Chapter 18: Reflections and Preparations

After returning to the dormitory, Liya engaged in serious self-reflection.

“…Was I too reckless?”

Though she had stormed into the office with all her courage and apologized to Teacher Annie, Liya felt it wasn’t enough. Reflecting on it, she realized she had barely listened to Annie’s lectures in class these past few days. It was true that she already understood everything being taught, but if she considered the perspective of her past self…

That was incredibly rude.

In her past life, when she studied martial arts under her master, the first three years were spent learning basic movements she had already practiced countless times—no variations at all. Back then, her master directly told her that if she couldn’t patiently study these basics every day, she shouldn’t be his disciple. So she persevered through sheer effort. Later, she always applied this rule to her junior disciples, aiming to make them remember the importance of fundamentals and the meaning of persistent effort.

“And yet, I myself have forgotten that original intention.”

Even the basics—common knowledge she had long understood—contained their own profundity and innovation. Moreover, her attitude was the greatest disrespect to her teacher. In her past life, her master would likely have been so furious he’d beat her half-crippled with a whip. How disgraceful.

Liya knelt in the dormitory, meditating while sighing at her own immaturity.

Despite being a hundred years old, she was still acting like a child. What a failure.

Even her apology—though she had tried her utmost to convey her sincerity—she didn’t know if Teacher Annie had understood. No wonder her close friend in the past life always said she had low emotional intelligence. There was a reason for that.

‘…Should be fine, right?’

Recalling Annie’s tearful smile when she left, Liya suddenly felt unsure, but she didn’t know what to do.

‘After all, even having lived a hundred years in my past life, I was just a martial artist.’

Before eighteen, she had sought masters everywhere to learn martial arts. She had been deceived, she had been sincerely taught, she had traveled widely, but she had almost no friends—only opponents she had crossed fists with. After eighteen, she found her final and strongest master, began true martial arts training, and traveled with him to challenge others. Those were happy times. After fifty, her master passed away, and she wandered alone, obsessed with developing martial techniques. Together with her close friend, she founded the Martial Gate, dedicating her entire life to pursuing the ultimate dream until she died…

In the end, her past life experiences destined her to have little emotional intelligence. Apart from dueling, Liya could find no other way to communicate. Besides, her master had once said:

“Men’s communication has always been through their fists!”

‘Thinking back now, my esteemed master seemed just like me—basically no friends…’

Perhaps, although the beloved master was a rare grandmaster in martial arts, in emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, he was likely only on par with her…

“No, no, no, no…”

Liya shook her head, banishing stray thoughts. It was most improper to offend and belittle her deceased master. She should focus on the duel on Saturday.

Since she had formally proposed the duel, there was no reason not to prepare. Moreover, tomorrow was the day of the duel with Teacher Annie. Therefore, she must make the best preparations to bring out her greatest form.

Closing her eyes, Liya descended into a deeper state of meditation.

In common terms, meditation was a means to cultivate and restore magic power. But it also had a more special and efficient usage.

Extreme meditation: completely abandon all perception of the outside world, immerse oneself entirely in the inner world, produce the most magic power in the shortest time, and adapt to it. This was something Liya often did before duels, and her favorite thing to do.

****

Faculty Dormitory.

“Well… tomorrow is the duel.”

Sitting at her desk, finishing the last assignment, Annie stretched.

“A duel with Liya…”

In her mind emerged the unexpected conversation with Liya today. She had to admit, that dialogue had greatly eased Annie’s emotions.

“I hope the teacher can teach me more in tomorrow’s duel!”

‘With that thought, Liya? No wonder Christine says she is truly a genius.’

Annie remembered when she herself was like that—whenever she encountered a strong opponent, she would challenge them to a duel and refuse to let go. Thinking back, it was so embarrassing… but that was the privilege of youth.

Besides, she was the teacher, just as Liya had requested.

“I have to show my true skills and teach properly.”

In terms of theoretical knowledge, Liya might have truly mastered it perfectly—that was evident from her assignments. But the ability to apply theory to practice was the real criterion for judging a student. Annie felt she at least had to teach Liya that, with full force.

Incidentally, Christine later brought back a quite pleasing audio tape.

Annie took out a small device from her drawer—a magical tool that could play pre-recorded sounds, an inexpensive little gadget. Inside it was the tape Christine had given her today, which Annie now treasured. The content was:

“Teacher Christine, I am deeply sorry. My intention was never to belittle or discriminate against Teacher Annie. It’s just that I had fully understood those theories, so I… That was my fault! Please help me… No, I will apologize to Teacher Annie in person!”

“Not at all, Teacher Annie teaches quite well.”

The voice was undoubtedly Liya’s, according to Christine. These were Liya’s heartfelt words to her in private… Sob! So moving! This was a recording that could heal psychological trauma!

Annie was moved to tears, immersing herself in ecstasy, and couldn’t help thinking, ‘I wish I had a little sister like Liya.’

“Ah, no, I have a duel with Liya tomorrow. I need to prepare properly.”

Christine had specifically warned her not to underestimate Liya, so she should make some preparations. Yes, that’s right, she should adopt the mindset of facing a great enemy.

Subconsciously, Annie’s gaze fell on the corner of the room. Hanging there was a long blade.

The scabbard was black, hiding the blade. The hilt was simple and slender, somewhat resembling the Tang swords of the human kingdom, but slightly larger.

Though a martial artist, Annie was not a fist fighter but a swordswoman.

That weapon was her exclusive armament, forged by Nidhogg when she officially obtained her swordsman qualification. It had accompanied her all the way, through countless life-or-death battles.

Silent for a while, Annie walked over and took it down from the wall.

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