“I understand, Teacher Kashan.” Anya didn’t try to argue at all, simply nodding her head.
She gently leaned the Heavy Wooden Practice Sword against the weapon rack in the corner, then turned and began jogging around the Training Yard.
Seeing this, Kashan closed her eyes again, her hands clasped behind her back, standing still in the morning light like a statue.
About ten minutes later, Anya finally finished her last lap, breathing a little unsteadily as she stopped in front of Kashan, swallowing a dry mouthful of saliva, and said, “Teacher Kashan, I’ve finished running.”
“I’ve already taught you everything you need to practice. Let’s begin.” Kashan lifted her chin, her gaze landing on the Training Dummy behind her, signaling that Anya could proceed.
Anya bent down to pick up the Heavy Wooden Practice Sword she had just set down, took a deep breath of cold air tinged with snow, then raised her arm and swung the sword, starting her daily Swordsmanship training once more.
The dull thudding of chopping sounded again and again on the open ground.
With each swing, bits of wood flew, sprinkling down on the snow and leaving faint marks here and there.
Iris sat atop a thick wooden stump, basking in the sunlight that made her feel warm all over.
She squinted her eyes, dangling her fair little legs as she watched Anya practice with great interest.
Iris swiped across the virtual panel, and Kashan’s information popped up.
[Kashan: Human, Tier Four, Swordsmanship Master].
Looks pretty strong, Iris muttered inwardly, her gaze subconsciously drifting toward Kashan.
As if sensing her attention, Kashan suddenly turned her head, her sharp gaze like a blade briefly meeting Iris’s eyes.
But it was only for a split second before her attention precisely returned to Anya’s movements, as if that brief meeting of eyes had been nothing but an illusion.
“So sensitive?” Iris mumbled to herself.
Though no one else could see her, she truly did exist in this world. She could even affect the outside world a little.
If someone had a strong sense for such things, they might notice something off.
No one knew how long Anya had been practicing, but her movements gradually slowed.
The sound of Kashan’s footsteps rang out softly—she had appeared behind Anya without her realizing.
“Anya.”
Anya stopped her sword abruptly, wiped the fragrant sweat from her brow, and turned her head with a puzzled look. “What is it, Teacher Kashan?”
Kashan gazed at the Training Dummy, now scarred and messy with sword marks.
She frowned, looking directly at Anya. “Your heart is in turmoil. This isn’t how you usually are. Today, your sword is clearly missing that sharpness it once had. What are you thinking about?”
“I…” Anya hesitated, but in the end, she didn’t mention the White Furred Ball in her heart.
“Anya.” Kashan sighed, stepping forward to gently pat her shoulder.
“Your father entrusted you to me only because he wanted you to have the strength to protect yourself one day. You care too much about his expectations and have shackled yourself with them. If you keep going like this, your Swordsmanship will never break through.”
Off to the side, Iris nodded approvingly and echoed, “9494.”
“Anya, let me ask you this.” Kashan’s tone suddenly turned stern. “Do you really want to master Swordsmanship?”
Anya lowered her head when she heard this, her gaze falling on the Heavy Wooden Practice Sword in her hands.
The pattern on the hilt had long since been worn smooth.
Over the years, Swordsmanship had already become a part of her life, accompanying her through day after day and night after night.
To say she felt nothing for it would be a lie.
“I do,” she said softly, head bowed.
Kashan nodded at her words and beckoned, “Then use the strongest strike you can muster, and come at me.”
Anya froze, standing there, not knowing what to do.
“Don’t just stand there!” Kashan suddenly barked, her voice edged with sternness.
“On the Battlefield, you won’t get a chance to daze off! I’ve already heard about what happened with the Dragonkin yesterday. I don’t know how you got away, but acting so hesitant and indecisive will only put you in danger and let down your father’s trust!”
That sentence hit Anya like a heavy hammer.
She snapped back to attention, gritted her teeth, gripped the sword tightly with both hands, twisted her waist, and brought the sword down at Kashan with a howling wind.
But Kashan only shook her head, flipping her wrist and firmly catching the blade.
Then she gently tapped the sword’s spine with her right hand.
Anya felt a clever force transmit through the sword, and in an instant, it flew from her hands, spinning in the air before plunging tip-first into the snowy ground.
“I’ll say it again.” Kashan’s eyes showed a trace of disappointment as she bent down to pick up the Heavy Wooden Practice Sword and handed it back to Anya.
“You have to follow your own heart and find the sword that belongs to you. Right now, your Swordsmanship is just empty moves with no soul. If you keep this up, you’ll never make any progress.”
“That’s enough for today. Think carefully about what I’ve said.” Kashan patted her arm, her tone softening a bit. “Take a few days off and adjust yourself. I’ll speak to your father.”
With that, she said no more, turning to leave.
Her figure grew smaller and smaller in the snowy field, leaving Anya holding the Heavy Wooden Practice Sword, standing in place, staring blankly at the sword marks on the Training Dummy.
Iris hopped down from the stump, standing beside her to comfort her. “Little Anya, it’s okay! Your teacher is really looking out for you. You really do need to take some time and sort yourself out.”
Anya spoke with a hint of bitterness. “Iris, how do you think I should follow my own heart?”
“Hmm…” Iris propped her chin, pondering for a moment before slowly saying, “I’ve felt that sense of being bound, too, but it’s normal. Your teacher’s given you a break, so just use this chance to loosen up. Play however you want, and you might just find what you’re looking for.”
“Play?” Anya had never experienced what it was like to play since childhood. All she remembered was practicing etiquette, Swordsmanship, and helping her busy father send messages to the Empire.
“You mean… you don’t have any hobbies at all?” Iris’s little face drooped, looking a bit shocked.
Anya shook her head.
“Hiss…” Iris drew a sharp breath and thought for a moment.
After a brief pause, Iris: 🤓👆
Right after, Iris suddenly disappeared, but quickly returned with a few Comics in her arms.
“If you really don’t know what to do, then read Comics with me!” Iris hugged her soft little bear, her lips curving into a sweet crescent. “These are my secret treasures. I’ll show you what true bliss is~”
“Comics?” Anya’s eyes were glued to the colorful covers in Iris’s hands, filled with curiosity.
At home, the Study was always piled high with her father’s Military Treatises, every word obscure as if written in an ancient script.
Reading just two pages was enough to make her dizzy.
But the books now held by the White Furred Ball in front of her, their covers bright and lively, just looking at them made her want to flip them open.
After breakfast, Anya followed Iris back to her room. Iris gave her fingers a light flick, and like magic, a few Comics appeared on Anya’s desk.
“So these are Comics?” Anya carefully picked up one of them, gently rubbing the smooth pages, a little nervous yet full of anticipation as she opened the first page.
Iris stood with her hands on her hips, humming with pride, but then the corner of her eye accidentally caught sight of the book cover.
That familiar art style made her instantly freeze like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her pupils shrank, and her ears turned red all the way to the tips.
“Li-Little Anya! Maybe you shouldn’t read this one just yet!” Iris hurriedly reached out to stop Anya.
But as she was only an illusion, she couldn’t stop her at all—she could only stare helplessly, her voice tinged with panic. “L-let’s pick another one, okay?”
She remembered this Comic very clearly! It was the sequel to that yuri Comic that got banned for being far too explicit.
She had come across it by chance in the System Shop and bought it out of curiosity.
She’d hurriedly brought it out just now and totally forgot about it.
Watching Anya open the first page, Iris grew frantic inside: Oh no, oh no, what if this pure-hearted Anya sees something like that!