Reincarnation Of The Legendary Sword Saint-Chapter 65: Prodigy

Voli paused, then laughed softly. "Alright. Then why don’t we test it?"

Aldwin raised an eyebrow. "A spar?"

"You’re joking," Voli said.

"Not at all," Aldwin replied calmly. "It’ll be educational. And entertaining."

He glanced toward the house. "We’ll finish before my wife comes outside. Try not to make too much noise."

Aldwin turned his head slightly.

"Elian."

She instantly understood. With a nod, she disappeared inside and returned moments later carrying two wooden swords.

She handed one to Aldwin, who passed it to Rowan—the smaller blade, sized for him.

Voli accepted the larger one.

He weighed it in his hand, then looked down at Rowan.

"...Alright," Voli said with a grin. "Show me what you’ve got."

Rowan tightened his grip.

The spar was about to begin.

I’m sparring with a wooden sword... alright.

Rowan exhaled quietly.

Whatever. Father knows I’m talented. Everyone here does. But no one said I had to win.

Aldwin raised his hand.

Then brought it down.

"Start."

Rowan burst forward.

The distance closed instantly.

He’s fast, Voli thought. Not reckless, controlled.

Rowan’s footsteps were light, efficient. His breathing steady. He was running at a speed calculated to preserve stamina, not waste it.

For a six-year-old... that’s astounding.

Rowan leapt, sword flashing down in a clean diagonal slash.

Voli raised his wooden sword and blocked.

Clack!

The impact pushed Rowan backward. His feet skidded across the ground as he landed, absorbing the force.

Rowan didn’t hesitate.

He lunged again.

Voli stepped back, narrowly dodging the next slash.

So this is what Aldwin meant, Voli thought. Instinct, timing, footwork...

But his eyes hardened.

Still not enough to match me.

Voli shifted his stance and swung.

Rowan ducked low and sharp, sliding sideways.

In the same motion, he slipped into Voli’s blind spot.

Good.

Rowan twisted and slashed toward Voli’s back.

Voli reacted instantly.

He jumped forward, flipping once, then twice, then a third time, landing cleanly several steps away.

"Well now," Voli said with a grin. "Following my blind spot already? That’s impressive."

Rowan rushed him again.

The wooden swords clashed repeatedly.

Clack, clack, clack!

The sound echoed across the field.

Voli raised his sword high and brought it down toward Rowan’s head.

Rowan dropped low.

Duck.

He swept his leg forward and kicked Voli’s shin before springing backward.

Voli laughed.

"Good."

This time, Voli charged.

Their swords collided again, but this time, Voli didn’t hold back.

He poured his full strength into the clash.

CRACK!

The shock ran through Rowan’s arms.

His grip failed.

The wooden sword flew from his hands and tumbled across the ground.

In the same instant, Voli stepped in and placed his wooden blade gently against Rowan’s head. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Silence.

"I lose," Rowan said calmly.

Voli lowered his sword, smiling.

"...Truly talented," he muttered.

He straightened and spoke aloud.

"He exaggerated a little, but not much. Rowan has speed, control, and skill. The only reason he lost..."

Voli glanced at Rowan’s small hands.

"...is strength. He’s six. His body simply can’t handle a full clash against mine."

Aldwin nodded.

"If he were ten," Voli continued, "this would already be dangerous."

He smiled again.

"At fifteen, seventeen, he might match me in raw strength."

Voli’s gaze sharpened.

"And that’s not even counting his elemental affinities."

Ice. Fire. Possibly more.

"And with what he just showed me," Voli said slowly, "...I’m almost certain."

He looked at Aldwin.

"He has the blessing of the sword."

Aldwin exhaled.

"Indeed."

Voli rolled his shoulders.

"Well then," he said, fire flickering faintly in his eyes. "The spar is over."

He smiled down at Rowan.

"But now... let me show you why they call me the Fire God."

"And why I was chosen to be your personal trainer."

"I’m really interested now," Voli muttered under his breath.

When the Duke told me I’d be training a six-year-old, I admit, I was a bit annoyed. But the pay, the pay was too good to refuse.

And so he came.

Now, looking at Rowan standing there, his small frame yet unshakable focus, Voli realized this child was extraordinary.

"You’re capable of using ice, right?" Voli said, narrowing his eyes. "Good. Then let’s do this. You’re young, still learning, but I want to see what you’ve got. Fire versus Ice. You want to win? Fine. I’ll hold back, just a little."

Rowan’s eyes gleamed, and he nodded once.

"Isn’t that enough for now?" Adrien interjected, concern in his voice. "He’s exhausted. He’s catching his breath."

Voli turned to him, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Aldwin, I want to see how far he can go."

Rowan, pretending to be breathing heavily, clenched his fists and said quietly, "It’s fine. I want to do this too."

"Okay, since you really want to, then it’s fine. I’ll do it straight. Now, let’s move a bit further," Voli said as they stepped toward the forest near the house.

"Well, I don’t know how stable your attack is, but don’t worry. My fire won’t touch the forest nearby," Voli added.

"Are you ready?" Voli asked.

"Yes, I am," Rowan replied, raising his hand.

"Let’s start," Aldwin said.

Instantly, ice arrows began forming in the air above Rowan—voom, voom, voom! They appeared rapidly, one after another, until fifty arrows hovered, glinting with deadly precision. Voli’s eyes widened at the speed of their creation.

"They’ll come at me," Voli said with a grin.

Rowan pushed his hand forward, and the ice arrows shot toward Voli with blinding speed. Voom!

Voli didn’t move. He snapped his fingers, and a blazing wall of fire erupted from the ground, intercepting the ice arrows. They clashed, hissing and steaming as ice met flame. In an instant, the fire wall vanished, but before Rowan could react, five flaming spheres launched from Voli’s hands straight at him.

Rowan dodged, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles. Voli surged forward, summoning a fire sword in his hand.

"Outstanding, fire sword!" Rowan muttered, eyes narrowing.

"Imitate what I just did," Voli shouted. "You can create ice spear, ice arrows. Now combine them!"

As Voli swung, Rowan closed his eyes, trusting his instincts. At the same time, ice blades formed in his hands—an ice sword shimmering with frost. He slashed, colliding with Voli’s fire sword. Sparks flew, and steam hissed as the two elements clashed.

"The fire, it’s solid!" Rowan realized, feeling the intense heat radiating off the sword.