Chapter 16: The Marquis daughter

The Grand Library of Astral Dominion Academy was enormous.

Kael stood at the entrance and stared at the seemingly endless rows of bookshelves.

They stretched toward the back of the building, disappearing beneath the shadows of the upper floors. Magical lamps floated beneath the ceiling, providing a soft white glow even though sunlight already streamed through the enormous windows.

This place contained almost everything a student could possibly need: magic theory, cultivation techniques, weapon arts, historical records, monster encyclopedias, alchemy, and battle tactics.

Even forbidden techniques were rumored to be hidden somewhere within the academy’s restricted archives.

There was even an entire section dedicated to ancient techniques that had long since fallen out of common use.

Kael had come here for one reason.

He needed a combat technique.

His recent duel with Leon and Seraphina had made that painfully obvious.

His physical foundation had improved considerably since he began Body Refinement. His 4-2-6 Breathing Technique had also become more stable, while the First Principle of the Moonlit Blade had given him an excellent foundation for maximizing the efficiency of his strikes.

But that still wasn’t enough. His biggest problem was painfully simple. He didn’t actually have a proper combat technique.

Unlike the protagonist of Eclipse Hearts, Kael couldn’t simply select a class and unlock an entire skill tree.

The game’s system had been designed around the protagonist. Everything had been conveniently arranged for the player.

Kael sighed.

"Must be nice."

He walked toward the combat section.

In the game, things had been ridiculously simple.

Choose a class.

Get a skill tree.

Pick abilities.

Level up.

Repeat.

That was basically the whole process.

"Yeah, well..."

Kael looked around the massive library.

"I don’t have that luxury anymore."

He pulled a manual from the shelf.

[Flame Lion Sword Art.]

Kael opened it and quickly skimmed through the first few pages.

Powerful technique.

Strong offensive capabilities.

Unfortunately, it required fire affinity.

He put it back.

"Next."

He pulled out another.

[Thunder Fang Swordsmanship.]

Lightning affinity.

"Nope."

Another book.

[Windwalker Sword Art.]

Exceptional agility and wind affinity.

Kael stared at it for a moment.

"My agility isn’t exactly impressive, either."

Back onto the shelf.

[Iron Mountain Body Technique.]

Unusually strong constitution and earth affinity.

Kael closed the book.

"Definitely not."

He continued searching. The deeper he went into the shelves, the more obvious the problem became.

Most of the powerful techniques weren’t suitable for him.

Some required special bloodlines. Others demanded exceptional attributes, rare elemental affinities, huge mana reserves, or physiques that only appeared once in several generations.

Kael eventually leaned against a bookshelf and rubbed his forehead.

"Seriously? Is there anything here that doesn’t require me to be some kind of chosen one?"

Nothing.

"Apparently not."

Kael sighed.

"This is why being an NPC sucks."

He immediately realized what he had said and glanced around. Fortunately, nobody appeared to have heard him.

He shook his head.

"Whatever."

Then a thought suddenly struck him.

Kael froze.

"Wait."

His eyes widened slightly.

"There is one."

A forgotten combat manual. One that almost every player considered useless.

Kael straightened.

How had he forgotten about it?

He remembered the technique clearly.

It was a Common-grade combat manual hidden inside the old combat archive. Most players who discovered it immediately sold it to an NPC shopkeeper.

It had no flashy effects.

It didn’t increase attributes.

It didn’t summon elemental attacks.

It didn’t produce some ridiculous sword aura that could split mountains in half.

Compared to the other sword techniques in Eclipse Heart, it looked completely ordinary. Actually, calling it ordinary was being generous. Most players considered it trash.

But Kael knew why.

And more importantly, he knew what the technique could eventually become.

"Please tell me they still have it."

He immediately headed toward the rear section of the library.

The old combat archive.

Few students visited this part of the building. Most of the books here were outdated. Some had been replaced by newer techniques, while others had simply fallen out of popularity.

Kael passed several shelves. Then he stopped. There it was. A thin black manual covered in dust.

He pulled it out.

[Returning Tide Sword Manual.]

Kael stared at the title for a few seconds before grinning.

"My memory actually came through."

He opened the book.

The contents matched what he remembered from the game.

Seven basic forms.

There was no elemental requirement, no need for bloodline, special constitution, and exceptional talent. The only real requirement was patience.

Kael flipped through the pages.

"Huh."

He read through the descriptions again. The technique was based on one simple principle.

Use the opponent’s momentum instead of fighting against it.

The first seven forms focused on redirecting attacks, maintaining balance, controlling distance, and turning defense into offense.

The stronger the opponent’s attack, the more useful the technique could become.

Kael’s eyes slowly brightened.

"Now this..."

He smiled.

"This might actually work."

The technique wasn’t weak. It was just difficult to use. Most players judged techniques based on how powerful they looked immediately after learning them.

Kael knew better.

If someone mastered all seven forms and fulfilled certain hidden conditions, the technique could evolve.

The eighth form.

Returning Tide: Endless Current.

Kael couldn’t remember every condition required to unlock it. But he remembered the basic principle.

Continuous adaptation.

The longer the battle continued, the more efficiently the practitioner could redirect attacks.

Kael stared at the manual.

"Yeah."

His grip tightened slightly around the book.

"This is definitely worth trying."

He tucked the manual beneath his arm.

Just as he turned around, he heard footsteps.

Someone was approaching.

Kael glanced toward the corridor.

A young woman appeared between the bookshelves. She wore the standard academy uniform, but unlike most students, there was something unmistakably refined about her.

Her dark golden hair was tied neatly behind her shoulders. Her posture was straight and her expression calm. A small silver hair ornament rested above her ear.

She carried several books against her chest.

Kael recognized her immediately.

Jeannette.

The daughter of Marquis Valerian.

One of the most prominent first-year nobles. And one of the heroines of Eclipse Hearts.

Kael kept his expression neutral.

Of all the people he expected to run into today, she wasn’t exactly on the list. Jeannette stopped when she noticed him. Her eyes immediately moved toward the book beneath his arm. Then toward the shelf behind him.

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

"That manual?"

Kael glanced down at it.

"Yeah."

Jeannette approached.

"You intend to study it?"

"That’s the idea."

She looked at him as if he’d just said something completely unexpected.

"Why?"

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"Not exactly."

She glanced at the manual again.

"That sword technique is considered obsolete."

"I know."

"You know?"

"Yeah."

Jeannette looked slightly surprised.

"Then why choose it?"

Kael paused.

Because he knew the game.

Because he knew exactly what this seemingly useless technique could become.

And because, out of everything he had seen so far, it was one of the few techniques that actually suited his current situation.

Obviously, he couldn’t tell her any of that.

So he gave her the simplest answer.

"It fits me."

Jeannette studied him.

Of course, she knew who Kael was.

Everyone did.

He was the son of Duke Grayford.

Unfortunately, he was also known as the failed noble.

Jeannette tilted her head slightly.

"Ah. Right."

Kael immediately felt that this wasn’t going in a good direction.

"You’re not particularly strong, are you?"

He blinked.

"Wow."

Jeannette looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Kael rubbed the back of his neck.

"You’re just... really direct."

"I prefer facts."

"Yeah. I noticed."

She continued as though his comment hadn’t happened.

"Your physical attributes are below the academy’s upper ranks. You have no notable elemental affinity. Your mana capacity isn’t exceptional either. And your Hero Core is the lowest."

Kael stared at her.

That was one way to introduce yourself.

"Do you normally analyze people like this?"

"When the information is obvious."

Kael couldn’t help laughing.

"Fair enough."

Jeannette glanced at the manual again.

"The Returning Tide Sword focuses on redirection and momentum control."

"Exactly."

"It doesn’t increase attack power."

"I know."

"It won’t solve your lack of strength."

"I know that too."

"Then what are you trying to accomplish?"

Kael shrugged.

"I’ve got to start somewhere."

Jeannette’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You have no better option?"

"Not one that actually fits me."

He tapped the manual against his arm.

"I could pick something flashy, spend months struggling with it, and still end up worse off."

Kael smiled.

"Or I could use something that actually makes sense for me."

It felt like he was being interviewed strictly.

Jeannette was silent for a moment.

"I see."

She moved toward the shelf and pulled out another book.

Kael noticed the title.

Principles of Combat Efficiency.

Interesting.

Apparently, she wasn’t here for swordsmanship.

She was researching combat theory.

That made sense.

Jeannette had always been one of the most analytical characters in Eclipse Heart. She rarely entered a situation without first studying every possible advantage.

Kael glanced at the book in her hands.

"You’re researching combat efficiency?"

Jeannette looked at him.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"The Wilderness Examination."

Kael nodded.

"So it’s that time already."

"Everyone knows about it."

She paused.

"Are you participating?"

"Of course."

Jeannette looked mildly surprised.

"Then you should know that the examination isn’t simply about defeating monsters."

Kael nodded.

"Objectives. Survival. Teamwork. Resource management."

"Correct."

She looked toward the manual in his hand.

"Then perhaps your choice isn’t as strange as I initially thought."

Kael grinned.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"Don’t."

His smile froze.

Jeannette’s expression remained completely serious.

"I merely acknowledge that your choice has some logic."

Kael chuckled.

"Still counts."

Jeannette sighed softly.

For some reason, Kael found their conversation strangely familiar.

He remembered her character from the game.

Jeannette had always been difficult to impress.

She didn’t care about reputation. Nor did she care about flashy techniques? She only cared about results.

That made her both useful and dangerous.

Kael glanced at the books in her arms.

"Anything interesting?"

Jeannette hesitated before handing him one of them.

Kael looked at the title.

[Monster Behavior of the Blackwood Region.]

His expression changed slightly.

"The examination area includes the Blackwood Region?"

"Part of it."

Kael remembered the game.

The Wilderness Examination took place near the outer section of Blackwood Forest. In Eclipse Heart, the area was mostly used as an introductory zone.

The monsters there weren’t particularly powerful.

At least, they weren’t supposed to be. Kael’s expression became thoughtful. Jeannette noticed immediately.

"You know something?"

Kael’s thoughts snapped back to the present.

"No."

His answer came too fast that it sounded suspicious. Jeannette stared at him and Kael cleared his throat.

"I mean, I’ve read about the area before."

She stared at him for second before saying, "I see."

She didn’t sound convinced though. But she didn’t press the issue. Jeannette turned to leave. After taking several steps, however, she stopped.

"One more thing..."

Kael looked over his shoulder.

"What?"

"If you’re serious about the Returning Tide Sword, don’t practice only the forms."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Then what should I do?"

"Find someone stronger than you."

"Someone stronger than me?"

"Yes."

Jeannette’s expression remained calm.

"The technique depends on understanding momentum. You won’t truly understand it by practicing against stationary targets."

Kael stared at her for a moment. Then he smiled.

"That’s actually pretty good advice."

Jeannette glanced at him.

"Obviously."

Kael laughed.

"Okay, don’t let it go to your head."

She gave him a strange look before turning away. Kael watched her disappear between the shelves.

The daughter of a Marquis.

One of the heroines.

And now...

Someone he’d encountered much earlier than he expected. He couldn’t help but find the situation strange.

In Eclipse Heart, meeting the heroines had always been part of the protagonist’s story.

But this time, things were different. He wasn’t the protagonist. He was Kael. An NPC who was never supposed to matter this much.

Kael shook his head.

"Three heroines already."

He immediately stopped.

"...Nope."

He rubbed his forehead.

"Not thinking about that."

His goal wasn’t to collect heroines.

His goal was survival.

That was it.

Kael left the library with the Returning Tide Sword Manual tucked beneath his arm.

Outside, the morning sunlight had grown brighter. The academy grounds were already filled with students heading toward their respective classes and training grounds.

Kael walked toward the eastern training field.

When he arrived, Elias was already waiting.

The moment Elias saw the book in Kael’s hand, he raised an eyebrow.

"You went to the library?"

"Yeah."

"What did you find?"

Kael raised the manual.

"A sword technique."

Elias took one look at the faded cover.

His expression immediately changed.

"That thing?"

Kael frowned.

"You know it?"

"I’ve seen it before."

Elias picked up the manual and examined the cover.

"Isn’t this supposed to be useless?"

Kael smiled.

"That’s what everyone says."

"And you’re still going to use it?"

"Yep."

Elias stared at him.

"Why?"

Kael took the manual back.

"Because I don’t have anything better."

He drew his wooden sword.

"Besides, I’ll never know unless I try."

The first form of the Returning Tide Sword was simple.

Redirect.

Step.

Turn.

Return.

Kael practiced it once.

Then again.

And again.

His movements were awkward at first.

His feet didn’t move naturally. His sword angle was slightly wrong. And his balance shifted at the wrong moment.

Elias watched from the side. Kael ignored him. It was only his first day. There was no reason to expect perfection.

He adjusted his stance.

Then he tried again.

Redirect.

Step.

Turn.

Return.

Still awkward.

Kael frowned.

"Okay..."

He stared at his sword.

"This is going to take a while."

But he didn’t stop.