Aurelia and Cedric made their way outside the city, far enough that they wouldn't be interrupted.
"Now, Queen Aurelia. You will attack me with everything you have. Attack me as if you want to kill me. No 'skills', only your own pure skill." Cedric stated that it was not a question.
Aurelia's shock was evident. "I can't do that!" She frantically shouted.
"That was not a question. We will spar," Cedric responded calmly.
Cedric gripped Equilibrium, and with a stab, he planted the mighty blade in the soil.
"I will use fists; you use Zenith. Here catch!" Cedric ordered before throwing Zenith toward Aurelia, forcing her to catch it.
"But... but..." She put her hands in front of her.
"No buts! Attack with everything you have!" Cedric shouted before launching an attack on her.
As soon as his fist connected with her, she was sent tumbling 10s of meters away, and yet she knew the man was holding back immensely.
Despite not wearing armor, she had no issues taking the hit.
The same couldn't be said about the dress and her hair, which were both dirtied.
'At least if my dress gets ruined...' Her lustful thought was interrupted by Cedric launching her into the air.
"Focus! Strike back." Cedric urged her.
Despite the beating, she held Zenith firmly.
While she despised even to fathom a thought of striking her beloved, he had made it clear it was a friendly spar, not a fight.
'I am armed, and yet I cannot find an opening. He feels like he is everywhere at once.' Aurelia was astounded. despite her eyesight being improved dramatically, she couldn't follow his movement. While his speed was manageable, the way he made feints threw her off.
He moved so gracefully despite his heavy armor.
Swish~
She swung Zenith at Cedric's neck, and as a counter, Cedric crouched and hit her abdomen with an open palm, making her let go of Zenith and stumble back.
Cedric picked up the blade before throwing it toward Aurelia.
"You can't let your thoughts wander during the battle. You must be fully present to fight. Otherwise, you will die, no matter how powerful you are. Again!" he shouted before charging towards her.
Aurelia took a flimsy defensive stance, Zenith in front of her.
She had too many openings; the moment Cedric approached, she swung the blade, and in a blink of an eye, her blade was knocked out of her hands.
"Aurelia, you weren't taught how to fight?" Cedric asked, with concern in his voice.
She shook her head, "Everything I know I had to learn on my own..."
'She... She is really only a royal in name, huh?...' Cedric pitied her; however, that did not matter, he would make her ultimate warrior even if she had 0 training.
The way she acted when he first met her made sense; she had tried hard to maintain the little authority she had, even if the real authority was Grahm's.
"Let us go again. I will go even slower," Cedric said with compassion before picking up Zenith and handing it to Aurelia.
Aurelia nodded as she took the stance again. Cedric made some distance making sure that Aurelia had time to prepare.
She stepped forward, and with the blade she swung in an sideway arc, hitting Cedric.
Or at least she thought she had hit him, in a moment of contact he appeared behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
"You lose. Try again, Aurelia." He said softly.
Aurelia nodded in response. If it were a real fight, she would have been dead multiple times already.
'I guess I don't need to worry about my beloved. But attacking him is still...' She hung her head dejectedly.
"Is everything fine?" Cedric asked her, showing concern.
She quickly straightened her posture before declaring, "All good! Let's continue, my dear!"
Cedric nodded in response before making some distance, Aurelia held her blade high.
She expected feints from Cedric, and she would make sure to block at least one hit.
She saw Cedric charge towards her, his pattern the same as the previous attack. She held her blade high; however, this time, instead of striking, she dug her heel into the ground and spun, blocking Cedric's fist with Zenith.
Her whole body reverberated from the hit, She expected another to come; however, Cedric backed off and clapped.
"Good job! You are a natural." Cedric praised her, Despite not having proper training, she was able to block his attack; it being the same as the previous did not matter.
People panicked when faced with an overwhelming opponent.
"Block one more, and we can call it a day. You did great for a first day!" Cedric praised her again, giving her something she needed.
Validation.
An act that made her blush.
Cedric jumped back, and he raised his fists. "I will attack straight ahead, I want you to deflect me."
Aurelia nodded in acknowledgment.
In the next moment, she felt the weight of the world itself collapse onto her. Cedric's presence felt suffocating even without activating [Divine Zeal].
'Is this what his enemies felt... Terrifying.' She gulped.
Despite the immense fear she felt, it wasn't the same as facing against Avaros or Former Demi Human Champions.
She knew Cedric did not plan on hurting her, however, it was no excuse for her not to try her best.
She gritted her teeth. She couldn't block this attack, but she didn't need to. The goal was simple: redirect it.
In the next moment, Cedric charged at her, she felt her life come to an end.
However she did not falter, her beloved had put his trust in her that she would be able to deflect this, and she would be damned if she failed him.
'God, please grant me strength. I am a new blade in your name, I am a former Infidel. I pray for you to forgive me and guide my hand so that I may not fail your Chosen. Amen' Aurelia prayed, her gaze full of fire and determination.
Cedric's fist connected with Zenith; the legendary blade creaked. She struggled against the hit with full force, her hands shaking as she pushed with all her strength."Ghhh!".
She struggled for moments before noticing a small opening. She pushed sideway and with great effort she pushed the fist away, creating an opening.
In the next moment, she stepped forward and raised her blade, however, Cedric caught her arm and threw Aurelia away.
"You did great! Your technique needs work, but I am sure we can make a proper Paladin of God out of you." Cedric praised her, despite her being thrown like a sack of potatoes.
"Thanks..." Aurelia smiled as Cedric approached and gripped her hand.