Chapter 126: One Clean Hit

"Ask whose authority they carry," Celeste said. "Then ask what they're permitted to offer."

Vincent remained seated.

"And they'll simply tell us?"

"If they want an agreement, they'll have to identify who will honor it. A messenger might be allowed to demand my release without being allowed to promise anything in return."

"How do we verify the answer?"

"Get the terms in writing. I can tell you whether I recognize the name. Your mother should examine anything bearing their seal before you accept it."

Vivienne nodded.

"That much is sensible."

Vincent studied Celeste. She had given them a starting point, although her recognition alone wouldn't prove anything.

"We'll speak again when we have more questions."

This time, she let him leave.

Outside, Vivienne stopped beside the corridor window.

"I'll remain here while you enter the forest. Linda will continue treating Lysandra, and Celeste will stay under supervision."

Vincent nodded.

"I'll take Anastasia and Leona."

"Finish your preparations first."

A familiar voice came from the stairs.

"Especially the ones you've been avoiding."

Vanessa stood below them, holding two practice axes.

Vincent looked at the weapons.

"I haven't been avoiding them."

"Then come outside."

…

The practice yard had been cleared of loose stones. Afternoon sunlight reached across the packed ground, stopping beneath the shadow of the manor wall.

Vanessa handed Vincent an axe.

It had a wooden head, but the weight was enough to make him adjust his grip.

She watched the movement.

"Does it feel different?"

"Everything feels different."

His arms were longer. His shoulders had widened, and movements that once required him to stretch now carried the weapon farther than he expected.

He could walk without tripping, but swinging at someone was another matter.

Vanessa raised her axe.

"Hit me once. I'll keep my strength down."

"Just once?"

"Start with that."

Vincent stepped forward.

He brought the axe down toward her shoulder, keeping enough control to stop if something went wrong.

Vanessa moved inside the swing.

Her wooden axe tapped his ribs.

"Too far away."

Vincent lowered his weapon and rubbed the spot.

"I thought I was too close."

"You were close enough to reach me. You weren't close enough to stop me entering. Your arms arrived before the rest of you."

He tried again.

This time, he stepped farther forward and shortened the swing.

Vanessa turned her weapon, caught his shaft, and pushed it aside. The wooden head stopped beneath his chin.

Vincent looked down at it.

'Well, fuck.'

From the edge of the yard, Anastasia made herself comfortable on a bench.

"You're lifting your shoulder again."

"I'm aware."

"Then stop."

Vanessa withdrew her axe.

Vincent reset his grip and attacked a third time.

He kept his shoulder steady. His feet followed the movement properly, and he managed to avoid leaving his ribs completely open.

Vanessa knocked his weapon down and tapped his forehead.

"Better."

He shut his eyes briefly.

'Open the last exchange.'

The yard returned around him with his axe raised.

Vincent recognized the moment before he had stepped in. Inside the memory, he altered the angle and watched Vanessa's weapon come toward his shaft.

He tried pulling away early.

She followed and caught his wrist instead.

He restarted.

This time, he kept moving forward. Their weapons met closer to his hands, where he had better control, but he still lost his balance when she pushed.

He felt where his weight had gone wrong.

'Exit.'

Vincent opened his eyes.

Vanessa was still waiting for him to reset.

There was a faint pressure behind his forehead. He left the Archive alone and raised his axe.

He knew what he wanted to change now. Making his body do it was the troublesome part.

Their weapons met.

Vincent bent his knees slightly and kept his weight beneath him.

Vanessa pushed.

His arms shook, but his feet stayed in place.

Her eyebrows rose.

Then she changed the direction of the pressure.

Vincent stumbled sideways and nearly fell.

"Don't brace against only one direction," she said.

He caught himself and turned back.

They continued.

Sometimes he lasted two exchanges. Once, he managed four before her axe reached his shoulder.

Sweat gathered beneath his collar. He loosened it, took a drink, and returned to the center of the yard.

Vanessa hadn't moved from her patch of ground for several attempts.

Vincent noticed the marks around her boots.

He had been trying to strike whatever part of her seemed open. Each time, she closed the opening before he arrived.

He needed to make her move first.

Vincent raised the axe and settled his breathing.

He recalled the movement from Martial Memory, reducing the force to something he could comfortably support himself.

His hands tightened around the shaft.

Vanessa's expression became more attentive.

He stepped in and swung.

She caught the blow, but this time he continued driving through his legs. The wooden shafts creaked between them.

Vanessa shifted one foot back.

Vincent immediately released some of the pressure.

His axe slid free along hers.

He turned the head inward and aimed for her side.

Vanessa twisted away.

The wooden edge brushed her sleeve.

Vincent stopped.

She looked down at the dusty mark on her arm.

Anastasia sat forward.

"That counts."

Vincent's grin appeared before he could stop it.

"That counts."

Vanessa examined the mark, then looked at him.

"Again."

His grin weakened slightly.

"I thought we were done."

"You hit me once. Now show me you know why it worked."

Vincent raised his axe again.

This time, Vanessa stepped forward before he could build the pressure. Her shoulder disrupted his balance, and the wooden head stopped against his chest.

He stared at it.

"You changed it."

"Of course I changed it."

She lowered her weapon and smiled.

"You made me."

Vincent looked at the mark on her sleeve again.

Then he laughed and stepped back into position.

…

By evening, his forearms ached whenever he closed his hands.

Nothing had torn. His veins circulated energy without the sharp pain he had come to expect, and the tiredness felt almost pleasant once he sat down.

He had used his own strength throughout the practice.

That alone made him want to try again tomorrow.

Felicia found him beside the drawing room table, where Leona was comparing the expedition's supply list with the permitted area.

"The expedition accepted the conditions," Felicia said. "They're still camped outside the restricted interior. Our supervisor has been accompanying their survey parties."

"Any problems?"

"They've requested access farther inside twice. Both requests were refused. The supervisor is expecting us to send someone to discuss their findings."

"What findings?" Leona asked.

Felicia opened the report she carried.

"A sound beneath the ground. The supervisor describes it as a bell. They've heard it at several points along the permitted boundary."

Vincent looked up.

"An actual bell?"

"Nobody has seen it. That's his description of the sound."

"Could it be coming from somewhere farther inside?"

"Possibly. The surveyors want permission to dig so they can determine that."

Leona reached for the report.

"Have they marked where they heard it?"

Felicia handed it over and pointed to the accompanying sketch.

Three locations had been circled along the forest edge. Notes beside them recorded the observers and the days they had heard the sound.

Vincent checked the earliest date. The first entry was older than the monster tide.

"Get copies of these for us," he said. "And ask the supervisor to have one of those witnesses available."

Leona placed the sketch beside their map. None of the marked locations overlapped with the ancient ruins Vivienne had indicated.

Vincent looked toward the map.

"Then we'll meet him first."

Leona folded the papers she had been reading.

"I'll have my things ready tonight."

Anastasia stood near the doorway.

"We can leave in the morning."

Vincent nodded.

There was still packing to finish, and he wanted another word with Lysandra before departing. But they finally had somewhere to go beyond the next room in the manor.

…

The following morning, Vincent climbed into a railway carriage with his axe secured beside his luggage.

Leona took the seat across from him. Anastasia sat by the window, watching the platform while the last passengers boarded.

Vanessa stood outside with Felicia.

"Practice your feet," she called through the open window.

"I thought you were going to say something encouraging."

"I did."

Vincent smiled and raised a hand as the whistle sounded.

The carriage shuddered, then began moving.

Copper Town's platform slipped past the window. Soon, the roofs gave way to fields, and Vincent settled back in his seat.

He opened the map across his knees.

Leona pointed to the road leading toward the forest boundary and said,

"Look, The supervisor's camp is here."

Anastasia looked at the dark patch beyond it.

She remembered the rumors about Heinrich disappearing inside with his family.

She had no memory of anyone returning to explain why.

"We'll speak to the hunters before entering," she said.

Vincent nodded and marked the camp.

Outside, the train continued toward the Central Region.