Zyric had a lot to learn about fighting, and the training ground seemed like the perfect place to begin.
"By the way, you're much older than me, and you already have a Fuzan Vault. So, do you have a beast?" Zyric asked, looking at Edgar and Edward.
Hearing the question, Prince Edward extended his hand. Before long, thick fur began growing all over it, and his hand gradually transformed into a monster-like claw.
The beast resided inside Prince Edward's Fuzan Vault. By combining its genes with his own, the prince could transform his hand into that claw.
Judging by its appearance, Zyric could only guess what kind of beast it belonged to and what the creature might look like.
"This isn't even as powerful as you might think," Prince Edward told Zyric.
"By the way, I've been thinking about the trouble that's coming our way," Edgar muttered.
"You mean Prince Ralph's father, right? I've heard that the king of the Wolf Tribe is extremely powerful. He's currently away trying to tame a beast, so he probably doesn't even know what's happened yet. And the beast he's gone to tame is truly terrifying and powerful," Edgar said to Edward.
"But there's no point worrying about it right now. Living in fear won't do us any good. Let's focus on training for now," Prince Edward replied.
After that, Prince Edward, Prince Edgar, and Zyric arrived at a large room where Elysia was already present.
As soon as Zyric entered, he saw an enormous training ground stretching out before him. The ground was covered in dirt, and the entire place was truly impressive.
"A training ground this big inside a palace?" Zyric exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. All our soldiers and we princes practise here," Edgar explained.
Zyric nodded in understanding.
A wide variety of weapons was arranged around the training ground. Swords, spears, bows and arrows—everything was available.
Zyric walked over to a sword and picked it up. However, he couldn't hold it properly. He swung it once, trying to figure out how to attack with it.
The moment he swung the sword forward, it slipped out of his hands and flew into the air before heading straight back toward him.
Zyric immediately stepped backward. If the sword had hit him, it could have seriously injured him.
"Oh, my God! What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? You'll end up killing yourself before you even get a chance to kill an enemy!" Edgar exclaimed with a laugh.
Zyric picked up the sword again and returned it to its original place. The handle wasn't suitable for his grip, as the sword was probably designed for adults.
He carefully selected another sword that he could hold properly.
After that, Edgar and Edward began practising with each other.
Not wanting to get in their way, Zyric moved aside. Elysia was standing nearby as well.
"By the way, Princess, do you know any sword techniques? I mean, you can't just swing a sword around randomly, right? There must be a proper way to use one. Who taught you? Or, if you know how, could you teach me?" Zyric asked, looking at Elysia.
In response, Elysia looked him up and down as though he had just asked the most childish question imaginable.
Zyric couldn't understand why she was staring at him like that.
Then Elysia pointed in a particular direction.
Zyric followed her gesture and saw a strange poster with some words written on it.
The Art of the Sword!
"What is this?" Zyric asked.
Elysia looked him up and down once again, as though she were looking at a strange person.
Zyric didn't even know the basics of swordsmanship, even though everyone else seemed to consider them common knowledge.
The poster described the principles of swordsmanship. It explained that to learn this art, one must connect the sword with oneself and move it as naturally as one's own hands.
"Oh, so that's how it works," Zyric murmured.
The first principle of swordsmanship was to focus on your opponent's hands rather than their sword.
The second principle was to consider the sword a part of your own hands rather than treating it as something separate.
The third principle was that even if you became unarmed, you must never think you were powerless without a sword. You yourself were a weapon.
Finally, once you had completely mastered the art of the sword, you and your sword would become one.
Zyric looked at the sword in his hand and smiled.
Let's see if I can master this!