The Acolyte of Spirits and Curses

The training grounds of Grayhaven Academy were already active by mid-morning.

In one of the private training grounds, Klein was sitting on one of the stone benches at the edge of the Spirit Division’s designated training area with one arm resting loosely over the backrest as he watched the field in front of him.

Liora was at the center of it.

Her short black hair was slightly damp with sweat, sticking faintly to her forehead as she moved through her spear forms with focus.

The wooden training spear in her hands cut clean arcs through the air.

Her footwork had improved since the last time he watched her. The hesitation that used to appear at the end of her combinations was nearly gone.

She reset her stance, exhaled, and launched into another sequence.

Klein simply watched the line of her shoulders, the timing of her hips, the way she controlled the weight of the spear through each transition.

After finishing the set, Liora planted the butt of the spear against the ground and took a short breath.

Klein spoke "Your lower stance is more stable than before. You’re not overextending on the diagonal sweep anymore."

Liora let out a deep breath, though there was a faint trace of satisfaction in her expression.

"I still feel slow on the recovery after the third thrust."

"That’s because you’re putting too much power into it. Pull back ten percent and the transition will clean itself up."

She nodded, filing the advice away immediately.

Then she rested the spear against her shoulder and looked at him more carefully "...You look like you didn’t sleep much."

Klein gave a faint hum "Something like that."

Liora stepped back a few paces and spun the spear once in her hand.

"Then watch a little longer. I’m going to run the full sequence again."

Klein leaned back slightly on the bench, and his eyes returned to her as she reset her stance and began once more

After finishing the sequence, Liora turned toward him, still slightly out of breath.

"When will you teach me those cool techniques you used in the duel?"

Klein’s gaze condensed slightly "I don’t think you are prepared to learn such advanced techniques like that yet."

Liora pouted her lips in annoyance.

She spun the spear once in her hand, resting it against her shoulder as she walked closer to the bench.

"I’ve been training every day. My stance is better. My recovery is cleaner. You even said so yourself just now. So when exactly will I be ready?"

Klein let out a soft sigh "Those techniques require a level of body control, intent, and combat awareness you haven’t reached yet."

"If I teach them to you now, you’ll copy the movements and still break yourself the first time you try to use them in a real fight."

Liora frowned slightly "So I’m just supposed to keep swinging the basics forever?"

"No. You’re supposed to master the basics until they stop being basics." Klein tapped his fingers lightly against the side of the bench.

"When your body can execute what you already know without thought, the advanced techniques will stop being dangerous and start being useful."

Liora stared at him for a few seconds, "...You’re annoyingly reasonable sometimes."

Klein’s lips curved into a faint, dry smile "You’ll live."

Liora shot him a look, then turned back toward the training field, spinning the spear into position again.

"Fine. Then I’ll just have to get ready faster."

Looking at her, Klein smiled in his heart ’Well... she has improved pretty well even though it has just been only a few days.’

At that moment, Evelyne stepped into the private training ground.

Her long crimson-red hair caught the morning light as she walked straight toward him.

Liora noticed her immediately and slowed her movements ’Ah, his fiancee is here.’

Evelyne stopped directly in front of Klein.

Without hesitation, she lowered herself gracefully onto one knee, took his hand in both of hers, and pressed a soft kiss against the back of it.

Then she looked up at him with a faint smile "My dear fiancé, are you free tomorrow? We should go on a date."

Looking down ather, he let out a soft chuckle "You should stop doing this kneeling and kissing my hand thingy..."

Evelyne’s smile didn’t fade. She rose smoothly to her feet, then sat down beside him on the bench without asking, close enough that her shoulder nearly brushed his.

"It’s my family tradition. Usually the men do it with the women they pursue, as a gesture of respect. I simply reversed it."

She turned her head slightly toward him, looking at him with expectant eyes "So? Are you free tomorrow?"

A faint smile touched his lips. He reached over and tenderly took her hand.

Before she could react, he pressed a light kiss against the back of her hand.

Evelyne’s eyes widened slightly and a deep blush bloomed across her face.

She didn’t pull her hand away, but the tips of her ears colored faintly under the morning light.

"It is my pleasure,"

For a brief second, Evelyne seemed genuinely caught off guard.

Then she recovered "...Good. I’ll make the arrangements. Tomorrow, then."

A short distance away, Liora stared at the scene with a dry smile "...Unbelievable,"

Evelyne stood up, smoothing her skirt as the flush lingered on her cheeks "...Since you are busy training, I will leave now."

"I’ll send you the time and place later. Don’t forget."

With that, she left the private training ground, leaving them alone.

Silence settled for a brief moment.

Then Liora whistled under her breath "Wow. A date with a Duke house girl... you are so lucky."

Klein didn’t even look at her "Focus on your training, idiot."

Liora let out her tongue and turned back toward the open ground, resetting her stance with clear annoyance

The wooden spear spun once in her hands before she launched into another sequence.

At that moment, a soft chime echoed in Klein’s mobile as a message notification appeared.

He took his mobile to see who it was, and a smile appeared on his lips.

A message from [MILF]

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!