Chapter 41: The Training Ground
Away from the bustling city of Kirogar that never dies, a group of vampires was gathering. They sat around a table in a bar which was temporarily closed.
The smell of tobacco was strong and slightly suffocating. One of the maids opened the window to clear the smoke. Glasses filled with human blood were lined up on their table but untouched. Slowly the blood turned dark and will go stale in a few hours. But the vampires there deliberately squandered it because they preferred blood that was drunk straight from their victim's skin.
"Can't you guys bring us some prey? Teenage girls maybe?" one of the vampires asked the bartender.
"No sir, we don't want to get in trouble. Our business could be shut down if Florentia finds out we allow hunting here. You can do it at another bar sir, Florentia has strict security there," the bartender shook his head.
"Jeez, I'll never get used to Florentia's way of life. How can they survive drinking a glass of blood every day?" Someone chirps while shaking his head.
"Humans are just weak creatures who live solely as our prey," a vampire nodded.
"But some of them are now fighting with Florentia. Although their role is not very visible,"
"Some say Florentia has skilled archers from among humans, but not many humans were really useful during the past war. Florentia just wasted their money to feed and arm them," another comment slightly sneered.
"But we have to think about why Florentia can beat us at the Taverin."
"That's right, they did a lot of things that harmed us. They must have had great spies. The discovery of Avalon's Lab, the theft of an ownerless cursed sword and the assassination of General Gunther. The latter is quite confusing. We Avalons even don't know where Gunther is then. And the Florentias found him?"
"Maybe it's just a coincidence,"
"What do you think, Petrovsky?"
Caesar Petrovsky, who was contemplating something else, came to his senses and returned to reality. He didn't come to Lapella for fun.
"Florentia doesn't mention who killed Gunther at all, that's a bit odd. Both Florentia and Avalon used to announce the achievements of their respective knights. But this time, they didn't," Caesar commented.
"That's right, they protected the killer,"
"But why?"
"I think the culprit is the user of the cursed weapon they stole yesterday too. The knights of Avalon checked Gunther's remains, and they are not familiar with the weapon used. We have data on each of the powers of the cursed weapon either Florentia or Avalon's. The weapon that killed Gunther was not in the previous data," said Caesar again.
"So they not only stole the weapon, but someone actually inherited and used it?"
"That's right,"
"That means there are now thirty-two users of cursed weapons in the world. Fifteen from Florentia and the rest from Avalon," someone concluded.
"Then, what is the strong reason that we Avalon's elite knights gather in Lapella?"
Caesar glanced at him for a moment before answering.
"There is another report from the commander Amelia Grigory, she faced a Florentia knight named Jasper. She said, that person is very strong. She believes that person has awakened the devil's DNA as did some of our comrades. However, Amelia believes that the person named Jasper has even more terrifying powers. The Dubois family has an heir named Jasper."
"He didn't kill Amelia?"
"It's Florentia's nature, they think it's a noble thing," one vampire laughed mockingly.
"Dubois is notorious for not wanting to interfere with the military. They're a bit of an opportunist and think peace between Avalon, Florentia and humans is possible. I have a feeling they might be covering up their family's doings for security reasons. One of Raphael's men helped steal the weapon from Rutherford Lab. Of all the names, only Valor Dubois has no clear data. He is a beginner but the generals directly supervise him. Therefore I conclude that the Dubois family does indeed have this cursed weapon now," Caesar explained.
"But no one in their family is called Valor," said another vampire.
"Does that mean Jasper is Valor Dubois? And he's the one holding the sword?"
"Florentia has a cursed weapon wielder who also has the strongest demonic DNA?" Someone responded slightly pale.
"Yeah, there must be a reason why they covered it up."
"Then shall we pay a visit to Dubois' mansion?"
Another vampire confirmed. Caesar looked at the faces around him seriously.
"Jasper Dubois will probably become a real threat to Avalon in the future. Our plan is to make sure, is he willing to join Avalon? If he doesn't agree we might have to kill him before he becomes much more troublesome," Caesar concluded.
***
"I've been waiting for weeks for the opportunity to get here, as I thought, my brother wouldn't be able to openly refuse your request, sir Raphael," Valerie happily stepped onto the training ground at the Dubois residence.
She changed into a loose white shirt and comfortable trousers and boots similar to the boots that knights wore. Valerie has a base in swordsmanship because she was obliged to follow hef lessons from a young age. Likewise with Jasper, even though he only stepped onto the field at night. Jasper had never practiced the sword for long, Arthur said because Jasper wasn't strong enough for that.
But Jasper was now on the edge of the field and standing holding his dark umbrella. Raphael asked permission to see the training ground of the Dubois knights with Valerie and he allowed it.
"You haven't been training since you arrived in Lapella?" Raphael whispered to him.
"They never let me," Valerie shook her head in annoyance.
"A knight must train regularly or they will forget all their knowledge and experience," Raphael criticized.
"Hey, I'm not lazy or anything. Jasper and father forbid me. I'm a woman, they rule my life. So I can't do much," Valerie argued.
"How about now? Will your brother allow you?"
"Jasper! I want to train with Sir Raphael, is that okay?" Valerie shouted at her brother who looked pale and wrapped all of his exposed skin in a dark robe. Jasper nodded before sitting down on a bench carved out of stone.
"You brought Apollon?"
"What kind of question is that? We can't leave them for even a second. I'd be nervous so—" Valerie pulled her dagger out of her shirt. Raphael reflexively turned his face away. His mind briefly analyzed where the girl had hidden the sword? Is it under the corset or—
"Apollon, Transform!" A bright light enveloped the weapon and it returned to its original form which was a black slender sword with a lightning pattern adorning the blade.
Raphael took a training sword that was in a wooden barrel. He didn't use his Demetria and drew it at the girl. Then he brought his left hand behind his back.
"Attack me with all your might, Valor," said Raphael.
"You only use one hand and no Demetria?"
"Yes,"
"Sir, are you underestimating me? I killed a general!" Valerie looked annoyed.
"You said you attacked him when he was injured," he repeated.
"Well don't be regretful sir, I'll attack you seriously," Valerie got into a stance. She stomped her foot and felt her Vampire power ignite. Valerie shot towards Raphael as fast as she could like a bullet. Just before he passed, the girls jumped and now she was behind Raphael. She also tried to hurt him without reducing her strength.
Raphael dodged easily. Then with the elbow of his right hand he hit Valerie's back. The girl choked and she fell. Then she rolled to the right, letting her body wallow in dust and bits of dry grass. She once again tried to attack Raphael.
Their swords clashed, causing a commotion on the training ground. They were so fast that some of the knights there held their breath. Valerie was indeed talented in swordsmanship but what she was showing right now was on a different level.
"You let your guard down." Raphael dropped the girl on the ground, he thrust the tip of his training sword into the side of her head. The girl then covered her face and she cried.
"W-what? Did I hit you too hard?" He looked worried.
"No sir-I—I just want to rejoin the military," she sobbed.
"I'll try to persuade them, I also don't want to lose a fellow knight as tough as you, Valor. That's why I came to Lapella for you on purpose," Raphael pulled his hand, helping her up.
"Are you willing to help me get back into the military, sir?"
"I'll figure that out, Valor," Raphael nodded.
"Your brother is watching us, I think he might admit your toughness and realize that your place is in the military," responded Raphael again.
"My brother and my father are not like that, sir. As your subordinate, I ask you to go a little extreme. You may not like it, but this way they will probably be willing," said Valerie again after the tears had subsided.
"Okay, what's your plan, Valor?" Raphael folded his arms ready to listen.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone