I started waking up earlier.
Dantalian wasn't on top of me today. After raking in my usual morning exercise, I looked out the windows.
The night was still dark, and the hue that the distant tower let out into the skies colored it. As I leaned on the sill, I closed my eyes.
The images of that day in the tower filled my mind.
Like flashes of lightning, I remembered the sight of blood in my hands.
The slow, soft asphyxiated gasps.
The way her struggling legs tapped on my stomach but failed to do anything.
"I-I should have known… Eugene Ha—"
I opened my eyes and shook my head.
Sweat had filled my forehead from the workout. Wiping it off, I moved to the cat sleeping soundly on the bed, next to the fairy and the chains, also knocked out.
Mornings were always filled with useless thoughts, but I guess only two hours of sleep would do that to a person.
I crouched down and scratched Dantalian's neck.
"Mnmmnm…"
"Get up."
"Meow…"
"Wake up, stupid demon."
Dantalian's eyes fluttered open as she rubbed them with her paws. She gazed at me, shook her head, and slammed herself down again.
"Just five more minutes…"
"Haa…"
I swooped up the sleeping Dantalian in my arms and placed her on top of my head.
I stopped in front of the mirror. It was pointless since I couldn't see myself, but checking my clothes was imperative. After adjusting my clothes and pulling off some buttons, I splashed some water on my face and my clothes.
Before the cat could realize anything, I lowered my stance and set off.
"AAAA! Slow downwnwnwmeowwww!!!"
Without breaking a sweat, early in the morning, I was once again at the outer island I had met the teacher at yesterday.
Now fully awake with all her fur standing on end, Dantalian hopped off my head and pouted in the sides.
I ignored the cat and snapped my fingers, pulling out a wooden sword. I was glad Catene wasn't here or it would have been strangling my hand for using a different sword already. It was a pain in the ass sometimes.
"What are you…?"
"I am going to act as if I am practicing," that was what the fake sweat was for. That said, I could use some practice swings, should I go for a million? I took a stance and started swinging my sword.
That professor of swordsmanship was probably going to be coming around soon.
She might have already made herself known to Luka as a regressor, and if she hadn't I would rather have her. It was all so I could use her to stab the others, after all.
"I don't get something," Dantalian muttered.
"What?"
"Why learn that language when you are going to have Agares interpret it for you? Do you realize you won't be able to beat him down?"
"One. No, I would be able to beat him down. And two, did you not hear that brat at all?"
"Hm?"
"It's ancient magic from the east. And that doofus is going to bring me everything else I want. I am going to steal it."
"Oh… So it's not about the language at all?"
"It is. It's a back up."
"Meowww…"
I closed my eyes and swung. Since Dantalian had started acting like a cat again—
"Ah…"
A soft gasp resounded from my side. I jerked my head and looked at the person with a smile.
"Eugene Hall…" the professor of swordsmanship in the academy, and a regressor from the original timeline, my next target toward my path to strength. That person was in front of me again. "What are you doing?"
"It is great to see you again, professor!" I said cheerily, running a hand through my hair that was wet with water. "That, I was just practicing the sword a bit."
The professor eyed me up and down.
"And what about you, professor? Do you always work out this early in the morning?"
She halted at my question, and then spoke up. "I do. It's important for a professor. And you… do your—"
Tsk.
"Meowww."
Before the professor could brush the matter over and walk away, Dantalian suddenly came in and started purring on her legs. She rubbed her cheeks against the professor's feet.
Nice save.
"Don't do that! I am sorry, professor—"
"No, it's alright." The professor's voice was monotonous as before as she crouched down and patted Dantalian's head. "Is this your cat?"
"Yes! She's a cutie, isn't she?"
"Cutie…" the stoic professor seemed to have found that word choice odd. "What's her name?"
"Cat."
The professor and the cat both looked up at me.
"Sorry? I meant her name."
"Meowww!"
"I call her cat."
Who's going to cook up a name now?
The professor looked at the cat. Nervous, Dantalian started frantically nodded and purring, as if saying that was in fact her name.
"Heh."
It was soft, very soft.
But I heard it.
The professor's laugh was loud and clear.
"Are you interested in swordsmanship?" She asked, scratching Dantalian's neck.
"I respect it."
"Why didn't you join the electives?"
"I had to stick to my strengths first. I just know the basics of the sword, after all."
That wasn't the case at all, but lies weren't tough to spill.
"Hm…" she looked up at me. "You're a magician, but you still put in the effort to come here and practice before the sun even shows signs of coming up."
"It's nothing much…" I smiled gently. "After all you're here too, professor. I should instead work harder."
"Don't compare yourself to me."
Woah, zero hesitation.
"Swing," she said.
I put on a serious mask and swung the sword clumsily.
After receiving no response, I swung again.
"Stop," she said. "Not bad, you also listen well."
Wow praise sure was annoying. It took to much effort to turn it down, and too much effort to accept it, so I just smiled.
"Hand it over."
I handed her the sword.
"I'll teach you a bit."
First step, success.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l