Bear School Astartes

A circle of intense sparks, born from steel clashing, erupted from the castle’s training grounds!

Under a unique technique, these sparks formed a spreading circular shape.

”Heave-ho!”

Using the Thunder Cat Sword to forcefully block an attack, Rong Buqiu let out an encouraging cat-like cry, and the three-colored woolly body arched in an arc, first rising high and then landing lightly and steadily.

Bouncing twice on the ground, the Three-Floral Elu Cat completely dissipated the remaining impact.

The objective weight difference always required deeper technical accumulation to cope.

”That was quite strong, meow!”

However, the little cat showed no signs of discouragement; instead, it stood with paws on hips, nodding with spirit and adorable praise for its opponent.

”Didn’t expect, meow! That Miss Maria’s figure could have strength like a Hunter!”

Rong Buqiu was referring to the Hunters from the New Continent Expedition Team.

Within the Expedition Team, everyone typically has robust muscle definition, and the Female Hunters’ strong, full thighs, when flexed, are nearly as wide as the waist of a slightly slimmer average woman.

Though a normal person, even with muscles of the same size, could never wield exceedingly heavy weapons with ease. After all, physique is a significant indicator of physical strength.

And Maria from Yan’an, her stature in Rong Buqiu’s eyes appeared as... lacking in exercise.

Like someone with pale skin never touched by sunlight or sweat, even when dressed in complex inner layers, suit vest, and an exterior coat, the build didn’t seem terribly robust.

In Rong Buqiu’s aesthetic shaped by the wild nature, it even seemed a bit unhealthy.

’But the sword wielded by these ’unhealthy’ hands... shows a surprising contrast in power, meow!’

’Is this a strategy of powerful warriors concealing their strengths?’

’—I’m fired up, meow!’

Seeing the small cat slightly puffing up with excitement, and its two tiny cat teeth unconsciously revealed in seriousness, Maria’s calm cheeks suddenly twitched.

The swan feather inserted in the triangular hat swayed: ”I... am a Hunter, after all.”

Nonetheless, Maria spoke while looking down at her hand grasping the Falling Leaves Long Blade.

The hand gripping the blade felt slightly uncoordinated, though very subtle, yet for a hunter of Maria’s caliber, it was no mere illusion.

’Technical reasons?’

Recalling the early stages of the not-too-serious sparring with the Three-Floral Kitten, Maria instantly associated the unique circular sparks from the blade clash with Lann.

During her time in Old Yan’an, she initially guarded against Lann but did not truly confront the Demon Hunter.

Yet she watched Lann’s duel with Ludwig, both wielding Moonlight Swords.

The clash of swords imbued with moonlight, although not producing sparks from steel clash, emitted cyan dust points, dispersing in a similar circular manner.

”An opportunity, meow!”

Seizing the chance as Maria glanced at her hand, Rong Buqiu surged forward with full spirit!

But Maria, delayed by a mere half beat at the start, remained utterly unflustered.

In the blink of an eye!

’Crack,’ the double-headed long blade disassembled into one long and one short sword, and the striking beauty cloaked in a black coat transformed into a wisp of cyan smoke, reappearing two positions aside abruptly!

The blood-red lining inside the cape fluttered in mid-air!

The short sword’s back suddenly struck Rong Buqiu, sending the little cat flying far, tumbling several times before stopping with a bottom-squat posture.

The Embers Knights spectating burst into commotion: ”Huh???”

”Not painful!” But just as it stabilized on its rear, the Three-Floral Elu Cat quickly stood up, adjusting its slightly crooked small helmet, and immediately raised its head defiantly.

’Pat pat,’ two sounds, its small paws patted its tiny armor: ”Dragon Scale made! I’m fine, meow!”

The Embers Knights: ”Oh!!!”

The Embers Knights erupted in cheers, while the passing Qilin huffed disdainfully, exhaling smoke-like heat from its moist big nostrils.

”Hoo-whee~”

The Qilin twisted its long neck, picked a plum from the basket carried by the Embers Knights, rolled its head back to swallow it, and after a moment of lip motion, spat out only the pit.

The lively scene below was watched by the two Demon Hunters above.

”Where did you find this woman?” Geralt tilted his chin, nodding at Maria, who was tipping her triangular hat towards the surrounding knights. ”Look at that swordsmanship... tsk, chills the heart.”

”Just a few touches of the Climbing Carp, and she could sense the discord in hand feel. One wouldn’t achieve such skill without a decade of practice.”

Geralt analyzed the recent exchange between Rong Buqiu and the Female Hunter, explaining it thoroughly.

He was now quite familiar with the Iwami Style, especially since Lann had once taught the techniques to Rong Buqiu and Ciri at Ker Morhan, exchanging a great deal with several Demon Hunters.

”She is an Old Hunter, after all; this isn’t her full strength,” Lann responded casually, ”Isn’t it normal to meet a few friends while traveling to Otherworlds?”

”I was even thinking of asking Maria to help teach Lincoln about swordsmanship or perhaps the Acceleration Technique or something similar.”

Lann shrugged, ”After all, she’s currently in a period of uncertainty, so finding something to do is not a bad idea.”

However, Geralt was focused on another point, ”The Acceleration Technique can be taught?”

The Old Demon Hunter was surprised because, although Lann wasn’t one to keep his techniques to himself, the Acceleration Technique was something he had learned on his own by excessively using the Old Hunter’s Leg Bone, grasping it with his own mind and body.

He can’t figure out how to teach it to others, nor does he have much energy to ponder it.

Maria, on the other hand, was different. She was legitimately the creator of the Acceleration Technique, taught hand-to-hand by the First Hunter in Yan’an.

At the high platform by the tower entrance, leaning against the railing, Lann turned to finish speaking to Geralt, ready to go down and discuss with Maria.

But then he saw that Lincoln was already heading over to speak to the Female Hunter.

He chuckled softly and patted Geralt’s shoulder, ”Seems I don’t need to worry; they have a strong desire to learn. Come on, we should start preparing the potions.”

The two Demon Hunters turned and went back inside the tower.

Maria, who had just finished her morning exercise with Rong Buqiu, also noticed the warmly smiling Lincoln approaching her.

This young man... appears to be Lann’s secretary?

Even though Maria was from the nostalgic Blood Race of Cainhurst, the military system of the Magical Middle Ages was too distant for them, far less enticing than the allure of blood.

Thus, Maria couldn’t quite figure out Lincoln’s identity and position within the castle.

As she was considering how to greet him, Lincoln had already walked up to her.

Maria could only quietly look down at him.

Lincoln was now 1.8 meters tall, but to the tall, noble Blood Race Female Hunter, this was still a height to look down upon.

”Greetings, Lady Maria,” Lincoln fluently addressed the taller-than-him, counting the hat, a whole head taller Female Hunter, smilingly conversing, ”I’m the secretary of the Embers Knight Order and Lann’s attendant.”

Maria nodded to him, adjusting her hat.

”Actually, yesterday, my lord already briefed me,” Lincoln said, patting the strap of the large notepad slung over his shoulder, ”He mentioned you are here to rest and recuperate, and we are deeply honored and welcoming.”

”Wow!” Rong Buqiu sat by Maria’s feet, exclaiming, ”So you’re actually not feeling well right now, meow? That makes you quite the formidable warrior, Maria!”

”No, my rest has nothing to do with my physical condition; it’s just to eliminate any hidden dangers,” the Female Hunter first explained to the small cat sitting at her feet and then looked at Lincoln.

”I see,” Lincoln said, as if just learning the news, though his face showed no surprise, still smiling warmly, ”Well, a rest requires regular activity, too. I noticed your Long Blade resembles ours slightly...”

He said this while pressing his elven Long Blade at his waist, demonstrating the blade held by just a wide leather strap, shown sideways without a scabbard to Maria.

The long blade had smooth lines, its design generally similar. Unless it was a divine-made armament like Aron Dite, designed personally by the God of Craftsmanship in the Ardan World, minor differences wouldn’t matter much.

Previously, Lann had hinted to Maria that if she could teach his knights casually, it would be best.

So this time, Maria naturally understood and was not opposed to it.

Back in Yan’an, she often guided the novice hunters, which is why Henrik still remembered her even decades later, unable to forget this ’dead person.’

Meanwhile, as Maria had already internally agreed, Lincoln continued chattering.

Like he was saying, ’We were originally a bunch of rough folks, Sintra People have this kind of personality.’

’We used to prefer hammers and axes over swords, similar to the Skellige Islands.’

’When the war occurred, led by the lord, we charged through, and many among us became obsessed with greatswords.’

’Unfortunately, even if we exerted all our strength practicing relentlessly, we couldn’t learn anything noteworthy, and instead, several injured themselves swinging the swords uncontrollably.’

’Now we see things clearly, it’s better to start with the Long Blade.’

Maria only nodded politely at other things he said, as courtesy, rather than genuine interest.

Until Lincoln’s last sentence.

”You mentioned... a war?” Maria looked down at the young secretary, ”He led you into a war?”

Speaking, the Female Hunter turned her head, her eyes under the brim shadow observed the castle’s main tower, then glanced down at the obedient Rong Buqiu licking its little paws.

”Meow?” The small cat tilted its head in confusion and quickly gestured, ”Don’t look at me, meow; back then, I hadn’t become a Companion Cat yet. I don’t know what’s going on.”

”That’s right, right. Lord Rong Buqiu hadn’t arrived back then,” Lincoln agreed from the side. Seeing Maria’s curious gaze, his polite smile grew even warmer.

”Only we old fellows experienced it personally. Are you interested in hearing the story?”