"Practice this sword skill set first. After that, I will see if you completely grasp it and we can move on to another one."
Veira instructed Lili that night. They were in the meadow practicing. She handed her a wooden sword and assigned a skill set for her to master.
At first, she sat on the boulder and watched Lili's move. In her opinion, she was like a diamond in a rough. She could easily memorize the skill sets. It's just that her arms strength wasn't enough yet. That's why prior to this, she had her do exercises beneficial to her whole body.
Compared to the first time she weilded a wooden sword, her stance was definitely better this time.
Anyway, she watched her practice for a bit then get restless a little later. She was inspired by Lili's determination. And she wasn't the sit still and watch type anyway so she herself began to practice some sword skill sets.
Unlike to one she had Lili mastered though, those she was practicing were the complex ones. And she trained them using her silver knife as usual.
Quick history of this silver knife...
She had joined an auction in the biggest auction house in the market a few months and won this little bit of high carbon steel. This metal was best used when forging a sword. Unfortunately, it was still considered a rare item as it was just recently discovered. Most of the metals used for weapons were either stainless steels, aluminum or other alloys.
Since she had a little bit of high carbon steel, she decided to make a silver knife out of it. Yes, she did it herself. Nanghiram pa siya ng mga gamit kay Mang Ipe at nagpagabay na rin habang pinapanday niya ang kutsilyo niya.
When she finished making it, Mang Ipe was speechless. He thought it looked intimidating because it was obviously a kitchen knife but longer and sharper yet not long enough to be considered as a sword.
And now, the same knife, when she was simply holding it, felt odd out of the picture. But once she did her sword skill set with it, it looked so mesmerizing.
Lili even had to stop and gawked at Veira as she practiced. Why couldn't she be this awespiring when she was doing her own skill set?
But then again, how could she compare herself to Veira? That's right! They were not in the same level. Her Ate Veira was one of a kind.
She used to be caged in the Prime Minister's house. Her stepmother and siblings bullied her a lot. After marriage, she was often humiliated by her in-laws.
But once she was finally out of those people's shackles and got her freedom, all things she put her mind into came true.
She wanted to move country? She hopped on a ship and journeyed over the sea.
She wanted to venture into business? She cooked delicious food and started a roaming food cart.
She wanted to get stronger? She strengthened her body and learned sword skills!
Lili's eyes changed from envy to worship.
If Veira knew what she was thinking, she would definitely feel ashamed. She already had those talents back in her pastlife. It took her thousands of practice back then just to master them. How could she compare to Lili who only had to see the skill set once and already bear it in her mind?
Anyway, Veira was like in a trance while practicing but when she finished, she became aware of her surrounding. When she saw Lili gawking at her on one side while hugging her wooden sword, she couldn't help walking towards her and flicked her forehead.
"I told you to practice. What are you gawking at me for?"
"Ate Veira, I want to be like you when I grow up."
"You... What are feeding your head all the time, huh? Stop daydreaming! More practice instead!"
Lili chuckled upon hearing from Veira's voice how flustered she was. She stood up and carried her wooded sword. She was energized to practice again.
Unexpectedly, before she could even do so, out of instinct, she stood in front of Veira as two people appeared in that meadow with them.
***
"I remember warning you two about coming here." Veira told them spitefully. She knew the two had been lurking in the dark and watching her and Lili practice. She was planning to ignore them completely, unexpectedly, they even had guts to show up themselves.
"And you, silly girl... What are doing in front of me, eh? If they are really going to attack, does it mean you are going to block them for me?" Then she pulled Lili who was still standing in front of her and tapped her head.
Lili wanted to say yes but the way Veira's eyes were glaring at her plus that frown on her forehead, gave her a warning not to do so.
She could only remain standing beside Veira. Then she looked at the people who suddenly disturbed their practice.
"Ah!" Lili made a sound as she recognized them. One was the adopted son of Kapitan Tunio and the other was a military doctor.
She remembered she was supposed to tell Veira about these two later that day but she got busy and forgot to do so.
"What's wrong?" Veira asked her.
"These two guys... Nameet namin sila ni Nanay Onang ng bumisita kami sa bahay nila Kapitan Tunio. I found them suspicious as they kept asking questions about you. I was supposed to tell them about you but forgot doing so." Lili said in a whispering voice yet those two still heard her.
"Hey, you! Don't make it sound as if we are stalking your sister." James said defensively.
Veira raised an eyebrow at him. "Aren't you really stalking me? Don't tell me, you haven't sent anyone to do a background check about me?"
James ended up coughing because of that. He wanted to deny it but the way her eyes looked at them like seeing their souls too? Just completely unsettling.
"Ate Veira, bakit ka nila ipapabackground check?"
"Isn't it because they feel threatened by a woman who can weild a sword?"
"That's not the reason. You are not the first female we encounter to do so." Diego finally couldn't remain silent.
"Are they good as me?"
He opened his mouth to answer but she beat him out of it.
"Are they pretty as me?"
"Dang! Aren't you too narcissistic?" James complained.
"What narcissistic?! You are the narcissist! Your whole family are narcissists!" Lili insulted him back.
Hindi naman mapigilang mapailing ni Veira. This silly girl, ah! Matututo na lang ng pang-insulto ay gaya pa noong mga kabataan sa I Country. Insult one... Insult you back and insult your whole clan.
"Lili, ignore them. Continue your practice."
"But..."
"Why? Ayaw mo ng magtrain?"
Lili quickly shook her head, held her wooden sword and resumed practicing again. Veira did the same.
As for the ignored two lads...
"Your charm seems to be useless this time." James couldn't help muttering to Diego. That earned him a side glance.
"Let's go back for now."
***
