's only accessible by those who have been there before, and my spies only go so far in before they're risking their lives." Arlus responded as he looked to Darius as the man was conversing, his gaze strict. "I can, however, get someone to send a message to him from you if you truly want to meet him again and see his strength."

"It would be appreciated, he could be strong enough to face my fighting style." Elia responded as she kept her smile, making Arlus only look at her as she looked to two axes set up on the wall. "Though I don't really expect much from someone who's decided to hide away from society."

"Your curse of nobility is showing, Elia." Arlus sighed as Elia looked over to him annoyed. "Even your instructor said that would cause some major problems if you were-"

"My lady, They'll need a specific location from you in order to reach the group." Darius interrupted, making the two look at him as he held his hand out towards the counter, a map now laying on it as Elia sighed.

"Just because he could handle one large danger beast and three knights easily doesn't give him a strength above gods, it only means he's yet to find a limit." Elia responded as she walked past Arlus, who only sighed as she leaned over the map. "I'll hand you the letter I'll want you to give him later, for now we worry about the bodies of my men."

'She worries over her men yet calls the man who saved the rest not that strong...' Arlus thought as he walked over to her, his mind already going through his recollection of the man. 'I guess I'll keep silent on him killing six of those other danger beasts a year back and see how things go. Who knows, it could be fun seeing her snapped to reality after all her victories.'


Oliver finished placing the pelts on a tanning rack, now drying out after he washed them of all the blood as he went inside to change into a new shirt, still wearing the one he had in his fight with the beasts. The guards found the place rather easily and allowed Oliver and Serphia to take the remaining soldiers on the path to Emerial before he stopped at the outskirts by his house, where he split from them and went to set the items he took from the beasts for a bit. After a few trips, he ended up carrying both their pelts, both of their hind legs, and both poison glands before the body had some of the smaller beasts beginning to dine on the two carcasses. Oliver thought through the whole fight he had, remembering how the woman had been treating him through it all.

'Her gaze on me was just like I was a simple hunter, but knowing I had more power than I showed in my own fight.' Oliver thought as he grabbed a white long sleeved shirt from beside his bed, something he normally wore while training in his forms, before he walked out of his house, stretching as he felt the tension from the fight still remaining in his back. He then heard a whistle towards his direction before he turned to find Oric riding over on a painted horse, a smile on his face as he saw the pelts on the rack. Oliver only smiled as he walked to his right, sitting down in one of the two chairs he had set on both sides of his door. He had made the house facing south, and had a view of a bit of the forest and the trail heading to town because of it.

"I heard from some soldiers coming in that you defeated the creatures attacking the trade route with the aid of General Elia." Oric spoke as he stopped his horse and dismounted, Oliver only nodding as he leaned back in his chair to gaze out at the area. Oric soon walked up to the house steps as Oliver looked at it's porch. The house itself wasn't too big, but it was still big enough to have more than one person living in it if needed, having a bedroom separate and the kitchen and living quarters in the same area. Thanks to the building of the house being a set ambition, he had been able to use his powers for a short time. However, as soon as the house had windows set in and a chimney and fireplace, taking around two months from having to make them with the shadow-fire, his powers vanished from his control, probably because he knew he could do the rest without them. Oric noticed his gaze before he looked up at the porch roof, his own thoughts on the matter finally coming out. "I'm still amazed that you made this place with what little items you had been given, and how sturdy it is compared to most of the houses in town. Are you sure you don't want to go into carpentry?"

"Nope, wouldn't suit me given I would have to wear women's clothing and hang around in your tavern." Oliver joked, causing Oric to look at him confused before he sighed. "Forget it, it's a joke that few people got anyway and nothing anyone here would know. So then, the general's name is Elia?"

"Yes, she's among the best generals in the battlefield, according to the soldiers that come to the tavern now and then." Oric spoke as he sat in the chair to the left of the door, staring over to Oliver as he held a confused look. "You've honestly never heard of her throughout the year you've been here?"

"Not outside the hustle of commotion in some crowds, which you know me to avoid, so I'm guessing from your tone that she's more important than someone of general status?" Oliver questioned, looking over to Oric before the barkeep nodded, his gaze now harder than it normally was.

"She's got a lot of pressure on her at the moment from her victories, and not just because she's among the three female generals in the king's army." Oric spoke, leaning forward from the chair he was sitting in as Oliver looked at him confused. "She's the second child of the king, his first daughter out of the six children and next in line if Arlus dies."

"Truly? That does explain the way she spoke to me." Oliver spoke, his gaze wandering back to the trees in front of the house while his mind worked. "Serphia said that she had a good amount of victories in the battles she had led."

"Indeed, she's been out in the field for over a year facing the enemies around the kingdom, leaving half a year before your arrival." Oric spoke, soon reaching into his shirt before he pulled out a letter. "In fact, she's sent for you after hearing of your actions eight months ago, along with some of the stories Serphia has said about your training."

"She should keep her head out of the stories." Oliver replied, making Oric look at him in confusion as he looked on at the forest his house viewed. "I've no plan for going to war, nor do I intend on teaching my style to anyone that can't withstand it."

"You have no idea if she's actually asking that, and it would be denying a direct order from the crown." Oric spoke, Oliver looking over at him with a small grin on his face.

"Who said I wasn't going?" Oliver spoke as he stood up, soon taking the letter as he walked down the steps, heading towards a leveled area to the east of his house. "Go ahead and tell them I'm heading over, Oric. I'll be training for a short bit before I do, though."

Oric only nodded, soon standing before he left the porch, Oliver walking down to the center of the leveled ground as he kept his own mind on what would come, soon kneeling as he closed his eyes to prepare his mind for both the training and afterwards.

-eight months ago, two days after the fight in the tavern-

Oliver heard a knock on the door as he was roasting a beast leg on a makeshift grill he put on his fireplace, it in itself being made from a broken metal shield, his gaze focused on the work as he flipped the leg over. "It's open!" Oliver shouted, soon hearing the door open as he turned to see Serphia entering. "So you did come, but do you have determination in your eyes?"

"I wish to train under you." Serphia spoke, Oliver standing up as he placed a metal lid over the beast leg and turned to her, letting it roast in the heat as he walked forward past the table as he stared into her eyes.

'Unwavering, but still lost of their own path.' Oliver thought as she kept her gaze locked with his, a smirk coming off as he stopped just a few feet away. "Before we see if you have what it takes to train, I have one single question." Oliver spoke as he leaned on the table, his smirk remaining on his face as Serphia looked at him. "What purpose do you wish to learn it for, and why?"

"I wish to be stronger in order to defend others, and to stop the people that try to harm the innocent." Serphia replied, her gaze staying unchanged as he kept his look on her. "I don't know how I wish to do it yet, but I know that I want to save anyone I can."

"I see..." Oliver replied as he noticed the tenacity in her eyes, the fire burning in them with her answer. He then stood straight as his voice turned to that of a officer talking to a recruit. "My form of training is harder than most, in which it can't be taken by the weak willed without either physical or mental trauma from their own lack of determination. In short, only those whose determination is close, equal, or surpassing my own may be able to handle this training, while others that do not either quit or die in it. Knowing this, are you still up to training in the art?"

Serphia kept her gaze on him, her face unchanging as he noticed her eyes in thought before it returned to a determined glare. "I'll do whatever comes in the training, no questions asked." Serphia replied, Oliver soon smiling before he walked past her while signalling her to follow, opening the door and going down the steps to some of the field tools he had used to level the ground if his powers hadn't come out. He then grabbed the hoe and shovel before turning to Serphia as she walked up behind him.

"If you truly wish to train, then make a leveled area over to the east of the house, or to the right of how you're facing it now." Oliver spoke as he handed both to her, making her look at him confused as he walked over to where his bow and quiver were laying, recently bought with the money he had gotten for the Danger beasts he sold Oric. "After it's around the size and width of three fourths of the house, wait for me to return. And don't go trying to do it all at once, take breaks when you need them."

Serphia only looked at the tools he gave her confused before looking back up at him as he was leaving. "How is this to determine if I should train?" Serphia shouted to him as he started to go through the woods, making him laugh loud enough for her to here.

"I'll tell you after you manage it, if you're still up for training with me!" Oliver replied before he sprinted off, leaving the blonde haired girl to the tools as she looked at them again before sighing.

"No way am I backing out now." Serphia spoke to herself, soon walking to the right of the house before she began to work, her hands a bit clumsy to each swing as she kept her mind on the endgame of it all. She soon saw him running back, however, making her look over confused as he sprinted into the house.

"I forgot that I already caught some food!" Oliver shouted from in the house as if knowing her look at his return, making her sigh as she went back to working on the field.

'How on earth is someone like him that talented in fighting?' Serphia thought, her swings increasing in speed as Oliver slightly opened the lid covering the cooking meat.

-present time-

Oliver arrived at the castle gates, two guards standing as sentries while he walked up from the main road that led to the plaza, holding the letter now opened. From what he read, it was simply a paper stating that he had a meeting with the princess, but outside of that there was very little details on why or where in the castle. He then watched as some soldiers were coming from around the other side of the castle walls and walking through the gates with their helmets off, soon seeing Serphia talking with a few other soldiers as the gates opened for them before she saw him and ran over.

"Oliver, what's bringing you from your usual path around the city?" Serphia asked, soon seeing Oliver's letter as her gaze turned curious. "And what's that in your hand?"

"A letter requesting my presence, seems that someone's gone and talked about my training and actions, according to Oric." Oliver spoke as he raised up the paper, Serphia's eyes widening as she listened. "I'm to meet the princess over in the castle, though as to where I have no clue."

"If I knew she would be asking for you from the stories, I wouldn't have told her that much about them." Serphia spoke, Oliver only smirking as he patted her shoulder.

"No need to worry about it, honestly I'd have probably gotten bored in another few years along the line or got sick of some bastards in armor and actually killed them, putting me in a worse situation." Oliver responded, making Serphia look up at him confused. "Either way, it was bound to happen sooner or later, but don't you have someone you need to meet up with?"

"Right, Sylphy!" Serphia responded, going wide-eyed before she ran off without saying another word, Oliver smirking as he turned to the gates, closed again as he walked up to them.

"Stop and state your business." Came one of the guards, having moved from his position on the right side and down the center as Oliver stopped. Oliver only smiled as he handed him the letter, the guard taking it and giving it a quick look before handing it back. "I'll send for the princess's guard to ensure that it was sent by her."

"That won't be necessary." came a female voice above the three men before they looked up, soon seeing the general right above them. 'Okay, I've heard of help from above, but this is ridiculous.' Oliver thought as he saw her jump down and land in front of them, soon turning to the guard as her gaze held a commanding presence to them. "I can vouch that I sent for him, so open the gates."

"Yes, your highness." the guard replied before he waved his hand at the other guard, both soon moving to their designated side of the gate before pushing both doors open, the general and Oliver walking through as he kept his gaze on her.

"So you're Princess Elia." Oliver spoke as the gates closed behind them, the general only nodding as she signaled him to follow as they turned away from the castle doors and towards what looked like a training ground, Oliver seeing the same sigil that the Dragon's Guard bore as he walked alongside her. "I would say it's nice to see you again, but the lack of introductions at the time keeps from that."

Now that he had a good look of her as well, he noticed she had changed from her armor into something similar to what he could see in practice swordplay, baggy black pants that looked more than able to maneuver around areas and give no restraint to the wearer, while the shirt she wore was of a black short sleeve shirt that was made of a fabric he could only guess as cotton. "Indeed, plus I'm not surprised you didn't know who I am since it's my first time back in awhile." Elia responded as they entered the area, snapping him out of his observation as he looked to see a few of the guards training in a sparring match with wooden swords as she turned to him. "What do you see with their training? And don't say you don't know, because the stance that you had while facing the other beast along with your strikes against it show otherwise, along with what I learned about your actions a few months ago."

Oliver sighed before he looked over at them, his gaze watching their stances and footing. 'Good footing, but they're too light on their feet and hold back on their swings because they're facing comrades.' Oliver thought, his gaze watching as two guards were trading blows, one blocking the blows and sliding their blade forward in a counter attack, soon finding the weapon at their opponents chest. However, he noticed another two sparring with poles, their own training seeming rather sluggish and slow, but still up to par to manage in a formation. "They have good training in weaponry, but the footing they have is a little sluggish." Oliver spoke, looking over to her as he kept his gaze stern. "Along with this, the swordsmen are too light footed for formation battles, though it's hard to say with how they're holding back because they're facing their allies. I would say that they'd be better learning how to block and take a hit rather than giving one out."

"You think so?" Elia asked as she looked to the men, her eyes noticing the pattern he was talking about as one of the training guards fell back as they missed a swipe. "How would you choose to train them, then?"

"Not up to me, I have too little information on the formations you all use in battle." Oliver replied as he raised his hands up nonchalantly, soon lowering them as he looked to her. "Oric already told me that you knew of my exploits, so what is it that you really want?"

"You're not one for small talk, then?" Elia asked, looking at Oliver as he kept his gaze on her. She then sighed before she walked a few steps away, turning to him. "I heard of the training you put Serphia through, and how much it had benefitted her own fights during the rare times she had to fight against groups. She's actually in due for a promotion for her actions in saving her comrades with your own training, and how she's acted above and beyond her rank."

"So she did see fighting while on the reconnaissance team." Oliver sighed as he looked up at the sky, seeing the sun directly above them as he looked back to the general. "If you're going to try to recruit me or have me train the men, I'll have to decline. Otherwise-"

"I'm not asking you to do either, I'm simply curious on exactly how strong you are." Elia interrupted as she walked to one of the training weapon racks, grabbing two wooden blades and tossing one of them at Oliver, who simply caught it as he looked at her confused. "My men are strong enough to hold their own in battle, but they can't keep up with my own fighting prowess."

"So you're asking me to spar with you and see if I can pose a challenge?" Oliver asked, a smirk on his face before he dropped the sword, making Elia look at him confused as the other guards noticed the princess and the hunter, soon stopping in their training and watching. "Sorry, but I've strictly kept to not holding a weapon outside of hunting since I've been here."

"So you're declining?" Elia spoke, her tone suddenly strict as Oliver kept his smirk, his own gaze turning serious while he turned around. "Do you think I'm not that much of a challenge?"

"Not at all, I just think you should focus that interest in someone other than a simple hunter." Oliver responded before he heard a set of footsteps moving towards him, causing him to crouch down as Elia's wooden sword swung just over him. His gaze quickly turned to hers as she continued the arc of the blade, spinning as it changed into a stab towards Oliver's head, causing him to kick himself up and back from the stab, landing beside the other weapon. As soon as he landed, he slid his right foot back into a defensive stance as he raised his arms into a guard, staring as he looked at her own stance, the blade raised directly in front of her while both hands rested on the hilt. 'A two handed sword stance, but given her own strength with her sword and the way she severed the head of the beast, she could easily be able to break my bones with that weapon.' Oliver thought as he switched his stance, his hands changing into open palms as he raised them. 'Her stance also shows her experience being adept to the weapon, but the fact she's a general, and of this world at that, also shows her strength... If I make one wrong move here, I could lose the use of an arm or leg for a while.'

Oliver's thoughts were cut off as Elia jumped forward in a downward slash, his stance immediately sliding to the side as he went for a palm press towards her stomach, causing her to jump back as she quickly switched her blades direction to an upward angle towards him, his feet position shifting quickly as he took two steps back, keeping his stance as Elia landed and changed her blade to a thrusting position. "How about this, then, if you're not keen on fighting seriously with the current conditions." Elia spoke, Oliver moving his front palm down to where it could move to defend various areas as he looked at her. "If you can last for three minutes without receiving a hit, I'll immediately promote Serphia instead of waiting for the next month."

"If she is capable of being promoted, then let her show that she's up to it, not her instructor." Oliver replied as he side stepped from Elia's thrust, soon lifting his leg and smashing it down on her blade in an axe kick, breaking the wooden sword in half as she sweeped at his remaining leg, kicking it up as he used the momentum to spin and aim for a back kick. Elia blocked the next hit with the hilt in response, sliding back a good few feet from the force to the other wooden blade as Oliver landed, soon standing up as she looked at the broken weapon she had before tossing it to the side, picking up the other weapon as Oliver stood up from his stance. "Only those who are qualified for such ranks should be given them, not as gifts for others achievements."

"So you'd let your student stay at a rank even if the person above her doesn't see her potential?" Elia spoke, soon going for a side slash as Oliver ducked under it, going for a sweep kick as the general in turn jumped up, going for a spin kick of her own and causing Oliver to cross both of his arms to the side to block it, the contact giving a resounding smack as he switched his hands and grabbed her leg, tossing her to the opposite end before she landed on her back and rolled back to a standing position.

"If she's capable of it, and has the ambition to rise in rank, then she should demand it herself." Oliver spoke as he took an attack stance. "Now if you're done poking around what I'd want, I'm finished warming up."

'Her fighting style isn't bad, but it's rigid. Though her stance is good, she's obviously not used to a longsword type of fighting, meaning she's used to another blade style with a length similar to a longsword... I'll have to force her best form out with a good hit.' Oliver then sprinted forward before going for a right kick, Elia backing up a bit as Oliver slammed it to the ground and continued it's momentum with his left leg, going for a back whip kick to her head as she ducked under it, about to aim for a thrust before he lifted his planted foot with the spin and slammed it into her side, tossing her back as she landed to the side, the guards who were training along with a few others that had been about to walk in now staring in awe as Elia took her attack stance again, gritting her teeth as Oliver returned to his attack stance.

"Fine, I'm done as well." Elia spoke as she took a new attack stance with her weapon, catching Oliver's interest as he slowly started to move to the side.

'This isn't a longsword stance I've seen, in fact it almost looks like that of Derek's stance when he faced me with that katana of his.' Oliver thought as he watched her gaze on him, her footing slowly sliding towards him as he noticed her exhaling a deep breath. 'Similar right down to the breathing, which normally meant-'

His thoughts were then cut off as she jumped towards him faster than before, causing him to duck and shift under the blade as he watched it's arc again half expecting another stab, only to find the blade swinging towards him again and forcing him to shuffle back as Elia kicked herself towards him again for a upward strike, forcing him to bring both of his arms down and push them along the weapon, causing it to go another direction as they began a new dance in their sparring, Elia's blade swinging and stabbing towards Oliver while he shuffled and attempted counters, only to find her blocking them as both increased their tempo, oblivious to the guards as some stopped from their patrols and watched as the two were fighting.

-ten years ago-

a twenty-one year old Oliver stood within the confines of the arena as he meditated, his mind focusing on the abilities he held. "Oy, you're not sleeping over there, are you?" came a voice, making Oliver look up to find a middle aged man looking at him with a practice katana on his shoulder, a beard hiding his features as he chuckled.

"You may be older than me, but don't confuse it with rank, Derek." Oliver responded, soon hearing the same chuckle from the man as he held out his right hand, causing both of their shadows to rise and wrap into a ball before he closed his hand on it. The ball then stretched, changing into a black longsword that was completely dull as he pointed it at the man, who only took a ready stance with his own blade held forward. "Alright then, let's keep showing you that a single swordsman can't defeat me."

"And let's show you that you can't save yourself from everything with your abilities alone." Derek responded before he jumped forward, Oliver soon swinging up his own blade before the two collided and bounced off each other, Oliver's control over the darkness already moving in his body as he settled on three times it's strength, ducking under Derek's second swipe and swinging for his legs, causing the man to jump before slashing downward. Oliver only smirked as he lifted his blade up with his right hand and blocked the incoming katana, his body barely moving as he pushed Derek off, making him click his tongue in annoyance as Oliver kept his smirk. "I have to admit, that ability of yours seems rather unfair."

"I'm not the one who said they wanted to fight me at three times my base strength." Oliver responded as he pointed the blade at Derek, who only sighed as he took his ready stance again. Out of the abilities he obtained from Myrkr, one of them was an ability to enhance his own bodies prowess to an even greater form, be it through physical strength or agility, to even reflexes and thinking. At most, Oliver could only do ten times its form, whereas Myrkr had said that it was possible to go beyond a thousand times that strength. "So then, are you actually going to try, or am I going to have to fall asleep while standing?"

"Don't get your hopes up." Derek spoke as he changed his stance to a more fluid motion, exhaling a deep breath as Oliver soon gripped his blade with both hands. The man then ran to the left at a blinding speed, arcing back towards Oliver before slashing upward at a quick pace, making Oliver's smirk turn into a smile as he blocked the blade and was pushed back a few feet from its force alone. Derek only sighed as he took his blade's attack stance as Oliver's longsword changed into gauntlets. "You won't use your dual weapons here?"

"You know full well why I refuse to, Derek." Oliver spoke as his eyes glowed orange, his abilities keeping a steady fuel as his shadow rose around his legs and formed shin guards. Derek only nodded as the two started to slowly circle each other, both unaware of a pair of red eyes looking at them from the shadows in the corner of the room.

"You keep resenting the actions that led to that event, and it will just haunt you for the rest of your life." Derek spoke as he jumped foward, slashing downward as Oliver lifted both his arms to block the blade. However, Derek let go of it just as soon as it made contact with Oliver's gauntlets and crouched down into a side kick, hurling Oliver back a few feet as he felt his body stiffen where the hit made contact. Derek then sighed as he picked up his katana, Oliver just laying back as he looked up at the ceiling of his "I was also there two years ago, Oliver, I also saw what they did. I saw the atrocities committed by their troops, you had every right to feel angered by their actions."

"Regardless, it was my orders and idiocy of listening to their lies that led to their actions and my own anger to go out of control." Oliver interrupted as he stood up, the glow in his eyes turn darker as he looked at Derek as if the hit didn't even phase him. He then sighed before his guards released, soon holding out his right hand to the side as Derek changed into a defensive stance as he saw a dark aura coming from Oliver. "And now that you reopened that wound of mine from trying to mend it, why don't I return the favor? Reginhard, send in Erebus!"

-present time-

Oliver jumped back as the two broke contact for the third time, both panting as he noticed the crowd had grown from only a few guards to around twenty to thirty. 'They're popping out of this place like daisies, the lot.' Oliver thought as he kept his gaze on Elia, who was leaning on her blade as they both struggled to catch their breath. They had been at it for quite some time, how long it was being unknown to either, but somewhere along the line they both got away with a few hits but were otherwise unable to touch one another without being blocked or dodged. 'However, her style is far too similar to Derek's to ignore...'

"...Your stances are a bit stiff." Elia spoke finally as she picked her blade back up and took an attack stance. Oliver only smirked at the comment and took a stance of his own as the two locked eyes again. They both had gotten a feel of the other's fighting style in this fight, but neither had found the proper opening to hit the other at.

"So I've been outside of actual combat for a while, sue me." Oliver replied as the two began circling each other, the guards watching both as the two kept their eyes locked. Throughout this entire fight the two had been only trading blows, and with everything Elia had been saying during it, offering gifts for Serphia if he won or a place of power for him, he kept declining it. In fact, it seemed she was enjoying hearing him refusing her offers, and kept reminding him more and more of Derek and his own talks with him during their fights. He had even started to enjoy it like he had back then, reminding him how long back it was supposed to be despite him feeling like it was only a year or two ago. 'Hell, with how the realms vary with timelines, I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually a century or two later in my own world.' Oliver thought as the two finally caught their breath, now ready to fight again.

"How about we make a bet." Elia spoke, her weapon raised as a smile played on her lips, causing Oliver to look at her confused. "You win in the next move, you can request one thing from the crown without charge. If I win, however, you end up as a training partner for me from here on out. If you refuse the bet, however..." She pointed her blade at Oliver as he felt his gut turning from what might come next. "I'll remove Serphia from the army, and she won't be able to join any form of armed soldiers from here on out."

As she finished the last words, Oliver's expression changed from it's calculating form into a cold glare as he looked at her, his mind comprehending what he had just heard while speaking his thoughts. "...You dare to use my student to enforce a bet, and expect me to simply accept it with a smile?" Oliver responded as his voice changed to a darker and angered tone, a dark red glow momentarily coming from his eyes as he felt his control over the darkness return, soon vanishing before anyone could notice it as he kept his gaze on Elia. As he spoke, his breathing also changed it's pacing to a calmer one, along with the pressure of his presence seeming to emanate through the entire field, shaking everyone watching him as Elia only smirked at his sudden change in voice and look, his own form seeming as if he stood above all others despite him being shorter than some of the men around them. "Joking or not, I'll accept your wager, but don't complain when you've lost your weapon and are flung back. You brought it on yourself the moment my wrath was invoked."

To that Elia smiled before she switched to the blade in her left hand before her stance was made, the guards watching in anticipation as Oliver looked to the sky to see the sun having shifted from it's original place high above them and being closer to the edge of the castle, making him smirk as he looked back at Elia. 'So it's already that late, huh...' Oliver thought as he stood up straight, holding his right arm out in a single open block as his feet parted to shoulder width, making Elia just look at him confused as his gaze focused on her. Her stance then changed as he felt memories of his fights come back, practically seeing the style in her stance as she held her practice blade to the left her head, both hands gripping the longsword as the tip pointed towards him as she began to pace her breathing. 'It is similar to Derek's style, all right, but it has far more openings than his did. More than likely due to her own strength and speed being far above an average soldiers, she doesn't have to worry too much with her defense, but it's still nothing if she faces anyone of the same speed and strength. If I hadn't faced with Myrkr during mock battles, I probably wouldn't have the experience to deal with her as quick as I'm planning.'

The silence between the two was stale, both seeming to give off a presence that sent shivers down the spines of the soldiers watching the fight. Elia also noticed Oliver's gaze at her, the strength behind his gaze seeming to emanate a presence that made hers look like child's play. 'This pressure... it's just like fathers when he's serious about an event.' Elia thought as she looked to the man, her gaze stern as some of the leaves from the trees around the castle blew in between the two, both looking to find some weakness in their opponent's stance. 'his footing is short but effective in holding him down if need be, but he can't hope to block my strike with one arm.'

As the final leaves blew past, Elia jumped forward with her blade moving forward in a stab as the wind seemingly followed her trail. She planned to use all her strength in the thrust, then release the weapon if he managed to grab it and continue it's push. What happened, however, did not go as she expected as Oliver kept in his spot, the soldiers watching the pace of the strike as Elia's gaze kept on her target, the man's chest. Oliver only watched as she sped towards him, his arm moving to the left as the blade passed the outside of his arm and straight towards his chest. Immediately, however, he pushed the weapon out as his arm rolled slightly along the blade towards her arms, his body soon spinning alongside it as his right hand grabbed her blade and pulled her closer, increasing her momentum abruptly. At the same instance, before she could try anything, he drew back his free hand and slammed it into her stomach in a palm press, knocking the wind out of the princess as she was flung back by the force of the attack. Elia just looked at him in a dazed shock as she lost grip of her weapon, flying back three yards as Oliver took the practice weapon and stabbed it into the ground in front of him, the weapon easily going down into the dirt with his strength.

"So then, are you satisfied with these results?" Oliver spoke as he watched her get up wheezing, looking to him in shock as he rested his hands on the practice sword's hilt, holding himself up as he forced himself to pace his breathing. That last hit he gave used up the remainder of his resolve to fight, but he still had a good deal of anger from the conditions of either accepting or denying the wager. "I don't care about wagers for the sake of fun, in fact I probably would've gone with it regardless, but to use my own student as leverage is too far for me to have fun with a fight."

Elia just remained silent as she looked away, now noticing the crowd the had pulled before she gave them a glare, Oliver practically feeling the presence she was giving as the guards scrambled to do their duties. "...Good." Elia finally spoke when the last of the soldiers had left, leaving her and Oliver in the training area as the man looked to her confused. "I was confused as to how someone who held a last name would be a simple hunter with no status, along with how you could have even fabricated the name. However, that stance you took in response practically emanates a form of nobility above others."

Oliver just looked at her as he processed what she said. "Nobility?" Oliver asked before he realized what she meant, smacking his head as he fell into a sitting position, Elia walking forward as she looked over to him. "Of course you were wanting me to show the strength of my will and the presence I show to my enemies, why else would you have chosen something so blatant to aggravate me..."

"More or less, though it was also to see if you were willing to fight in order to let others grow in ranks." Elia spoke as she sat down on the opposite side of the sword, both looking at each other as she noticed his own face more serious than it had been. "You were quick in taking out my weapon."

"You may bear strength that can smash your enemies rather well, but it's nothing if you don't know how to face someone of a similar strength and speed." Oliver spoke as he looked to her, noticing her paying full attention to him as he spoke. "Plus the style was greatly similar to a warrior I fought alongside a few years back, so I noticed openings in the strike fairly easily."

"You knew another person with my fighting style? My instructor said it was one of a kind in the far eastern lands." Elia spoke, looking to the sword as Oliver kept his gaze on her, analyzing her movements as he laid back.

'Despite being tired from the fight she's managed to pace her breathing fairly well, especially after that hit I gave her, showing that whoever taught her has done some good work.' Oliver thought as he noticed her breathing calming down in it's own form. 'So they focused on her strength and speed before teaching her major moves like I am with Serphia... It would be interesting to see her instructor at some later date.'

"Regardless, you still accepted the wager and won." Elia spoke as she stood up, Oliver falling back as he looked into the sky to watch the clouds as she looked down on him. "What is it that you want?"

"Honestly, I have no idea." Oliver sighed as he kept his gaze on the clouds, now circling around them as he followed the trails and tracings of each one, causing Elia to look at him confused as he kept a faint grin on his face. "How much did Serphia tell you of my stories?"

"Only that every time she complained about your training being a living hell, you gave stories of how you had a hell much worse due to circumstances that were believed to be threatening your life." Elia replied, making Oliver's grin grow as he looked over to her. She just sat down as she looked over to the barracks as soldiers were coming out for the evening shift change, some looking over to the two as she analyzed each of their footing. "What I'm wondering is why someone with your ability and aura of nobility is hiding it and living in a forest."

"Following some of the actions of a great man that helped me decide on what I wanted to become." Oliver replied as he pulled himself up into a sitting position, looking over to one of the statues that stood in between the castle and one of the larger parts of the wall. "Though if I really wanted to follow his actions, then I'd have to be a guard captain first... But that's a point of history that most people would end up falling asleep over." Oliver then rolled backwards, soon planting himself up on his feet as he looked over to Elia, who just pulled herself up normally. "I'm wondering, would you mind if I had a view of the area around the castle while I think of an idea?"

Elia just looked at him confused as Oliver grinned before sighing. "Fine, but you'll need to have determined what you want at the end of it." Elia replied as she looked back at him before signalling for him to follow again. "That was a risky move you did at the end, regardless of the openings you saw."

"Maybe, but with how my mind was more or less woken up from your terms, I decided on a strategy that was normally a do or die move." Oliver responded as he followed behind her, Elia setting the weapon to one of the training racks before they continued to walk around the castle. "If you really wanted to spar with me when you felt like it, then you could've just asked me instead of betting on a wager."

"True, but if I didn't do that wager and attempted to aggravate you, then I wouldn't have seen if that strength you showed in the fight was your limit." Elia responded as they walked past the statue, Oliver looking up at it as Elia kept her gaze straight. The statue bore the picture of a man with a open masked helmet, a large hammer resting on his shoulder and a grin on the mans face, his own features showing that of a man in his prime that seemed to also give a presence grander than most men Oliver had met. Elia soon turned before noticing his gaze on the statue, only smiling as she turned back to the trail. "The statue is that of the founding king of this country four centuries ago, in fact we have incredibly good relations with the Northern and Southern kingdoms of the Central lands because of him and the recent actions of my father."

"I see, but that sounds like you don't have as good of connections with those to your east and western borders." Oliver responded as he looked forward towards Elia, noticing her hair seeming to sway with her movements as she kept her gaze forward, the two soon soon taking a turn towards the sun. Elia only sighed as she raised her hand to cover her eyes from the light, Oliver just keeping his hands to his sides as he followed closely.

"Originally we had alliances with them and many of the smaller kingdoms around us, but lately the kings have either retired or died, some even usurped by more sinister leaders." Elia responded as her voice turned more somber and serious as Oliver gazed at the walls, his mind roaming through the little knowledge he did know of this world. "Our father has tried to keep negotiations with them, and Arlus has as well despite his idea that negotiations are pointless. Personally, I think that Arlus is correct on his assumptions from my recent fights against them, but as a general and as my father's daughter, it's my duty to do what the king wishes."

"Unwavering loyalty, despite believing in another possibility." Oliver sighed, a smile playing on his face as Elia turned to him confused. He then smirked he noticed her look, soon locking his fingers together behind him and stretching his arms back. "You reminded me of a friend of mine who had that kind of mindset, yet yours isn't as one tracked as theirs was."

"I see..." Elia spoke before turning and continuing her walk, Oliver following behind as they started to walk past a garden.

'Incredible how this castle is so different from the Imperial City I had read on, could mean that the city itself will forge it's own hold.' Oliver thought as he followed Elia, soon thinking through what could be possible rewards. 'Honestly, anything physical is meaningless to me since I'll be regaining my own equipment in a year or two, but a map of the land could be nice. However, that would be meaningless if I never moved around the place, especially if the city were to be attacked by any armies... Maybe requesting them to hear any options I can provide will work... No that'd be too blatant.'

The rest of their walk was partially silent as the two began to slowly walk side by side, some of the guards on the walls staring down at the two as Oliver looked at the garden they were walking through, Elia pointing out some of the flowers and their properties. "Is that over there Nightshade?" Oliver asked as he noticed a light purple flower similar the poisonous flower, making Elia giggle as she looked at him.

"No, that's Orius' promise, it's the flower my ancestor discovered in this place that is known for changing colors as the day passes." Elia spoke as Oliver noticed some of the same flowers beside it were slowly changing to a slightly darker purple. "They change from a dark red in the morning to a crystal blue at noon, and finally to a dark purple in the evening. They only grow in this city and were a reason why my ancestor chose this place for the capital."

"Interesting." Oliver responded as he kept beside her. This world still amazed him, despite anything he knew of it. In one area he saw something similar to what he did from the manga of it, while in other areas he saw things that had a mysterious wonder to them. Before the two knew it, however, they had made it back to the entrance of the castle walls.

"So then, have you made up your mind?" Elia spoke as she turned to him, her gaze curious as Oliver looked back at her.

'She's far more than just a student learning swordplay, so I don't even have to worry for the actual state of her troops.' Oliver thought as he closed his left hand, hearing some resounding cracks from his knuckles as he made up his mind. "I'll just ask one thing, that you listen to any options I can give during a period of crisis." Oliver spoke, making Elia look at him confused as he smiled. "I don't expect you to do what they are, but I want you to see how it could look in a different way and ponder multiple ideas from different viewpoints instead of from only one viewpoint."

"...Well, I did say I'd allow your request, but you don't want anything physical?" Elia asked, making Oliver chuckle as she looked at him confused.

"I live outside of the city, in a forest all but isolated from humanity, and you think I want something physical?" Oliver asked as he looked to her with a smile, making her just look at him confused. "I may be a warrior that might have retired far too early, but I still like the way I'm living now. Besides, I'd rather work my mind on problems then just sit around marvelling at how fancy something in particular is."

To that Elia snickered, making Oliver smile before he reached out his hand. "Fine, I'll allow your request." Elia responded as she took Oliver's hand, her own smile genuine as they looked to each other.

"Feel free to call me over to spar with you again, or come over to my own place to spar if you want." Oliver spoke as he walked to the entrance, the gate slowly opening as Elia watched him leave. "Despite how the round ended up emotionally, it was still fun facing you."

With that Oliver walked off, his own gaze on the city as he was pondering where to go next. 'Knowing those two, Serphia's probably over with Sylphy at the tavern due to her return.' Oliver thought as he smiled from his own memories. 'Those two are near inseparable, after all...'

-Seven months ago-

Oliver sighed as he walked out of his house, smoke following him out from above, the results of a failed meal he cooked for too long. Fortunately, he had more than enough meat to use for food, but the problem was the fact that he still had some trouble cooking it. As he started walking down to get some of the spare meat by the house, he heard what sounded like a pile of rocks rolling before he turned to his left to find Serphia crouched down panting as two buckets were beside her with one tipped over, revealing it to be full of hand sized rocks. "Better hurry and put it back together, otherwise you won't be able to do as required." Oliver spoke as he walked to the hanging rack, where a small avian danger beast hung as Serphia shot daggers at him

"How long... do I have to keep doing this?" Serphia panted as she slowly started to pick the rocks up and back into the bucket. His task for her was to do her daily exercise while holding the buckets up to her shoulder height, as instructed by Oliver, but it drained her immediately of her enthusiasm after only five minutes of it. Now here she was twenty minutes later, finally tired of holding them.

"If you want to properly use your body in hand to hand combat, you need to have a strong upper and lower body." Oliver spoke as he took the bird off of the rack, looking back at Serphia as he watched her pick up the rocks. "You're able to run a good distance, and you have some prowess with weapons, but your lower body is still stronger than your upper in terms of endurance. As such, you need to use something that puts more duress on your upper body while also training your lower body steadily, leading to this training."

"But still, Buckets full of rocks?" Serphia whined, making Oliver chuckle as he walked up to her.

"If you think this is tough, you should try falling off a cliff and finding a way back to a road with some broken bones, or facing an entity who makes your strength look like that of an ants." Oliver responded as he looked down at her, making her look up in shock before he heard a twig snap, making him turn his head to find a shadow over in the trees. "Don't try hiding, I can see you from here."

The figure just kept in place for a few seconds before stepping out, revealing a red headed girl with eyes like rubies, making Serphia get up. "Sylphy, what are you doing here?" Serphia asked, making the girl look at her confused. It was then that Oliver noticed an officer jacket in her right hand, making him smirk as the girl walked closer.

"You forgot your uniform's jacket for when you're done, Serphy." the girl responded before turning to Oliver. "I'm guessing you're the person she's training with."

"Aye, that's the case." Oliver responded as he held out his hand to her. "Oliver Wolcott, new-ish local hunter."

"Sylvia, Serphias best friend, but you can call me Sylphy." the redhead responded, taking his hand and shaking it before looking back at Serphia, who was just looking down. "So then, about your jacket-"

"I know, thanks." Serphia interrupted as she stood up and looked over to Sylphy, who just smiled warmly as she handed it over to her. Normally Oliver wouldn't think any more of it, but he also noticed Serphias face slowly getting redder as she reached out and took it, making him smirk as Sylphy nodded to her and soon walked back to the path leading to the road, Serphia only setting the jacket down while Oliver felt a form of light heartedness come over her.

"So that's why you wanted to get stronger." Oliver spoke finally, snapping Serphia out of it as she looked up at him confused before she noticed his smirk.

"Wha-what are you talking about?" Serphia asked as she started to grow red faced again as he poked her forehead.

"Oy, it's not a weakness to train in order to protect someone or something." Oliver spoke as he turned and walked back to the house, hearing Serphia sigh before he turned and sat down on the steps, the dead danger beast right beside him as he noticed her looking back in the direction Sylphy was heading. "Especially if it's someone you love."

"Ye-wait, what?!" Serphia exclaimed, looking back at him as her face turned a dark scarlet, making him laugh.

"Hit the nail on the mark right there, did I?" Oliver asked, watching as the girl started to stutter as she looked to the area the girl had just left and back at him while trying to mouth some defense.

"I don't-I mean- I'm not- I..." Serphia spoke before Oliver leaned forward with his smirk seeming to glow off of him, causing her to sigh as she tilted her head down in defeat. She then looked at him with a different gaze that made him look at her confused; it was a look of someone who felt like they might have lost a chance. "So what do you think about it?"

"Eh, it's unexpected, that's for sure." Oliver spoke as he leaned back on the steps, his gaze on the outlook of the trees as he turned to where the trees parted and the flatlands around the city started. "But it's not my say in the matter. We choose who we love, be they good or evil, male or female, even if they've made nothing but bad mistakes."

Serphia's gaze then changed as she looked at him confused. "Wait, you don't scorn it?" Serphia asked, making Oliver look over and smile at her.

"I don't give a damn if you were in love with a dragon, what matters is the resolve you have to follow it." Oliver responded as he looked at her, making her sigh in relief from it. 'So she was worried I'd kick her from training if I knew about it...' Oliver thought as he looked at her. "Does she know you like her?"

Serphia kept silent as she looked at him from his question before sighing, feeling as if a burden was lifted off of her. "...Yes, actually." Serphia finally spoke as she walked over, soon turning and sitting down by the steps as she pondered her own memories. "We actually learned that we liked each other more than just friends two years ago, but couldn't tell anyone about it because of how it's viewed here. Sure, Oric's tavern can let us be safe and there's no laws within the kingdom restricting that kind of relationship, but there's still people who would harm us if they knew."

"I see, so there's even people like that here..." Oliver spoke as he looked over to her. Then, with a grunt, he pulled himself up before he looked down to her, who just looked up at him as he smiled. "Well, don't worry about anything happening here. In training, it doesn't matter who you are or what you love, it's like I said before; Only those who are close to or equal my own determination can withstand this training, it doesn't matter what that determination is for. Now that that part's out of the way, you should get back to training before I finish making lunch."

With that Serphia nodded before she got up and ran back to the buckets, soon picking them up with a new strength as Oliver smiled and picked up the bird, going back into his home to start his second attempt at cooking.


And there we go, a little twist I wanted to make while I'm writing this. also holy hell, this one's over 11,000 words this time... huh, I wonder how big the rest actually are... regardless, it's an absurdly long chapter that's almost as long as what I've written so far. I'll still be working on it and fixing it up a bit, but I'll post it up here so people can read it and see how they like it. As always, feel free to review it and tell me what you think so far, and I'll work on getting this stuff out and ready.

Till then, this is Ron signing off.