I Reincarnated as a Shinai

Reiji urged Stella to ask Enri about the person who summoned the Arcana that looks like a shinai…

Stella only nodded and didn't ask him why as she just followed his instruction. 

"Miss Enri… May I know again the name of that Arcanist who summoned something that looks like this sword?"

"Oh… His name is Noel Faust. He's quite famous… No, perhaps infamous." Enri said followed by a soft chuckle. It seems that the guy doesn't have a good reputation. 

'Noel Faust… Summoned by her student, huh… I would like to know more about it but…'

It was Reiji's first time hearing about Noel Faust who summoned a sword that looks like a shinai. He even had a strong feeling that it was him who was summoned that time.

'Anyway, this is not important… My summoner just threw me away… I wonder when this woman will leave, Stella still needed to practice.'

Before he could say that it was enough, Stella asked more questions about Noel Faust. Surprisingly, Enri was cooperative and answered her truthfully.

"Noel Faust… You should've heard about our Minister of Finance. He was that man's son."

Enri even described Noel's figure…

'Hmm… No one fits that description during the Wailing Forest's Trial… Perhaps, he's in a different branch?'

As far as he remembers, the Arcana Bestowal Ceremony's location differs every year since there are several Arcane Academies in the kingdom. What normally happens was that all candidates would come together in the selected place from different regions in the kingdom. 

"How lucky… I hope that I can also summon an Arcana someday." Stella muttered softly. 

Enri only smiled as she knows how difficult it is.

"Well, it may be difficult in our kingdom since we prioritize nobles and students in the Arcane Academies. However, if you saved enough money, you can try going to Erliente to participate in their ceremony. As long as you have money, they would allow you to use their Arcane Circle…"

"What? Really? I only heard about this today?!"

"That's normal. Many citizens of our kingdom are unaware of our neighboring country's situation. I only heard about this after I had an opportunity to visit there due to a competition between the two countries' Arcane Students…"

"Amazing! How much do you think I should save up?"

"Hmm… It should be about 25,000 gold coins each. Right, one of the requirements is that there should be thirty participants in a single ceremony." Enri answered. She can easily remember such detail due to their importance.

"That's quite expensive…" Stella muttered as her master suddenly say something to her using their Sense Link.

"Uhmm… I think that our kingdom should be capable of conducting many ceremonies if it's only worth that much… Right, Miss Enri?" 

"That's true… if the Arcane Circle was already prepared. The problem is that we don't have the tools or the materials to maintain this Circle in our environment… It seems that they are using a special catalyst to do this. There's also a lack of First Class Arcanists to trigger the ceremony… Sigh~"

Enri explained to the curious Stella. Reiji listened attentively as it was a knowledge that he didn't know… He even wants to talk to this woman directly! Anyway, he continued asking through Stella.

"Uhmm… Do we not have a single First-Class Arcanist in our kingdom?"

Enri only smiled wryly as she shakes her head…

Stella understood this and made a surprised expression…

"No way… How come there's not a single talented Arcanists in our kingdom? Aren't we lacking a lot?" 

This is what Reiji thinks so too… Compared to the Erliente Dukedom on the western continent, it seems that this small Chorodan Kingdom was too poor.

"Well, we lack resources to nurture one… Anyway, when this kingdom was still being built, we had three First-Class Arcanist…" 

Enri proudly said and before Stella could ask her another question, she added.

"But they already died in old age…"

"I see…"

It was a shame that the kingdom could no longer nurture a strong Arcanist. 

"Don't worry… We have a few amazing Arcanists in this generation… I'm sure that our kingdom would rise someday…"

"Amazing Arcanists?" 

"That's right!"

Enri then told her about the existence of two young Arcanists that has Mythical Arcana within the kingdom.

Then, Stella understood that even the neighboring countries were looking forward to the kingdom's bright future. 

After a few years, or perhaps a decade, the leaders of this country expect that they will gain another pillar that would support the rise of their Kingdom… If that happened, they will be able to continue expanding their territory and perhaps reach a conclusion in their war against the Orcs.

Based on Enri's words, conquering the southern region where the Orcs are living seems to be beneficial to their neighboring countries as well… Although she wasn't sure what kind of benefit they can get.

"Oops! I already took so much of your time…"

"That's alright, Miss Enri… I also learned a lot thanks to you."

"That's good to hear… I just remembered my students while looking at you... You're working hard with your sword... Haha! Alright, I'll leave now… I think my father has already calmed down…"

Enri left quickly before she could say goodbye. Stella was then reminded by her master to continue what she was doing…

'The break is over, huh…'

"Ah… Where am I again?"

"Okuri-Ashi! You did it perfectly against Frank before… But why are you jumping around a while ago?"

"Ah, right! I was thinking of moving my left foot but also have to be quick with my right foot so..."

"Sigh~ Just do it slowly. Once your body remembers the steps, it would be just like a natural movement to you… Try it again."

Stella may have been lucky to execute that footwork before, but it can also be said that it was due to her constant practice. It seems that when she's under pressure, her body can naturally remember her practices… 

"Muscle memory…" 

However, right now… She's not under pressure and what she's probably thinking is where to step, what foot should be first to move, what kind of sword strike she'll do, or even thinking about other things… She's making it complicated.

"Master?"

"You should focus… Ahh, you also need to add another set in your practice…"

"Eh? A-alright, Master! I'll do my best…"

Their practice continued and a week has quickly passed.

Stella woke up early since today is a special day… It is her Master's Examination Day!

"Oh, Stella… You're wearing them… You look like a real Hunter…" Hemil commented after seeing Stella… She's wearing the Half-Chest Leather Armor, the Arm Bracers, Silver Knife, Leather Belt Bag, and her strange-looking wooden sword on her back… 

"Yes… I will go out for a while…" Stella replied as she moved around with her equipment. It seems that she was trying to get used to them.

"You're early, I haven't prepared any breakfast yet…"

"That's alright, uncle. I'll just buy something outside. I might return late so you don't have to prepare for my lunch…"

"Urgh… Where are you going this time? You're practicing your sword a lot even though you're already so strong… Are you planning to take the Hunter Exam?"

"Eh? It's different… I mean, no! I will hunt a bit in the forest…"

"Mhmm… I know you're strong but you have to be careful… Do you have money? Visit Gentle Leaves to buy some support potions or anything…"

"I will…"

"Oh! I also heard that the Chaos Knights were injured after entering the unexplored region inside the forest…" Hemil quickly added. 

"What? I didn't hear anything about that… What happened?"

"It seems that they encountered the guardian of the forest… I'm even more surprised that they were still alive…"

"Guardian? The guardian of the Wailing Forest? Isn't that just a legend?"

"Haha… There is always mixed truth in these stories. Anyway, you have to promise me not to get too deep inside the forest… Look out for the markings left behind by the members of the Hunter Association… Avoid the dangerous places and run if you found strong foes."

"Yes, uncle… Don't worry."

"Mhmm… You also need to buy the smoke signal or something from the village elder's shop in case you needed some help…"

"Oh! That one. Thanks for reminding me!"

If he didn't see how skilled this young girl was… He would surely do his best to just keep her here. However, he saw what happened that day. He saw how she bested several powerful cultists in her few swings…

He was unsure how did she gain such explosive strength in such a short time after barely defeating a single cultist before. 

Although he doubts what she said that it was due to the Aura Domination potion she drank, it wasn't really important now as long as no harmful side effects appeared after. 

The most important thing was her ability to protect herself, so Hemil can be at ease even if she went out to hunt in the Wailing Forest…

After completing all of her preparations, Stella entered the forest with determined eyes…