Avatar of the Frozen Behemoth: Volume 1

Chapter 10: Reflections Under the Blue Moon

The trio weaved through the crowd, hearts pounding, adrenaline fueling their escape. They could hear the shouts and commands of the soldiers behind them but didn't dare look back. They ran through the winding streets until they found a secluded alleyway, finally stopping to catch their breath.

Yukio wiped sweat from his brow, glancing at Rome with a mixture of relief and curiosity. "I can't believe you were the one helping me. How did you even manage to get in there?"

Rome shrugged, catching his breath. 'I was coming by to see if you wanted to test my brother's new snow sledding board. Your mom said you were out, so I decided to find you.'"

"Mizuki, still panting, raised an eyebrow at Rome, skepticism clear on his face. "So, you just happened to be there when things went sideways? And what's the deal with your fight with Kota?"

"Rome sighed heavily, his face tightening with discomfort." It's not something I like to talk about, but I guess you should know. Kota and I crossed paths a while back during a trade negotiation. We were both trying to secure a deal for our families, but Kota played dirty. He spread false rumors about my family to get the upper hand. It almost ruined us."

"Yukio nodded, his brow furrowing as he absorbed the new information. "So that's why you've been avoiding him. The cloak and all."

Rome nodded, rubbing a bruised shoulder peeking the corner to see Spadian soldiers looking for them. "Exactly. I didn't want to draw attention, especially not from him."

As Yukio nodded, His thoughts turned back to the fight. "I've got to ask, though-how did you know so much about swordplay? Your help made a huge difference."

Rome chuckled, leaning back against the rough stone wall. "Despite being one of the reasons you won, I'm unfortunately not a skilled swordsman myself, but I trained with my step-grandfather back in the academy. He was a retired Spadian soldier. I learned a lot about strategy and techniques, even if my own skills didn't quite measure up.

Yukio's eyes widen in understanding, "Your uncle was a Spadian soldier?"

Rome nodded. "Yeah, he was. He used to tell me stories about his time in the military. He was strict but fair, and he believed in rigorous training. When I was younger, he put me through a lot of it. Even though I lacked the physical attributes and performance with a sword, I learned how it works and how to use it properly."

Mizuki listened intently, chiming in, "So you never really became a skilled swordsman?"

Rome shook his head. "No, I didn't. I failed to become skilled in swordsmanship, but I gained a lot of battle knowledge about the fighting style of a sword. I know where to hit, how to defend, and the strategies behind it. That's why I could help you, Yukio. It's all thanks to my grandfather's training."

Yukio nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "I see. So you've got the knowledge but not necessarily the skill. That makes sense. But how does that tie into Spadia's way of life?"

Rome glanced at Yukio, reflecting. "Spadia's isolation forces us to handle a lot on our own. We rely on the King, the Frost Court, and the local lords to manage things. It's a delicate balance, especially when external pressures are off the table."

Mizuki chimed in, "And our traditions, like worshiping the Frozen Behemoth, play a huge role in keeping our society stable. The Senroco ceremony tonight is a big part of that."

Yukio raised an eyebrow. "Sometimes it feels like there's a lot of mythology mixed with reality. Do you think the Behemoth is just a myth?"

Rome shrugged, a thoughtful look on his face. "Some people question it, but it's a central part of our identity. It helps us stay united, even when things get tough."