The Villain's Survival Instruction Manual-Chapter 18: Spar[2]

The two women standing in front of each other didn’t have many differences. Only one of them had black streaks in her white hair.

"Reserve Sigilbearer Luna Ironveil, greets the First Sigilbearer." Luna said out loud and raised her sword vertically in front of her.

She stood straight and waited for a response from her sister. Valeria, the oldest daughter of Duke Severin smiled at the actions of her sister.

She looked at her father, not because she had something to say but because she wanted confirmation. Her father nodded and Valeria turned her head back towards Luna.

"First Sigilbearer Valeria Ironveil accepts the reserve sigilbearer’s greeting. The Patriarch and I have decided that this spar will serve as a test for your promotion." She replied and unsheathed her sword.

The sword was something in between a regular sword and a long-sword, the hilt was red but the whole blade was black and gold, it was one of the 13 divine relics of the God of War, Excalibur.

"You will have to block one attack from me during the spar, it can come at any moment if you’re able to then well enough otherwise get cut from my blade and become a lesson for our youngest."

There was no need to reply to this, Luna knew very well what this entailed and she had been preparing for this moment ever since she stepped foot in the academy.

So she decided to take the initiative, she took a stance and then closed in the gap between her and Valeria with a small leap and swung her zweihander.

Valeria didn’t move from where she stood, she simply blocked the incoming attack with the tip of her sword.

A 9-Star Knight is no joke, I can even imagine how strong my father, the Duke and the headmaster and vice-headmaster of the academy are. Cassian’s eyes remained glued on Cassie.

He studied her as he wanted to know his sword path, a knight who has crossed 5-Stars moves on from normal sword forms and develops a unique path of using the sword.

The technique might be the same but the sword path difference can lead to different interpretations of the sword form.

That was shown as both sisters used the basic sword forms of the Ironveil family, their sword paths were really different.

Valeria’s sword path was gentle, akin to the loving grace of a mother which was true. Being the oldest sibling with their mother not being around, she tried to fill in the gap left by their mother.

While Luna’s was violent and fast as if a Leopard is hunting its prey. Both sisters collided again, Valeria attacked first, she did a downward slash followed by a diagonal cut but Luna blocked both of them.

"You’re fast, and you make up for the strength due to that but remember, don’t always rely on your speed...you never know when it gives up on you." Valeria said and smiled.

It was time to show her sister how much of a gap there still was between them. Not even the second child, the oldest brother of Luna was able to defeat Valeria when it came to the sword.

Valeria’s speed increased, her gentle sword path changed, it got quicker but even amidst it the gentle movements and swings of her sword remained.

Then she blitzed Luna and came near her, almost inches apart from their forehead touching each other.

Luna was taken aback, the speed was unlike hers but in that split second she understood it was time for her to block.

To block with all her might because if she didn’t, she would lose and be cut from the blade of the oldest sister she admired all her life because she was not able to fulfill the bare minimum Valeria had ever asked.

Valeria’s sword shone with a bright light, it was so bright, the whole academy glowed despite the fact there were lights everywhere already.

She raised it in the air as the clouds gathered in the night sky, split and moved away. Then her arm came down, Luna raised her sword above her to block and pushed out as much aura as she could.

"Ironveil Eighth Form: Heaven’s Strike"

The blade collided with Luna’s blade and a light flashed towards the onlookers. And that marked the end of the spar session. No sounds came but when the vision of the onlookers came back, they saw Luna half underground, her sword raised above her and Valeria’s sword almost touching the other sword.

"Luna Ironveil has received my sword as per the Patriarch’s instructions. From this day onwards, Luna Ironveil is no longer a reserve sigilbearer, but a proper sigilbearer." Valeria declared as she sheathed her sword.

Luna however stood up straight despite her body aching all over and raised her sword vertically in front of her again.

"The Twelfth Sigilbearer of the Ironveil Family, Luna Ironveil thanks the First Sigilbearer." Luna said but her legs gave out, as she stumbled forward Valeria grabbed her and brought her down to where they watched the spar.

"Congratulations Luna." All of the people there apart from Duke Severin said it to her. He just kept quiet and smiled ever so slightly.

They remained there for a few moments before Duke Severin got up from his seat and walked onto the platform.

There was something mischievous about the way he walked there, Alister, Octavia and Corvin all three of them knew and they made a face which was far too comical for them.

Then he turned towards them with a smirk all three of them had seen many times before.

"Let’s spar my friends, for old times sake. You three are against me." He pointed at Count Corvin, Octavia and Alister as a sleek silver sword manifested into his hand.

"This will be a once in a lifetime moment for these youngsters, so get up quickly and come up here. And you three, observe what you’re about to witness"

***

[Chapter 18 - Spar(2)]