Chapter 34: The Rumor
The wooden sword whistled through the air in a clean arc.
Noah exhaled slowly, adjusting his grip on the handle. He wasn’t using any flashy Special Techniques—just pure, refined swordplay. Simple movements, drilled endlessly in silence. His shirt clung to him with sweat, and his breath fogged faintly in the spring air.
"Again," he muttered to himself, swinging low, then turning to pivot into a diagonal slash.
From behind, someone let out a low grunt of approval.
A tall, broad-shouldered man adjusted his stance with a thoughtful grunt. His skin was dark and smooth, his black beard neatly trimmed. He wore a sleeveless teaching vest that revealed a build forged through decades of hard training. Professor Darius, physical enhancement specialist and head of combat training.
"You’ve got decent form, Noah," Darius said, arms crossed. "Not just swinging wildly like most brats your age."
Noah glanced over his shoulder, smirking slightly. "Coming from you, I’ll take that as a big compliment."
Darius held up two wooden practice swords. "You’ve got a few minutes for a proper sparring session? Just you and me."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "Trying to humble me, professor?"
"Trying to see what you’re really made of."
Noah stepped forward, accepting one of the swords. He gave it a quick test swing, then settled into his stance.