Chapter 56: I Only Know One

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: I Only Know One

His father might become proud of him if everything worked out. But if it created any problems with his engagement to Lady Cherie, the imperial princess, his father might simply kill him and name one of his younger brothers the next heir.

Well, no point worrying about it now. I’ll deal with it when it happens Xavier thought.

"Don’t worry, Senior. I’ll treat Arabelle nicely," he said. "Thank you again for the help with the supplies."

"It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it," Tyson replied.

"Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?" Xavier asked.

"Nothing to discuss—just some advice. You’re one of the top rankers of your year. Everyone will naturally depend on you, whether you want it or not. You’ll end up playing the role of leader in your group. It might get annoying, but deal with it. Don’t get frustrated too quickly, and remember to relax once in a while—no matter how chaotic things become."

"Thank you, Senior... or should I say brother-in-law?"

It was solid advice for someone everyone called a muscle-head. Maybe that was just the image he projected. To Xavier he seemed like a man who had earned his rank and had enough presence to serve as house head.

"You can call me whatever you want," Tyson chuckled.

"Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to clear the rest of this paperwork and get back to training. My year heads into the Red Forest on Friday. Too much desk work has made me rusty." He stood and returned to his desk. Xavier said goodbye and left the office.

He went back to his room for a quick bath. After changing into light clothes, he headed to the student training grounds to train for the expedition. Both grounds were packed with students from every year and every dorm. Training slots were booked by the hour.

"This isn’t going to work. I need somewhere quiet," Xavier muttered.

He left the training grounds, circled around the dorm, and walked behind Emberfell to the garden that sat near the northern walls. Every dorm had its own large garden, but this one was one of the most beautiful Xavier had ever seen.

It stretched more than two kilometers in both length and width. Smooth stone paths wound between lush bushes and seasonal flowers. Benches and shaded spots sat beneath huge, thick trees. Water fountains murmured quietly. Intricately carved nude statues stood throughout the grounds.

The air smelled sweet and fresh. A cool breeze moved through the leaves.

*Felicia would love to nap here* Xavier thought.

He walked slowly, enjoying the scenery and the scent of the flowers, until he reached a clearing at the far end of the garden, sheltered by a grove of trees. There he conjured Miss Incinerator. Thin threads of mana glowed in his hands, lengthened, and took shape. The black sword appeared in his grip.

"You brat. You finally called for me," a sweet, sharp voice rang in his ears the moment his fingers closed around the hilt. "Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?"

The last time he had summoned her—to cut the vines strangling Clara—he had only called her physical form, not her personality. This time he spent a little more mana to bring her full consciousness with the blade.

"Aww, did you miss me?" Xavier asked.

Miss Incinerator fell silent for a few seconds before the sharp voice returned. "Who would miss an arrogant brat like you? I just missed that incredible dick of yours. I formed a contract with you thinking you’d keep me satisfied day and night, and then you disappear for days."

"Well, about that... you might have to wait a little longer." At the third level of mana control Xavier could summon her personality, but he still lacked the expertise to manifest her human form or freely enter the sword realm. A fifth-level tether was required for the former; sixth-level was needed to travel into the realm with any real freedom.

"So on top of being a brat, you’re a weakling too. What have I gotten myself into?" When she first saw the pure mana of his soul she had assumed he was already an expert.

"I won’t make you wait long. The next time you’re in front of my cock I’ll bathe your whole body in my cum. That’s a promise." Xavier tightened his grip on the hilt and settled into a stance. "Now—shall we practice a little?"

He called on his magical beast abilities. Lightning covered his body from head to toe, sharpening every sense beyond human limits. His vision cleared. He could feel the flow of the air and hear the soft collision of wind against the leaves.

He drew a deep breath and began practicing the advanced forms of Imperial swordsmanship—strokes, transitions, continuous stances—while holding the heightened state for nearly an hour. When he finished, he wore a satisfied smile. Purely on combat skill he felt confident he could stand against a fourth-year student.

"What a shit sword art," Miss Incinerator remarked.

Xavier frowned. "What do you mean, shit? This is the Imperial sword art practiced by the entire empire. The founder himself created it."

"And why would the founder create such a shitty style that limits how much mana you can pour into the blade?"

"It limits mana output?"

"Yes. It works fine for someone with small reserves who needs endurance, but it doesn’t suit you. With the amount of mana you have, you need something more explosive."

Imperial swordsmanship was standard across the empire. Even the soldiers at the Drakenfell estate used it. Yet Xavier had never seen his father or any of the high generals—true expert swordsmen—use those forms. Now he understood why.

"Do you know any other sword arts?" he asked.

"I know only one—my own. Supernova Sword Form. At your level you should be able to perform at least the first two stances safely."

Xavier asked her to teach him. Her sweet voice guided him into the stance.

"Shut off your magical beast abilities. Numb your senses. Focus only on the flow of mana inside you and the flow of mana inside me—and how you wield it."

Xavier closed his eyes. Everything slowed. He felt the heat of Miss Incinerator in his hands. A thin thread of mana branched into two, two into four, continuing into millions inside the blade, connecting to the endless ocean of mana within him.

"Now."

Her voice cut sharp through his ears. Xavier slashed upward.

Aaaahhhhhhnnn

A high-pitched scream of a woman snapped him out of his trance.

When he opened his eyes the black blade of Miss Incinerator glowed white-hot. A gust of wind struck his face. His gaze lifted to the sky. A gigantic curved slash of pure flame was racing upward at incredible speed before vanishing into the clouds. A moment later the clouds themselves split apart, leaving a stretch of clear sky between split clouds.

"Did I just do that?"