A Degenerate's Tale

Saryll was not free to teach today but Earl made his way to the Elven Palace to visit her nonetheless.

He took the teleportation circles around the Tree of Life as usual and made his way up to the palace atop the tree.

The guards had become familiar with him so it was fairly easy to get by.

"Earl? Hmm... Missed me?" Saryll asked with a light smile when he entered her office.

It was sometimes easy to forget that she was the Elven Queen from her behaviour. She was seated behind a table where dozens of papers piled up.

"I came up to check on you."

"Since when did I need checking up?" She laughed lightly.

"Come on now, it's just a diligent student checking up on his teacher."

"You're a little cheeky today."

"Here." Earl handed her a drink he brought along.

"Hmm..." She looked at the drink curiously before nodding. "Thank you."

It was just a regular juice, refrigerated with magic.

"Keep up the good work, Teacher. You can think of me when you drink it."

"..."

Before Saryll could do anything, Earl had already sprinted out the door, leaving a trail of laughter.

Aria was waiting outside the door when Earl ran out.

"Did I keep you waiting for long?"

"Don't say that, Master. Waiting is a part of Aria's job." Aria replied lightly. She looked very demure and elegant in her maid mode.

"I'm going to get some light training before we go have fun."

"Where will you be training, Master?"

"Since we're already here, let's give the training area here a try?"

Earl and Aria arrived at the training ground. Despite living in the Elven Kingdom for so many years already, he did not have many chances to use this training ground in the Elven Palace.

The most memorable memory within the palace training ground remained to be the first battle between Earl and Alea.

Nothing has changed at the training ground. Or rather, there was nothing to be changed in the first place.

To his surprise, someone was already at the site. It was Abelis, the Prince Consort, husband of Saryll.

He was practising the beautiful swordsmanship of the elves. His signature blue hair left a bright coloured series of afterimages as he moved about swiftly.

Elven Swordsmanship utilized the rapier of choice. It was an elegant and classy sword.

Because Abelis was shirtless, Earl could see his streamlined muscles rippling about. He really was a good looking man. And because of this, he was able to notice a strange detail.

Right at the centre of his chest was a huge scar. It was as though someone pierced through his entire chest with a flaming rod. Perhaps it is only because of Elven Magic that he was still alive after suffering from such a wound.

Earl watched the man practice for a while. It felt like watching a performance because of the beautiful nature of Elven Swordsmanship.

When the man finished with his training, droplets of sweat dripped down his face as he turned to face Earl in a friendly manner.

"What an unexpected sight to see you here today. Did you just finish training with Saryll?"

"She's busy today so I'm training on my own." Earl shook his head.

"I say we have a light spar then!"

"It is my honour to be sparring the head of the Spirit Knights."

"Spare the pleasantries, come!"

At the beckoning of Abelis, Earl handed his coat over to Aria and jumped to the man.

"I'm ready," Earl said.

"Here I come!"

Abelis closed the distance and stabbed lightly with his rapier. Earl was able to dodge easily. Learning Spirit Magic had fixed his weakness of close-ranged attacks.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The Prince Consort's sword was accompanied by a cool sound with every strike.

"Nice body control!" He praised. "But why aren't you attacking back?"

"Forgive me, Your Highness. I am unlearned in the art of close combat." Earl replied back humbly and took a large leap back. "Wind!"

At his call, the Wind Spirits gathered. Several mini tornados formed in an instant.

Abelis stood still, impressed. "This is Saryll's technique! I see, I shall be more serious then."

He then moved through the tornados nimbly and attempted to close the distance once again.

"It's over." Earl smiled as a tornado formed and trapped Abelis who appeared in front of him.

"Indeed. Not for me though, I know every in and out of this technique-"

Before he could finish his words, the tornado changed into water and encased him in a cage of ice.

It lingered in the air for a moment and fell to the ground. Abelis broke out of the ice a moment later.

"Hahaha! I've underestimated you too much, forgive me!"

"Your words are too kind. You've held back a lot too, after all."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it. How did you do that?" Abelis pointed to the shards of shattered ice.

"It's simple, Your Highness. I hid a water spell in the wind tornado so the Water Spirits could take control of it as soon as you were trapped."

"Only simple when you say it. I can't do that, hahaha!" He took a seat on the ground.

The spar was brief, but Earl was drained nonetheless. Aria quickly came and wiped his face off with a towel.

"By the way, Your Highness."

"What is it?"

"I am curious. Who could've placed such a scar onto you?" Earl asked.

"This?" Abelis's face turned a shade darker. "It's a... terrible thing. Forgive me. I would rather not talk about such a thing today."

"I shall apologize then. It was rude for me to ask such a thing."