CHAPTER 98: SARAFINA’S ADVICE

"Of course, not yet on the level of Chioma, Esther, and the others."

"There’s one more thing I want to know. How did you get this strong in such a short amount of time? Or have you been hiding your strength?"

She stared at me intently, as though hoping to catch me telling a lie.

"It’s complicated. I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you anything."

This was the best response I could think of.

"Are you still afraid that I might share this information with the Descendants of the Zahara Clan?" Sarafina asked with a faint smile.

After pretentiously hesitating, I nodded.

"Okay. I understand. Whatever secret encounters you’ve come across, or whether you’ve been hiding your strength, doesn’t really matter to me. All I’m truly curious about is that strange sword intent and what else you’re hiding," Sarafina responded.

Relief washed over me like a cool breeze on a hot day.

At least she was reasonable and wasn’t completely insane.

However, I couldn’t help but linger on her words.

Was my sword intent really that strange?

"Why the long look? Do you think I’m insane and would resort to beating the information out of you?" She asked with a crazy grin on her lips as she glared at me.

"As an instructor, not only would I gain nothing from harming you for my own personal gain, but I would also be risking punishment from the Grand Avalon Academy. And my reputation, which I’ve worked so painstakingly hard on, could fall apart.

"So you’re not really worth the effort."

Her words were somewhat reassuring.

"What do you mean by my sword intent is strange?" I cleared my throat and asked.

"You aren’t aware?" She asked, looking at me with an unusual expression.

I shook my head.

"Strange..." Sarafina muttered, scrutinising me from head to toe once more.

"This is truly strange. I thought you would know what it was when you were forging your sword embryo, but since you don’t, I can’t help but wonder how you managed to forge it. You didn’t steal it, right?"

I quickly shook my head again.

"Sorry for asking such a stupid question. I would have told you to ask your instructor for a better explanation, but considering your current situation," Sarafina sighed. "I’ll do my best to explain it to you."

"I can’t sense your sword intent. The only reason I managed to pick it up was because you had sent it flying, coating your aura. I sensed something else along with your aura, and it was with my intuition and years of experience that I deduced it was sword intent."

"I thought you were someone else, so I would have retaliated without thinking. Fortunately, I managed to hold myself back in time, or else..." Her words trailed as she finished speaking.

So my sword intent was like a fire that doesn’t radiate heat but still burns.

I didn’t know if she would still sense it if I unleashed it without my aura.

That was an experiment I needed to try out for myself later.

Looking at Sarafina, I felt a shiver travel down my spine.

I didn’t know what she was thinking, and I wasn’t interested in finding out.

"I know it sounds confusing. But that’s all I can give you. Besides, it’s your sword intent, so if even you can’t understand it, then it’s near impossible that others will. Of course, there’s another method we can try, which I’m certain will give us a proper answer."

"How are we going to do that?" I asked.

I couldn’t help but feel suspicious because the fact that she brought up this solution immediately meant it wasn’t the most appropriate solution.

"Ahem! I can channel my mana into your Spirit Veins and try sensing your sword embryo. It will be easy for me to understand its nature, and then I can explain everything to you," Sarafina replied.

Her eyes burned with interest as she looked at me like a specimen in a laboratory.

Those were the feelings I received. And the scent of blood in the air didn’t help alleviate the feeling either.

"I’ll pass. I’ll figure it out on my own," I quickly responded.

"If it were someone else, they wouldn’t hesitate to cut you open to uncover all the secrets you’re hiding," Sarafina said, clicking her tongue in annoyance.

Suddenly, her expression turned solemn, and she added, "I’ll give you some advice. Whatever you do, don’t reveal your sword intent unless necessary. Also, that special skill you used to hop around in the air during our battle, don’t reveal it either, at least until we’re done with this current dilemma."

"It’s best to put the Zahara Clan at a disadvantage first before revealing your incredible talent in the Magical Swordsman Path. Then, the Grand Avalon Academy will surely mobilise its resources to protect you."

"The Magical Swordsman Path’s powerhouses, along with other Beastmaster Path powerhouses, including those who dislike the Zahara Clan, will surely extend an offer to you."

By then, even the Descendants of the Zahara Clan will be powerless to act, unless they want to draw the ire of other powerhouses onto the Zahara Clan. The Zahara Clan themselves will be put in a difficult situation and can only watch you without daring to harm you."

"However, by that time, I hope you can consider the offer of my student Chioma. The Okafor Clan has a close relationship with the Mazrel Clan, so you would still be gaining the support of a Magical Swordsman Clan with in-depth teachings into its Path, and a Berserker Clan, alongside their alliances."

"Regardless, if you are dissatisfied with my advice, you are free to act as you desire."

Sarafina fell silent as she finished speaking.

Most of her words coincided with what I had in mind. However, they were still vastly different from them.

I realised that I had almost let my sudden strength increase get to my head. Without Sarafina’s advice, I might have already revealed my strength, thereby putting myself in a much difficult position.