Final Regression of The Legendary Swordmaster Chapter 64

Edward walked out of the Marquis’s office. The heavy oak doors closed behind him with a solid thud. The courtyard air felt crisp and refreshing. It was so different from the stale, stuffy atmosphere inside. He paused under the portico, looking out across the courtyard.

Since his battle with his father and the Duke, the courtyard had gotten a complete rebuild. The stone tiles were new, fitted together perfectly. The training pillars were also new, their iron bands shining. You could see the faint, glowing lines of magical arrays etched into the stone dais in the center. It was pretty, but that wasn’t the only point. It was about reminding everyone who saw it that strength was what mattered most.

And right in the middle of it all was Valerius.

The young man sat without moving, legs crossed and back straight. The mana core beneath him pulsed with a steady light. Thin circles of mana, like delicate gears, turned slowly around his body. Valerius breathed slowly and deeply. With each breath, he pulled in mana, refining it and focusing it inside himself.

Edward could feel the shift in the air.

Valerius was close to breaking through to the next level.

Edward narrowed his eyes, watching the flow of mana. It wasn’t wild and messy like an Adept’s mana anymore. It was flowing like a river now, deep, calm, and focused. The pressure coming off Valerius wasn’t just a tingle on the skin. It felt heavy on the chest, the unmistakable feeling of someone on the verge of becoming a True Mage.

Ninety eight. Ninety nine. One hundred.

Edward watched as the faintest outline of a hundred and first circle began to appear. It was see through, flickering like a reflection in water.

That’s a dangerous place to be, Edward thought. Having more power than an Adept but lacking the stability of a True Mage was like trying to hold a storm inside a glass bottle. One moment of lost focus, and everything could shatter.

Like he felt a change in the air, Valerius’s eyelids fluttered. His breathing slowed, then stopped completely. The glowing circles faded, shrinking inward and vanishing into his skin like mist. He stood up smoothly. No straining, no shaking.

He turned and looked straight at Edward.

Valerius didn’t waste any time. He straightened his tunic, stepped off the array, and put a closed fist to his heart in a quick bow. "My Lord."

Edward walked down the steps, his boots clicking softly on the stone. He then stopped a few steps away. He didn’t say anything good right away. Instead, he studied the young man. Valerius’s energy felt sharper now.

"Almost to the True Mage stage," Edward said. "That’s a tough spot to be in. Most people spend years trying to get through that door and never find the key."

Valerius laughed softly, then quickly went back to being professional. "I can feel the door, My Lord. I’ve been hitting it as hard as I can. But it won’t open."

Edward pointed toward the edge of the courtyard. "Walk with me."

They walked slowly along the edge of the training area. For a little bit, all you could hear was the wind blowing through the pillars. Edward let the silence hang in the air, seeing how patient Valerius was.

"There’s been a problem with the trade routes," Edward finally said, his voice sounding casual. "The royal army is ’patrolling’ the Southern Baron’s border. Thaleia has tried to work it out through talks, but things are moving really slow."

Valerius’s face became serious. "I heard people talking, but I didn’t think it was my place to ask."

"I’m making it your place," Edward said. "Forget about your position for a second. What do you see?"

Valerius hesitated, his fingers twitching near his sword. "My Lord, I’m a soldier. I know how to defend and attack. But logistics and politics are something else."

Edward stopped and turned to him. "You’ve fought for this family. You’ve seen what happens when swords come out. Don’t just hide behind your title, Valerius. I need someone who can think for themselves, not just repeat what they heard."

Valerius took a deep breath, looking out over the walls. "Honestly? The Crown isn’t trying to destroy us. Not yet. If they wanted a war, they’d have made it official, not just set up a blockade. They’re testing us. They’re seeing if we’ll get angry, run away, or try to make a deal."

Edward smiled slightly. It wasn’t a friendly smile. "And if you were in charge?"

"I wouldn’t get angry," Valerius said, sounding more confident. "And I wouldn’t run. If someone’s trying to hold you down, you don’t always have to fight them. Sometimes, you just become such a problem that they can’t keep holding on. Make it too costly for them to mess with us without giving them a reason to fight. Make them understand that it’s easier to leave us alone."

Edward nodded slowly. "That makes sense. I agree."

Valerius looked relieved, but Edward wasn’t done yet. "That’s why I’m going to take care of this myself."

Valerius’s relief vanished. He frowned. "Personally? My Lord, that’s... it’s risky. It could make things worse."

Edward started walking again. "Everything worth doing has risks, Valerius. You’ve been on the battlefield long enough to know that being too safe just leads to a slow end." He paused, changing the subject smoothly. "Speaking of battlefields, how’s your sword work going?"

Valerius straightened his shoulders. "My insight within the 5 Star mastery has reached the accomplished level, My Lord. I can feel that I’m close to breaking through towards transcendence. I can see the way, but it feels far away. Like I can’t quite get there."

Edward stopped suddenly. He turned, and his eyes looked cold, disappointed. "Only accomplished level?"

Valerius looked like he’d been hit. "I’ve been training nonstop, My Lord. I haven’t left this place in days."

"I know," Edward said quietly. "That’s why I’m disappointed. You’re working hard, but the results aren’t telling."

Valerius’s jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to argue, but he held back his anger. "I understand your opinion, My Lord."

Edward watched him for a moment, then sighed. "Draw your steel."

Valerius blinked in surprise. "Here? Now?"

"Did I stutter?"

"My Lord, if I’ve done something wrong—"

"This isn’t a punishment, Valerius," Edward said, his voice softening a little. "It’s a lesson. Draw it."

With a sharp sound, the blade came out. Valerius held it ready, the tip shaking slightly. Edward stood across from him, his hands relaxed, empty.

"Attack me," Edward told him.

Valerius swallowed hard. "I can’t just—"

"No need for any of that, just attack," Edward interrupted.

Valerius lunged forward. It was a perfect move, clean, fast, and precise.

Edward didn’t even move his feet. He just raised two fingers, caught the flat of the blade, changed its direction, and let it slide past him.

Valerius’s eyes widened.

"Not enough strength," Edward said. He stepped closer to Valerius and gave him a light push on the shoulder. It looked like nothing, but Valerius stumbled back ten feet across the stone.

"Again."

This time, Valerius didn’t hold back. He came at Edward in a blur of steel, his blade moving in all directions. Edward moved like a shadow, shifting a little here, a little there. He didn’t even use his hands anymore, just moved through Valerius’s attacks, sometimes tapping his wrist to throw him off.

"The moves are nice," Edward said over the sound of the swords. "But you’re not really putting your heart into it."

Valerius gritted his teeth and let out a shout. Mana flashed around his blade, making shadows across the courtyard. The stone tiles cracked as he attacked, the air screaming as his sword moved through it.

Edward finally drew his own sword.

The world seemed to quiet down as the steel came out of its sheath. When their swords met, there wasn’t a sharp sound, just a heavy thud. Valerius’s arms started shaking. The pressure from Edward’s sword felt like a building falling down.

"Do you feel it?" Edward asked, his voice calm. "The difference?"

Clang!

They fought for a while. Every time Valerius thought he had a chance, Edward was already there. Valerius was covered in sweat, his chest burning, but in the middle of it all, he started to understand a realm of sword mastery.

"Better," Edward said. "But you’re still playing it safe."

Valerius made one last attack, putting all of his energy into it. Edward didn’t block. He stepped close to Valerius, his body touching, and hit Valerius’s wrist with the flat of his blade.

The sword flew out of Valerius’s hand, spinning across the courtyard floor.

The silence was complete.

Valerius knelt down, his head bowed. "I understand now."

Edward put his sword back in its sheath. He looked down at the boy, his face no longer cold, but hopeful.

"You have a strong base, Valerius. You have a lot of discipline," Edward said. "But being perfect isn’t the answer. To get better, you have to stop trying to be perfect and have the courage to do things differently."

Valerius looked up, his eyes clear. "I have to forget the rules to understand why they exist."

Edward nodded. "Go get your sword. Rest. Then start again. Never relent in your training."