The Kingmaker System-Chapter 122 - 121. Rainy Days (2)

Eric gripped the hilt of his sword and inhaled deeply, I could see his mana swirling around him like a light breeze of heated air before he charged at me.

I sidestepped avoiding his slash but he quickly twisted his sword and slashed diagonally making me jump back.

Eric came at me with a flurry of attacks and I avoided them by sidestepping every time making his sword hit the rain droplets.

"Y-You aren’t fighting back." He huffed exasperatedly and slashed his sword horizontally making me leap in the air before I landed softly three feet away.

His clothes were already drenched by the rain and I could see the rivulets of water flowing down the sides of his face matting his golden hair to his forehead. My waterproof cloak was doing its best at keeping me dry but I couldn’t help but feel slightly bad for the drenched kid.

"This is my fighting style," I reasoned.

"You’re simply avoiding, it’s not fighting." He complained and I sighed before I walked over and picked up the wooden sword from the stand before removing my cloak and hanging it there.

I walked back to stand in front of him and asked, "Is this good?"

"Yes."

Eric got into his stance again before he charged and I blocked his sword with mine making him frown as his sword was a real one and mine was a wooden sword.

"How-"

I slashed at him making him jump back, his reaction time was good enough as he narrowly avoided getting sliced like his shirt.

Eric stared at the clean cut in his shirt before looking at me.

"None of my sparring partners ever asked for me to carry any weapon because they knew better than to do that." I said and he smiled.

"That means I’m the first one to spar with you armed."

"This kid..." I sighed before he charged again.

My sword was laced by my Dragon’s mana which extended from my hand to the sword turning its brittle nature into the strength that could surpass diamond’s hardness.

It was a bit of an overkill but I had to end this spar quickly as this kid shouldn’t fall sick. And I also had things to discuss with my Grandfather.

"Hah!" Eric shouted before taking a slash at me and I blocked it with ease.

"Your form and attacking style are close to perfect, Your Highness." I praised.

"Not perfect then." He summarised making me sigh.

He really was going quite hard on himself while trying to prove that he was worthy of my choice. I felt slightly bad but it was also a good impetus for his growth.

He was still young but there was no telling when he would end up on a battlefield. I was strong enough to protect him but I was still growing to be an omnipotent person with the help of my assassins. I hadn’t achieved that feat yet.

Eric slashed at me and my eyebrows jumped as I noticed the tiny flames dancing over his hands.

That was a big improvement.

"I guess with time your sword will be known as the Flame Sword or something." I commented as I blocked his showers of slashes.

"Your mana knows, you just need to realise it." I said making him frown a little.

I took my chance at that time and shifted my footing before taking an offensive side myself making Eric to fall back.

I was attacking him with softer attacks but it seemed like those were quite of a great scale as the blade of his sword was starting to chip away by taking the attacks head on.

I slashed my sword and cleanly sliced off his blade into half and making his eyes go wide as I put the tip of my sword under his chin.

"Your improvement is growing even better than I imagined. I guess it will be fun if you could train with the other kids that I have taken in."

"O-Other kids?" He asked and I nodded before I turned and walked over to the stand and placed the wooden sword in its place before I picked up my cloak.

"Who are these other kids?" He asked as I walked back to him.

"The ones who can become your good friends." I said before I placed the cloak on his head and shoulders.

"You just need to keep an open mind while meeting them." I said before I held his shoulders, turned him around and started pushing him towards the shade.

"So, when will I meet them?" He asked.

"Hm... After the trial. I’ll take you and Lady Elise there, the kids will love having a mother figure around."

Eric looked at me with a curious expression and I could see that he was eager to see his new friends.

After changing my clothes, I went to the library where Grandfather summoned me.

"Your Excellency?" I called as I knocked on the door and heard his command to enter.

I opened the door and walked inside finding the hall already warm and Grandfather sitting near the fire.

"Take a seat here." He said gesturing at the high backed chair which was close to the fire.

I walked over and sat down looking at he was already arranging a chess game on the table between us.

"What did you want to talk about?" He asked as he put his pawn ahead and I smiled.

"There must be quite a funfair in the King’s court, right?" I spoke up as I made my move.

"Yes, the factions are just a step away from tearing each other to pieces." He stated.

"Make use of this," I said making him hum and brush his hand over his beard looking down at the game.

"Get your allies to put pressure on the King to appoint you as the Minister of Education and Home Affairs."

Grandfather paused while making his move as I said that and he looked at me.

"What?"

"Yes, you should be in that place."

He stayed silent for a while making no move before he sighed and took out one of my pawns with his knight.

"And what after that? Should I give you the internal information about the King’s court?"

"That would be for the best," I said before I took out his knight with my bishop.

"But what I want is for the Queen to be on the edge, with you there they wouldn’t be able to do things as they please so, it would ruffle some feathers."

He nodded and we continued our game.

"What about Douglas?" He asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"He’s already a half-dead man waiting to be called at the execution platform." I said.

"The trial will end soon as there is no way of saving him and there are no allies who could pull that miracle. That trial might not even last a week." I said.

"I heard you showed yourself to those kids." He said and I nodded before taking out his second bishop.

"I want to recruit those kids for my cause,"

"You mean for the organisation?" He asked and I nodded again.

"Organisation doesn’t sound good though," I mumbled as I saw Grandfather take out my second knight.

"Then?"

"I would rather call it a charitable trust or foundation." I said and he tilted his head.

"Will you gather funds and help from the nobles for your cause then?" He asked and I smiled.

"Only those who will be under my wing will be a part of it."

"That way you will keep the corrupt and greedy people off your cause." He summed up.

"Yes," I said before I took out his queen momentarily rendering him motionless.

"But, don’t you think you will need to present this idea before the King before you could start it? And if that happens then you will have to appear before him?"

I shook my head, "I’ve already gotten a permission right from the time that I got my second identity. I knew they will get curious about me when the news about the magic stone mine and Mage’s Tower alliance comes to light so, I got it done beforehand."

Grandfather seemed impressed but he still didn’t make any move watching the game.

"You’re quite prudent." He mumbled before he hesitantly picked his king and moved it to save from my bishop.

"Check." I spoke and he noticed my rook facing his king.

"I’ve been playing with you for such a long time yet, why is it so hard to defeat you in chess?" He asked and I chuckled.

"I’ll let you win next time."

"I’d rather be defeated."

We relaxed in our chairs as the game came to an end and Grandfather looked at the flames.

"You had a spar with Prince Eric in the rain." He spoke up and I nodded.

"Yes, he’s growing swiftly. But I guess his training is still limited so, I was wondering if I should take him to meet the other kids."

Grandfather looked at me, "I mean the elves and dwarves that are training at my place."

"You... are trying to make Prince Eric to accept the other races?"

"He’s a child, Grandfather just like those kids, he needs friends along with training. And I can assure you that all of those kids are really nice and also strong."

"I don’t doubt your judgement, Reina. It’s just, I’m wondering what the Golden Serpent will do now that her most trusted ally had almost met with his end... But I couldn’t help but feel her actions a little strange," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard her people searched the residences of Douglas Clark. What might they be looking for? Do you know something?" He asked and I looked at him before telling him what exactly her people were looking for.

Grandfather’s eyebrows furrowed and he leaned ahead asking in a low, grim voice, "So, you have that evidence with you at this moment?"

I looked at his strained eyes and noticed his veins bulging over his arms as his fists clenched and I nodded.