Genshin Impact: The Admiral of Fontaine

(Chapter 14 Training)

It was early morning, and in the training yard, Constantine and Tempest stood facing each other, ready to spar. Melissa watched from a distance, her keen eyes following their every move. The air was crisp, and the ground was still damp with morning dew, adding a fresh scent to the cool breeze that swept across the yard. Birds chirped softly in the background, providing a serene soundtrack to the intensity about to unfold.

"I will be using my katana, pick a sword from my remaining three, Young Master."

Constantine said while he unsheathed his purple katana.

"I will use the black longsword."

"Excellent choice, Young Master."

Constantine grabbed the hilt of the black longsword hanging from his belt and threw it to Tempest. With flawless precision, Tempest caught the blade, still sheathed in its scabbard.

"Strike a pose, Young Master."

Constantine smirked. He positioned himself with the katana held high and angled forward, ready to strike with precision and power.

Tempest unsheathed the black longsword and he held it horizontally in front of his body, like a shield, providing strong protection against Constantine's attacks.

"Going in defensive first, I see. Let's see how long you can hold out, Young Master."

Constantine said.

"Melissa, start the countdown."

"Yes, Young Master, 3..."

Melissa held her hand up high.

Both Constantine and Tempest held their swords firmly, solidifying their footing as they prepared to engage one another.

"2..."

'He's going to strike first... I know him too well...'

Tempest thought to himself.

"1... Go."

Melissa lowered her hand swiftly, signaling the two to begin.

"Hargh!"

As Tempest expected, Constantine attacked first, thrusting the point of his katana directly at him. He charged forward swiftly, but Tempest dodged the attack flawlessly by moving to the side.

"Excellent dodge! Young Master!"

Constantine then closed the distance with a spinning attack aimed at Tempest. Following up, he executed a series of three slashes. Tempest effortlessly parried the first two attacks, but Constantine's final slash carried weight. Their blades clashed, and their eyes locked in a tense standoff, each waiting to see who would yield first.

Constantine carried a wicked smile, clearly enjoying the spar, while Tempest remained unfazed, his face as emotionless and unreadable as ever.

Both of them jumped backward to create distance from one another. Shortly after Constantine gained his footing he jumped forward to perform a downward strike at Tempest.

'How this old geezer moves so fast never ceases to surprise me, no wonder they call him the 'Silent Storm'. In Inazuma.'

Tempest thought to himself.

Tempest moved backward swiftly to dodge Constantine's downward strike. After Constantine landed his attack, he once again pointed his katana at Tempest and charged forward swiftly, closing the distance between them with determination.

"You can't keep dodging and parrying forever! Young Master!"

Constantine said to him once again as their blades connected, leading to another standoff between them.

"Very well then."

Tempest swiftly kicked Constantine with his boot to create distance.

"Oof!"

Tempest then charged at him, delivering swift and relentless attacks. Constantine parried each strike skillfully, but Tempest's assault was unyielding and heavy, pressing Constantine without respite. Despite Constantine's defense, Tempest continued to push forward with unwavering determination, each strike calculated and forceful.

"That's more like it! Young Master!"

Constantine jumped backward to create distance.

"Now then, let me show you a little magic trick I learned in Inazuma."

Constantine smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye, while Tempest raised an eyebrow and positioned his sword defensively against Constantine's magic trick.

Constantine reached into his pocket and withdrew a small piece of paper. With deliberate care, he used it to wipe his katana's blade, causing the weapon to crackle with electro energy pulsing in its blade.

"Just a tiny yet fatal technique an old friend in Inazuma taught me. Kamuna Talisman."

Constantine positioned himself, his katana held high and angled forward.

"Fascinating..."

Tempest said while he prepared himself.

"Let's end this!"

Constantine shouted as he charged forward with his electrified katana. Tempest raised his longsword high and also surged forward, both of them intent on settling the spar with one final, decisive strike.

As their blades were about to connect, Tempest's Pyro Delusion activated, causing his sword's blade to erupt in flames of Pyro. Both of their eyes widened in surprise. The moment their blades met, a small explosion ensued, knocking them back and sending their swords flying into the air.

"Young Master!"

Melissa who was watching quietly in the distance shouted and ran towards Tempest.

"Grgh..."

Tempest groaned as he was knocked back unexpectedly.

"Why now..."

"Young Master! Are you alright?!"

Melissa questioned him as she knelt down beside him.

"I'm fine... Go check on Teacher, Melissa."

"I'm quite alright, Young Master... Thankfully my swords weren't damaged..."

Constantine walked towards them.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm still breathing..."

Constantine offered his hand to Tempest which he accepted.

"What... What was that? Young Master? You had a Pyro Vision all along?"

Melissa said as she got up from the ground and stared at Tempest's pocket, where his Delusion was still glowing.

"It's nothing, Melissa... I trust you won't report this to my Father, will you?"

Tempest looked at Melissa.

"I..."

Melissa hesitated for a while before shortly answering.

"Very well, Young Master. I trust your judgment."

Melissa said while bowing her head.

"Thank you, I need some privacy with Teacher real quick. If you don't mind."

"Do you not need to go to the infirmary to treat your wounds, Young Master?"

"I'm quite alright. Melissa"

Melissa nodded in response and went back inside the mansion.

Tempest then took out the Pyro Delusion in his pocket. He watched as the Pyro Delusion dimmed out and slowly reverted back to its dormant state.

"Tsk... I thought I could control it by now, but it just activates when I don't need it. It's like it has a mind of its own..."

Tempest gritted his teeth, squeezing the Pyro Delusion in his hand as if trying to crush it.

"Perhaps it activates when it senses your life is in danger, though I expected you to survive unscathed during our spar."

Constantine tells him. Tempest put back the Pyro Delusion in his pocket.

"It's overreacting... I'm gonna turn rusty if it keeps interfering...I'm going to the wilderness and try to control it."

Tempest said Constantine's face turned grim as Tempest wanted to use his Delusion once more.

"Young Master, I must advise you not to overuse it. Though the drawbacks have not yet shown, don't wait until they do."

"I will utilize anything if it helps me take down my Father, Constantine. even if it costs me my sanity."

Tempest declared as he walked past him, Constantine sighed in response and followed him.

"Where are we going? Young Master?"

"The barracks of the Knights of the Golden Hand to Pierre's office, to ask permission and borrow some horses."

"Not your Father?"

"He can pass the message."

Tempest replied to Constantine as they walked inside the mansion. After a short walk through the grand halls, lined with portraits of past Dukes and adorned with intricate tapestries, they finally arrived at the barracks.

"Young Master!"

"Rohan."

Rohan walked towards them, surprised to see them both here.

"What are you doing here? Young Master? And Sir Constantine two."

"Where's Pierre?"

Tempest asked Rohan.

"The commander? He's at the training field with the knights, we were having a sparring session today."

"You won?"

Constantine asked Rohan.

"I did, I was the first one to go."

Constantine nodded in satisfaction.

'The Young Master has good eyes on hardworking people... This knight will serve us well during our uprising.'

Constantine thought to himself.

"Lead me to him."

Tempest tells Rohan.

"Of course, follow me, Young Master."

Rohan gestured them both to follow him, after a short walk they found themselves in the training field, the knights turned their heads to Tempest.

"Young Master? What brings you here?"

Pierre said while raising his hand gesturing the knights to take a small break.

"I need your permission to leave the mansion for a while and borrow some horses."

"Why are you asking me? And not your Father?"

Pierre asked him as he raised an eyebrow.

"He's busy, pass the message to him."

Tempest lied as naturally as he breathed.

"Mm... Very well, I trust you will be looking after him?"

Pierre turns his head to Constantine.

"Of Course, commander."

Constantine bowed his head.

"Good, be back by evening, Young Master."

"Right."

"Rohan, lead them to the stables."

"Yes, commander, follow me, Young Master."

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At the gates of the Proudmoore mansion, Tempest and Constantine were mounted on horseback, ready to depart. Rohan stood nearby, to see them off.

"She's a noble breed, I tell you."

Rohan said while patting the horse's mane Tempest was riding.

"We'll be back later."

Tempest said to Rohan, he simply nodded in response.

Rohan opened the gates for them.

"Hyah!"