Shadow Monarch in Tensura

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Sunday [Part 1]

I slept in a little today and did some stretching before getting out of bed. Even though I have special training, Sundays are free days for all Holy Knights in training, and I am no exception to this rule.

My mother banned me from going to the library on Sundays, leaving me with limited options for how to spend my day. What else can I do? Go to church?

I usually like spending this time with Mai and Aiden exploring the city. My mom only forbade me from going to the library in the Underground Empire, not the one in the Holy Empire. We went there once, but Aiden didn't want to read more, especially on his day off.

Luckily, Mai agreed to come with me, and he instantly changed his mind, stating that siblings should stick together.

Looking at the grandfather clock in my room, I checked the time, and it was 8 am, so I had time to get my daily quest in before I started the day.

I completed my daily quest easily using the training ground in Night Garden. Although, if it weren't for the 10km run, I could have done it in my room. Since that wasn't an option, I used the training ground.

After leaving the Night Garden, I arrived at the entrance of the church and found Mai and Aiden waiting for me.

"Why did you take so long?" Mai asked, excitement still present on her face.

Ever since we escaped from the slave traders, she's been really happy and energetic. The only time she's not in high spirits is when she comes back from her training sessions feeling exhausted and complains about her trainer or, as she refers to her, 'Actually Satan.'

She can't be that bad, can she?

"I'm envious that the Holy Emperor is training you," she grumbled before chuckling. "Maybe we should switch places, huh?"

"I'm good. I don't want to be trained by the hidden devil in the Holy Empire." I joked, but she just sighed.

After walking for a while, I asked them about their training progress. "How's the training going, guys?"

Aiden responded first, "It's been tough, but I'm gradually getting the hang of it. Handling a sword isn't as easy as it looks."

"Yup," Mai added. "However, we've been working hard and focusing on our footwork and mastering basic sword stances."

I smiled at her and said, "You are doing an amazing job and will become a great Holy Knight."

Mai blushed and looked away, "Thank you! It means a lot to me." She muttered the last part, but I heard it due to my enhanced hearing.

Aiden cleared his throat before asking, "How's your training progressing then?"

After taking a deep breath, I replied, "I have been having a hard time keeping up, and I rarely have any free time." It was a half-truth. While my training is going smoothly, there is a lot I want to learn.

Mai nodded sympathetically and said, "I can relate to that. It feels like the only thing I do is train and sleep."

"We should spar sometime to see each other's progress," Aiden suggested, to which we both nodded.

As we leisurely strolled through the bustling streets of Lune, we were captivated by the colorful sights and sounds that surrounded us. The vibrant market was alive, with merchants selling their wares. The air was thick with the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread emanating from the numerous bakeries.

As we continued on our journey, we couldn't help but be mesmerized by the magical artifacts on display. The trinkets' intricate designs and intricate details were genuinely stunning, and we couldn't resist taking a closer look at each one.

As soon as I look at the trinkets, I felt an overwhelming urge to learn more about them. If it were possible, I would spend days examining them closely in order to understand how they are made and the purpose behind the engravings on the magical ones.

"Here he goes again..." Mai sighed, looking over at me as I observed the runes etched into the trinket.

"Just let him be," Aiden said, shaking his head. "You know how he gets when something catches his interest."

"I do," Mai replied with a small smile. "But it's hard not to worry when he gets so lost in it."

I looked up from the runes and smiled at them both. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

They laughed, and Aiden gave me a friendly pat on the back. "Nah, man, we love you just the way you are. Even if we fear you would get so absorbed in something, you will forget to breathe."

I chuckled and turned back to the runes, "It's just so interesting to me. When I look at them, I can't help but wonder about their origins and how they can be used."

"And that's why we love you, so don't change," Mai said before we resumed our exploration of the city.

We stopped at the bakery to buy fresh bread and shared it with each other before.

The freshly baked bread had a pleasant smell and a delightful, airy texture. Although I have only been eating like this for a month, it still takes some getting used to after years of less appetizing meals I had in my past life.

"It's like eating a fluffy cloud of deliciousness," Mai commented, taking another bite of the bread with stars in her eyes.

"Yeah, it's nice," Aiden said and nodded in agreement.

"You know what? I think I might have to get the recipe for this," Mai said, her eyes still fixed on the bread.

"I don't think they will give it to you," I replied.

Mai laughed and said, "Maybe they will. If not, I'll have to keep coming here every week."

Aiden agreed, "I wouldn't blame you. This place makes incredible bread. I want to test their pastries next time. The small blueberry tarts looked good."

We wandered around the city and chatted until we decided to have the spar we had discussed earlier, so we started heading back to the church.

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Authors Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

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