Kili no longer remembered how the battle between Teacher Arthur and Sir Bernal ended. He only knew that his eyes could no longer catch sight of the two figures until the sound of sword clashing against sword suddenly stopped, and one of the knight's greatswords flew out, rolling onto the lush ground.
Who won?
Kili quickly looked over, only to find Teacher Arthur and Bernal's figures overlapping, making it impossible to tell whose weapon had been struck down.
Arthur and Bernal did not make the spectators wait long; they quickly separated. Arthur's knight's greatsword was still in his hand, while Bernal's hand was now empty of a weapon.
"Victory is decided! Elden Lord Arthur has defeated Quasi-Lord Bernal! Let us cheer for Arthur, Your Majesty, and let us applaud Bernal for his courage in challenging the Elden Lord!"
Nepheli Loux shouted loudly, bringing an end to the duel.
Fili and Kili were the first to excitedly applaud and cheer for the magnificent duel.
The surrounding Golden Lineage followed closely with cheers, while the Elves elegantly clapped their hands softly.
Bernal did not show any signs of anger or displeasure; instead, he was satisfied with the exhilarating battle.
His only dissatisfaction was probably that this was the ninth time he had lost to Arthur. He sighed, "I didn't expect you to still know that Blood-Spoken Knight's Hound-Step. I thought you, specializing in Glintstone Magic, wouldn't be good at close combat. I miscalculated."
Because of Bernal's misjudgment, thinking that Arthur couldn't handle his close-quarters attacks, he slightly relaxed his guard on his back. As a result, the opponent seized the opportunity to instantly appear behind him using the Hound-Step Battle Skill.
Although Bernal reacted quickly by blocking Arthur's attack with his knight's greatsword behind him, it was a moment when old strength had faded and new strength had not yet arisen. The hand that couldn't swing the greatsword in time was struck by the premeditating Arthur, and the sword hilt slipped from his grasp.
Arthur, on the other hand, sheathed his knight's greatsword, smiled, and humbly said, "I merely tried learning various styles to pass the time. In terms of swordsmanship alone, I am indeed slightly inferior to you. You merely lost to the unknown. Moreover, you still have your world devouring scepter, don't you?"
Bernal shook his head and self-deprecatingly said, "A true enemy on the battlefield wouldn't voluntarily reveal their full hand to their opponent. I lost, and that's that; I'm simply not as skilled. There's no need to make excuses for me. Besides, counting this time, I've already lost to you nine times, and it has nothing to do with the world devouring scepter."
At this point, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed. Nepheli Loux picked up the knight's greatsword that had fallen to the ground and walked over to return it to Arthur.
Arthur took it, weighed it a few times, and then inserted the knight's greatsword into its sheath before handing it to Bernal: "I still prefer you when you use a greatsword, Bernal."
Bernal was not polite, taking the knight's greatsword and hanging it on his back, replying, "My sorceress also likes how I look when I wield a sword... Never mind, let's not talk about those trivial matters. Aren't you going to call those two dwarves who are still unwilling to leave over?"
Arthur, reminded by Bernal, noticed that Fili and Kili were still standing in place, not leaving like the other dispersing spectators.
So he waved to the two, signaling them to come over.
Fili gently pushed Kili's back, urging him to follow, and the two dwarves came together before Arthur and Bernal, looking up at them with admiring eyes.
Arthur said to Fili and Kili, "I think Nepheli Loux has already introduced him to you. This is the Battle Skill teacher I found for you. You just witnessed his strength. Even if you only learn ten percent of his techniques, it will be enough to make Thorin look at you with new eyes."
This was also why Arthur did not use Glintstone Magic to fight Bernal; allowing Bernal to fully display his swordsmanship was one of the purposes of Arthur's duel.
Moreover, during his duel with Bernal, Arthur also understood why Nepheli Loux recommended him as Fili and Kili's teacher.
Although Nepheli Loux herself was skilled in combat and used a battle-axe, a weapon favored by dwarves, she did not use Prayers in battle.
If it were to teach a dwarf like Dwalin, who didn't use Prayers, Nepheli Loux felt there would be no problem teaching them. Even if she wasn't good at verbal instruction, she could make up for it with practical combat.
But when she heard Arthur ask her to teach Fili and Kili, she immediately remembered that these two dwarves had systematically learned Prayers with Arthur.
If they were only taught axe-wielding and not how to integrate Prayers into their respective fighting styles, it would clearly be a waste of their talent for Fili and Kili.
Fili and Kili then bowed to Bernal in unison and shouted, "Teacher Bernal!"
Bernal raised his hand to stroke his chin, then walked over and pressed hard on Fili and Kili's shoulders a few times.
Fili and Kili, however, felt a strange force coming from their shoulders, as if trying to push them down. Subconsciously, their legs pushed back with force, only slightly swaying their bodies.
"Hmm, very sturdy bodies. I can tell you two have been training diligently," Bernal released his hands, ending a small test, and evaluated his two new students. At least his first impression of them wasn't bad.
If Fili and Kili had been pressed to the ground by him just now, Bernal would have to first consider how to train the stability of these two dwarves' lower bodies.
Arthur then said with a smile, "I already told you, trust the dwarves' mastery of their body balance. Your little trick just now wouldn't trouble Fili and Kili."
Bernal glanced at Arthur and said, "How I teach my apprentices is my business, don't interfere."
Arthur shrugged, then asked, "By the way, do you still have your red dew holy grail bottle with you?"
Bernal pulled out an exquisite transparent bottle from somewhere, filled with red liquid, which occasionally flashed with a hint of golden light.
Arthur then nodded: "Then I have no more questions. Just remember to feed them the grace dew from the bottle in time. To replenish it, just put it in the Erdtree's courtyard for half an hour. As long as nothing happens to them, you can teach them however you want."
Bernal put away the red dew holy grail bottle and replied, "I understand."
Fili and Kili blinked together, the dwarf brothers still in the dark, not understanding the meaning of the conversation between Arthur and Bernal.
Bernal waved to Arthur and said, "Anyway, I'm free right now, so there's no time like the present to start teaching. If you're free, go help me and my new apprentices find a quiet, uncrowded, and spacious courtyard. If you're busy, go do your work."
"Then come with me; the military training ground within Stormveil Castle is quite suitable."
Arthur didn't mind Bernal's words, because he knew Bernal was actually eager to pass on his Battle Skills. In this regard, Bernal was always so enthusiastic.
Arthur, familiar with the route, led them to the area within Stormveil Castle where the Banished Knights and Exiled Soldiers resided. The two Exiled Soldiers wrapped in dark red cloaks, who were on guard duty, bowed to Arthur and Nepheli Loux respectively, then actively moved aside the chevaux de frise at the main entrance for them.
After they entered, Nepheli Loux parted ways with Arthur and the others, heading to another training ground, where she would check on the Exiled Soldiers' training progress.
After all, Nepheli Loux was now the Storm King, and the Exiled Soldiers were her direct army, not just under Arthur's temporary command like the Kingrick Royal Army had been before.
Arthur led the remaining three people to a relatively secluded training ground and stopped.
The afternoon sun's rays pierced through the clouds, scattering across the field.
Inside the adjacent armory, armor and blades were neatly arranged, gleaming with a cold light.
Arthur cast encouraging glances at Fili and Kili, saying, "Fili, Kili, good luck! Bernal is an excellent teacher; he even taught me. I look forward to the day you graduate."
Fili replied very politely, "We will not disgrace you, Teacher Arthur."
Kili said confidently, "That's right, Teacher Arthur! Fili and I will definitely work hard to learn Battle Skills!"
Bernal couldn't help but smile upon hearing the dwarves' energetic and enthusiastic voices.
Arthur nodded, "Hmm, I'll arrange for someone to prepare your resting rooms."
But before he left, he stopped again, looking at Bernal's smiling expression, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating, and finally admonished Bernal, "Don't scare Fili and Kili; rein it in a bit."
"Got it, got it, you don't need to worry. Just remember to prepare some meat for their dinner," Bernal said.
Arthur only left with peace of mind after seeing Bernal nod.
"Why did Teacher Arthur say Teacher Bernal would scare us?"
Fili and Kili exchanged bewildered glances.
Bernal clapped his hands, drawing Fili and Kili's attention to himself. His aged face broke into a hearty smile, as if he had grown several years younger.
He laughed loudly and said, "Alright, without further ado, let's start now! It's Battle Skill teaching time!"
"Why does Teacher Bernal suddenly seem like a different person, becoming so excited?" Fili thought to himself, while quietly asking Kili, "Do you feel like anything's off?"
Kili looked over with a blank expression, "Huh?"
"Never mind." Fili immediately understood that he couldn't rely on his younger brother when he saw his expression.
So Fili suppressed the slight unease rising in his heart and waited with Kili for Bernal's next move.
Bernal, smiling, looked the dwarves up and down and said, "Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Bernal..."
Fili and Kili immediately introduced themselves.
"Fili, at your service."
"Kili, also at your service."
Bernal, however, raised his hand with a smile and interrupted, "Wait, wait, I know you two are excited because you're learning Battle Skills, but I'm still speaking!"
"Wait, wait, the excited one seems to be you! And this should already be called hyperactive, you're even swaying with joy!"
Fili looked at Bernal with some surprise, but Kili was slower to react and showed an apologetic expression.
He felt that he really shouldn't have interrupted Bernal.
Bernal also seemed to realize he was overly excited, so he calmed himself down.
He took down the knight's greatsword from his back, resting the tip of the scabbard on the ground, and continued, "I only know how to use a sword, and I've poured all my heart into Battle Skills. So, I really want to pass on Battle Skills, to people like Arthur."
Then Bernal smiled, looking down at Fili and Kili, "But passing them on to you two is also good."
Fili blinked, trying to guide the conversation in the right direction, and asked, "So when do we start learning Battle Skills?"
Bernal burst into laughter, walking towards the armory in the training ground, rummaging through the weapons, and loudly declared, "Good! So, where do we begin teaching?"
He seemed unable to find a suitable weapon in the armory and walked back, but Bernal seemed to have made up his mind.
So he looked at the dwarves, patted his chest, and his beast-hide armor made a crisp sound as he said, "Fili, Kili, you two come and punch me and see."
"Huh?"
Fili and Kili were both stunned, not expecting Bernal to say such a thing.
Bernal did not pick up the knight's greatsword that was stuck in the ground. Instead, he crossed his arms in front of his chest in a defensive stance and said, "Don't worry, I won't fight back. Just attack, don't be polite!"
Fili hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded along with his brother Kili, saying, "Then we won't be polite!"
The two of them charged at Bernal. Since Bernal wasn't using his knight's greatsword, Fili and Kili also didn't draw their weapons, but raised their fists instead.
Bernal stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the two dwarves charging towards him.
Due to their height, Fili, halfway through his sprint, moved behind Kili, and Kili, with great synergy, used Fili's help to jump to a height even greater than Bernal's, then brought his fist down.
A glint flashed in Bernal's eyes, and then his entire body suddenly shook.
"Thud!"
But the scene Kili imagined of Bernal blocking his fist did not occur. Instead, there was a dull thud as his fist solidly struck Bernal's right cheek.
However, Bernal's body did not move, nor did his head shake. It seemed he had taken Kili's full-force punch head-on.
Fili, behind Kili, immediately widened his eyes and covered his mouth. Kili also landed on the ground, rolled to Fili's side, and stood up, with a similarly surprised expression on his face.
Fili whispered urgently, "Why did you actually punch Teacher Bernal in the face!?"
Kili's eyes held innocence and bewilderment, "I thought he would block it."
Fili whispered again, "But you used too much force. Look, your own fist is red. I bet a few of Teacher Bernal's teeth are going to fly out."
Now Kili didn't dare to speak either, looking nervously at Bernal.
"Hahaha, don't worry, I did it on purpose!" Bernal's laughter drew the dwarves' attention once again.
Fili quickly apologized, "Sorry, Teacher Bernal, we were too rough."
Bernal, however, said, "I told you, it was on purpose. Look closely at my face, at the spot where I was just hit."
Fili and Kili looked over. The spot where Bernal had just been hit hard by Kili's punch was only slightly red. It looked like the damage he sustained was not as severe as the injury to Kili's own fist.
Fili instantly turned to Kili, "Did you not use force just now? Or did you not eat enough?"
Kili glared back in dissatisfaction, "I ate two more pieces of cheese than you at lunch! And are you telling me to use force or not to use force?"
Clearly, both Fili and Kili understood that the injury on Bernal's face should not have been so light.
Bernal raised his hand and gently touched his right cheek, grinning as he said, "That just now was the Battle Skill [Endurance]."
Fili and Kili couldn't help but exclaim simultaneously, "Endurance!?"
Then Fili asked in disbelief, "Endurance? Can that really be considered a Battle Skill?"
Kili also nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, it seems no different from just taking a beating."