"So that's what you meant before about excellent teachers being able to share Path experience?"
Faust had a sudden realization.
Oh man, you can combine things like that? That's ridiculous.
Now teachers really could pour knowledge directly into your brain.
[Throughout history, there have been far too few mortals who could simultaneously possess all three of these top-tier characteristics.
The last time it happened, let me think... was over a thousand years ago. Even this elf herself doesn't know the underlying principles. She's just stumbled upon the most effective method through trial and error.]
Faust: "But you know, don't you?"
[There are very few things I don't know.]
Mephisto's tone seemed to carry an adorable hint of "come on, praise me," but the prince of Aurum ignored it.
An ancient being acting cute, really?
Sure enough, Faust's initial thought was correct.
The true advantage of contracting with a Fae was the latter's encyclopedic knowledge spanning all of history. By comparison, blessings weren't quite as critical.
At least ordinary blessings would never reach this level.
Only a primordial Fae who could perceive all things could manipulate circumstances to elevate what should have been a modest blessing to its current heights.
This is incredible. Since it's such a rare opportunity, I can't afford to miss a single day!
With an excited heart, Faust strode quickly toward the palace's rear courtyard in the dawn light, where Mistoria was already waiting.
No matter how early the prince woke up, his teacher was always earlier.
The elven lady wore a sleeveless white shirt with a pleated mini skirt cinched at the waist.
Her tender, fair skin was bathed in the dawn's glow, looking extremely youthful and vibrant, not at all like someone who had lived nearly two hundred years.
Well... though considering an elf's long lifespan, Mistoria really could be called quite young.
The elven teacher was selecting from a weapon case which weapon she'd have her student familiarize themselves with today.
Hearing footsteps, her pointed elf ears adorned with crystal pendants twitched, and she glanced at Faust.
"Hm?"
Drawing a short sword from the weapon case, Mistoria's golden eyes blinked as she asked, "Did something good happen to you?"
"Teacher Mistoria, why do you ask?"
"Because you look very excited. Your smile is a bit unsettling."
Only then did Faust realize he couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth and quickly pressed them down.
"My first smile of the day. Looks like my self-control still isn't quite enough."
After managing his expression, Faust didn't put on any armor. He picked up his runic longsword and stood before Mistoria, assuming his stance.
"I truly can't wait to receive your instruction!"
Mistoria nodded, her golden eyes brightening. "That's very eager to learn."
In the elven lady's entire career, she had never seen a student with willpower as resilient as Faust's.
You had to understand that even warriors and martial artists with exceptional talent couldn't withstand her prolonged instruction.
Usually, after being defeated a few times, they would immediately say they'd learned enough and wouldn't dare spar with the senior again.
Not everyone could accept the elven Sword Saint's masochistic, rough teaching style.
That's why Mistoria had never claimed to have any real students, she could only say she'd instructed others in a few moves, mutual learning at best.
But Faust... could already be called the person she'd taught for the longest time. Calling him her first student wouldn't be an overstatement.
"Teacher Mistoria, please instruct me."
After the routine greeting, the prince of Aurum heavily stomped on the grass, then slashed out a strike that brought a shrill sound cutting through the air.
"CLANG"
Without any surprise, Faust's slash was steadily caught by Mistoria. Then, the elven Sword Saint put one hand behind her back and began suppressing Faust with just one hand.
The elven Sword Saint's every move remained sharp, but this time Faust wouldn't deliberately block. If an attack wasn't too severe, he'd just take it directly.
It wouldn't affect his ability to continue fighting anyway, so he might as well focus entirely on offense.
"CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG"
Although it was two hands against one with a weapon advantage, Faust was actually managing to trade blows with Mistoria. Each time their weapons clashed, rainbow-colored sparks would burst forth.
The prince of Aurum fought more and more smoothly.
He had already noticed changes in himself before, and after Mephisto explained the reason, he completely threw away the last trace of resistance in his heart and embraced the changes the elven Sword Saint was bringing to him.
It didn't feel like sparring but more like dancing together. Each of Mistoria's strikes allowed him to better integrate into her dance rhythm, wholeheartedly imitating his teacher.
"BANG"
Another blade collision, and the two locked weapons in a contest of strength.
Mistoria's golden eyes, which seemed eternally calm and detached in battle, finally showed a ripple as she said softly to Faust, "Your strength is constantly improving. In fact, it's improving a bit too fast. With your aptitude, this shouldn't be possible."
Mistoria wasn't aware of the synergistic effects produced by her own characteristics.
Faust's fighting style and techniques were becoming more and more like hers, and she thought it was because he was working hard to imitate her.
Could he actually be a genius? Did I misjudge him?
Faust pressed down hard on the blade, grinning through gritted teeth. "Thank you for the praise, but people's constitutions can't be generalized. Maybe I'm just particularly good at learning your style!"
Hmm... it seems the Fae's contractor truly cannot be measured by conventional standards.
The flaxen-haired elven lady thought this, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted slightly.
As a pure martial artist, watching a student make such progress with her own eyes, being able to exchange techniques with her, was truly gratifying.
Mistoria even wanted to slow the pace and spar more with the prince of Aurum.
But soon she realized something was wrong.
Why... when he could clearly dodge, did he deliberately take the attacks, and seem so... willing to do so?
Also, when Faust had been brutalized before, although he was tough enough and gritted his teeth through it, she could clearly sense his tension and pain, he just never voiced it.
But now... there was no discomfort at all. He was simply enjoying getting beaten up.
Mistoria tilted her head and thought. She had seen this type of person in her clan, people who felt pleasure when treated cruelly.
There were even quite a few who had infiltrated her ascetic sect, pretending to practice austerity while actually enjoying it, which so angered the sect's grandmaster that he expelled these regulars of depraved gatherings.
Thinking of this, the elven Sword Saint jumped back, disengaging from combat.
The elven Sword Saint's sudden retreat made Faust, who was in a state of flow, deeply uncomfortable.
"Hm? Teacher Mistoria, why did you stop? Keep going."
"If you're feeling good because of this, then we'll end here. I can't let you enjoy it too much."
Mistoria put away her short sword, her face showing slight apology.
"If it's because of my training that you've revealed this side of yourself, then I'm truly sorry."