(#44) A New Ally

"Miss Auburn, are you ready?" Sir Hefler, who is also a teacher along with Sir Cross, called me.

"Yes, Sir," I answered.

"Alright. You shall fight with... Sir Cross. And based on your skills and et cetera, it will be decided whether you pass to the second stage or not." Sir Hefler said.

I nodded. "Yes, Sir," I said.

"Ail, young lad! Come to the eastern arena, we will fight there." Sir Hefler took Grizil, Grizil Ail, towards the Eastern arena, and I followed Sir Cross to the Western Arena.

"Are you ready, Miss Auburn?" Sir Cross asked.

"Yes, Sir Cross," I said, bowing.

"Alright then, will you start?" Sir Cross asked.

"Please do start, Sir Cross," I said.

"Alright. One thing you have to keep in mind is that presently, you have to think that we both met during the war and you will do, what you should." Sir Cross said.

I smiled. This is going to be interesting.

"Yes, Sir," I said.

Sir Cross started swinging his sword. I just simply dodged them.

"Miss Auburn, what are you doing?" Sir Cross asked, not stopping.

"I am a little confused, Sir," I said.

"Well, this is war-time, you have confusion, and you die." Sir Cross said.

Ouch, that hurt.

I nodded and continued blocking the attacks.

"What are you doing, Miss Auburn?" Sir Cross asked, finally stopping.

"I told you, I am having a confusion," I said.

"What is it?" Sir Cross asked, patience draining.

"You said met during the war. Isn't it possible that we are on the same side? Since there is a possibility like that, how can I act rashly and injure one of my brothers?" I asked, trying to hide a smile.

He then slapped his hands onto his forehead and kept his head low.

Shit, did I go too far?

He then showed his face, which was trying to hide its laughter.

"S-Sir?" I was shocked.

"It has been quite some time since I have heard that." Sir Cross said.

"Some time? Someone told it to you before?" I asked Sir Cross.

"Yes. But I don't think that you will believe it is that person if you know who it is." Sir Cross said.

"No. My question is, you have already made this mistake, yet you don't learn?" I asked.

"I missed it. That is what. I wanted to know if anyone else will change it. And you became the second one." He said.

"Oh," I said.

"He was a very good friend of mine." Sir Cross said and I nodded.

"Then, shall we start again? We met on the battlefield and are from different countries. Are you happy now?" Sir Cross asked.

I nodded, smiling.

We started fighting again.

"Do you mind if we have a conversation?" I asked.

"Fine by me." Sir Cross said.

"Alright then. Let me ask you a question. What is your view of the marriage between Lady Aesther and Second Prince Louis?" I asked.

"To be honest, total bullshit. But then again, I am not surprised. It is the Aristocrats." Sir Cross said.

"Then I have a confession too," I said.

"Confession?" Sir Cross asked. "Go ahead." Sir Cross said.

"Actually, I am... Lady Aesther." I said and the metallic sound of swords clashing came to a temporary stop.

Then it resumed again.

"Good strategy." Sir Cross said.

"I am not lying," I said.

"The Aesthers never lie." Sir Cross said.

"I never lied," I said.

"You didn't? Then what about the part where you lied about you telling that you are part of Auburn?" Sir Cross asked.

"My Mother is of Auburn. How can I be not a part of Auburn?" I asked, smirking.

Sir Cross's eyes widened. But his strength didn't falter.

"Then... what about your parents?" Sir Cross asked.

"You dare tell that they aren't modest and kind?" I asked, smirking, and raising my eyebrows.

Sir Cross started laughing.

"You are definitely Lionel's and Milena's daughter." Sir Cross said.

I smiled.

"What is the matter?" Sir Cross asked.

"I have never heard anyone else call my Mother's name so affectionately except my Father. You must be a good friend of hers." I said.

"She was... more of my savior." Sir Cross said.

"I guessed so," I said.

But one thing I noticed then was that the force of the blows he gave me, intensified.

I smiled.

"You are starting to take me seriously," I said.

"Well, you are a child of Aesther. I would be humiliating you if I don't take you seriously." Sir Cross said.

Suddenly his sword came in the direction of my abdomen. I then balanced my index and point finger and blocked it.

Sir Cross was shocked.

"How did you master the Balance technique?" Sir Cross asked, with shock clearly evident on his face.

"I knew it at a very early age. To be exact, it wasn't very difficult." I said.

"Yeah. It is actually not very shocking." Sir Cross said, continuing his attacks.

"But, for my mates, they can't do it, they just simply can't do it. Why?" I asked.

"The Balance technique is like magic itself. It only opens to certain people." Sir Cross said.

"Certain... as in?" I asked.

"Balanced technique can only be mastered by a person, who is having a balanced life. The Aesthers, since their ancient, was able to master it. It was because of their balanced lifestyle.

Actually, the Aesthers weren't balanced in the beginning. You can just tell that... um... they were... normal? Yeah. Something like that.

But the Grand Master knew that, if he had to make the Aesther, stand in a higher position than the others, they have to make some sacrifices.

So the Grand Master decided to make it, a useful sacrifice. Where it would benefit both the parties.

So, the Grand Master made new rules, which is written in the Aesther Couth." When Sir Cross said that much, I interrupted.

"Yeah. I have read that book. We were made to master it at an early age. I really hated that book back then. It was a real pain in the cluni." I said and Sir Cross laughed off.

"I really like your choice of words." Sir Cross laughed it off.

"Yeah. But to tell the truth, I have always liked the etiquette system of House Aesther. It is just... yeah, balanced. Perfect Balance." Sir Cross said.

"Perfect Balance?" I asked.

"Yeah. You lot of people don't eat dinner. We lot of people do eat dinner. Yet you lot of people are healthier than us a lot of people who actually eat more than you do." Sir Cross said.

"That is because... dinner is unnecessary. Actually, anything after the evening is unnecessary. As a doctor myself, there are some things that I deduced from these Aesther etiquettes.

About the dinner, it is actually better to just skip it. But Aesthers eat leisure in the evening. We just eat fruits at dinner. Because of that, we can get a good night's sleep.

Maybe you don't know it, but sleeping with a stomach, that hasn't had anything for the past few hours can sleep better. Because you see, within that time the body will finish all its work and will be able to sleep, when you sleep too." I said.

"Oh, I knew there was something, but not this. But I have been trying to skip, but I just can't." Sir Cross said.

"That's because habits are hard to change after you grow up. That is why we Aesthers train ourselves when we are young." I said.

Sir Cross nodded.

Suddenly, lunged the sword against my chest.

I then balanced my whole body and jumped on top of the sword and slashed my sword towards his neck.

And that is where the whole match ended, and...

I won.

Against the high and mighty Sir Cross.

Before my whole body got unbalanced, I jumped off from the sword.

"You mastered the Golden Balance technique?" Sir Cross asked.

"Believe me when I say this. I have been practicing, but this was my body. I didn't know, my body just did that on my own." I said.

Suddenly Sir Cross laughed out.

"Do you feel so bad that you lost, that you went mad?" I asked, confused.

"No, no, no." He said while laughing.

"Then what?" I asked.

"Do you who was the last person who said that to me?" Sir Cross asked.

"My Father?" I asked, with a doubt.

"Exactly. So this isn't exactly surprising." Sir Cross said and I smiled.

"So, the young lady of Aesther Mansion, I proudly admit my defeat." Sir Cross said.

"Thank You, Sir Cross for the guidance you have given me," I said and bowed.

"I don't think you should bow to me." Sir Cross said.

"You are my teacher. If anyone shouldn't bow, it is you." I said.

"But, you are my-"

"You are my teacher. And I never let my teacher bow to me." I said Sir Cross smiled.

"Well done." I heard praise and we both turned.

Sir Cross was just as shocked as I was.

Standing there was My Father, Lindon, and King Adelouis.

"Your Highness, since when were you here?" I asked, after bowing.

"Since Ezekiel asked you where you ready." King Adelouis said.

Well, you could have just told you were here since the start.

"I am very embarrassed that Your Highness saw me losing." Sir Cross said, bowing.

"Well, it is not something we can help, can we? Even I didn't expect that Anastasia would know the Golden Balance Technique." King Adelouis said.

Yeah, even I myself didn't know it.

"Yeah. And you are looking really good in that dress too." Lindon said, and I had to try so hard that I wouldn't blush.

"Yes. But I guess I did expect this of my daughter." Father said, and I felt so proud.

"Well, well. You can show off your Father and daughter relationship here." The King said and we all had a hearty laugh.

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Special Note For Readers.

I have been asked by many people that what my age is.

You people guess it.

I will tag the ones who guess it right.

Good Luck.

So, till next time,

Luv Y'all💕💕

Last updated on 10102020