While Relict remained seated beneath the shade of the courtyard, quietly contemplating the next phase of his plans, Seila escorted Frisca back toward the manor's main lobby where the Hall Family's carriage and attendants had been waiting ever since their arrival.
The short journey was peaceful.
However, Seila herself was anything but relaxed.
From time to time, she secretly glanced at Frisca, worried that the latter might still be upset because of her young master's attitude earlier. Fortunately, although Frisca continued pouting throughout the walk, she did not complain anymore. After exchanging a few words with her servants, she gracefully boarded the carriage.
Only after watching the carriage gradually disappear beyond the manor gates did Seila finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"So scary..."
She softly murmured to herself before lightly patting her chest.
Without wasting any more time, she immediately returned to the courtyard.
Upon arriving, she saw Relict sitting exactly where she had left him. His eyes were closed, while the morning breeze gently swayed the loose strands of his hair beneath the shade of the large umbrella.
Thinking that he might have fallen asleep, Seila instinctively slowed her footsteps.
She carefully tiptoed toward him before softly announcing her presence only after standing beside him.
"Young Master..."
"I'm back."
Relict slowly opened his eyes before looking at her.
A faint smile naturally appeared on his face.
"Is Frisca gone?"
He paused for a moment before asking another question.
"Was she still angry?"
Seila tilted her head slightly.
"Mhm..."
"Sort of...?"
Her uncertain answer caused Relict to smile helplessly.
It was exactly the kind of response he had expected.
Rather than dwelling on the matter any longer, he naturally changed the topic.
"By the way..."
"Is Father still inside the manor?"
Seila nodded.
"Yes, Young Master."
"I believe Master is still in his office."
Then, after recalling something, she added,
"However, I think Master will also be meeting the royal representatives together with the Hall Family."
Relict quietly contemplated for a brief moment.
Originally, he had considered discussing a few matters with Augustus. However, since the latter would soon be occupied entertaining distinguished guests from the capital, there was little reason to interrupt him now.
"Then let's not disturb him."
He looked back at Seila.
"What about Senior Winston?"
"Where is he now?"
"I believe Senior Winston is at the martial hall."
Seila answered without hesitation.
"He's currently overseeing the training of the new recruits."
Hearing those words, Relict immediately understood.
The recruits were most likely replacements for the guards who had lost their lives during the recent assassination attempt.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
"Take me there."
"I'd like to see Senior Winston."
Although Seila became slightly curious about the sudden request, she did not ask any unnecessary questions.
Instead, she respectfully bowed.
"As you wish, Young Master."
Not long afterward, the two arrived before one of the largest buildings within the Lyn Manor.
The martial hall stood like a fortress dedicated solely to training. Stretching roughly twenty meters in length, fifteen meters in width, and nearly ten meters in height, the enclosed structure provided ample space for both individual and group exercises. Weapon racks lined both sides of the hall, displaying swords, spears, shields, bows, and various training weapons neatly arranged according to their types. Several wooden dummies stood near the corners, while rows of archery targets occupied another section of the hall. The stone floor itself bore countless scratches accumulated from years of relentless practice.
The moment they entered, the sounds of training immediately filled the surroundings.
Groups of newly recruited guards were currently being evaluated under the supervision of veteran members of the Lyn Family. Some demonstrated their physical strength through endurance drills, while others sparred using wooden weapons under the watchful eyes of experienced instructors. Nearby, several recruits were testing their accuracy before the archery targets, whereas another group practiced basic formations and coordinated movements.
The atmosphere was busy.
Yet every movement remained orderly.
Just as Relict stepped through the entrance, one of the guards stationed beside the doorway immediately noticed him.
His posture instantly straightened.
"The Young Master is here!"
His loud announcement echoed throughout the entire martial hall.
The guards nearest the entrance were the first to stop what they were doing.
One after another, the surrounding instructors and recruits also turned toward the doorway.
Even those positioned farther inside the hall gradually paused their training after hearing the announcement, causing the previously bustling martial hall to fall noticeably quieter.
Standing near the center of the training grounds, Winston also heard the guard's voice.
He immediately turned toward the entrance.
After confirming that it was indeed Aton, the old servant calmly handed over the ongoing examination to another instructor before steadily walking toward the young master.
By the time Winston arrived before the entrance, Relict and Seila had already stepped inside the martial hall. The old servant immediately bowed respectfully before the young master.
"Greetings, Young Master."
He slowly raised his head.
"Is there something you need here?"
Relict smiled lightly upon seeing him.
"Actually..."
"I'm looking for you."
The answer caught Winston slightly off guard.
Among everyone within the Lyn Family, he was merely responsible for protecting the young master and overseeing part of the family's guards. Aside from those duties, he could not think of any other reason why the young master would specifically seek him out.
After pondering for a brief moment, he arrived at what he believed was the most reasonable conclusion.
"Does Young Master intend to leave the manor?"
"If so, I'll gladly accompany you."
Relict lightly shook his head.
"Yes."
"But not today."
He looked directly at Winston before calmly continuing.
"Today, I want you to show me your combat skills."
The request left Winston puzzled once again.
He could not understand the purpose behind such a request, but neither did he question it. Instead, his thoughts immediately shifted toward arranging the spar properly.
"Very well, Young Master."
He nodded respectfully.
"However, I'll require a suitable sparring partner."
After briefly scanning the hall, he continued,
"If Sir Alfonso is still within the manor, we may ask him to assist."
"There is no need to trouble Senior Alfonso."
Relict calmly replied before turning toward the person beside him.
"Seila will do."
The words caused Seila's eyes to widen.
She instinctively pointed toward herself.
"Me?"
Relict looked at her before smiling faintly.
"There isn't another Seila here."
Although his tone remained calm, Seila became even more flustered.
"Young Master..."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Senior Winston and I are not equals."
Her concern was not about refusing the order.
Rather, she genuinely believed Winston would be unable to properly demonstrate his abilities against someone considerably weaker than himself.
Relict naturally understood what she meant.
"You don't need to worry about that, Seila."
He lightly shook his head.
"This is only a spar."
Hearing those words, Seila no longer objected.
"If that is Young Master's wish..."
She respectfully lowered her head.
"I'll go change into my training attire and return immediately."
Relict nodded once.
After receiving his approval, Seila bowed toward both men before temporarily leaving the martial hall.
Watching her leave, Winston suddenly spoke.
"Young Master is free to inspect the new recruits while waiting."
Relict accepted the suggestion without objection.
The two then slowly walked deeper into the training grounds while Winston briefly explained the examinations currently taking place. From time to time, Relict quietly observed several recruits practicing their weapon forms or exchanging blows with wooden swords under the supervision of veteran guards. Although their techniques varied greatly from one another, none escaped his observation.
Nearly twenty minutes later, footsteps echoed once again from the entrance.
"Young Master."
"I'm back."
Relict turned toward the familiar voice.
Seila had already changed into her training attire.
The black-and-white maid uniform had been replaced by a fitted silver one-piece garment that covered her entire body from the neck down to her ankles. The outfit clung closely enough to avoid hindering movement while remaining durable enough to be worn beneath armor during actual combat. Matching cloth boots completed the attire, and her long dark hair had been neatly gathered into a bun, exposing her neck and giving her an unexpectedly sharp appearance compared to her usual innocent demeanor.
Seeing her attire, Relict immediately understood.
It was the standard undergarment worn by the Lyn Family's guards before equipping their armor.
"Good."
He lightly nodded.
"It seems you're ready."
Relict slowly rose from his chair.
Without needing any instruction, Seila immediately picked it up and followed behind him.
Meanwhile, Winston had already noticed her return from afar. After giving a few final instructions to the instructors overseeing the recruits, he quietly walked toward the eastern side of the martial hall.
The three naturally converged upon the largest open section of the training grounds, sufficiently distant from the ongoing examinations so neither side would interfere with the other.
Upon arriving, Seila carefully placed the wooden chair at the edge of the sparring area where Relict could observe the match clearly from beginning to end. Only after ensuring its position did Relict quietly take his seat.
A moment later, Winston also arrived before him.
The old servant respectfully bowed.
"Young Master."
Relict looked at both Winston and Seila before asking calmly,
"Shall we start?"
"Yes, Young Master."
The two answered almost simultaneously before bowing once more.
Without further delay, they headed toward one of the weapon racks situated along the side of the martial hall.
Seila carefully looked through the neatly arranged training weapons before selecting two slender wooden swords resembling katanas. She lightly swung them a few times to familiarize herself with their weight before giving a satisfied nod.
Meanwhile, Winston chose far simpler equipment.
He merely picked up a pair of leather gauntlets and slowly fastened them around both of his hands.
Against Seila, there was no need for him to wield an actual weapon.
Once they had finished preparing themselves, the two returned to the open training ground.
Winston stood quietly on the northern side.
Seila stopped opposite him to the south.
The distance separating them measured roughly five meters.
Although the instructors continued overseeing the examinations of the new recruits, many of them had already begun stealing occasional glances toward the sparring area. Even several recruits unconsciously slowed their movements, curious to witness a spar between the captain of the guards and the young master's personal maid.
Winston calmly looked toward Seila before giving a small nod.
"Ready as you are, Seila."
Hearing his words, Seila slowly drew a deep breath.
The docile expression she usually wore completely disappeared.
Instead, her eyes became calm and focused.
She gradually assumed her stance.
Her right wooden sword was raised horizontally near her left shoulder, while the other rested in a similar position near the right side of her waist. The tips of both blades pointed behind her, causing her crossed arms to naturally shield both her chest and abdomen. She then lowered her upper body slightly as her right foot stepped forward, gathering strength within her legs like a drawn bow waiting to release its arrow.
After taking one final breath, she looked directly at Winston.
"Senior Winston..."
"Here I come!"
The moment the final word left her mouth, Seila burst forward.
Her figure shot across the training ground with surprising speed, closing the five-meter distance in less than a second. Before Winston could even be reached, both wooden swords had already begun their trajectories. The blade in her right hand descended toward his head, while the left simultaneously swept toward his abdomen from the opposite direction.
The attacks carried no hesitation.
Although the weapons were only made of wood, the force behind each strike remained powerful enough to seriously injure an opponent of similar strength if they failed to defend themselves properly.
Seila understood that better than anyone.
Yet she still chose to attack with everything she had.
Not because she intended to win.
But because she knew the person standing before her would never underestimate an opponent. If she deliberately held back, then Senior Winston would likewise have no opportunity to demonstrate the extent of his abilities before the young master.
Long before the swords completed their arcs, Winston had already read every movement.
From the instant Seila lowered her posture, he had predicted the direction of her dash.
The position of her feet.
The timing of her acceleration.
Even the paths both swords would take.
The difference between them was simply too great.
Whether it was experience, cultivation, judgment, or practical combat knowledge, Winston stood several levels above Seila. Years spent protecting the Lyn Family had tempered every instinct within his body, allowing him to remain composed even before attacks far more dangerous than these.
Even so, Winston never developed the habit of underestimating his opponents.
No matter how wide the gap between them might be, every battle deserved the same level of seriousness.
As he watched Seila close the remaining distance, a thought quietly surfaced within his mind.
'Young Master likely doesn't wish to observe only my combat abilities.'
His eyes calmly followed the approaching swords.
'He also wants to see Seila's.'
That possibility had already occurred to him the moment Relict designated Seila as his sparring partner.
...