At the border check post of LA grounds, a pair of students could be seen engaged in a fast-paced duel. They were both exceptionally skilled for their ages and ranks. But the one who was observing and guiding them didn’t seem too impressed.
“Ken, this is the last time I’m warning you. Don’t pull your punches when you see an opening. Eren is more skilled than you when it comes to countering the attacks. He’ll be able to take your hits.
And Eren, I think you’ve gotten very skilled in using the arts I taught you in such a short span. But you seem heavily dependent on your response speed and leave some openings.
Adopt a stance such that you don’t have to wait for a counter. Even if you are baiting your opponent into it, using the same trick twice won’t work on the same opponent.
I’ll include some stances and positions for you to practice your body’s balance with. You’ll have to incorporate them into your daily routine. You too Ken. Your daily routine will change along with Eren. I want to see the improvements I just mentioned in your next duel.
Now take a rest for a few minutes. You guys are on border patrol duty today.”
Said Marla and left her two apprentices to their devices. She had finished her work. Now it was time for her to savour the ale that she had brought from the city of Silvermoon. It had been a few days since Eren’s team was back on the academy’s grounds.
The Frostfoam was the reason the boys were left with a lighter workout. Otherwise, it would have been much worse than their current exhausted condition. Eren and Ken flashed mirthless grins at each other after they were allowed to stop their duels.
The duo was just about the commence their border patrol when they heard a voice from behind them:
“Ken! Ken Riverine. Please wait up.”
Eren and Ken both turned simultaneously and saw a vivacious girl heading their way. She had red eyes and black hair. Her face was sleek and her figure was slender and tall. Yet she had curves where they mattered the most.
The girl’s skin was clear and had a rosy tinge. And her clothes were all kinds of expensive.
Ken seemed to have recognised the girl and he gave her a welcoming smile. Eren on the other hand tried his hardest to control his killing intent. This was because she was none other than Sienna Slughorn.
“You meanie. I told you I need to learn martial arts from you. You even promised me that you’d provide me with some guidance. But then you just had to go ahead and go out on a mission. I could have used your help to improve my ranking, you know.”
Sienna complained as soon as she caught up with Ken. The latter couldn’t help but chuckle before replying:
“Hahaha! I couldn’t help it. Master Marla had a mission for us. We had to go do a few things in the city of Silvermoon. But I’m back now. I can probably give you a few pointers tomorrow. At this time and place.”
Sienna flashed her million Eddies smile after hearing her sugar daddy’s reply. She was about to enjoy her small victory and nudge the white knight into interacting more with her. But a spoiler came from behind, barging into the duo’s conversation with a carefree attitude. He patted Ken’s shoulder before replying loudly:
“Look at this guy. Can’t hide his joy after all. Telling everyone he had done “a few things” at the city of Silvermoon. Hehe! I wouldn’t belittle them like this, my man.”
Eren looked at Sienna and grinned at her. She could see the guy seemed happy about his friend’s achievements, whatever they might be. But there was something about his smile that irked her. She couldn’t help but ask the intruder what he was talking about:
“Hello. Name’s Sienna Slughorn. You seem to be Eren Idril, the guy Ken often talks about. A pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Oh, hello Miss Sienna. Who doesn’t know the scion from the Slughorn household coming to LA? Hehe! Pleasure’s all mine.”
“Um… Eren, can you tell me what you meant when you said Ken was belittling his achievements? I know he often does that. That’s why I never get straight answers from him. So I’d like it if you could shed some light on that if you don’t mind.”
Sienna said while pinching Ken’s arm. She tried to act all cosy. But one could say that Ken seemed a little uncomfortable interacting with her now.
That was starting to irk Sienna even more. She felt that there was something wrong with her approach to catch Ken in her net. It wasn’t working as effectively as it used to be.
“Oh, so you don’t know? I had heard that you guys were good friends. So I assumed that you would be kept in the loop. But it seems that my man Ken is too shy to say the kind of stunt he had pulled in the city. Hehe! Who can blame him anyway.”
Eren slipped a subtle meaning that Sienna wasn’t trusted by Ken anymore to share his secrets with. And the meaning landed right on its intended spot. Sienna furrowed her brows. Then she smiled awkwardly before retorting:
“Hehe! What can I say? Ken is just a tight-lipped fellow you see.”
“Oh, he wasn’t so tight-lipped when he was in the city Silvermoon. His lips were all over the place on someone. At least I assume they were. My man here has now started living his life to the fullest, I’d say!”
Eren said that and gave a meaningful pat on Ken’s back before chuckling slyly. The latter just scratched his head before smiling awkwardly in response. Sienna had a grim foreboding after looking at the boys’ interaction. It was the kind of interaction she had seen guys do when they had some “good times” with their dates.
“What do you mean, Eren? State things.”
One could hear a tinge of irritation in Sienna’s voice no matter how skillfully she tried to make it. But Eren didn’t mind. He was enjoying the reaction. The girl’s face was changing colours as she subconsciously understood what must have happened with Ken.
The butcher decided to hammer the final nail in the coffin with his joyous statement:
“You’d be surprised after hearing Sienna. Ken’s luck is too awesome, to say the least. My man now has a beautiful elf fiance. Hehe!”
Said Eren and planted a punch at Ken’s stomach lightly. Then he saw Sienna’s reaction with the corner of his eyes.
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AN: Sienna’s visual profile image would soon be uploaded on VEH Discord.
