Ron wanted to ask more questions, but seeing the other person's gloomy expression, he chose to suppress his doubts for the time being.
He knew very well that in this strange and terrifying dark world, sometimes knowing too much was not a good thing.
After saying goodbye to Andrei and returning to his dormitory, Ron was still unable to calm down. Those bizarre images kept replaying in his mind, refusing to leave and making him feel nauseous.
"Where did Locke get that banned drug?"
He muttered to himself, then opened the system panel to check his status:
Ron Ralph
Age: 15
Current combat class: Knight Squire (One Star)
Current occupation: Potions Apprentice (One Star)
[Attributes: Constitution 1.4, Spirit 1.6, Magic 0.4]
[Skill:
Basic Potions (Proficient), Basic Meditation (Beginner), Slime Splash (Beginner), Potion Making (Beginner), Herb Identification (Beginner), Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner), Breathing Techniques (Beginner)
[Special Talents: Dual Souls, Sun's Blessing Remnant]
[Strength Level: Knight Squire]
"At least I have a cheat code, so I don't need to resort to crooked methods." Ron felt a little comforted as he looked at the steadily improving data.
Moreover, given the current rate of improvement in meditation, there's a good chance of advancing within this month, at which point many problems will be easily solved.
Just then, a muffled thud came from Darrend's room next door, interrupting Ron's thoughts.
"Damn sonic spell! Why did it fail again?" Angry curses came through the wall.
Ron shook his head with a wry smile; his neighbor's persistence was indeed admirable.
Although I fail every day, I have never thought of taking shortcuts. But if this continues, I may not be able to pass the apprentice assessment.
But I don't have time to worry about other people's business...
As night fell, the Black Mist Forest fell into silence.
But in some hidden corners, people are still conducting shady deals.
"Have you heard? Another servant has died at Tower Three."
"Sigh... Marcus's been researching some kind of curse magic lately, and his methods are particularly ruthless."
"Tsk tsk, but at least being his servant guarantees a life. Although every night is unbearable, it's still better than those unlucky souls becoming experimental subjects and monster excrement."
Scattered whispers drifted from the end of the corridor, where several elaborately dressed and flamboyantly made-up female servants had gathered.
They wore a hint of arrogance on their faces; after all, in this dog-eat-dog world, being able to rely on the strong could be considered a form of capital.
Ron stood behind the door, his senses enhanced by the physical training, allowing him to clearly hear the whispers through the door.
Although most of it was just boring chatter, you could occasionally hear some useful information.
"That Locke is incredibly stupid; he actually went to the black market to buy illegal drugs."
"But it's none of our business anymore. Those guys only target trainee applicants whose terms are about to expire. They're all doomed anyway, so we might as well make some extra money."
"Black market merchant." He silently memorized the word; having another channel was always a good thing.
The footsteps faded into the distance, and the corridor fell silent once more.
Where he couldn't see, the servants who had been deliberately talking loudly quickly and respectfully gathered in front of a gray-robed man after leaving the dormitory area.
...
The next morning, as dawn broke, Ron lost his sleepiness. Thinking that he still had time, he quickly got out of bed.
Since he had plenty of time before starting work at the herbal medicine shop in the apprentice market, he simply sat down at the table and opened the "Corona Sword Technique" notes that Andrei had given him.
This is a special sword technique that complements the "Corona Breathing Method," emphasizing using breathing to guide the body's rhythm and making the sword's momentum as intense as the sun.
It should be said that the school was quite generous to these prospective apprentices. Although the single rooms in the dormitory area were not furnished, they were spacious enough that he could practice swordsmanship in them with more than enough room.
"Let's start with the most basic stance." Ron picked up the wooden sword and stood in the center of the room.
[Basic swordsmanship training begins]
Please use the corona breathing technique to guide the movements.
After two sessions of physical training, he had gained a deep understanding of the rhythm of the "Corona Breathing Method".
This rhythm not only guides mental energy but also imbues every physical movement with power.
Taking a deep breath, he began to practice the most basic slashing strikes according to the instructions in his notes.
At first, it was a little awkward, but as the breathing gradually matched, the movements became smoother and smoother.
Each swing of the sword was coordinated with the rhythm of breathing: inhaling to gather momentum, holding one's breath to concentrate, and exhaling to unleash the strike.
The wooden sword traced lines in the air, creating a slight rustling sound.
Basic swordsmanship experience +1
Basic swordsmanship experience +1
Basic swordsmanship experience +1
...
"The progress in the initial stage is indeed very fast."
Ron looked at the data on the panel and a smile appeared on his face.
This sword technique perfectly complements the "Corona Breathing Technique," allowing him to practice with ease, further enhanced by the [Knight Squire] class's speed boost for improving sword skills.
Each time he swung his sword at the correct rhythm, he felt that his understanding of the sword technique had deepened.
The feeling is like the muscles are memorizing a special rhythm, making every movement full of power.
"This gives me a new idea," Ron said with a hint of realization. "'Using breath to guide the sword' feels like it can be applied to actual combat."
He continued practicing basic slashes, and the trajectory of the wooden sword gradually became smooth and fluid.
With proper breathing guidance, even the simplest movements can contain a special rhythm.
Just as he was getting into his training, a series of urgent knocks on the door interrupted him.
"It's me," came Andrei's deep voice.
Ron put away his training wooden sword, casually wiped his sweat with a towel, and went to open the door.
Upon opening the door, he noticed that the thirteenth prince looked extremely anxious.
"There's something I have to tell you," Andrei said, closing the door behind him in a low voice.
"I just found out that Locke took this risk because he received some information."