Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 60: Anastasia [2]

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"Louis! What did you do?!" Mirai scolded him. "Anastasia, are you okay?"

"I didn’t do anything," Louis replied. "I simply allowed her consciousness to enter my Fantasy Heart for a minute or two."

"Only two minutes passed?!" Anastasia exclaimed in surprise. "It felt like I spent an entire day there..."

"Yes, that is how it usually feels," Louis nodded. "So? How did it go? Were you able to speak with Niflheim?"

"Wasn’t that your own Fantasy Heart? You didn’t look?" Anastasia asked.

"I did not," Louis answered. "And it is ’your majesty’ to you, Anastasia. As long as you are a citizen of this kingdom, you must respect the royal family."

"A-Ah, yes..." Anastasia quickly realized how disrespectful she had been earlier and felt relieved Louis had not overheard her earlier insults. "About what I saw... well..."

She explained everything she had witnessed and discussed with Niflheim. Her demeanor had changed noticeably. Though sorrow still lingered in her eyes, determination and conviction now burned there as well.

"I want to accept that offer, Prince Louis..." Anastasia said. "Would you help me learn how to wield a sword and master Sword Cultivation?"

"I will," Louis replied. "That is why I came here."

"Thank you for believing in me and doing all of this just for me..." Anastasia murmured, blushing briefly. "I never imagined you cared about your subjects in such a way... To be honest, I once thought you were only a selfish man, but you’re... very kind."

"What?" Louis grew annoyed. "Kind? You think a kind man like me would work you to the bone? Starting tomorrow at 6 AM, I will show you hell. Be prepared. I will show no mercy. You must master the sword within three years."

"Ah!" Anastasia was stunned by his words. Though harsh, they carried genuine care. "I will!"

"Good." Louis turned to leave. "Mirai wanted to speak with you, so I will wait downstairs. You are moving to the castle immediately, so pack your things."

"E-Eh? Wait, am I going to be a maid again? Not that I mind, but..." Anastasia muttered.

"No. You are going to be a soldier-in-training from now on," Louis said as he walked away.

Once the two girls were alone, an awkward silence settled until Mirai finally spoke.

"Anastasia... Well, this is awkward. I was going to try convincing you, but it seems you’ve already been convinced," Mirai laughed softly. "Still, everyone misses you back at the castle. And I miss you too... I miss your banter, how you were always willing to keep me company when others were a little afraid of me because of my past... and so on."

"Lady Mirai..." Anastasia smiled gently, surprised. "Well, I am really lazy... so I’m sorry for not being a good maid... but maybe I can try to be a good friend."

"Really?!" Mirai’s face lit up. "I’m so happy! Anastasia!"

She hugged Anastasia tightly with joy, unaware that a red thread connected to the former maid’s heart, quietly empowering her.

"A-Ah, please, young lady, don’t hug me out of nowhere like this...!" Anastasia panicked. "Ugh, let’s go downstairs already... I have to talk to my mother about what I’m going to do now."

"Okay," Mirai nodded.

The two girls descended and rejoined the others. Anastasia explained to her mother what she had seen inside Louis’ Fantasy Heart and her new resolve to learn and master the sword so she could one day wield Niflheim, fulfilling her mother’s final wish.

"I knew one day you would leave the nest, and I was ready to let you go, but even now it hurts a little," Pekorine said with a smile. "But if this helps you grow as a person and perhaps finally discover what you truly want to do with your life, then I will always support you. Still, I don’t want you to feel forced... Even if it was Tisha’s last wish, your life is your own. There is no need to fulfill anyone’s desire at the cost of changing who you are. So... Anastasia, I want to ask: is this truly what you want?"

"Yes," Anastasia answered without hesitation. "You’re right—I am doing this for Mother Tisha, but also... because I want the strength to fight back. If I hadn’t lazed around back then, if I had trained as hard as Prince Louis and Mirai... maybe I could have changed the future. Maybe I could have stood beside them in battle... That I ignored her teachings, that I never truly appreciated her as I should... it fills me with so much frustration."

"Anastasia..." Pekorine stared in astonishment at her daughter’s growth.

"Never again," Anastasia said firmly, tears streaming down her face as her brows furrowed. "I will not waste my life anymore, Mother... I’ve seen what this world can do, and I will grow strong enough to show it that it cannot toy with me any longer."

"I see..." Pekorine smiled warmly, embracing her daughter. "You make me so proud... and I am certain you make Tisha proud too. Don’t forget that you have me as well, alright? I want you to take some classes in Druid Magic under me. Is that possible, Prince Louis?"

"As long as you come to the castle, yes," Louis nodded. "We can make time in her schedule."

"Wait, Prince Louis, are you already planning a schedule for me or something?" Anastasia asked.

"Naturally," Louis replied sternly. "You will train with the sword twelve hours a day, taking breaks only to eat or use the bathroom, until the end of the year."

"W-What?!" Anastasia swallowed hard in shock. "W-Wait! I didn’t...! I thought maybe just three... okay, four hours a day is fine?"

"What? Are you serious? Four hours a day? Hah! You will achieve nothing with so little time, Anastasia! Do you intend to trample and insult your mother’s legacy?!" Louis demanded angrily. "Now that you have decided to train, I will not let you escape. You will scream, cry, and bleed as you swing your sword—until you master it."

"U-Uh..." Anastasia stepped back, unnerved by the glow in Louis’ eyes. She had nowhere to run now. "Mom?"

"Take care, dear! You can do this!" Pekorine called out cheerfully—she would not oppose the prince and actually agreed with him. "Train hard and make up for all the years you spent lazing around, alright?"

"Augh..." Anastasia sighed, regret clear in her voice. "I will..."

Thus, that day, Anastasia moved to Frostbane Castle and officially became a soldier-in-training under Prince Louis Drakeheart.

♢♢♢♢

The next day, 8 AM.

CLASH!

Two swords collided, the sharp ring of metal echoing across the training grounds of Frostbane Castle. A few soldiers and knights watched in admiration as Prince Louis dueled Anastasia, daughter of the late Knight Captain Tisha.

Anastasia fought recklessly, swinging without much thought, attacking from every angle and constantly thrusting the tip of her sword toward her opponent.

Prince Louis, however, fought with precision, nimbly evading and parrying while remaining mostly defensive. He observed her carefully, then struck at her weaknesses the moment an opening appeared, quickly overwhelming her.

"Ah!"

Her sword was knocked away with tremendous force. Pain throbbed deep in her hand. Groaning, she dropped to her knees.

"Ouch! Aahh! Prince Louis, you’re such a brute with this young lady...!" Anastasia complained.

"Brute? I am holding back ninety-nine percent of my strength right now," Louis replied. "I could not be more gentlemanly. It seems your condition is worse than I imagined. You have absolutely zero experience with the sword, and your body is incredibly weak. Your hand hurts so badly, and I barely touched it."

"Well, what do you want me to do, your majesty? Ice Elves and Rabbit Beast People are not known for physical strength..." Anastasia sighed. "And I am both."

"They aren’t? Then why was your mother, Tisha, so incredibly strong? For an Ice Elf, she could slaughter over a thousand Ice Giant Warriors without effort!" Louis countered. "Are you implying your species prevents you from wielding the sword? Then what was your mother doing, playing with a stick? You are insulting Tisha’s legacy, Anastasia!"

"Y-You...! Prince Louis, what do you even know about my mother?!" Anastasia clicked her tongue. "I am...! I am not insulting her!"

"Then stand up and stop being such a coward! Are you afraid of pain?" he demanded angrily. "Your mother endured things a thousand times worse, and you are on the floor crying because your little hand hurts? Maybe I should never have brought you here... What a disappointment! How can people have born with so much talent squander it on laziness? Meanwhile, I—born with no talent—suffer every day just to grow a speck stronger, while you talented fools can swing a sword for a week and easily surpass months of my effort... Do you not understand that you are insulting me too?!"

"T-That’s not what I meant!" Anastasia cried angrily, standing and seizing her sword again. "I...! I am not a coward either!"

"Then prove it! Fight like a warrior, Anastasia! You are Tisha’s daughter after all!" Louis roared.

Their swords clashed again, sparks flying with every strike.

Slowly, Anastasia began forging and refining both her body and her resolve. Her movements sharpened, fueled by frustration, anger, and anxiety. She was beginning to push past her limits; her tired, weak body adapted rapidly.

With each passing day, Anastasia continued swinging her sword. Sometimes she nearly gave up, only for Mirai, Louis, and her mother to encourage her and force her back into training.

At one point her long hair became a hindrance. She cut her braids, adopting a shorter, wilder, unkempt style like her mother Tisha, giving her a more tomboyish look. Her eyes now carried a golden glimmer.

Under Louis’ guidance, Anastasia learned to use her rabbit ears more effectively, to detect movement, evade swiftly, and predict attacks. Her exceptional hearing proved a gift she had never properly utilized before.

After a month of relentless sword practice and a torturous awakening of a Five Elements Spirit Root through Louis’ special spell, Anastasia had transformed.

Her once-delicate hands were now scarred and callused. Her face looked more serious and stern. Though her large eyes remained adorable, they burned with fiery conviction.

For her mother, for her country, for her friends...

She had to succeed!

Thus...

CLASH!

She clashed once more against Prince Louis. This time, her Sword Breathing aligned perfectly with her blade. Each swing elevated her body further.

Sword Energy surged through her veins, enhancing every strike.

In just one month.

A single month!

She was already catching up to Louis.

Until finally, with one decisive swing, she struck Louis’ sword and shattered it, sending him flying backward in an explosion of Sword Energy.

BOOOM!

"P-Prince Louis?!"

Anastasia could hardly believe what she had done. Yet her body suddenly felt many times stronger. With a single step, she reached him like a flying sword.

"Woah?!"

She fell on top of him, gasping and blushing as she met his gaze. He smiled bitterly, eyes locked on hers in silence until he finally spoke.

"Hah... There is nothing I hate more than geniuses. They make all our efforts feel meaningless... but still, it is always incredible to watch them soar higher than I will ever reach."

"I-I... would never have achieved it without your help."

"Is that so? Now move aside—you’re crushing my ribs."

"Ah! I’m so sorry!"

As Louis stood and brushed dust from his robes, he watched Anastasia swing her sword again. Shockwaves of Sword Energy burst from each motion.

"She has already reached Quasi-Second Step of Sword Breathing without even fulfilling the conditions yet... What sort of monstrous talent have I awakened?"

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