Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 438: Spar [Bonus Chapter]

Rachael’s beautiful blue eyes immediately turned toward Finch as she spoke excitedly, ”Big brother, I forgot to tell you, I’ve made huge progress in my training. Do you want to see?” Her tone was filled with extreme excitement, so much so that it was impossible to miss the sparkle dancing within her gaze.

”Of course I would love to,” Finch replied warmly, a smile appearing on his face. ”My beautiful and talented little sister is truly talented.” He wasted no time as he rose from his seat, and with a single gentle motion filled with ease, he lifted Rachael from the table as though she weighed nothing at all, her small frame light in his grasp.

”You will be surprised, big brother,” she said enthusiastically, her voice brimming with confidence. William and Asher also rose from their seats as they proceeded to follow Finch, who was already heading toward one of the training chambers within the Whale Manor. The moment they left the dining area, the maids and butlers immediately got to work, clearing the table with ridiculous efficiency and practiced ease, leaving no trace that a meal had even taken place.

Finch walked ahead while talking cheerfully with his little sister, their conversation light and filled with laughter. Asher and William followed a couple of steps behind with calm ease, merely watching the interaction unfold before them in silence.

”Have you ever seen her train?” Asher suddenly asked, his voice breaking the silence that had settled between him and William as they walked side by side.

William fell into thought for a brief moment before replying. ”I haven’t. I don’t think anybody has, only the Whale family probably has,” he explained calmly. Although he had known Rachael for quite a while, he hadn’t been particularly interested in watching a little girl train. ”Finch usually says she’s the greatest talent the Whale bloodline has ever produced,” he continued, then paused briefly before adding, ”though I believe that’s just the big brother side of him talking. He loves his sister far too much.” He concluded with a small, amused smile.

Asher simply nodded and asked nothing further. Many noble families at the Baron level didn’t possess bloodline abilities at all. The Whale Barony and the Canestane Barony were clear examples, as neither possessed any bloodline ability, unlike the Rivelle Barony, which did. This fact raised a quiet question within Asher’s mind, how could Finch possibly know that Rachael was the greatest talent their bloodline had ever produced if no bloodline ability existed to measure such potential?

Soon enough, they arrived at a different section of the Whale Manor and reached a spacious training chamber. Finch pushed the door open with a single arm, stepping inside with a calm expression, the others following closely behind. The moment they entered, Rachael jumped down from Finch’s grasp and ran toward another door within the chamber, her movements light and eager.

”Where is she going?” William asked, his eyes following Rachael as she ran on her small legs, lifting her dress with both hands to prevent herself from tripping.

”To change,” Finch replied without hesitation. ”After all, she can’t spar while wearing that gown, it’s one of her favorites.” His eyes shifted away from the section of the chamber Rachael had disappeared into, settling instead on Asher. ”I want you to spar with her,” he added calmly.

William and Asher both arched an eyebrow at the same time, confusion evident on their faces.

”Afraid of being defeated by your own genius little sister who hasn’t even awakened yet?” Asher teased with a light smile.

Finch merely shook his head and let out a small laugh. ”You’ll understand when she picks a weapon,” he explained. At those words, Asher’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’Does she use a rapier like me? Or perhaps a weapon considered a direct counter to it?’ he wondered silently.

”No problem then,” Asher said easily. ”Let me see what your talented little sister has up her sleeve.” He agreed without much thought. Truthfully, he had already been curious about sparring with the girl.

”I’m back, big brother! Brother William, Brother Asher!” Rachael’s sweet, childlike voice rang out as she waved energetically while jogging toward them. At this moment, she wore a fitted blue jumpsuit that clung neatly to her body, optimized for maximum movement and agility. Her blue hair had been tied into a single ponytail behind her head, swaying lightly with each step.

”Big brother, are you ready?” she asked as she came to a stop in front of Finch, her eyes shining.

”You won’t be sparring with me as usual,” Finch replied, gesturing toward Asher. ”You’ll be sparring with Brother Asher instead.”

”Brother Asher?” Rachael asked, looking between Finch and Asher in confusion. ”But aren’t you stronger, big brother?”

Finch shook his head calmly. ”This isn’t about who’s stronger,” he explained, lightly flicking her forehead. ”It’s about who can teach you the most at this moment.”

”Urgh... fine,” she muttered while rubbing her forehead. ”At least maybe I’ll get to see why the Wargrave family is said to be one of the strongest.” Her blue eyes shifted toward Asher as she spoke eagerly. ”Let’s go, Brother Asher.”

Asher didn’t argue. He simply followed Rachael toward the center of the training chamber. Suddenly, she halted. ”Ahhh, I forgot my weapon,” Rachael said before jogging toward the weapon rack at the far end of the room. Upon arriving, she pulled out a sword. It wasn’t a wooden practice blade, it was a real sword, capable of cutting flesh and splitting skin open.

In the world of Crymora, or rather, within the Zarethorne Empire, children began training with real weapons from the age of seven. Wooden weapons were only permitted between the ages of five and seven. Though this wasn’t a formal law, it was a standard practice followed without issue, as there had been no recorded incidents of children accidentally killing themselves or severing their own limbs.

Rachael turned and walked back toward Asher with small, steady steps, a wide smile still plastered on her face.

’A rapier,’ Asher noted calmly as his gaze fell upon the weapon in her hand.

”Brother Asher, aren’t you going to take a sparring weapon?” Rachael asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Asher nodded slightly, his eyes shifting toward the weapon rack Rachael had just left. Suddenly, a rapier clattered briefly before lifting into the air, gliding smoothly through space before landing neatly into Asher’s hand.

”Whoa... cool!!!” Rachael muttered in awe as she watched the scene unfold.

Virelass, hanging at Asher’s waist, hummed softly as though questioning why he was holding another rapier in her presence. Asher, however, ignored the jealous weapon entirely.

”At this rate, he might really snatch your sister away from you,” William joked from the side. Finch clicked his tongue lightly. ”Show-off,” he muttered.

”At the count of two, the spar will begin,” Finch’s voice rang out clearly.

”One.”

The moment his voice echoed, the smile vanished from Rachael’s face. Her entire demeanor shifted instantly, the childish persona she had displayed moments earlier disappearing without a trace.

”Two.”

At that word, her small knees dipped forward, and with a single step, she surged ahead with a speed that should have been impossible for someone her age.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: Still need your golden tickets. Thanks for reading.