Arch-Sabre: The Inheritor of The Blade

Evans Reinhard

“Ah… I late again. I have class at 9.00 am and it is already 9.30 am! I don’t want to be roasted with ‘personal lecture’ by Sir Atlas again!! Urgh!!!

Hye, my name is Evans Reinhard. Call me Evans. I am student of an infamous heroic academy called ‘Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy.’

This academy is located at the Central City of Azaria. Basically, Azaria Empire which is officially our empire name since five hundred years ago, reside five main part of the main city which are the Central City of Azaria (Anthea), the North City (Nyssa), West City (Wisteria), East Azaria (Evora) and South Azaria (Sylvia). From Anthea to other city’s distances were about five hours duration journey with standard car maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour to each, but we have lots of transportation means to go back and forth between cities in shorter time. Anthea is the largest city with highest population in the empire. Countless big companies, empire’s important figures, main military base and even most of royal blood families resides in the central city, including my own family in a standard-size two-stories house at a small province which is thirty minutes away walking from the academy.

My academy is a multi-course academy that have tons of subjects for students to choose but the main, renowned program of this academy is ‘Blade Mastery Program’, which consist of several courses that teaches the students how to use their weapons in a refined and practical way to fight against the monsters and others dangerous creatures. Some call them evil entities, apostle of demons, gargoyles, goblins, ogre or even dragons, generally we call them all monsters. There is even dangerous human like thieves, murderers, and assailants. So basically, it’s a kind of self-defence art. Well, it’s not like I do not know how to swing a sword but well… it is better to say I will learn on how to swing it better.

Since the program name is ‘Blade Mastery Program’, the trainers here is vastly knowledgeable about self-defence and monster slaying, they teach us how to use the weapon we wanted to use. The fun fact is, I am currently using a bow as my main weapon. I love swords, but this bow is my grandfather’s gift. He gave it to me on my tenth years old birthday. I like it because it was a little bit special than normal bows, this one can produce its own arrow the moment I pulled the string, some kind of magical arrow I think but there are tons at the weaponry shop, awfully expensive. I have been training with this bow for quite some year so I can say that I am confident with my archery skill.

Currently, I am 20 years old. I start enrolling the academy when I was 18. Well, the earliest age to enrol is 16 but I were stuck with the bow training, I guess it worth it. I still have two more years to go.

-------------------- [Lecture Hall] --------------------

“Kreek…”

I pushed the lecture room door with an exceptionally low velocity and energy to ensure there is no one will notice me.

“EVANS REINHARD.”

I sigh, and push the door more casually but, I do not take any step into the class yet.

“Yep, that’s me sir.”

I replied while standing at the front of the door while looking at the lecturer. The whole class is looking at me. His gaze is scary even though I already studied under him for two years. Sir Atlas is what he was called ever since he has been here. He is a 29-year-old man and still single, I guess a just handsome face can’t really make you popular at all.

“So, tell me, why are you keep getting late in my class. Is learning history so unimportant to you hm… Mr. Evans?”

There goes my ‘roasting’ session. I have face against this since I am a first year. It’s not like I get late to the class everyday but well, sometimes...

“So, let’s we continue, after five hundred years of victory, human empire was peaceful and currently in its safest, securest stage. Although the monsters were not entirely cleared out, there were some that still survived in a hidden region, waiting, and killing careless people. Therefore, the humans create weapons by using the legendary swords as reference to fight against them. After decades of research, the human succeeded to unveil the secret of magic by using the core from defeated monsters, producing enchanting and powerful weapons.”

“RINGGGG!!!!!!”

“I think that’s all for today, class dismissed.”

The bell ring signifies that my three-hours-straight boring history lecture has finally end, well it’s two hour and thirty minutes since I came thirty minutes later, ten minutes ‘personal lecture’ in front of the class, ten minutes attentive focus on the lecture, ten minutes sleepy restraining and another two hours ‘sleeping beauty’ session. Now I have an hour gap to take some rest or eat my meal. After this is my favourite class, the Sword Art Class. I need to get motivated and eat something get my energy rise.

“Evans, why are you late? Did you eat something bad?”

This is Quinn, my best friend. Handsome, good grades, reliable, active in sports and good with blade. Girlfriend? Fairly sure he does not have anyone, but he surely has some fans. I guess a handsome face does have something to do with being popular after all. I think I’m quite good-looking guy too, but I wonder why I am not popular.

“Ah… no… I was just overslept this morning…”

Well actually, I do not want to get up and want to act like I am sick, but my mother came and check on me.

Knock! Knock!

“What are you doing, Evans? It’s already 9.00 am!”

“I am sick mom!”

“Oh… let me check…”

“It’s okay, it’s really hot, you’ll burn yourself!”

“Hm… okay…”

She went down the stairs. But she came right back and said something at front of my door room without opening it.

“Ah… looks like I have to confiscate this precious Z-Box game console. I wonder what will happened when I throw this Z-Box into the water.”

I open my door room after drenched myself with water and changed to academy clothes.

“Bye mom! Got to go now!!”

Mom is scary, really.

“Let’s get something to eat.”

“Yeah sure.”

And we go to the cafeteria together. So, when we are on our way to the cafeteria, Quinn initiates a conversation.

“Hey, how is your sister doing today? Is she going to academy? I did not see her today… I wonder why…”

I remember saying he does not have crush on anyone but apparently, he has a crush on my sister who is two years older from us.

“She always goes early to the academy, so I am not sure…”

“Let’s check her class!”

“Stop it man, you are creepy!”

“Hahaha, you are mean…”

It’s not like we always have some specific topic to talk so, there is where our conversations end.

-------------------- [Cafeteria] --------------------

So, we arrived at the cafeteria. It was quite grand I would say. The space is vast and artfully arranged interior furniture on each spot with sunshine that passed through those large pristine-clear window glasses arouse the warmth of the mood. The modern interior wallpaper with a floral design and light blue color is immersing the nice and soothing environment to relax absolutely captivated me the first time I entered the building. Each corner and pillar of the space are set with eye-catching flowers which produce a very aromatic smell. I did sniff on them before so that is why I know. But unlike usual days, today it is look kind of peaceful.

“I wonder why the hot spot for boys who want to watch for cute girls and girls laugh like they owned the world is nowhere to be seen today?”

I ask Quinn. I am quite unpleased with the setting because my eyes are trying its hardest to detect some cute girl but none, zero!

“Eh, you don’t know? Today is the day the ‘Blade Festival’ will be announced at the main hall!”

Blade Festival. I do not feel like explaining now.

“Oh, that is some cute girl.”

“WHERE?!”

Quinn pointed to a table behind us. I turn around just enough to see the face of the girl. She is quite a beautiful girl. Long black hair with refined purplish eyes. I bet those are contact lens. Her soft lip is coloured with soft pink coloured lipstick. I wonder if the pink colour makes her lips look so soft. But most obvious thing of all…

“See! Beautiful, isn’t she?”

"..."

“That is my sister god damn it!”

I smacked his head which is currently staring on my sister with one of her friends. Her friend is a beauty too. Then my sister accidentally looks at me and totally conscious of my existence there.

“Oh s**t…”

My sister stands up and come to my seat.

“ISN’T IT MY LOVELY BROTHER, EVANS!!”

Really? She just shouted in this spacious, quiet, and peaceful room? Huh…(sighed)

“(Whisper) Really? Did she just shout ‘my lovely brother’ is this spacious, quiet and peaceful room?”

“(Whisper)She does that every time she sees me.”

“(Whisper)And I’m here being jealous for not being you.”

“(Whisper)Shut it Quinn, she’s just a bully. She bullies me a lot at home.”

“(Whisper)Woah. you are quite an uptight person aren’t you Evans… what did she…”

“What are you two whispering about?

My sister arrived at our table and suddenly asking what we are doing. We are obviously sitting there for no reason though but okay, I guess she can ask that. Meet my older sister, Eva Reinhard, 22 years old. She is a beauty and top student in her class. She is not so athletic, but she is particularly good with bow and currently the head of Archery club.  I guess my family members do have a knack with bows.

“Nothing Eva, just go to your seats and chat with your friend.”

“That is rude brother! You must call me sister! How can you call me by name when I am so curious about what my little brother is talking about?”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry about that sis, now go.”

“Hmph! So stingy!”

She makes a pouting face before leaves our table. That was some real pout though.

“Damn, she is even cuter when she’s pout!”

“Shut it creepy-Quin.”

“Bahahaha!”

I reach my phone in my pocket and open it with double tap on the screen. I am searching for some latest news I can read on the online news website.

“The Crystal Dragon, Crysdraga, reported was seen at the borderline on the sky of east Azaria Mountain.”

I read the news title and is interested to the topic.

“Hey Quinn, ever heard of Crysdraga? It’s a crystallite dragon.”

“Crysdraga? Of course, I have heard of it. It is one of the most feared and crazy strong dragons from 100 years ago right. I cannot believe a dragon like that can still exist now. But I do curious about it though.”

“They said it news that the dragon was seen at the east.”

“The east of the empire? That extremely far from here. I guess we don’t have to worry after all, we also have those teachers and armies that can fend of the dragons right! Even the notorious ‘Supreme Blade of Azaria’ is here!”

What he said does make sense after all. Best combatants and most elites in the army originated from here, The Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy. Some of the academy student is also extraordinarily strong and capable of fending themselves against some fearful monsters too. Well, as the student of infamous ‘heroic academy’, every single student that is year two and above will be sent to the battlefield at least once during the first year period as a first-hand experience to see the real pressure and mood of the battlefield. Not to mention all the trainers that teaching here are all splendid battler and more than enough to protect the whole city.

Dragons. There are very formidable of all monsters. Basically, outside the empire of Azaria, there are various monsters living and they kill humans for food. Long ago, humans are terrified by the ruling of the horrendous monsters. But now, it’s no more. As explained by Sir Atlas in his class today, the most of monsters have been defeated.

Even now, various swords that had been developed was superb and qualified to be said terrific, proven with experiments demonstrating the magnificent qualities, signifying the legendary swords power can be duplicated with limited use, some new skills, and powers great enough to threaten the monsters with the help of technology imbued within the swords. Not only that, other types of weapons such as spear, bows, javelin, war axe, war hammer and more magical items have been created to assist the battle. I guess we don’t have to worry too much.

I mentioned that our academy is the infamous heroic academy before. There are also other academies that teach how to learn self-defence and even how to use the latest technologies on how to fight with the monsters but different with our academy, we have the ‘first-hand experience’ even in our first years which make our academy is superior to the others. It is extremely dangerous and plenty of cases have already happened but that I quite sure it was the student mistake since we have early safety precautions briefings with professional monster slayer within our side to handle all the dangerous fighting.

Even during my first time going outside the empire to watch the battlefield, I have not taken any or action to the monsters since the slayers will deal with all of them including the explanation of how to do it in the most effective way. I’m referring the ‘slayers’ to those professional slayers. But if any heavy accident happened, the academy would take all the responsibility on treatment and for the student wellbeing. The academy has quite a lot of funding from ex-students and the empire itself.

“Evans, its time!”

“Eh, already?”

“Yes, why are you always lost in thought like that?”

“Ah… nothing… let’s go then.”

It is already time for my favourite class, the Sword Art Class.

-------------------- [Sword Art Class] --------------------

Sword art class. This subject usually takes places inside the academy battle hall and so it is today.

“Okay, students, grab your weapons, cast onto yourself some defence spell, because we are going to do some fighting!!

“YESS, MISS VANESSA!” All students replied.

Hey, it is me again, Evans. Now is the sword art class period and we are going to have some training like usual. It does not sound that exciting and all, right? Well, I did say I love the class before, so why? It is because...

“Evans! Come here, grab your sword!”

Miss Vanessa. My favourite trainer in this entire academy. Let’s start the introduction session. Our academy has these six main figures of academy that is famous enough to be known throughout the empire, they are called “Supreme Blade of Azaria” group. This title seems cool and at the same time grandiose to me, but they earned the feat that by means of at least one hundred soldiers of thousand do. It is called ‘Dragon Slaying’.

I heard that slaying a full-fledged matured dragon is extremely hard because first, they are huge, and these dragons, have those impenetrable scales with unbelievably high tolerance to heat and cold, a puny attack as basic fireball or simple ice crystal are nothing to them. Dragons are extremely rare to be seen in a battlefield so one no need to worry much unless they have an unbelievably bad luck.

So back to Miss Vanessa, she is one of those “Supreme Blade of Azaria”. In fact, she is the youngest member and have an incredibly good reputation within the group. Her skills are already top-notch in the empire, but more to that, she is drop dead gorgeous, possessing a top hourglass body figure with 83-50-79 measurement roughly and few centimeters below me in height.

Presently, I am 165 centimeters while being 20 years old. I wonder if I going to be taller in next few years. She currently eight years above me and currently single. A beauty with might, lion on the battlefield but maiden in the class, the perfection of a person called lady, totally my type.

“Coming!!”

I go to her after picking up rapier from the weapon box.

“Why are you using a rapier?”

“Hmm, because you use a rapier?”

“Hmm, actually I am wondering why you are always using rapier when with me when you are very good with sabre type…”

“I just want to try another type of weapon, and since you are the best with rapier, I guess I would love to have a fair fight with you.”

“Oh, what a gentleman you are Evans, I like people like you, so youthful!”

“Yeah, I like Miss too.”

“What was that?”

“No, nothing… hehe.”

Why did I laugh that off? what if she eventually likes me back? What if…

“Here I come Evans!”

“Eh? Wai…”

There is a wrist guard on every student wrist including me which is one of the latest technologies made with materials the empire technologies industries acquired from monster slaying, so with this, we can cast some spell that has been installed into the system.

This item is called ‘Spell Art Conjure Device’, ‘SACRED’ for short and I have installed about two magic skills, or we call it spells. I must buy the spell if I want it, the more powerful the effect, the pricier.

“Activate Fortify Body!”

It is a body fortifying spell. Then some dim blue light covered my whole body in just a split second before my a*s is about to be kicked. Well, it is going to be kicked anyway.

“Auch!!”

I fall to the ground after several thrust from Miss Vanessa hit on my hands that I used to cover my face.

“I don’t even have enough time to prepare yet…”

I said that in cheekily.

“Oh really? Okay then this calls for a round two!”

“Sure, I will show you my lov.... lavender spin!!”

-------------------- [Medical Room] --------------------

“Auch!”

“Please bear it a little bit.”

Currently, my sprained ankle is being bandaged by a lanky girl who is supposed to be a nurse in the treatment room. Have not seen her here before, maybe she is a newbie, and beautiful at that. She was the only one who are here presently.

This is not the first time I’m here, so I have recognized all seven nurses that have been working here as the medical staff before but today, this tall, fairly pretty lass is the only one who tend to my wound. I think, if even more nurses came to tend my injury, I will be happier since my dream is to have a ‘harem’ just once in my life, but it may as well be a pipe dream for someone like me. The room have about ten beds to accommodate ten students if they are to be wounded or anything.

“There you go. Please take care of yourself in the future. Ah wait, one more…”

“Yes, I will come again later.”

“Huh?”

I got up from the bed and go out from the room in stylish manner.

“See ya, Miss Nurse.”

“Eh wait…”

And I closed the sliding door after give a sharp, handsome gaze to her. At least I think it was handsome.

“…”

“Argh!! My ankle still hurt!!”

Then I heard a few footsteps headed towards my direction. I bet it is Quinn.

“Hey, help me walk, my ankle is still hurt!

I’m in ducking position while holding my ankle to ease the pain a little so I could not see his face. His steps do not show signs to slow down at all. Not long after that he just walks past me. In a quiet voice, he muttered some words to me which I heard it clearly with my ears.

“Draw the legendary sword, or a disaster shall be fall upon you and your beloved.”

“Wha...”

I try to turn behind as fast as I can to see his attire and all, but he is not there anymore. The hallway suddenly become so quiet and gloomy as if the brightness is being lowered. He vanishes into the thin air as if there was no one in the area in the first place.

Ah, what a day. What with this surprising plot development in my peaceful life story? Did I do something bad to raise a flag like in the games that I played? I am exhausted and confuse at the same time. The excruciating pain in my ankle is making me so uncomfortable right now. It is already six in the evening right now it is time to go home.