In a quiet morning, light gently slipped into the room, softly awakening Akira, who had been immersed in a deep sleep. With the first moments of consciousness, Emilia's gentle voice reached her:
"Milady, come on, it's time to wake up."
Akira slowly opened her eyes, then gave a light yawn as she murmured in a drowsy tone:
"Good morning, Emilia..."
Emilia smiled gently and replied:
"Good morning, milady. Did you sleep well?"
Akira rubbed her eyes slightly and said calmly:
"Yes... I slept well, thank you for asking."
Emilia responded with a warm smile:
"You're welcome, milady. Now, come on—your instructor is waiting."
The moment Akira heard those words, she quickly rose from her bed, her expression filled with excitement, and said in a voice full of energy:
"Great, then I'll be ready immediately!"
Emilia let out a light, spontaneous laugh and said:
"You seem very excited, milady."
Akira replied with clear confidence:
"Of course, Emilia, I truly am."
The maid smiled and stepped closer to her, saying:
"Very well, then let me prepare you quickly since you're in a hurry."
Akira entered the bathroom, washed her face, and took care of her hygiene. She then returned to sit as Emilia began preparing her with care. She wore comfortable training clothes, and her long silver hair was tied into an elegant ponytail, giving her a look that blended seriousness with beauty.
After finishing, Akira made her way to the training yard.
When she arrived, Ryohei Arata was waiting for her, standing in complete silence. The moment he noticed her, he bowed respectfully and said:
"Good morning, my lady."
Akira smiled and gently replied:
"Good morning. I've told you before, there's no need to bow—treat me like any ordinary person."
Ryohei looked slightly surprised for a moment, then smiled and answered:
"As you wish."
Then the training began.
At first, Ryohei explained the basics of proper standing posture and how to distribute weight across the feet to maintain balance during combat. Akira observed every movement carefully and tried to imitate them with remarkable speed.
"Keep your back straight... don't over-tension your body... feel your center of gravity."
Akira followed the instructions precisely, and with each step she improved noticeably. Ryohei began to take note of her progress, then gradually moved on to more complex exercises: footwork, rapid directional changes, and smooth forward and backward movement.
"The common mistake here is relying only on strength... but the sword depends on balance above all else."
Akira took a deep breath and began repeating the movements again and again. With each attempt, she became less hesitant and more fluid, as though her body was naturally adapting to the rhythm of combat.
Then they moved on to light practical training.
Ryohei raised his sword and said:
"I will attack you gently. Focus only on defense and evasion. Do not attempt to attack at first."
Akira nodded confidently and gripped her sword.
Ryohei launched a swift attack, and Akira turned at the right moment, dodging the strike before immediately repositioning herself. He repeated his attacks in varied patterns: from above, from the sides, at different speeds.
Akira watched, anticipated, and moved in increasing harmony with each strike. Over time, her reactions grew faster and her predictions more precise, until Ryohei began slowing his movements slightly, observing her progress with clear astonishment.
"Excellent... you have the ability to learn through observation."
After the training ended, Ryohei lowered his sword and looked at her with genuine admiration:
"Lady Valeria... you learn very quickly."
Akira smiled and said calmly:
"Thank you, Ryohei, but I still have a long way to go."
He replied, shaking his head:
"Yes, you still do... but if you maintain this level, you may surpass me one day."
She raised an eyebrow slightly with a faint smile:
"Really? Or is that just a compliment?"
Ryohei laughed and said:
"No, it isn't a compliment."
A confident smile appeared on her face as she said:
"Then I will continue training diligently, and one day I will defeat you. I hope you won't go easy on me during training."
Ryohei smiled with admiration and said in a calm tone:
"I won't go easy on you, princess. And I will be waiting for the day you defeat me."
Akira nodded confidently:
"Very well... I will live up to your expectations."
Then she bid him farewell and left the yard.
She returned inside the castle and headed straight to her room. There, she took a refreshing bath to wash away the fatigue of training. Afterward, Emilia helped dry her long silver hair, and she changed into an elegant yet comfortable dress.
Later, she went out to the garden and sat at a quiet table, where tea and some sweets were served.
She lifted her cup gently, took a small sip, and then began thinking in silence:
"I hope everything goes well... I must change Valeria's fate... which is now my fate."
She paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on the horizon:
"I don't want to end up in an execution arena... I have suffered enough in my previous life... and that doesn't mean I should suffer here as well. I will do my best to change this fate."
She took a small bite of the dessert, then continued sipping her tea while countless heavy questions swirled in her mind without answers.
And in the depths of this apparent calm... the threads of a new destiny began to form in silence, without Akira realizing that what awaits her may be greater than she imagines… and more dangerous than she expects.
Message to my dear readers:
First of all, I would like to sincerely apologize for the long break in releasing new chapters. I truly appreciate your patience and continuous support during this period—it means a lot to me.
During this time, I was dealing with several commitments and responsibilities, including my studies, exams, and academic workload. In addition to that, I had some personal matters and periods of fatigue that affected my ability to write and continue the story regularly.
Thank you for standing by me despite the delay. Your support is the main reason I keep going and continue working on this story with passion and dedication.
This sixth chapter marks my return, and I will do my best to maintain a more consistent schedule moving forward, while also improving the quality of the story.
I would also love to hear your thoughts and feedback after reading this chapter. Your comments truly help me grow and motivate me to keep writing.
Thank you again for your patience and support
With sincere appreciation and respect.
[From your writer]