Chapter 4: A New Alliance
Kazuki followed Elara down the winding dirt path, his gaze fixed on the back of her silver hair as it swayed with each step. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields. Despite the apparent calm, Kazuki couldn't shake the tension knotting in his gut.
"So," he said, breaking the silence. "Where exactly are we going?"
Elara didn't look back. "To the nearest outpost. You need to be registered under my command before anyone finds out a man was wandering alone in my territory."
Kazuki frowned. "Is that really such a big deal?"
Elara shot him a glare over her shoulder. "In Estoria, men without a master are considered potential threats. If a patrol found you before I did, you'd already be in shackles."
Kazuki swallowed, his fists clenching. "Right."
They walked in silence for a while longer. The road twisted through a small forest, the canopy above thick with leaves. Birds chirped and flitted between branches, oblivious to Kazuki's troubled thoughts.
'Is this really how things work here?' Kazuki thought. 'Men treated as property... and women ruling everything.'
"Hey," Elara said abruptly, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Yeah?"
She stopped walking and turned to face him, eyes narrowed. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Kazuki hesitated. "I... I just remembered some stuff. It came to me out of nowhere."
Elara crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. "You expect me to believe that? You were clumsy and untrained one moment, then swinging a sword like a novice knight the next."
Kazuki averted his gaze. "It's the truth."
Elara watched him for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. Keep your secrets for now. But don't think I won't find out eventually."
Kazuki released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. 'That was close.'
"Come on," Elara said, turning away. "The outpost isn't far."
They resumed their walk, but Kazuki's mind was still reeling. 'I need to figure out how this Skill Copy ability works. If I can copy Elara's Blade Mastery, maybe I can copy other skills too.'
[Skill Copy: Active.]
A translucent window appeared before Kazuki's eyes, displaying Elara's profile.
[Target: Elara Sylfane - Knight of Estoria.]
[Skills Available to Copy: Blade Mastery - Beginner Rank]
[Skill Already Acquired.]
'Nothing new yet,' Kazuki thought, closing the window. 'But if I keep my eyes open, maybe I can find some new skills to copy.'
"We're here," Elara said, stopping abruptly.
Kazuki looked up. Before them stood a small outpost, a wooden structure with a guard tower and a barracks. Women in armor patrolled the area, each one eyeing Kazuki with suspicion as they passed.
"Elara!" a voice called from the barracks entrance. A young woman with short, fiery red hair jogged over, her green eyes sparkling.
"Tara," Elara said, her tone softening slightly. "Got the paperwork ready?"
Tara glanced at Kazuki, her brow arching. "Who's the boy?"
"My new subordinate," Elara said. "We need to register him as part of my unit."
Tara smirked, folding her arms. "You sure you're not just taking in strays now, Elara?"
Elara shot her a glare. "Just get the forms."
Tara chuckled and disappeared inside the barracks.
Kazuki glanced at Elara. "She's... a friend of yours?"
Elara sighed. "Something like that. Just keep your mouth shut and follow my lead."
Kazuki nodded, but his mind was already racing. A new place meant new people. And new people meant new skills to copy.
And Kazuki planned to take full advantage of that.