After the day of celebration, there was no room for laziness. Despite sore bodies and the lingering pleasure of the night before, all the knights rose as usual at dawn and began preparing for training.
But something had changed: this time, they didn't head to the communal showers. Each of them now had their own individual shower—a recent privilege that reflected their growing status. William allowed himself a moment of peace under the warm water before getting dressed and rejoining the others.
Though many longed to continue spending time with women, they knew they couldn't slack off if they wanted to keep their privileges. They had all agreed: no women in the dorms except on rest days. It hadn't been an easy decision, but it was necessary.
The group reached the training grounds. Just as they were about to begin, Anthon and Jayce appeared. Their presence always brought a sense of tension. Jayce, as usual, spoke first—serious, yet respectful:
—Keep training. William, you're coming with us.
No further explanation was given. They simply turned and began walking. William followed silently, alert and curious. The walk lasted nearly an hour, through quiet paths and dense woods, until they arrived at a secluded clearing, surrounded by ancient trees. Sunlight barely touched the forest floor.
Jayce was the first to speak.
—I'm honestly surprised by your results. Aurus asked us to watch over you… but even knowing you might end up a slave, he didn't interfere in your evaluation. Makes me wonder if he placed too much faith in you…
He paused, staring at William as if trying to read him from the inside out.
—You don't know it yet, but your destiny has shifted drastically. The others might reach my level with enough effort. Some may even surpass me. But you… your case is different—almost enviable. That's something you'll have to discover for yourself.
Jayce looked away for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully.
—Now, let's get to the real reason I brought you here.
He straightened his back and took a deep breath.
—I'm injured. There's a potion in the academy that could heal me—an Intermediate Healing Potion. But it's far too expensive for me to afford… However, I have something of equal value. Watch.
He took a stance, steady and focused. Without warning, he launched into a flurry of strikes—the Eight Strikes of the Plum Blossom. But he didn't stop there.
One after another, he continued the sequence, flowing like water through a deadly dance. Twenty-four consecutive strikes, each more precise and devastating than the last. The final strike didn't touch the ground, yet the air itself split—leaving a long crack several meters wide in the earth before him. The power was simply terrifying.
William stood frozen, unable to look away. The technique was beautiful, almost like a choreographed dance, but it radiated lethal intent. A deadly ballet in the body of a master.
Jayce was panting, soaked in sweat, visibly exhausted—on the verge of collapse.
—Angel, analyze the twenty-four strikes —William said, still stunned.
—Analyzing… Complete.
Angel's mechanical voice replied in its usual neutral tone, but the content was chilling:
—The full sequence cannot be properly executed unless the user has Strength 100, Agility 100, and Vitality 100. Based on the progression of the strikes, the final four lacked part of their essence. If someone with the required stats performed the sequence, the power of each strike would increase tenfold.
William swallowed hard. What he had just witnessed wasn't even the true potential of the technique.
Jayce, still catching his breath, pulled a small leather-bound book from his belt. Inside were hand-drawn illustrations and detailed explanations of the technique.
—This contains the complete Twenty-Four Strikes of the Plum Blossom. I can't give it to you permanently —he said seriously—. If the academy finds out, they'll interrogate you. This technique is restricted to the knight squad. But I'll lend it to you for three months.
William took the book carefully. It felt heavier than expected, as if the power inside gave it weight.
—And in exchange…? —he asked, though he already knew the answer.
—Just one promise: get me that potion. I guarantee you won't lose out. The technique sells for almost the same price as the potion inside the academy—but only officers have access to it.
William thought for a moment, then nodded firmly.
—It's a deal. I promise I'll get that potion. But tell me… where can I find you later?
Jayce gave him a half-smile, touched with irony.
—I'm not planning on leaving this place. I still have about four hundred years of life left.
William stared at him, stunned.
—Four hundred…?
—Once you reach my level, your lifespan extends to five hundred years. You'll understand soon enough.
William lowered his gaze, then looked up with determination.
—I'll do everything I can. But… why are you so willing to trust me?
Jayce held his gaze for a long moment before answering.
—Because you're my only option —he said with brutal honesty—. I don't trust the nobles. They don't understand gratitude. They haven't lived in the real world, so they believe they're entitled to everything.
Silence returned between them, broken only by the quiet whisper of the wind.
William clutched the book tightly against his chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt that every decision he made was pushing him toward something greater. Perhaps even toward his true destiny.