Couple weeks after Kerubell event, He was called by the rulers of this country.
At the throne room.
The slave announced.
Kerubell you are in presence of King Aldaran and Queen Miriam, the rightful rulers of the kingdom of Exodus.
As a sign of respect, Kerubell kneeled, and so did Micaela who was next to him.
The king did a gesture so that they could stand up, a signal of courtesy.
King Aldaran spoke.
"I congratulate you, oh hero, oh priestess, with the two of you together with our armies, and the goddess blessing, it is a sign that we will be able to take a step forward towards the regain of our lands and eventually expand our territory."
The nobles around started applauding.
"Your highness, I have come to the realization that I will indeed help the exodus kingdom, who embraced my person and help me, however, I will not fight other human kingdoms." Said Kerubell without showing emotion, "As your highness knows I have a become a hero to the humans and as such, I will only fight towards that which is not human."
'This fool, is he trying to say that he won't help Exodus kingdom take over the neighbour kingdoms, how dares he?' The queen calmly held the king hand and did a small nod.
The king reflected upon himself.
'Very well then, I'll still make this hero work plenty, humans aside, there's plenty of enemies to take down.'
"I understand, for you are the hero, I shall grant you, your wish, however, if the enemy human kingdoms are the ones that initiate the war, then I still expect you to defend us." Said the king with a defiant tone.
'Ah... I didn't expect that.' Thought Kerubell to himself.
A whisper struck Keru ears, "agree."
Keru looked to the side, to Micaela the priestess, as he understood something he returned the look to the king and spoke.
"As you declare your highness."
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At Rinty's, in Johan private dojo, Johan and Sofia were currently training.
Both facing each other, holding their wooden swords, in drawing stances.
Johan aura covered the whole dojo room, and in front of him, a different aura was expanding.
From the little girl, the aura was starting to come out, making Johan aura the size of an ocean, have a small whirlpool in the middle.
'Johan aura is blue, it gives a peaceful feeling.' thought Sofia.
Johan expression was delighted, and so he explained.
"This is the aura, what you've achieved, is an aura that helps you detect what is around you, for example, hidden presences and attacks," after a pause he continued, "it's also useful to perceive where the attack is coming from, what shape it's made, it's direction, where it begins and where it will land, pieces of information that make our swordsmanship shine further!"
'5 years old and has already achieved this much....'
Johan felt like letting go a mad laugh, but he held it in.
Johan dissipated his aura and spoke.
"For now master on how to control your aura in the family we use this aura only for battlefields to paralyse a lot of enemies at once, but it also paralyses our allies so controlling the size is what counts, that way you can do it in a small size, to block the opponent who's in front of you or even someone who sneaked to your back."
"Yes, father."
Sofia focused on herself and expanded her aura around.
'My daughter sure has a sinister aura, the last time I saw this kind of violet color was when I fought a demon.'
Johan grinned.
Sofia expanded her aura through the whole room filling it and then she noticed something.
Her gaze looked scared at a closed door inside the dojo, one she had never seen open.
She felt something terrifying from inside.
She dissipated the aura and took a few steps back.
"What's inside that door?" Asked Sofia while feeling creeped out.
"Ah..."
'Didn't expect she'd notice it already.'
"You see Sofia, my dojo is connected with more dojos all the way through the forest, in other words, this part where we currently reside, is the part that can be seen by everyone, it is the only dojo of this long succession of dojos that are not covered by the long forest, behind the mansion." A brief pause, as he regained his breath. "Usually when one finishes his training with the head master of Rinty, they're able to freely enter this room."
"Who would want to enter into that place, which feels so creepy?" Said Sofia with a crept expression.
Johan laughed.
"Beyond that door, there exist many doors, after each door a different trial can be felt, for example, my dad, the old headmaster had gone up to the room 4 and I've reached the room 5 where I mastered the aura which made you faint when I tested you."
Johan scratched his head.
"The records of the family, say this family was created by a genius swordmaster, while his teachings have been passed down, it does not necessarily mean, that a successor could achieve as much as him and surpass him so that genius swordmaster thought on the possibility that one of the successors of the lineage would not be able to be born with the talent for the sword."
Johan crossed his arms as Sofia regained her composure and focused her entirety on Johan speech.
"Due to that before passing away, he created these rooms, each with a different aura, one more oppressive than the last one, this way the successor even without talent, can go through that door, and achieve something with it, at least enough strength till a new successor is born, we who carry the swordmaster blood, will eventually produce a swordmaster that is capable of surpassing the first one, that is our legacy."
"Wow, but dad, why did we become the sword of The Kingdom of Exodus, I mean, we don't need to serve royalty in order to achieve the house goal."
"Oh... my daughter," Johan approached her and pet her, "You see, it's easier to have the royalty on our side so that we can use them to find strong opponents, through the world, so that we get to become the strongest swordsman in the world."
"I could simply train you for a long time, however, there are things that you only learn through fighting others, especially on the death's door, when your life is on the line, that is when you improve the most."
"Ah... it's good to know." Sofia revealed a dark expression. "I felt like, I would not be able to achieve my goals if you'd force me to be this kingdom sword as well."
"Your goals?" Johan asked in confusion.
"Yes, I seek revenge towards those who killed my family back there in that snow battlefield."
"So you wish to avenge your family..." Johan looked serious at Sofia, "is that why you took the sword?"
"To be honest no, I took the sword because I love swordsmanship, but I'd be lying if I said, that I wouldn't use it to achieve my goals." Said Sofia with pure honesty.
"That much is fine, I would've killed you in this instant if I did not like your answer and that goes to any of my children, the day one of them betrays the path of the sword, I'll make them pay." Johan grinned.
Sofia gulped.
"I wish to show you something father."
"What is it Sofia?"
The girl moved towards the exit.
Johan without muttering another word followed her.
Once outside Sofia directed herself at some trees with her wooden sword in a sword stance.
She raised her sword, and then positioned it on her waist on a drawing stance, focused with all her mind, and remembered the days where she was under water practicing in her past life.
Swing, swing, swing, and then on that final day she achieved it, something new.
She did her best to keep that last strike in her mind as she swung.
A beautiful upward swing which made so much pressure in the air, that a light was projected towards the tree in front.
The light flew, and it cut the tree perfectly in two.
The light went on dissipating slowly.
10 meters it lasted.
'This sure is hard to pull' Thought Sofia as she was sweating from her forehead.
"That..." Said Johan amazed?
"A technique I developed after swinging the sword countlessly."
"You truly are a cut above your brothers."
A light started shining on Sofia's waist.
"A 5-year-old kid as my master?" The sword asked, "That shouldn't be possible, even the one acknowledged by that silly blue sword has 20 years, the hero."
"Well matters not, we came to this world with a purpose to serve the one we deem worthy by the goddess, be they good or... evil."
"You who have achieved the impossible is deemed worthy of a contract with me."
"Now unsheath me and our contract shall be complete."
Sofia and Johan who were staring at each other while glimpsing towards the sword, as they heard the sword talking, were dumbfounded.
"Go for it Sofia, the sword has picked you, do not betray her."
"Y-Yes!"
Sofia picked the sword and grabbed the handle with her right hand.
"Sword, I have two requests before we seal our contract."
"You dare request something after a chance for a weakling like you to gain this much power?
The sword laughing was echoed through the mansion.
"Let us hear it, those requests of yours."
"First I wish to know your name, and second I'd prefer if you didn't shoot a light into the sky, like what happened to Keru."
"As you see fit."
Sofia pulled the sword, and a name ringed out to her brain, piercing through her cells, Aurora.
"Thank you," Sofia said with a glimmering smile.
10 minutes afterward the family, butlers, and maids came rushing with weapons.
"What happened dear, we heard something like a dragon echo?" Said Rin with a worried expression.
"Ah... everything is okay, our daughter simply did something amazing." Replied Johan.
Everyone stared at Sofia, but from those that looked, only Rin, Rod, and the personal butler of Johan could tell, the meaning of Johan words, and the unsheathed sword on Sofia's hands.
