Chapter 41: The Assessment of Another Person
With Zephyr standing in front of him, Alvis finally snapped out of his daze.
Only then did he realize his back was already drenched in cold sweat.
That brief exchange had given him a sensation he had not felt in years, the feeling of standing on the edge of death. If Zephyr had not stepped in at the last second, that attack would have done far more than leave him embarrassed. He might have been crippled on the spot, or worse.
Alvis looked at Axel with a heavy expression.
That brat... did he even understand how dangerous that attack had been?
Using a move like that against his own teacher was no small matter. It was unsettling, even frightening. Still, Alvis did not let those thoughts show for long. If Axel could grow properly under Zephyr's guidance, then not only his strength, but also his temperament, would be tempered into something truly worthy of the Navy.
He straightened himself and saluted at once.
"Admiral Zephyr!"
Zephyr did not even glance at the salute before replying, "I'm not an admiral anymore. I'm just an old man training recruits."
Only after saying that did he turn his attention back to Axel.
"The battle with your teacher just now was the test," he said plainly. "And you passed."
From Zephyr's point of view, Axel's final slash had already said enough.
It looked very close to sword energy, though the power behind it was still lacking. Even so, the fact that he could produce something of that nature at all was enough to place him above many swordsmen already training under the Navy. Plenty of them had talent, but not one of them could release an attack like that yet.
No matter what method Axel had used, the result was the result.
He had already stepped ahead of many others.
Axel gave a small nod, but his mind was turning quickly.
Studying under Zephyr was no bad thing.
If anything, it was the best possible outcome.
The man had trained countless outstanding Marines. Even the current three admirals had once been his students. And the tragedy that would eventually break him was still more than two years away. Until then, learning from him would only help.
Seeing Axel go quiet, Zephyr frowned slightly.
"Your temperament is nothing like Garp's," he said bluntly. "As a Navy soldier, you don't need to think so much. You just need to know what you should do, then do it."
He paused, then added in a lower voice, "Your personality still needs work. But you've got enough talent. If you follow me, I'll turn you into a qualified soldier."
Axel did not argue. He simply nodded.
"I agree."
That answer satisfied Zephyr.
A rare smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Binz, standing nearby, looked stunned.
At first, he had assumed the fight was just something Alvis arranged on the spot. He never expected it to be Zephyr's personal screening.
The other students looked on in confusion, awe, or envy.
Some of them had only heard Zephyr's name in passing. Others knew exactly who he was, because their parents had spoken of him with the kind of respect reserved for legends. Those students could not hide the envy in their eyes.
Zephyr enjoyed that atmosphere.
Only in an environment like this, one that pushed people to admire strength and pursue justice, could the Navy raise more capable soldiers.
"Both of you, come with me to the recruit camp," Zephyr said, pointing at Axel and Binz before turning to leave.
"Both?" Axel asked.
The question made everyone stop.
Even Zephyr turned back.
Axel's brows drew together slightly.
In his memory, both Binz and Ain should have become Zephyr's students. Yet this time, Zephyr had only chosen him and Binz, leaving Ain out completely.
Had his existence already altered the original course of things that much?
Seeing him lost in thought, Zephyr asked, "What is it, kid? You got a problem?"
Axel came back to himself and looked past Zephyr, toward Ain.
There was no resentment in her face. Only surprise, envy, hope and a trace of heartfelt congratulations.
For a moment, Axel remembered everything from the past few days. Her help. Her concern. That bright, easy smile she wore so naturally.
Maybe staying behind at the academy would keep her away from the danger that should come two years later.
But that was not his choice to make for her.
A person's future should still belong to that person.
Axel lifted his head and looked at Zephyr seriously.
"I hope you'll give Ain a chance too."
"Me?"
Ain froze on the spot.
She had never expected Axel to speak up for her.
The other students were stunned as well, their gazes shifting between Ain and Axel.
Zephyr gave Ain a measuring look.
"Ain?"
Before coming here, Alvis had only mentioned two especially outstanding students. Those were the ones Zephyr had personally come to see. He had not heard Ain's name at all. For Zephyr, names meant nothing if ability could not back them up.
And Ain, at first glance, did not fit his expectations.
She looked too nervous in front of him.
Too restrained.
In Zephyr's eyes, women were already at a natural disadvantage in terms of physique. Add her timid reaction on top of that, and it was hard to imagine her becoming truly strong.
Of course, Ain's nervousness had a reason.
Zephyr had retired from the front lines, but inside the Navy, his name still carried enormous weight. Countless Marines had been trained by him. His recruit camp was a place many dreamed of entering. Standing in front of a figure like that, Ain was naturally overwhelmed.
Axel stepped half a pace to the side and said calmly, "That's her."
Zephyr watched her for another moment, then said, "Fine. Then let's see it."
He faced Ain directly.
"Attack me with everything you've got. If you want to pass, show me what you can do."
Ain stiffened for a second before answering, "Yes!"
She clenched her fists and instinctively prepared to charge in barehanded.
Axel suddenly spoke up again.
"Zephyr... Teacher? Is it fine if I call you that?"
Zephyr snorted. "Call me whatever you want."
"In that case," Axel said, "since you told her to go all out, that means there's no restriction on weapons, right?"
Zephyr glanced at him, then at Ain.
"Correct."
Axel had already noticed it long ago.
Ain's palms were not like an ordinary girl's. Both hands carried clear calluses from long term sword practice. And a few days earlier, when she had seen the scars on the wall of his house, her first reaction had been to ask if he was a swordsman like her.
That alone was enough.
Ain's real strength lay in the sword.
Zephyr also seemed to understand now. He gave a short nod and said, "Go get the weapon you're best with. Don't worry about hurting me. No brat is going to injure me with a blade."
With Alvis accompanying her, Ain quickly ran to the equipment storage and returned not long after with a short sword in hand.
The academy naturally did not lack weapons, but anything involving blades or firearms had to be issued under a teacher's supervision.
Axel's eyes rested on the weapon for a moment.
Only one sword.
That made him pause.
From the calluses on her hands, she should have trained both sides evenly. By all logic, she ought to be a dual wielding swordsman.
Yet now, she had only brought back a single short blade.
.....
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