Dorin, not one to let up after gaining the upper hand, pressed forward relentlessly. Her wooden sword struck out in swift arcs until, finally, Valles failed to dodge in time and took a hit to the shoulder, letting out a pained "Ouch!"
Dorin immediately stopped in her tracks and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
Valles rubbed his shoulder. Dorin had held back her strength, leaving no serious injury. As the pain subsided slightly, he responded, "I’m fine."
"Shall we keep going?" Dorin blinked at him, a trace of disdain playing across her face.
Unwilling to be looked down upon by a girl, Valles gritted his teeth. "Of course, we’ll keep going!"
"Alright then, let’s go again." Dorin readied her stance instantly.
"Hold up!" Instructor Lufus appeared at some point and was now standing to the side. He stepped forward and asked Valles, "Have you never practiced sword fighting before?"
"No... no, I haven’t," Valles admitted truthfully, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Lufus was surprised. He thought to himself: since this child’s grandfather is the Chief Centurion of the legion, how is it possible that he wasn’t trained in swordsmanship from a young age? That’s a core tradition of Rome! What Lufus didn’t know was that after losing his son and daughter-in-law, Quintus became consumed with revenge, utterly neglecting his grandson’s care and education.
After a moment of contemplation, Lufus said, "Dorin, go over to Magus’s group and spar in rotation with them."
"Yes, sir." Dorin glanced at Valles before turning and walking away.
"Kid, you won’t be sparring today," Lufus said in a gentle tone. "We’ll start by practicing the basic stances for sword fighting. See, this is how you hold the wooden shield... Yes, just like that. Holding it this way conserves energy, makes it easier to exert force, and protects your arm from injury... Step forward with your left leg, push off with your right foot, keep your body slightly crouched, the wooden shield guarding your chest, and hide the wooden sword behind the shield—but always be ready to thrust. That’s it, just like that. And this is very important: always keep your eyes locked on your opponent’s. Even if blood splatters on your face, you must not blink, understand?"
Under Lufus’s careful guidance, Valles spent the remainder of the time practicing sword-fighting stances and movements by himself. By the time Lufus declared the end of the morning’s military training, Valles’s arms were so exhausted that he could barely lift them.
Next, Akegu directed everyone to reform into a column and led them back to the farm’s rear courtyard.
Standing outside the "dining hall," Acronis saw them approaching and immediately called out with a beaming smile, "Children, come drink a jug of milk sap to quench your thirst!"
Among the chorus of "Thank you, Auntie Acronis!" came a softer voice saying "Thank you, Mama," which belonged to Naisuya.
Valles cradled a jug of milk sap in his hands, sat down at the wooden table, and took a sip. It tasted tangy and slightly sweet, refreshing and cooling. He promptly drank the entire thing in one gulp and let out a satisfied burp.
"Tasty, right? This is a secret recipe from the kitchen, with a bit of honey added—it’s something most people don’t get to enjoy. We’re lucky to be in the Supply Camp and have Auntie Acronis looking after us; otherwise, today’s lunch might’ve just been greasy soup. So today, we’re pretty lucky," a lively boy leaned over and began chattering. "You shouldn’t have finished it all at once, though. You should save some to pair with the bread—it tastes better that way."
Valles recalled that this boy’s name was Manas and replied with a wry expression, "But Manas, I’ve already finished it. What now?"
After hesitating briefly, Manas picked up his own jug. "I’ll pour you a little more."
At that moment, Valles remembered something Maximus had privately said to him two nights ago during his first evening lesson: "Child, even though you’re new here, don’t worry about being excluded or bullied. These kids have all endured hardships since they were small—they understand patience and kindness. They’ll treat you like a brother and look after you. I hope you can see them as your siblings too and think of this place as your home. Live happily here..."
As Manas poured a small amount of milk sap into his jug, Valles felt both moved and a bit ashamed.
Manas leaned closer and whispered, "You got beaten pretty badly by Dorin today, didn’t you? That girl doesn’t act like a girl at all—once she starts fighting, she’s like a wild storm, no holding back—"
"Manas! Are you talking behind my back again? Feeling itchy, are you?!" Dorin’s voice suddenly shot out from behind, startling Manas. He frantically waved his hands, saying, "M-Me? Talking behind your back? No way! I was just explaining to Valles how best to drink milk sap, right, Valles?"
Catching Manas’s exaggerated winks, Valles nodded. "Yes, that’s right."
"You’re both no good," Dorin glared at the two of them and huffed angrily. "I heard everything, and Naisuya can back me up!"
Naisuya gently interjected, "Manas speaking ill of others behind their backs is certainly wrong. But Dorin, you’re big-hearted, so why not forgive him this once? Oh, my mother just brought out the bread. Let’s go help distribute it."
Dorin snorted, then turned and walked toward Acronis.
"Whew, that was close. Thank goodness for Naisuya," Manas said, sticking out his tongue nervously.
Valles couldn’t help but laugh.
When Valles first learned that the youth team—and by extension, the entire squad—had a midday snack, he was genuinely astonished. Roman citizens usually ate just two meals a day, yet this slave-armed team ate even better!
Now, as he ate warm bread and sipped sweet milk sap, listening to Manas and the others banter and brag, he felt an indescribable sense of comfort. The morning’s fatigue seemed to vanish entirely.
The afternoon was designated for work. Since Valles had received a few years of education in his early childhood, he joined Akegu and the others in the warehouse after lunch, assisting Gaius in cataloging and processing the plundered supplies.