24 Saber Enlightenmen (2/2)
The guards at the exit saluted the royal couple.
When Zelea came across a servant, she raised her hand to draw the girl's attention.”Prepare for our arrival at the bathhouse,” she ordered.
”Yes, Princess!” the girl bowed and scurried off.
The lamia leisurely strolled through the pathways of the palace to give more time for the servants to prepare.Princess Zelea arrived at the bathhouse approximately fifteen minutes later.
A group of attendants waited at the entrance.They bowed deeply and opened the door for the royal couple to enter.
Just like last time, the attendants led each guest to a separate table and helped Zelea and Koji disrobe.Each person received a relaxing massage for approximately twenty minutes.However, Koji did not get a happy ending this time.Then the patron received a thick towel to cover their naked body and entered the pool.
Koji followed Zelea across the water and finally settled on a spot furthest away from the attendants.The couple sat next to each other and leaned their backs against the wall.
After a few minutes of quiet relaxation, the bond keeper spoke up.”Koji, can you read your menu screen aloud?” Zelea requested politely.The information on a person's menu was highly confidential, and only the owner can retrieve his menu report.Thus, she asked him directly to retrieve this information.
Koji immediately called up the Menu screen, and read aloud:
”Name: Koji Adalwin Becker
Age: 19
Power: 8,000
Qi: 4,000
Rank: 5
Skills: Di-Mak Martial Arts Tier 3 (4/10)
Wing Chun Martial Arts Tier 3 (9/10)
Body Refinement Tier 3 (9/10)
Indominable Spirit Tier 2 (2/10)
Qi Perception Tier 2 (6/10)
Hurricane Kick Tier 1 (8/10)
Saber Proficiency Tier 2 (9/10)”
Zelea's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing the report.The last time she checked, Koji was at the Fourth Rank.The Rank reflects a person's overall skill and experience.For the First Rank, a person must achieve an accumulative ten points in any ability.The Second Rank requires an additional twenty points beyond the previous ten.The Third Rank requires thirty more points, and so forth.
Furthermore, Tier 1 and 2 were considered the Beginner-Tier in a skill or proficiency.Tier 3, 4, and 5 were Intermediate-Tiers which required further enlightenment.Tier 6 through 8 were Advanced-Tiers; Tier 9 and 10 were Expert-Tiers.Anything above Tier 10 was a Master in the art.For a young person like Koji to reach Rank 5, this was considered an outstanding achievement.
Furthermore, the princess was astounded by Koji's weapon proficiency in the Saber.He started learning the sword only a half-week ago.But now, he was on the cusp of entering the Intermediate-Tier in Saber!If the guards learn of this, they will protest to the gods for this unfair favoritism!
Koji saw the weird expression on her face, and he became concerned.”Is something wrong, Zelea?” he asked, interrupting her train of thought.
”Haha,” she laughed nervously.”No, nothing's wrong.Why would there be anything wrong?”
The Bonder knew she wasn't truthful to him.But Koji declined to press her on the matter.He tactfully changed the topic.”What is the relationship between the lamias and centaurs?” he inquired.
Zelea was startled by the question.”What do you mean?”
”I'm your husband and part of the Royal Family of Nephosia, right?” he asked.
”Yes,” she nodded.
”Are we in conflict with whatever country Mylia represents?”
”Oh, you mean Sinys?Um, we have no enmity with them,” Zelea answered.
Koji was relieved at this answer because he wished to learn saber techniques from Mylia.If centaurs and lamias were enemies, then he would have to decline her offer to provide him pointers.