Chapter 173: A Simple Memory.

A few years ago,

At a large mansion stood quietly behind tall wooden walls.

Its architecture was different from most buildings on the island.

Curved rooftops extended over polished wooden halls, lanterns hung beneath the eaves, and a carefully maintained garden surrounded a pond filled with koi.

Everything about the estate spoke of wealth, but there was also a certain quietness to the place.

It was the kind of silence that came from a household where everyone understood that its name carried weight.

In one of the mansion’s courtyards, a young girl stood barefoot on the polished wooden floor.

It was Aria... but younger.

Her long blue hair was tied neatly in a ponytail behind her back, and she wore a simple Japanese-style training robe with wide sleeves and a dark sash around her waist.

Both hands were wrapped around a wooden sword as she faced an elderly man dressed in dark traditional robes.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, his expression stern.

"Again."

Aria tightened her grip and stepped forward.

SWOOSH!

The wooden sword cut through the air as she swung downward, followed by a side strike and then another horizontal slash.

BANG!

The old man shook his head.

"Too slow. Again."

Aria immediately returned to her starting position.

Then she swung and was casually pushed back as the old man instructed her with one word again.

"Your stance."

Aria corrected her feet.

"Again."

She swung once more.

The wooden sword continued to cut through the air as sweat gradually formed on her forehead.

Her arms began to ache, and her palms were already red from gripping the sword, but she didn’t complain.

She simply continued following every instruction.

Soon, the courtyard remained quiet except for the repeated sound of the wooden sword.

SWISH.

SWISH.

SWISH.

A few servants occasionally glanced toward the training ground from the veranda before quickly lowering their heads and continuing with their work.

No one dare to interrupted the training.

The family that lived in this mansion was not an ordinary wealthy household.

Their wealth was only one part of their influence and their swordsmanship was another.

Generations of skilled swordsmen had carried the family name, and Aria was expected to uphold that tradition.

The old instructor eventually stepped forward.

"Show me your final strike."

Aria took a deep breath and tightened her hands around the wooden sword.

She lowered her body then she rushed forward.

BAM!

The wooden sword struck the practice post hard enough to make it shake, and even a faint crack appeared across the surface.

Aria stared at it, breathing heavily.

"...Master, was that better?"

The old man studied the damaged post for a few seconds before giving a small nod.

"Better."

A smile appeared on Aria’s face.

But before she could say anything, the old man added,

"Your feet were still wrong."

The smile immediately disappeared.

"..."

"Again."

Aria stared at him.

"...Again?"

"Again."

Her shoulders dropped.

"...Yes, Master."

She raised the wooden sword once more.

_

_

_

Later that afternoon, Aria sat beneath the shade of a large tree in the mansion’s garden.

Her wooden sword lay beside her as she rubbed her sore palms and watched the koi drift lazily through the pond.

She looked down at her bloodied palm, which was still trembling slightly.

Her arms were aching from training, and even her fingers felt stiff.

But she had gotten used to it by now.

Then, the sound of footsteps coming through the grass made her glance over.

And she saw her sister was approaching.

She looked much like Aria, though her short blue hair gave her a somewhat different appearance.

She had always been pale and thin, with a gentle expression that made her seem almost fragile.

Seeing her little sister, Aria’s tired expression softened slightly.

"Sister. You’re finally here."

Her sister smiled and lowered herself beside her beneath the tree.

"Hehe, you finally came out~ I hate having to wait in another room until you finish training every time."

Aria smiled softly.

"You could have just waited outside the training room."

"And get yelled at by that old man?"

Her sister shook her head.

"No, thank you."

Aria could only sigh at that.

"He might be strict, but he wouldn’t yell at you. He only looks scary."

At those words, her sister gave her a doubtful look.

"You... think too highly of him."

She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something more, but stopped herself.

"...Never mind."

Her eyes then fell to Aria’s hand.

"Anyway, if he’s really that nice, why does he make you swing your sword until your palms bleed every day?"

Aria instinctively hid her injured palm and glanced at the wooden sword beside her.

"He made me swing it hundreds of times today."

She paused.

"But I know why he’s doing it."

"He wants to make sure my potential is high enough to get a suitable class in the upcoming Class Awakening."

Aria’s voice remained calm.

"He just wants to make sure I can bring honor to the family."

"Honor?"

Her sister scoffed.

"Hmph! That’s all they ever care about. Honor this, honor that."

Her expression filled with mockery.

"If they care so much about it, then why don’t they do it themselves instead of putting all their hopes on the new generation?"

Then she looked at Aria’s hand, her expression filling with worry.

"Your hands must hurt."

Aria shook her head and smiled.

"It’s really nothing. I’m used to it."

Hearing those words, her sister paused.

She turned toward the pond and murmured softly,

"...I don’t get you, Big Sis. Even when you’re in pain and suffering through all this harsh training, you never complain or get angry."

Then she made a breaking gesture with her hands and scoffed.

"Heck, if it were me, I would’ve broken that wooden sword in half out of frustration!"

Aria fell silent for a moment and looked toward the pond as well.

"Because I want to become stronger."

Her voice was soft but firm.

"And if this is the price for it, then I’m willing to accept it."

Her sister shook her head.

"You really are stubborn."

Aria smiled.

"I learned it from you."

"From me??" Her sister blinked.

"Yes."

For a moment, she looked genuinely surprised.

Then she burst out laughing.

"Haha! I didn’t know you thought I was that stubborn!"