Approaching the manor's front entrance closer he took notice of the stone fences Infront — they were from the first manor that stood here, it was old and in ruins and when Sarah had moved here the stone ruins were the last things remained from the old manor.
Opening the door slowly with both his hands he entered the manor, met with the warm light of the chandelier hanging firmly to the high ceiling. Infront were a stair case that separated into two ways the further you walked.
"...I'm back" Was Solan's first thought before turning around to see if any of the servants or his master was present. It was deadly quiet. Solan had presumed that it was due to the early morning and that nobody had woken up yet — Though the servant's usually wake up early to attend to their duties.
--clang--!"
The sound of hard metal crashing against each other was ringing through the hallways of the manor. Solan's ear perked listening in and he was fast to understand that it was his master training. Though there were something that didn't sit right with him. The sound was hitting against each other, it wasn't only Sarah, she was training with someone.
"That's weird" Solan told himself, trying to think who it could possible be. From what he understood there weren't anyone who practiced with his master except for himself. "...The servant's can't even wield swords due to their pledge as servants...". Solan thought more to himself as the sounds became clearer.
-clang!-
Solan's senses heighted as he could hear the very movements and the trajectory of each time the metals clashed against each other. Whoever was going against his master wasn't a newbie to say the least.
Walking off to the back of the manor the sound of every movement could be clearer. He could feel Sarah's movements in the hallway, they were are swiftly and clean as always yet the other movements made Solan's skin rise. "...Every movement from her opponent is moving flawlessly, her opponent got one hell of a experience to be moving like that against my master". Solan told himself before shortly arriving to the wooden platform leading to the training ground.
He took notice of all the servants and even new maids he'd never seen before watching the match before them. everyone watching in awe as some of the women were gasping. Turning his attention towards the direction of the battle his eyes widened in surprise once he saw his master.
His own master was being pushed back, into a corner that even he himself couldn't manage. She held a mock sword in hand, blocking the next attack with all her might. Once the other opponent Solan couldn't see well he realized fast that his master's firmly planted feet's were being forcefully pushed into the ground behind her by a raw strength. "...No way" Solan gasped to himself.
Sarah was facing against another girl he found familiar. Long light-colored azure hair fixed in a ponytail like the clear sky above. Her skin was as pale as white snow and her eyes were the same color as her hair. Solan couldn't help but find her... beautiful. The way she was carrying her sword like a unstoppable tsunami told him she was dangerous.
Solan wasn't sure what it was... but he felt his heart beating above the usual rate. Raising his hand towards the chest he told himself. "Oh my... What's this".
As the two swords clashed against each other Sarah seemed to have a hard time fighting against her opponent. Deflecting the blade to the lower end Sarah quickly stepped to her left in a unimaginable speed that even created wind pressure around here. Raising the blade fast towards her opponent's neck the tables had turned. Sarah stood at he victory side, panting just slightly for anyone to notice and a few sweat drops running down her forehead. "You almost got me you'll have that, but don't forget I'm a few years ahead of you when it comes to the sword". Sarah said with confident smile on her face, her face telling that she enjoyed the battle.
The familiar girl stood there, smiling in a slight defeat before sighing. Dropping her sword to the ground she raised her arms into the air gesturing to her own defeat. "Alright you win sister Sarah". she said smiling in defeat.
Solan still wasn't not noticed, hiding in the distant behind the servant as he watched with awe, it might've been his master's victory but she had been almost beaten. It was something only Solan could dream of doing at his current level.
As the two exchanged a handshake Sarah smiled softly before putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "You've grown Esori, I'm proud of you". Sarah seemed to be very casual with her, almost like she knew her good especially with the fact he referred Sarah as 'Sister'. The more Solan looked at the strange girl he couldn't help but find her similar to someone.
"Oh hey look? Solan is here!" Butler Alfred who stood amongst the small crowd of the servants turned to Solan's direction, his expression surprised and slightly startled. The rest turned their attention to the young man before Sarah had also noticed the commotion.
"Solan, your back!" She said before charging towards him with her blade tighter around her palm. Her face was gleaming with hostility and before he'd knew it she had raised her sword about to slash downwards on him. Quick thinking Solan materialized his spear above his hand and blocked the attack barely.
"You punk". Her voice was cold and her eyes told Solan that she wouldn't hesitate to kill him. "H-H-Hey? what are your doing?" Solan uttered barely whilst her strength pushed onto his spear. "You just left Soldat without any word without telling me". He wasn't sure what to do in the current situation until the girl Sarah had battled spoke up. "Hm? Sarah? That's Solan?"
"..Oh Esori... Please forgive me". She said loosening her strength. Solan could unsummon his spear as it faded into the air as he tried to catch a breather by the sudden attack. "Jeez...". Was the word going through his head.
The girl approached the master and disciple's side before smiling warmly at Solan. "Nice to meet you Solan... We've met each other before have we not?" Solan seemed a bit confused by the gesture but shook her hand. "..Have we... I do feel you look familiar, but I can't remember why".
Sarah stepped in, crossing her arms looking stoically at Solan. "...She's Joseph and Elaine's daughter, she's of noble blood so respect her". Joseph kritanta's daughter? Wait, that meant this woman... was Samira's little sister that was subtly mentioned every now and then. 'She mentioned we'd met before? when?" Solan contemplated to himself.
[Esori Kritanta: Youngest daughter of the Kritanta household]
Esori could only huff with a chuckle under her breath as she witnessed Solan having trouble remembering still their last encounter. "...Do you remember the brawl in the 12th street during the festival, the one you didn't want to stop". With just the mention of it Solan re-called everything. This girl was the one he had argued with, he was surprised to learn that she was the sister of Samira yet he wasn't. The two looked could look like twins if you compared the two side by side. The only difference was maybe that Esori seemed more kinder and welcome unlike her older sister Samira who is a pyscho and a savage.
"Nice to meet you Esori" Solan said holding her hand chivalrous before bowing down slightly. It was common etiquette to bow down to noble women, and even if he didn't do it Sarah would come right at him with her sword.
"It's good to meet you again, I heard you left for a mission during the festival? you should've stayed... It was pretty fun". She said, her eyes wandered unconsciously up and down his body amd snapped back into it once he released her hand. "Right... The festival" Solan asked, turning to his master.
Sarah sighed as her already crossed hand crossed even deeper. "Huff... The victory was given to Darren Verdanski and the sentinels". Solan's eyes twitched slightly at the mention of them. "...So the Anax hunter's won in the end". "Who did Darren go against? I presume it was an admiral".
"It was admiral Katama,. He's still recovering as we speak". Sarah said, her own eyes twitching at the mention of his name. Though she was slightly concerned for Katama her pride would never admit it. Solan thought about it before he muttered Katama's name. "I see... Even admiral Katama was powerless against the 'heavenly chains'". "yes unfortunately" Sarah admitted.
"I wished I could've seen the heavenly chains I've heard so much about...". Solan thought to himself before his mind turned to the current moment. "Anyways, how come my own master was almost lost the match?" He asked turning to Sarah. "You watched?" Sarah asked surprised.
"Hah, I wouldn't say sister Sarah was on the losing side, It was just me who gave it my all at the end". Esori chuckled. Sarah huffed before scolding Esori by hitting her in the head 'bonk!'. "O-Ouch-!" Esori lightly groaned to herself by the sudden hit.
"She might not look like it Solan, but this girl here is the same age as you... and she's the youngest sword mentor on the mainland. Even the royal knights have a hard time going against her". He was surprised to hear the revelation. Esori was a sword instructor? Her!? She seemed almost too innocently to even raise a sword against someone, but that false.. Solan had seen the match and the fact she was revealed as a sword instructor explained her insane skills.
"You praise me to much sister Sarah, I'm still faraway from reaching my dad's level". She said, her cheek turning slight pink from embarrassment yet held her composure with a slight smile. Turning to Solan again her head tilted slightly, the same smile widening slightly. Solan felt his heart bumping slightly but put it aside as fast as possible.
"Though sister Sarah have told me a lot about you Solan, our first impression of each other wasn't the best but I'm sure we can make it up this time". She said with a welcoming smirk that Solan had found gorgeous. Why... Why was he feeling weird.