Chapter 111: [111] Training Regimen

Estelle was lying on her back, underneath a large tree. The sun filtered through the leaves, little rays of light slipping into her vision.

She could hear the calm rustle of leaves and feel the cool morning breeze play with her skin, blowing her dark hair to the side of her face.

’Where am I?’

She slowly opened her eyes. At first the world blurred in her vision, but when she cleared her eyes the world unfolded itself before her.

Eliron and Yennefer were hovering over her, watching the woman with a concerned look in their eyes.

“Do you think she has a concussion?” Eliron asked, stroking his chin.

“Nah… she’s fine.”

Estelle sighed and sat up, causing them to move from above her.

“What are you two doing?”

Yen frowned. “Making sure you don’t die of course.”

’Oh, I lost didn’t I?’ Estelle could still remember the spell that had taken her out, a force so great that it was like she was in a fight with nature itself.

She sighed tiredly when she saw the smug smile on Eliron’s face.

“I hope you still remember our agreement?” He sang like a blue bird, his voice grating in Estelle’s ears.

She averted her gaze then quickly stood up while dusting her clothing.

“I’m afraid I don’t follow…”

“Were you so badly injured that you are now suffering memory loss?” Eliron asked, a look of fake concern on his face.

“Don’t worry! I for one have perfect remembrance of our deal.” He cleared his throat exuberantly.

“Estelle, it is a pleasure to have you as my student.”

Yen stifled a laugh, immediately stopping when Estelle glared daggers in her direction.

“Haaa—-!” She sighed, massaging her temples.

“What have I gotten myself into?”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you will find our training quite pleasant…”

’I know the magic system of this world like the back of my hand…’ Eliron thought.

From martial arts, to magic and runecraft, when it came to the underlying theory behind them, Eliron was a guru.

His days reading the novel had not been for naught!

“A bet is a bet…” Estelle mumbled, her head lulling to the side. “I’ll be in your care Eliron—-”

“UHUMMM—!!” Eliron coughed.

“What?”

He stared at her for a few long seconds, then Estelle finally understood what he meant.

“Come on. At least allow me leave with one shred of my digni—-”

“UHHH—HUMMM!”

Estelle’s shoulders slumber, the tips of her ears blushing from embarrassment.

“I’ll be in your care… m… Master! Argh, let the nine hells take me now!”

Eliron had a bright smile on his face as they returned to where the rest of the elves were.

They had been talking leisurely, but at the very sight of their lord, they stiffened like a rabbit caught at night stealing grain.

“So, Ash. What do you think about the recuits?” Eliron asked as he reached him.

Ash shook his head. “They are terrible, actually that would be false, we are all terrible, me included.”

Elirom smiled, pleased by his honesty. Only when someone accepted his weakness could he hope to improve.

“I’m guessing you will be joining our training regimen then?”

Ash clasped his hands together. “If you will have me my lord!!”

Eliron glanced at Terra, then his eyes moved over to Durin who was seated in the crowd.

He waved him over and Durin jogged up to him. Now both him, Terra and Estelle were standing in front of Eliron.

“From today onwards, the two of you are my squires.” He said pointing at Terra and Durin.”

Among all the elves that he had brought here to train, Terra and Durin had by far the most potential when it came to swordsmanship.

Terra was a generational talent he had discovered not too long after he became lord.

Her ability to see the weakness of all things was something that could not be taught, a skill that put her head above the others.

While Terra was like an unpolished gemstone, highly valuable even as she was, Durin on the other hand was like a dull iron sword.

At face value? He was useless.

A bum with no mana whatsoever, no worthwhile skill with the sword and no innate talent.

Why then did he catch Eliron’s eyes?

It was simple. As dull as iron might be, it could be reforged, it could be bent, it could be moulded, up until perfection was reached.

The only advantage iron had over gold was how much punishment it could take.

He stared at Durin’s dusty body, the scuffs from the beating Eliron had given him were gone, but the marks on his clothing were still there.

Eliron’s eyes moved between the two of them.

Hard work vs unrivalled talent… Eliron was eager to see whoosh one of his disciples would emerge as the strongest.

“As for you…” Eliron turned to stare at the dazzlingly beautiful protege.

“You are my apprentice…”

He wrapped his arms around the three of them, a mischievous smile on his face as they squirmed in his grip.

“You guys are going to work five times as hard as others…” he said darkly.

“Don’t worry…” his blue eyes glinted menacingly. “As long as you don’t die, Yen will be here to fix you up.”

The three of them felt a cold chill run through their spines.

“Alright, cadets, up on your feet!” Eliron screamed as he directed his attention to the elves.

Thrum!

There was a resounding sound of countless feet stamping on the floor as the elves stood straight.

Eliron began walking along with Ash and the group, up until he arrived at the large pile of stones.

He raised his staff and pointed east, far in the distance was the silhouette of a large domineering mountain.

Its peaks were so high that they could not stare at it for long to avoid having their eyes burned by the sun.

“What is that?!”

“HEART SNATCHER MOUNTAIN MY LORD!”

Eliron smiled. “Good, at least your brains are still in order.”

He tapped his stick on the pile of rocks, ropes and fabric that had been piled up around them.

“And what are these?”

“Rocks my lord!”

They were not regular stones. These stones could only be found in a few forests like Artaris.

The special thing about them was that they were several times heavier than any regular rock.

It was so hard that he had Tiny cut them till sizable chunks for the purpose of training.

“Good, good… each one of you, grab a rock and tie it to your backs, we are going to the foot of that mountain and back!”

One of the elves fell backwards, presumably fainting.

— He can’t be serious right?

— Heart Snatcher mountain of all places? We’ll be dead before we get there!

— I think I’m going to be sick.

Without waiting for the elves to begin, Eliron turned around and walked to the large pile of rocks.

A memory briefly flashed in his mind.

The gentle calm of a crystal clear lake, the golden leaves as they descended in autumn.

And a calm voice, low, but bearing the weight and wisdom of countless years.

A leader was not just a measly title passed on by virtue of name alone… a leader was a heavy responsibility placed upon anyone who would dare take on the mantle.

A leader does not command the people. A leader does not seek glory in his position.

A leader leads. He is a guide… he is the light that reveals the path upon which his people would follow.

These were one of the few things his brother had told him about leadership before his unfortunate death.

Eliro grabbed the biggest rock among the pile, but he did not stop there.

The elves watched in awe as he placed another rock on his back.

Then another…

Then another…

— is he mad?

He kept on piling rock upon rock until he had strapped five of them on his body, his arms and legs trembling slightly.

Then Eliron glanced at his group. “I expect you to take two each, you are not like the others. Only Estelle is excluded.

He had gone a little overboard, so it was best she sat out today.

But they were too focused on watching him to even listen.

Ash’s mouth hung open and he tried to speak, only to shake his head.

He walked up to the pile and strapped three rocks on his back.

Eliron’s disciples followed after, strapping two each.

The cadets watched their determination with awe filled gazes. Then the first elf stepped forwards, his teeth gritted.

Another followed, and soon, all fifty cadets had strapped the large rocks on their backs.

Eliron smiled as he stared at the treacherous path ahead, standing in front of the group.

“Alright! Get moving you maggots!” He chuckled, signaling the start of their March.

Yennefer, who was floating right next to him sighed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t you think you’re enjoying this a little too much?”

Eliron scoffed. “Enjoying what? Everything I say is necessary— Move it worms, I’ve seen a pile of shit move faster!”

Yennefer glanced at Tiny and looked back at Eliron. “Sure…”

The training of Artaris’ future knights had begun!

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