Edgar spotted Ren immediately and hurried toward him. Ren, following the knight who had been his guide, made his way down the stairs to the training floor below.
They met on the landing and spoke as they continued their descent.
"If you had only sent word, I would have come to receive you immediately."
"My apologies. I went to see Verrich first and decided to stop by afterward."
When Ren needed to reach Edgar, he only had to contact a specific location. Since Edgar stayed at the same inn whenever he was in the Imperial Capital, it was easy enough to get a message to him.
"I came today hoping to observe the training, or perhaps find someone willing to let me test my skills against them."
"As I mentioned before, if you come to this inner sanctum, you will always find someone to cross swords with. It will undoubtedly benefit you, Master Ren. However, since I am here today, I shall be your partner myself."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. During this season, my master is attending a constant stream of parties, so I am remaining in the Imperial Capital with him. I will be here for about a week after the New Year as well, so if you are willing, I would be honored to assist you."
It was exactly what Ren had hoped for.
"I look forward to it," Ren said with a respectful bow. He finally stepped onto the sprawling training ground that lay beneath the open atrium.
He was to receive instruction here today, and just as Ren began to prepare, someone approached.
"You must be Ren-dono."
A massive man spoke to him. He was built like a wall of muscle, a physique perfectly suited for the colossal sword he carried. Standing next to Ren, the difference in their sizes was staggering—more like a giant standing beside a child than an adult next to a boy. He was an exceptionally large man, likely in his late thirties.
"My name is Ren Ashton," he replied without hesitation.
The large man looked him over. "Seeing you in person, you certainly seem to have a promising future—but I am a bit conflicted."
"Conflicted?"
"To tell the truth, Edgar-dono asked me to be your opponent if you came to visit."
"...Edgar-san, is that true?"
"It is. I requested it because I was convinced it would polish Ren-dono’s skills and provide a positive influence for the others here as well."
The big man didn't seem to have any objection to the request itself; he held no ill will toward Ren. He simply had one lingering doubt. He stood with his arms crossed, deep in thought.
"Since the request comes from Edgar-dono, we are not unwilling, but..."
"We have a slight concern," the knight who had guided Ren added. "Edgar-dono instructed us to face Ren-dono using Strong Sword Arts. However, we are worried about the risk of injuring him."
"Yes. If you were a knight of this order, we would not hold back. But facing Strong Sword Arts will be incredibly taxing for you."
"That said, we heard you were able to withstand Edgar-dono’s blade, so..."
The Strong Sword users were caught in a wave of indecision. Other knights began to gather, sharing the same hesitation. Finally, one knight suggested they test his aptitude first by showing them the progress with the vial.
"I shall answer their questions for you," Edgar said. "Master Ren, please go and prepare. There are training swords lined up against the wall; choose whichever you prefer."
"Understood. Then, please take this."
Without a hint of nerves, Ren reached into his jacket and handed the vial to Edgar. He had been carrying the now-useless item around as a memento of his achievement. Since it was small, it didn't hinder his movement.
"Now, then."
Edgar turned toward the knights. Ren had already walked off to prepare.
"I stated that this would have a positive influence on all of you. Let me show you why."
Edgar revealed the vial Ren had given him. The Strong Sword users were instantly silenced. For someone to have talent in Strong Sword Arts, they only needed to leave a tiny scratch on the crystal ball inside the vial. The knights' eyes nearly bulged from their sockets when they saw that the crystal ball had been shattered into fine dust.
"Does anyone still harbor any doubts?"
No one spoke; they were utterly dazed. None were foolish enough to think he had simply opened the lid and crushed it by hand; they were united in their awe. They finally understood why Edgar believed this would inspire them.
Eventually, the massive man let out a booming laugh. "It won't take him long at all to master Enshroud."
"It wouldn't be surprising if he learned it within the week," another knight added. "I've never seen such raw talent."
"Umu... especially if he’s a practical fighter."
The knights had heard rumors of Licia’s talent as well, but this was something else entirely. As they talked among themselves, Ren returned with a training sword.
The large man from before stepped forward. "By all means," he said, his eyes alight with excitement and curiosity. "I would be honored to serve as your opponent."
Ren looked to Edgar, deferring the decision. Edgar nodded. "This is a good choice. I shall observe Master Ren’s performance and provide technical advice as we go. We will take it one step at a time."
"Understood."
Ren began his warm-up. A few minutes later, his heart was racing with anticipation. Facing the Strong Sword user and his colossal blade, Ren took his stance without a flicker of fear.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The air grew heavy with the pressure Ren emitted, and the watching knights felt a chill run down their spines.
"Show me the full strength of your sword," the man commanded.
Ren lunged. He was faster and sharper than the man had anticipated. His eyes widening, the man moved with an agility that belied his massive frame, bringing his colossal sword horizontal to catch Ren’s direct assault.
"Tch... This...!"
There was no impact that rattled the man's internal organs; Ren had clearly not mastered Enshroud yet. But that was exactly what was so terrifying. Even without that technique, the weight of the blow felt like receiving a strike from a seasoned Strong Sword user. Sweat beaded on the man's cheek as he imagined the power Ren would wield once he mastered Enshroud.
"I see I have no need to worry about breaking you! In that case, take this!"
The man, fully recognizing Ren’s strength, swung his colossal sword on the return. Despite the massive weight difference, Ren’s core was incredibly stable; he wasn't sent flying as easily as one would expect. The colossal blade whistled through the air, aimed directly at Ren’s flank.
Ren brought his sword up to block the strike, which seemed to leave the sound of its own movement behind. His face twisted for a moment as the vibration shook his very core. The sheer physical force of the blow finally sent him skidding back, and he rolled several times across the floor before springing back into a ready stance. He wasn't in pain, but his hands were vibrating with a fierce numbness.
Still, Ren stood his ground. Despite the numbness and the sudden depletion of his energy, he wiped the sweat from his brow and offered a defiant smile.
"Tch... Even if I am holding back, to think you'd get right back up after taking a hit from an Expert Swordsman class colossal sword!" the man muttered, a single bead of sweat trickling down his face.
The watching knights were enthralled. Seeing Ren—who wasn't even old enough for the academy—holding his own against such power filled some with admiration and others with a competitive fire.
Edgar felt the same surge of pride as he watched his student.
"In the short time since the summer, you have polished your skills even further."
The force of a colossal sword wielded by someone of the Expert Swordsman class was the literal manifestation of overwhelming physical power. During the summer, Ren wouldn't have been able to respond to such a strike at all; he would have been tossed aside and likely unable to stand.
"You are... standing right at the threshold of the Strong Sword."
Ren had never ceased his daily training, struggling to refine his mana. The breakthrough he’d had recently was now driving the rapid blossoming of his talent.
(I'm about to grasp it... I can feel it.)
Even though he had only managed to block, Ren felt a sense of certainty. It was the same as when he had sparred with Edgar. Every time he felt the impact of a Strong Sword Art, his body was learning. It wasn't just a shock to his system; it was a lesson.
(I'm going to learn everything I can from this.)
Sweat poured down Ren’s face from the exertion of withstanding the impact. He wiped his forehead and grinned.
"Could we go again?"
"...Yeah. As many times as you like."
Though his muscles were screaming from just that one exchange, Ren stepped forward. Under the watchful eyes of the knights, he swung his sword again. He repeated the cycle a second time, then a third, until his strength finally failed him.
When Ren returned to Erendil, he nearly fell asleep in the bath. He managed to drag his heavy limbs out of the water, dressed himself, and joined Licia and Lezard for dinner.
Licia looked at him with concern. "Re-Ren...? You look exhausted. Did something happen?"
"Actually, I went to the Lion Sanctum today..."
He recounted the events to them—how he had run into Edgar and ended up receiving instruction and sparring with the knights.
"I found I could move a lot better than I did during the summer, so I ended up overdoing it a bit. I plan to head back tomorrow as well."
Licia and Lezard shared a small laugh. "That’s so like you, Ren," they said.
"Father! I want to train with Ren soon too!"
"I know, but you must endure it for now. With the recent friction between the factions, I need to keep a close eye on the other nobles. We have to attend these parties."
Edgar had said the same thing; Ulysses was also busy with a string of social obligations. For Licia and her father, this political maneuvering was vital.
(In that case, I have to make sure I’m getting stronger while they’re busy.)
Strength was the power to protect. Ren resolved to keep pushing himself at the Lion Sanctum, readying himself for whatever came next.