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Louis realized that Niflheim now existed in two places at once: in front of him in her physical form, and inside his Fantasy Heart in an ethereal form.
"I have placed upon you a Sword Heart Will, a fragment of my Divine Consciousness."
"That's a thing?"
"Beings of my level can easily divide their Consciousness and plant fragments, Wills, upon living and non-living beings."
"I see..."
"And very easily, at your level, I could freeze you and kill you if I pleased."
"...?!"
"But I won't do that. However, remember our vow. If you do not fulfill it, that will happen to you."
"...Hah, fine."
Unlike the talkative, annoying talking swords William had seen in all sorts of fictional media, Niflheim possessed an incredibly serious and stoic personality. She was cold like her own components and never backed down from her words.
"So I'll have a talking sword inside my heart from now on?" Louis wondered.
"You could say that. I will help you and instruct you from here. However, to settle down properly, I need at least a week. This technique could be easily done if I had a wielder, but because Tisha is... no longer with us, doing it alone takes more time."
"Understood... Then see you in a week, Niflheim."
"Hm."
Niflheim's consciousness entered a deep slumber. Louis glanced at her physical form, not daring to touch her since he knew he was not chosen, and walked away.
"In three years I'll die if I don't make Anastasia a Sword Master... but even if I don't fulfill the condition and die, I'll return... I suppose even when I hate the idea of giving up and dying just to return, I have already adapted it as part of my own common sense," Louis thought. "I really thought 'it doesn't matter because I can return if I die,' didn't I? Hah..."
There was nothing Louis hated more than his overreliance on that disgusting monster inside his soul that allowed him to return back in time.
But at this point, he could do little about it.
Until the moment he grew strong enough to resist his fate through sheer power, this was how Louis would continue to advance.
"It's better if I don't overthink things, unless I want a Heart Demon to appear..."
Heart Demons were entities born from a person's subconscious, a new phenomenon that emerged with the advent of Fantasium into the world. Louis' schizophrenia already carried the risk of creating a Heart Demon, which could develop into an alternate personality that might devour him and replace him, turning him into an even more unhinged being.
Sometimes it could be worse: a Heart Demon could devour its host entirely, mutating them into Grievances that brought calamity to humanity. But perhaps because Niflheim's Sword Heart Will now stabbed his Fantasy Heart, it would be difficult for Heart Demons to consume him.
Louis decided not to pursue the matter of Anastasia for the time being. Pressing her now would seem unnatural and forceful, something he did not want to be. He knew the girl was going through a great deal and would need a long time to recover. So he chose to take a break for now and spend the rest of the month preparing to meet Agustina in her territory and help her with the problems with her crops.
He also wanted to meet her mother personally. She was a Spirit Craftsman, and he hoped to purchase Spirit Artifacts from her, or perhaps even learn a bit about her own Unique Cultivation Methods, which combined Alchemy, Blacksmithing, and Spirit Magic.
He would not be idle either. With so many reforms and other matters, he spent the rest of the week working to improve his country while continuing his Cultivation and Martial Arts training with Robert, Catrise, Zorba, Mirai, and now Helena, who had joined the castle and become a more active and present figure among the royal family.
Once a week had passed, his date with Mirai finally arrived. Something he mostly wanted to finish quickly, yet a promise he had to fulfill.
He and Mirai shared date plans and eventually agreed to visit the Dragon Garden Plaza, the largest park in the capital. It was a great garden filled with flowers and spirit trees where families gathered to enjoy spring and summer together.
Around the park stood many restaurants, so Mirai and Louis decided to come here today. The prince would naturally attract a great deal of attention, especially if seen going out with a girl, so Louis concealed his identity using special magical accessories to turn his hair black and make his horns invisible.
Even then, he looked far too handsome and drew too much attention while waiting for Mirai in the park. He looked around at the families enjoying their day; many girls gave him glances, and a few even approached him.
"Excuse me, are you out alone? Are you waiting for someone?"
"Wanna hang out with us?"
"I am busy. Leave."
However, his cold remarks and unkind voice quickly made most of them cringe and walk away while insulting him.
"Hmph."
He crossed his arms and waited, tapping his wrist while gazing at the sky. Though it seemed he was doing nothing, he was actually conversing with Niflheim.
Right now, he was learning about the various Realms of Swordsmanship, the possible Sword Methods he could learn, and what he could teach Anastasia.
"With your current weak physique and your lack of swordsmanship talent, you probably cannot even begin with the most basic Sword Breathing Method."
"Are you kidding me? How strong do I even need to be?! I've been training nonstop every day..."
"At least twice as strong as you are now."
"This is bullshit! Teach me the methods anyway. It doesn't matter if I die as long as I can learn something!"
"You're too stubborn. If you die, what will become of Anastasia? I cannot let you die."
"Tsk, just do it. I possess an ability that can help me go beyond my limits even if I die. I'll stay alive for some minutes. As it grows stronger, I've been able to extend the time to almost ten minutes. Though afterward I have to wait until the next day, but even then..."
"I know about that. I've seen you foolishly creating some bizarre unique method you cultivate every day, only for the method to scatter and for you to receive a backlash that would usually kill you."
"That's my personal project. Don't mind that. More importantly, at the very least explain the basics to me. I want to grasp something... My entire life I've been denied strength. Now that I can finally attain it, are you also going to deny me everything? The very reason I asked for your help is this!"
"..."
Niflheim sighed for a moment and then decided to go along with the mad prince.
"Very well. But if you ever dare die on me, I will make sure to haunt your next life."
"Hah... fine."
As Louis smiled while waiting for Mirai, Niflheim began to explain the Foundation for Sword Cultivators: the Sword Breathing Method.
Niflheim's voice echoed coldly within Louis' Fantasy Heart, each word carrying the weight of ancient discipline.
"Sword Breathing is the foundation of all sword cultivation. Without it, you cannot even begin to touch Sword Aura. It is not merely inhaling and exhaling, it is aligning your breath with the rhythm of the blade, with the pulse of Heaven and Earth, and with the Essence of Mana."
Louis frowned, leaning against the plaza's fountain as families passed by. "So it's just breathing? I've done countless breathing exercises already."
"No," Niflheim corrected sharply. "This is different. Sword Breathing is the act of forging your body into a sheath for the blade. Each breath tempers your meridians, sharpens your senses, and refines your intent. Done properly, your heartbeat will synchronize with the edge of the sword, and your soul will begin to resonate with killing intent."
Louis' eyes narrowed. "Killing intent... I already have plenty of that."
"Yours is scattered. Chaotic. Sword Breathing refines it into precision. A Sword Master does not waste intent—they cut only when necessary, and every cut is absolute."
Louis clenched his fists, imagining Anastasia wielding Niflheim one day. "So this is what I have to teach her... and master myself."
"Correct. But understand this: Sword Breathing is not a technique you learn in a day. It is a lifelong foundation. If Anastasia cannot master it within the first year, she will never reach Sword Master in three."
Louis clicked his tongue. "Then I'll make sure she learns it. Even if I have to break her bones and rebuild them stronger."
"Do not mistake cruelty for discipline," Niflheim warned. "Her spirit is fragile now. If you force her, she will shatter. You must guide her, not crush her. Understood, Prince?"
Louis fell silent, staring at the sky. He hated being reminded of patience, but he knew Niflheim was right.
Just then, Mirai arrived. Her hair was tied neatly with a ribbon, and she wore a simple but elegant dress. She spotted Louis immediately, her eyes lighting up. "Prince Louis! Sorry I'm late!"
Louis straightened, his cold demeanor softening slightly. "Yes, you are indeed late. You made the Prince of this country wait all this time. Who do you think you are?"
Mirai panicked and began sweating profusely. "I'm so sorry..."
Louis rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "I'll let it slide because you've worked hard serving this country, but I won't be so lenient next time. Let's go."
Mirai smiled brightly and walked beside him as they entered the Dragon Garden Plaza. The scent of blooming spirit trees filled the air, and children ran past laughing. For a moment, Louis felt the weight of his vow, his cultivation, and his endless struggle ease.
But Niflheim's voice lingered in his mind as he continued talking with her within his Fantasy Heart.
"The Sword Breathing Method has three steps. First: wield a sword. I can replace a physical blade for you. Imagine yourself, inside your mind, not your body, wielding me. The second step is swinging your sword. Align the swing of your sword with your own breath. And the last and third step: sheathing. After ten consecutive swings with aligned breathing, sheath your sword and rest, letting the Sword Energy generated settle within your body."
Louis exhaled slowly. His chest tightened as he tried to align his breath with the rhythm Niflheim described. It was harder than he expected. His lungs burned, his heart raced, and his aura flickered erratically. Inside his Fantasy Heart, he held Niflheim and swung her, managing ten swings before sheathing her into an imaginary sheath.
At this point, he looked rather feverish, worrying Mirai. "Are you okay?"
Louis forced a faint smile. "I'm fine. Just... practicing something."
"Practicing something? Come on, please just concentrate on our date... You promised to spend some time with me..." Mirai said, growing a little annoyed.
"Fine..." Louis released the breathing method for now. "Where do you want to go first, Mirai?"
"I've always wanted to eat in a restaurant, and I'm feeling pretty hungry because I skipped breakfast..." Mirai said. "What about you, Prince Louis?"
"I am not particularly hungry nor satisfied..." Louis answered plainly.
"Hmm, okay. Let's walk around first. This is my first time visiting this place..." Mirai's red eyes shone brightly as she looked around, fascinated by the view.
This was the beauty that the Frostbane Kingdom had to offer, something Mirai had not seen before and that Louis had long forgotten. It eased his worries, if only for a brief moment.
This was the country his mother had built over a post-apocalyptic landscape, a sanctuary where families could once more laugh and people could enjoy the simple, ordinary life once thought long lost.
This was peace. The peace Louis was striving to protect. The peace his mother had taught him was the most precious thing a ruler could offer their people.
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