From Blade To Spell

Duke Alaric, seated in his study, was stunned. As an Earth Knight, his senses far surpassed those of ordinary men. He had heard every word exchanged between his daughter and the stranger named Aaron.

Without hesitation, he rose from his chair and began walking toward the courtyard.

This young man… he's not ordinary.

Meanwhile, Fiona rushed to Alice's side, her face flushed with concern. But when she saw Alice covered in feathers, she couldn't help but smile.

"Miss, you look… funny. Let me help you clean up."

She began plucking the feathers gently from Alice's hair and shoulders.

Aaron, watching the scene, couldn't help but think of a chicken being plucked. The image nearly made him laugh—but then he remembered who she was. He glanced around, suppressing the grin.

Alice, still impatient, turned to him.

"Aaron, tell me the various flying methods you know!"

Aaron raised a hand calmly.

"Miss Alice, I won't reveal all of them now. I'll share one method first. The rest… after I receive my territory."

Alice's eyes widened. Then she snorted, half amused, half intrigued.

"Fine. Tell me the first method."

Aaron nodded.

"The first method isn't true flight. It's a way to slow down a fall, called parachuting. You'll need to craft a parachute first. It's a large, lightweight canopy that catches air and reduces your falling speed, allowing you to land safely from great heights."

Alice's expression shifted, from curiosity to fascination.

Parachuting? Catching air to slow descent?

She had never heard of such a thing.

Just then, Duke Alaric stepped into the courtyard, his gaze fixed on Aaron.

"Aaron, can you demonstrate the parachute you spoke of? If you can, I will grant you a territory."

The voice was deep, commanding, filled with authority that silenced the courtyard.

Aaron turned, stunned.

Standing before him was a middle-aged man, dressed in immaculately clean clothes, his black hair neatly combed, and his posture radiating power. His fair skin, handsome features, and the quiet intensity in his gaze left no doubt.

This was Duke Alaric Blackmoor.

"Father," Alice said with a bright smile, stepping aside respectfully.

Elwood, Edrin, Garric, and Fiona immediately bowed.

"Lord Duke / Master," they said in unison.

Aaron, sensing the gravity of the moment, bowed as well.

"I can indeed demonstrate it, Lord Duke. I won't be able to build a parachute strong enough for a human just yet, but I can give you a working example."

Duke Alaric studied Aaron's face, noting the quiet confidence in his eyes.

He's not bluffing, the Duke thought.

Garric, Elwood, and Edrin exchanged glances.

Aaron's courage… it's real.

"How much time do you need?" Alaric asked.

Aaron paused, calculating.

"I'll need a cloth, two stones of equal weight, string, needles… and someone to assist me."

Alaric didn't hesitate.

"I'll have the materials brought immediately. Fiona, assist him."

Fiona stepped forward, followed closely by Alice. Servants rushed in, gathering the requested items.

Aaron carefully selected two stones, each weighing exactly 100 grams. He weighed them in front of the gathered crowd to ensure transparency.

With Fiona's help, he quickly assembled a miniature parachute, a simple but functional design.

"I'm ready to demonstrate," he announced.

"You've all seen the stones are equal in weight, correct?"

The crowd nodded.

Aaron continued,

"If I drop both stones from the same height, they'll land at the same time."

He held one stone in each hand and dropped them. As expected, they hit the ground simultaneously.

The crowd nodded again, still unsure where this was going.

Aaron smiled.

"Now, let me show you how the parachute works."

He carefully placed one stone inside the parachute, securing it. The other he kept bare.

"I'll need to climb to the top of the castle. You all stay below and watch how each stone falls."

Without a word, Duke Alaric stepped forward, grabbed Aaron by the arm, and leapt.

In a blur, they landed atop the castle.

Aaron's eyes widened.

"Lord Alaric… your stunt is amazing."

But inside, he was panicking.

I nearly had a heart attack!

Aaron raised his voice, steady and confident.

"Watch carefully, which stone drops first."

With that, he released both stones simultaneously.

The bare stone plummeted, hitting the ground within two or three seconds.

The parachuted stone, however, swayed gently, drifting through the air like a leaf caught in the wind. It took nearly a full minute to reach the ground.

The crowd below watched in stunned silence.

Alice's eyes sparkled, brighter than ever.

She understood instantly.

Compared to Aaron's method… my attempts were futile.

Fiona's mouth hung open, speechless. She had witnessed Alice's countless trials, her bruises, her stubborn hope. And now, in a single moment, she saw what Alice had been chasing all along, made real.

Elwood, Edrin, and Garric stood frozen. Their worldview had collapsed.

For years, they'd quietly believed Alice was foolish.

Now they realized, she wasn't wrong, just misdirected.

And Duke Alaric…

He was stunned.

In his long life, he had seen many strange things. But this, a simple device, made from cloth and string, that could slow a fall so dramatically, it was revolutionary.

His gaze shifted to Aaron, and something changed in his expression.

This young man wasn't just clever.

He was a visionary.

Alaric felt a quiet relief settle in his chest.

Finally… Alice wouldn't need to risk her life with reckless experiments.

And perhaps, just perhaps, Verdia Kingdom was about to change.

Alaric caught Aaron once again, and with a swift motion, leapt down from the top of the castle.

They landed smoothly, but Aaron's legs felt like jelly. He blinked, trying to steady himself, then muttered under his breath.

"Lord Alaric, could you please warn me next time before performing such a dangerous stunt? I'd like to be mentally prepared at least."

His voice was calm, but his expression betrayed the internal chaos.

That jump nearly gave me a heart attack…

Alaric chuckled, amused by Aaron's reaction.

"You'll get used to it, young knight. In Verdia, we don't always take the stairs."