Chapter 52: A Servant Of My Own

The rest of my morning was very busy. I went to Dain and told him about our training and how I wanted him to make me some throwing knives. He said he didn’t know how, but would ask Master Leslie. Then I went to each of my other friends and told them about the training. I even told Jorren, who I found cleaning the Grubbear stall. He was quite annoyed with me when I told him, the ungrateful git.

Finally, I spent the rest of my time with the Guttervine spawn, practicing having my Guttervine command it to squeeze harder or softer, and most importantly, to let me go. I caught Jorren watching me a few times while he cleaned the stall, but whenever I looked back he quickly found something else to do. Apparently he had nothing better to do than judge my training too.

As Lucarion I summoned Ezkyrath and told her that I wanted her to coach me on how to get Magnavex to give me the imp it seemed like she was trying not to seem glad that I went with her plan.

And that brings me to right now. at the groovekeeper training ground swinging a sword… yep that is what Eric decided to teach us just how to downward swing a sword over and over again.

We were in the Grovekeepers training grounds, which was really just a bit of flat ground beneath a pavilion.  The dirt was smooth and even with some sand to soften it, not that it did much good.

We had been at it for a while now, and we were already sweaty messes. That is despite being in shade with a nice breeze passing through. Eric told Olivander and Jorren to help us gain the proper stance and to swing the sword in a overhand strike, then he left. They only remained long enough to do so clearly realizing what a waste of time this was.

This was harder than I had expected. the sword was one meant to be gripped with both hands and quite heavy. This meant that Lucarion’s stance training didn’t come into play so there was no familiarity in the movement. It didn’t help that swinging from above required a lot more strength, my muscles screamed as I tried to keep the rhythm. Mira and Emma were already resting. Reed and Talla were keeping up with me, but Dain despite being younger than us his blacksmithing seems to has done him good as he hadn’t falter from the rhythm since we started.

Eric came back and saw Mira and Emma just picking up their swords after their rest.

“do not take rests!” he said “keeping up is part of the training, I want you all to use your cast for stamina, focus on increasing endurance. Do not I repeat do not increase your strength, that will make this exercise worthless if magic handles the weight, we want your muscles doing the work.”

Emma caught me looking as she lifted her sword again. Her hair was sticking to her forehead and her face was red from the effort, I couldn’t help but smile when our eyes met, she looked so cute out of her element.  

I focused my intent, I wanted to continue swinging the sword for longer, I mean not really but that’s what I wanted the spell to accomplish, I wanted to keep my breath, for my heartrate to stay calm.

I felt that familiar warmth inside me and allowed the spell to cast around me. It spread through my chest first, then down my arms and legs, not making them feel stronger, just less desperate to stop. My breathing slowed even though I was still sweaty and hot, and the pounding in my chest settled into something steady. The ache in my shoulders was still there, and the sword did not suddenly become any lighter, but the exhaustion behind it seemed to pull away.

With the spell, I was able to continue until lunchtime. While Olive kept swinging, Lucarion spent that time going over the plan with Ezkyrath for the dinner with Magnavex, The repetition let me slip into a rhythm where Olive barely needed my attention beyond keeping the sword moving. By the time I was eating lunch my muscles ached and screamed before I knew it I cast a healing spell on myself, the effects coursing through me recovering my muscles as I ate. I still hadn’t gotten used to having two cast, I needed to make sure I stop wasting the second spell.

***

By dinner, Olive was back in the attic. I had already used both my casts, and since most of my attention would be on Lucarion, I wasn’t about to wander around the village without any magic left. The attic was safe, quiet, and there was very little chance of anything happening to me there.

Sebastian moved around the table without making enough noise for me to notice him unless I deliberately looked. One moment he was beside Belgorath placing something within reach of his enormous hand, and the next he was behind Magnavex replacing her cup. He never seemed to hesitate over what anyone needed. He simply knew.

Belgorath sat to my left, with Magnavex across from me and Ezkyrath stood behind me. Ezkyrath hadn’t spoken since we sat down. She did not need to. We had planned all of this including inviting Belgorath and the seating. Our position was supposed to convey strength to Magnavex making her feel alone.

Sebastian placed my drink in front of me and stepped back.

I nodded approvingly.

He bowed. “My Lord.”

Sebastian stepped between Magnavex and me to place another dish on the table.

I set down my cup.

“Magnavex, I apologize for the long period of withdrawal.” I started with pleasantries once all the greetings were done with. “I required some time to… realign my perspective, I am now ready to be the Demon Lord you all deserve.”

“my lord I was glad to get your invitation” she said before eyeing Ezkyrath “I see your studies have been going favorably.”

“they are” I acknowledged before turning to Belgorath “I have also been continuing with my training!”

Belgorath gave a large belly laugh despite not having one. “yes it is actually quite noticeable” he said gesturing to my arms.

I wouldn’t quite say I was muscular yet, moreso my body was so lean the muscles were noticeable.

Magnavex wasn’t as appreciative.

“My Lord! What are those injuries? What has happened” she said noticing my bruises

“these? I got them from the duel,” I said before turning towards Belgorath “I fought my Dullahan in a sword fight!”

The silence that followed surprised me. Even Belgorath seemed taken aback.

“yo—you fought your wroughtborn?” he asked

“he dared hurt you!” Magnavex nearly stood in rage.

“yes I am training with him, learning how to use a sword I am quite good now.” I said.

“my lord you should stop such training immediately focus on summoning powerful wroughtborn instead.” Magnavex said.

“thank you for your advice” I responded curtly “actually my summons is part of the reason I requested this meeting”

 “My Lord?”

I looked at him for a moment, then at Magnavex.

This was the opening Ezkyrath and I had practiced.

“Your imp’s service since my arrival has been exceptional.”

Sebastian bowed his head.

Magnavex answered “You honor me, my Lord.”

“I am stating what I have observed.”

That sounded good but stiff, I still didn’t know how to give rehearsed speeches naturally.

I continued before I could ruin it further. “He anticipate what is needed before I have to ask. has been reliable, discreet, and capable in every task I have seen him perform.”

Sebastian became very still.

Magnavex was giving me her full attention.

Good.

I turned my attention fully to her. “General Magnavex, you have my gratitude for that.”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “My Lord?”

“For training him so well.”

For the smallest moment, she looked surprised.

“You entrusted Sebastian with my care while I have no servant of my own,” I continued. “You would not have done that if you did not trust his ability, and he has justified that trust every day since. You have trained an exceptional servant.”

Magnavex inclined her head, slower than usual. “I am grateful to have been of assistance for you my lord, if there is anything more I can do it shall be done”

Belgorath had taken the opportunity to eat quite passionately.

“I know,” I said.

Then I stopped.

Ezkyrath had made me practice stopping.

It was surprisingly difficult. When you knew exactly what you were going to say next.

Magnavex watched me patiently.

“I require a servant of my own,” I said.

Magnavex’s attention sharpened.

I gestured lightly toward Sebastian.

There.

Even Belgorath had stopped eating now.

Magnavex folded her hands in front of herself. She did not look offended. That was good.

“you wish for Sebastian?” Magnavex said.

Magnavex considered Sebastian for a moment before returning her attention to me. “I cannot dispute your assessment of him, my Lord. Sebastian has proven his worth many times over.”

Her lips tightened slightly.

“However,” she spoke gently, “are you sure you wouldn’t rather summon your own servant, you could train them to respond to your own proclivities. I’m sure you can find one better.”

That was a very polite but.

“I do not expect them to be,” I said. “If they were, he would not be the servant I wanted.”

Belgorath swallowed before speaking. “You have never seemed particularly comfortable around wroughtborn, my Lord. An imp who already knows how to stay out of sight may suit you better than most.”

Magnavex glanced at him.

I kept my attention on her. “I am asking you to release Sebastian from his current contract so that I may offer him one of my own.”

Magnavex’s gaze settled on me for several breaths.

Something in her expression softened.

“if that is how best I can serve you I would be honored.” She agreed.

The rest of the dinner went by without a hitch, though Magnavex did make one request. That I allow Splendith to tend to my injuries.