SWOOSHSWISSH
The sun hadn't even risen to the horizon yet, but Seraphina was already wide awake and swinging a wooden sword through the air with focused intensity. The training grounds of Thornfell echoed softly with her movements, the whoosh of air slicing around her building into a rhythmic tempo.
Another day. Another training. Another moment she had to survive.
She didn't even know how she got here. Not truly. Not like the girls in the stories she used to read—ones who were reincarnated and given a chance to rewrite their fates. No. Her fate had already been rewritten the moment she arrived. There was no luxury of a do-over. Just survival, routine, and sharp-edged reality.
"You're up early."
The low voice interrupted her flow. She turned and saw a broad figure approaching from the side of the grounds.
Sir Decruix.
One of Thornfell's most feared instructors and their unrivaled expert in close combat. His reputation wasn't just for show. Once called "The Beast of Thornfell," the man was a living weapon in his prime. He could alter the structure of his body with magic, giving himself monstrous strength that most couldn't even dream of possessing.
"Greetings, Sir Decruix," Seraphina said with a respectful bow. "I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to train."
One thing Sophia liked about Seraphina was she's not just a typical villainess of the story. Not a spoiled noble villainess she had read about in some other stories. She wasn't just obsessed with beauty and status. She trained physically, mentally, and with her magic power.
She's undeniably strong. If it weren't for the author, who decided to get rid of her in the midpart of the story due to readers' protest of her being OP? She knows for sure that she would be the greatest villainess in the story and not the Dark Mage King Zephyrion.
'Though I hated her character in the book, it's such a waste that she was removed sooner; she has so much potential,' Seraphina thought.
Sir Decruix grunted approvingly. "Since you're already warmed up… how about a duel while we wait for the sun to greet us?"
Seraphina blinked in surprise. "Now?"
"Now," he smirked, stepping back and unsheathing a dulled practice blade.
THUD.
Her wooden sword met his in a sudden clash, and the duel began.
It was brutal.
Each strike from Sir Decruix was heavy, calculated, and punishing. Seraphina was fast, yes, and her footwork had improved, but the sheer force behind every one of his blows sent shockwaves through her arms. Her wrists ached. Her legs screamed with every dodge.
CLACK!SWISH!CLANG!
She ducked, rolled, and pivoted. But it wasn't enough.
THUMP!
Seraphina hit the dirt for the fifth time. Then the sixth. Then the tenth.
"Get up," Sir Decruix ordered flatly, standing tall over her. He didn't offer a hand. "Again."
She gritted her teeth, pushed herself off the ground, and grabbed her sword.
They went at it again.
CLANG!CLANG!SWISH!CRACK!
Their movements were so focused, neither noticed the sun creeping over the mountains. Slowly, the muted blue sky warmed with streaks of orange and pink. One by one, other Thornfell trainees arrived at the edge of the grounds.
Murmurs broke out.
"Is that… Seraphina?"
"She's going against him? No way."
"She's going to break her bones at this rate."
But others watched with wide eyes.
"I heard from the other trainees who arrived here first that they were already dueling when they came."
"So they've been dueling since earlier? It should be already an hour then."
"I bet it's more than just an hour!"
"She lasted that long?"
"She got up every single time."
"She's insane. That's… kind of impressive."
Some mocked. Some admired. But all of them watched.
CLANG!THUD!
Seraphina was flat on her back again, chest heaving, her blade knocked out of reach.
Sir Decruix stood above her, unmoving.
"Again?" he asked gruffly.
She tried to sit up, her limbs trembling.
But this time, when they clashed once more, something was different.
Seraphina, who had fallen for how many times already, was already pissed off.
'I need to get even. Just once. Let me win, just once.' She stood up again, readying her wooden sword.
Determined to win, her every move becomes more fatal, that the receiving end felt the pressure in her every strike.
'She got strong. Is she cheating? 'The instructor curiously eyed Seraphina's move while blocking her attacks.
CLANG! SWISH! CLING! CLANG! SWISH!
Seraphina lunged forward, swinging her sword sideward before attempting to attack Sir Decruix on his right side, but he was fast to block it. Their wooden swords clashed.
SWOOOOSSSH!
With Seraphina's forceful attack and Sir Decruix's hard blocking, the air surrounding them created a huge sound and pressure, making those who watched be in awe.
"She's matching Sir Decruix's strength!"
"I bet she's cheating or pulling some tricks. There's no way a girl like her can be that strong."
"Yeah, especially since she just started training just a few days ago. Not even a month had passed!"
"She's lucky that Sir Decruix is just feigning ignorance of her cheating."
"Sir Decruix is so kind and humble, even letting her cheat."
Seraphina could hear all of their whispers, but she chose to ignore them. There's no use in listening to their blabbering when she knows none of it is true. She should just focus on their duel and win at atleast 1 time before it ends.
She stepped back, her chest pumping in and out as she was trying to catch her breath, while Sir Decruix just stood there firmly waiting for her next attack.
'If I could just spot an opening... '
Sir Decruix was contemplating what would be Seraphina's next move. He's very intrigued by this fallen noble lady that has arrived at the estate not too long ago. It's just a few days since then, but she already improved a lot. This wouldn't be possible if you don't have any experience at all. But if you had training previously, then that explains everything.
But the latter part was impossible! As he knows, all daughters/girls coming from a noble family are prohibited from learning swordsmanship and combat skills. They are only permitted to practice magic and other tasks that are suited for female nobles.
Lady Thornfell was different, as she came from a lowborn family. So she was not obligated to not learn combat skills and swordsmanship. She was a part of the imperial military before gaining her status as the Lady of the Thornfell estate, as a baroness.
'Is it truly cheating? Is she using her magic? Come to think of it, we didn't see her wield a magic power, not even once. Does she have an affinity with magic? 'Sir Decruix wondered.
Seraphina positioned herself in a stance, both hands holding her sword on the left side and slightly bending her knees. Her eyes became sharper. She breathed in and out for the last time. While Sir Decruix positioned himself to block her too.
With one last breath, Seraphina put all her strength into her hand's grip on the sword and ran fast towards Sir Decruix. When she was already a few meters away, she jumped as high as she could and raised both hands holding the sword. As she was slowly descending, she aimed her sword to strike Sir Decruix one final blow with all her strength.
BOOM!
Their wooden sword clashed again, this time much harder and more intense than the previous one. The audience can literally feel the pressure in the air due to the strength they're both displaying.
Seraphina pressed her sword forward, adding more pressure, trying to break through Sir Decruix's block. And he felt it too.
He can feel the heaviness of her sword against his, that it's starting to push his left foot a little. But everyone failed to notice, as they are more focused on who will break first. Seraphina's heavy attack or Sir Decruix's hardened and unchanging block.
Everyone was dying to know who will win.
And as the time ticks, Seraphina adds more and more pressure, as Sir Decruix was already being pushed back a little. But before that happens...
'I can't let her win,' he firmly said.
Sir Decruix's foot stomped into the dirt harder. His muscles swelled subtly beneath his training robes. And when his next strike came—
BOOOOM!
Seraphina flew back several feet, landing with a painful grunt. Her sword spun out of her hands and clattered somewhere far behind her.
The crowd gasped.
"Wha—did he use magic just now?" someone whispered.
"He never uses magic in duels!"
"He just didn't want to lose face. She had him!"
"It's just fair. Like I said, she was cheating first."
"Right!"
"Serves her right!"
Sir Decruix turned and silenced them all with a single glare.
"What are you all waiting for? The show is over! Start training!" He shouted at them, his voice thundering through the training yard.
They all flinched and scattered and continued their usual routine. Then he turned back to Seraphina.
She was coughing, pushing herself up slowly with scraped palms.
He walked over and crouched beside her. His voice was lower now, quiet so only she could hear.
"You did good. Better than good. Your form's getting cleaner. You just need a little more practice."
She looked at him with tired, determined eyes.
"Then I'll practice more."
Sir Decruix gave a small nod and stood.
From the back of the crowd, hidden by a cluster of trees, stood a figure cloaked in shadow. He leaned against a tree trunk with a faint smirk on his lips, arms folded.
His dark eyes had been watching the entire duel.
"Hmph. The old bastard used his trick," he muttered under his breath.
He shifted slightly, the light catching the edge of his cheekbone.
No one noticed him. No one heard him.
"That girl is very interesting."
With that final word, he left smirking, remembering the face of that girl.
*******