"It must be hell working for her," a brown-haired boy of the same height as Cassian said, executing overhead slashes with a wooden sword. The boy had a slightly larger build and was drenched in sweat, just like Cassian.
Nearby, Cassian was also performing the overhead slashes with his wooden sword. He had made friends with this boy, Nahir, while training in the grounds. Nahir was another servant, though he worked for a different lord.
"I heard she punishes you if you even move one of her things by an inch," Nahir said, pausing to catch his breath.
Cassian shook his head, noting that he had yet to meet Lady Katherine in person. It was now his third week here, and his routine had remained the same from day one: helping in Lady Katherine's chambers, learning how to tidy up her space, and then returning to complete the daily tasks given by the system.
At first, he thought the system's tasks were pointless, but he'd started to see improvements over time. He didn't tire as easily and could finish most tasks within an hour—except for the sword slashes.
The sword practice varied daily. One day it was overhead slashes, another day it was horizontal. Perfecting each type required significant time, as they had to be done flawlessly to count. On the first day, his arms felt like lead, but he managed to finish in time.
Over the weeks, he improved and also got to know Nahir, who practiced swordsmanship in his spare time. Nahir's practice sessions complemented Cassian's, helping him refine his technique.
[100 overhead slashes done.]
"I haven't met her, man," Cassian said, finishing his last task and sitting under the shade of a tree. The sun was high and scorching, and he wiped the sweat from his brow. "I've only seen her in the picture hanging in her room."
"Oh, I've heard she's quite the beauty. Let me know if you see her," Nahir said, his rugged face sporting some facial hair, a contrast to Cassian's still youthful appearance.
Feeling a bit annoyed by Nahir's question, Cassian shot back, "How come you hear so many things?"
Nahir smirked and replied, "I have my ways." He then got up and added, "See you at dinner."
Cassian waved tiredly with a smile. Once Nahir was out of sight, he muttered, "Status."
[Name : Trainee Cassian ven dyke
Warrior level : trainee
Strength: 8Agility: 7Endurance: 9Intelligence: 14Dexterity: 7Vitality: 8 ]
Cassian noticed some changes in his status: endurance had risen the most, followed by strength, and surprisingly, vitality had increased too. Vitality, which was typically boosted by consuming elixirs or special items, seemed to have improved just from eating well over the past few days. He was curious about how this had happened but figured the good nutrition might be the reason.
The skill menu had also been updated:
[Skills: Cleaning: Swordsmanship:
Overhead Slash: E (Progress: 79%)Horizontal Slash: E (Progress: 64%)Diagonal Slash: E (Progress: 56%)Thrust: E (Progress: 33%)]
The swordsmanship panel now displayed the moves he practiced daily, showing their progress. Cassian wasn't sure what would happen once he advanced the skill levels, but he was determined to keep working hard. Alongside his training, he was also diligently memorizing Lady Katherine's exact preferences for how she liked her things arranged.
As it was time for the lady's afternoon tea with her friends, Cassian made his way to her chamber, but not before enjoying a cold shower, which had become surprisingly pleasant.
When he arrived at the chamber, Sumina was not there, but her helpers, Jimmy and Nesha, were already present. They greeted him with smiles. "Coming from the training grounds?"
Cassian nodded. Almost everyone he worked with knew about his training sessions, and since he always completed his tasks and went the extra mile, no one had any complaints. "Miss Sumina is late today, huh?"
"Yeah, her husband returned from the border this morning," Nesha said with a smile, surprising Cassian.
He nodded, recalling that her husband, a soldier stationed at the border, was the reason Sumina was leaving her position. Now that he had retired and wanted to spend time with her, Sumina had resigned. They were well-off, with her job in the dukedom and his military service.
"At least we don't have to hear her complaints anymore about us being a couple," Jimmy said, glancing at Nesha. They had been dating for a while.
As Cassian watched their affectionate behavior, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Their constant displays of affection were a bit much, and he understood why Sumina had been frustrated with them. He found their lovey-dovey nature irritating, especially since he wasn't exactly the romantic type himself.
As Cassian watched Jimmy and Nesha engage in their usual affectionate behavior—holding hands, giggling, and brushing against each other—he looked around to distract himself. Just then, Sumina rushed in.
"Miss Sumina is here," he announced, causing Jimmy and Nesha to quickly separate and greet her. "Good morning, Miss Sumina."
Cassian did the same, and Sumina returned their greetings. "Good morning, sorry I'm a bit late."
"No worries, Miss Sumina. Everyone wants to spend as much time as possible with their loved ones after a long separation," Nesha said, picking up some items from a nearby trolley. Sumina blushed slightly at her words.
Cassian was surprised by the exchange but didn't think much of it. He was still young and didn't quite understand these adult matters. He went to gather the items needed for cleaning the lady's room.
Sumina had composed herself and began cleaning while explaining each task to Cassian, as she did every morning. They finished the cleaning soon after.
"Done," she said with a tired sigh. "You two can go now. Cassian, stay here."
Jimmy and Nesha left with smiles, taking the cleaning tools with them, while Sumina moved to inspect the bookshelves. Cassian watched her with curiosity, wondering why she hadn't dismissed him like the others.
Sumina picked up a book and asked, "So, Cassian, do you know anything about massaging?" Seeing his confused expression, she clarified, "Massage—like body massage? Do you know anything about it?"