Volume 2 Chapter 19 (1/2)

Silent War

Turning to look at the trees, he saw a fahting an invisible enemy

Thrust, parry, forward, back, Cainsword reflected sunlight so dazzlingly, it was as though he was slicing cleanly through the air around hiued by his skilled an to approach, but before he had taken two steps the knight stopped Suddenly, he turned and pointed his blade toward the elf;

“For a warrior like you to approachme?” Cain’s eyes were closed, and he spoke with a meditative expression

Ellen smiled and silently took a few steps to the side, but Cain ned with the elf

Ellen thought for a ht before closing in

As though he had eyes in the back of his head, Cain didn’t turn and si directly at the elf

“How are you doing that?”

“Perception s within a certain distance, especially if they have ical attributes” Cain still didn’t open his eyes

“So you can see even in the dark, or when so my eyes helps me focus”

“A useful skill indeed,” Ellen nodded “If you’re free, could you explain the ic you learned when you were a paladin?”

“I’d be happy to, Captain,” Cain opened his eyes “But are you sure you don’t want to fight first?”

“Not a chance!” Ellen laughed “If it were a long-distance fight, I could beat you without even touching you, but if I let you get close it’ll be my loss”

“Then, letabout it, and although there’s no way to recover your reduced ical resistance, you canphysically, and actively strengthening your defensive abilities Even if you are hit, if you consciously focus on protecting your vitals, you can reduce the dae you take”

“Cain …” the elf looked at him in surprise

“I know elves don’t have e,” Cain smiled “So, would you like to learn a few defensiveht”

“Then I have no reason to refuse,” Ellen smiled “Where do we start?”

“First, let’s have a look at your strength,” the knight handed the elf a sheathed short sword “Come at me!”

It was a quiet battle Between a sheathed short sword and a sword, the sound isn’t harsh even as they’re clashi+ng together Cain was careful not to overpower him, and once he was sure Ellen could withstand his attacks, he shi+fted into a defensive stance

Still, the tension of battle didn’t di for an opportunity to strike, but he could only spot weaknesses just as Cain hid theone before he could react There was no doubt the knight had a disadvantage in agility, but as long as he didn’twill happen if I just keep waiting, Ellen thought, and changed his strategy, attacking lected his defense in the process, and was quickly stopped by Cain’s sword

“One,” Cain said, and withdrew his sword

Ellen understood the ht, then Cain’s sould have killed him once already

Two tiht didn’t say the count Each time it was only the tip, or the broad side of the blade, and the contact was always gone the next moment But if this were actual combat, every one of them would have been fatal

Ellen didn’t consider hi However, this confidence cruhting was designed to make his opponents panic and to create an opportunity to strike; he didn’t push when he had the upper hand because he aiting for his opponent to expose theht been? Five minutes? Ten minutes?

Cain said he’d go easy on me, but-