Unfallen

Kevin and I had a short conversation on the way back.

”…Why is everyone afraid of me? ”

I asked while looking out the window.

Kevins eyes widened for a second before answering.

”I heard that the gangsters were using your name to cause havoc. ”

I looked at him with a confused look. If they were doing bad things with my name, why didn you stop them? Was it Kais doing?

”They would threaten and destroy a lot of establishments. ”

Of course, the duke had paid for everything they destroyed under your name. ”

Why didn he just stop them? Instead of paying for everything that they destroyed, just destroy the gangsters?

I had thought Duke Steel was protective of Kai, but was I wrong?

”If you
e thinking of why they didn stop it, then its because Duke Steel had told us to leave everything to you. ”

What? Why? If your kids going down the deep end, then you should step in and help them?

Im sure they had their own reasons though…

—

After we arrived back at the manor, Father had called me to his room.

”How was the town? ”

I gave him a thumbs up.

”Thats good. ”

”Youll have to take care of them one day. ”

I learned from Jane earlier that the eldest child usually has to take care of the territory, though there are some exceptions. For that reason, I wasn surprised at his words.

I nodded my head.

”Alright, you may go, I just wanted to know how the town was. ”

I left the room and went to the training grounds. I didn have Jane to teach me today and it felt wrong skipping a day of training.

Irene was already there practicing her sword; she was probably too immersed in training that she didn see me enter.

I went to where Kevin made the imprints and began to train.

After a few hours something unexpected happened, the blue screen from before suddenly popped up.

New Skill: Steel Footwork (F)

What? New skill? I decided to try and bring the blue screen back, and with just a thought it appeared.

Name: Kai Steel

Age: 16

Title: Unfallen

Skills: Last One Standing, Steel Footwork (F)

It had been added onto my Skills list.

What did the (F) mean? I was pretty confused, but I didn really bother to think about it much. I could only assume that skills were stuff I knew how to do.

Swiping the screen away I began to practice again.

—

For the next few days, I followed the schedule, constantly training and learning.

Eventually I was able to follow the footwork without the imprints.

While I was practicing, Kevin called me and Irene over.

”Hi Kai, hows your training? ”

I gave a thumbs up to Irene and pointed at her.

”Thats good. Mines going good as well. ”

Kevin started to speak.

”Irene, Kai. ”

He called by our names whenever he was teaching us.

I tilted my head.

”Yes? ” Irene asked

”I want you two to fight. ”

What?

Huh?

You wanted me to fight, when I haven learned anything except for footwork? Are you crazy?

”But Kai hasn learned the swordsmanship yet? ”

You tell him Irene!

”Hes learned the footwork, its enough. ”

Huh? Are you crazy? Tell him off again!

”Okay. ”

”Are you ready Kai? ”

What!? Am I ready? No? Are you insane? I don know how to swing a sword.

Irene picked up her sword and Kevin gave me a sword.

”Start. ”

I got into the stance from before.

Irene rushed in

She did a big side slash. She was still very fast, but I had gotten used to this body now. I was able to barely dodge back.

”Use the footwork, Kai! ” Kevin shouted

The footwork? Would that work against someone with a sword? I knew how boxers constantly practice their footwork and that it mattered a lot. But wasn that for fist fights? Whatever.

I tried to use the footwork I learned

The fight got easier, though I would still definitely lose.

Irene had started to charge in again, she started to use a combo of swings.

I had blocked the first and second swing but then she knocked the sword out of my hand on the next.

”Stop! ”

”Irene wins. ”

”That was a good fight, Kai. ” Irene said while offering a handshake.

She was being nice; she hadn even broken a sweat while I was already tired. I couldn even swing my sword once.

I shook her hand and Kevin started to speak.

”Did you feel the difference when you started using your footwork, Kai? ”

I nodded my head.

There was a clear difference, if I didn start using it, I wouldve probably lost in half a second. I was able to last for around 10 seconds longer with it.

”With swordsmanship, 50% of depends on your footwork while the other 50% depends on your swordsmanship. ”

”I don expect you to be able to master the footwork in the remaining month, I don think anyone does or could. ”

”Though the amount youve learned in a month has been surprising, you really are a genius. ”

”But onto the main point, I want you to spar with Irene once a day and continue practicing your footwork. ”

”When you get to the academy Irene will have to teach you swordsmanship though. ”

”Thats fine with you right Irene? ”

”Yes! ”

”Alright, you can go to Jane for now Kai. ”

I nodded my head, and waved goodbye to both of them.

—

When I went to where Jane would teach, Percy was already waiting.

”Hey Kai! How was training? ”

I waved and gave Percy a thumbs up.

”Ill be starting to learn next year, is it difficult? ”

I nodded my head and then spoke.

”…Yes…You can do it though… ”

Percy had a smile on his face.

”Yup! Thank you! ”

I patted him on the head and then Jane walked in.

”Alright you two, enough small talk. Its time to learn. ”

—

It was now the day Irene, and I would head to the knight academy. It was about a 10-day carriage ride.

In the days following up to this, Jane told me I didn need to come anymore, I had learned most of what I needed to know. So, I was able to constantly practice the footwork and spar with Irene.

I had gone to town 1 more time since and for some reason everyone there had stuttered less, it was like what happened with the servants. I don think I did anything that would cause them to be less scared though.

I woke up to a knock at the door.

”Young Master, its time to wake up. ”

The maid entered the room, and I got up. She had brought some fancy-looking clothes and told me my father was waiting at the dinner table.

I got dressed and headed to the table.