Throughout the day, two youths could be seen sparring and training across the Augustine manor. Sometimes it was Lucius chasing down Valerio, and sometimes vice versa. The sounds of laughter and pain filled the expansive fields of the Augustine as the best friends gave their all to training, just like they had when they were children.
They used a variety of weapons and styles in their sparring, switching from fists to spears, spears to bows, bows to halberds, halberds to swords, and any other weapon they could find.
They alternated between different battle styles, each focusing on another aspect of combat. At times, they exchanged a multitude of swift strikes with the intent to trap the other in their own rhythm; at times, they swung with the intent to kill, using every fibre of their muscles. Of course, neither of them could actually be properly hurt, Valerio couldn't hurt Lucius due to his cultivation, and Lucius could halt any strike at any time.
Their last round of sparring was done with their main weapons and styles. Valerio and Lucius stood across each other, Valerio with a sabre in hand and Lucius with a spear. Valerio made the first move, feinting a horizontal slash but transforming it into a diagonal slash as he stepped forward.
He was trying to bait his spear.
Lucius couldn't help but chuckle as he simply allowed the momentum of Valerio's sabre to carry his spear downwards. Others would've simply thought Valerio to be a simpleton for taking initiative against a spear when wielding a sabre.
Lucius knew otherwise; the reason Valerio took initiative wasn't because he thought it was a smart move, but because he hated being restricted. Of course, if it had been a truly foolish move, Valerio wouldn't have done it, regardless of his feelings. Taking initiative against a spear had its own pros and cons. But he hadn't evaluated the pros and cons, he knew he could take the initiative instead of being passive, so he did it.
It had always been that way, sometimes, he couldn't help but think that the only reason Valerio didn't cultivate was because he felt it would restrict his freedom. He'd have to use the time he could have been working on his professions, on cultivating. He'd be forced to participate in the tournaments and showcase his strength as the scion of the Augustine.
Although his parents were hands-off, and probably wouldn't truly force him, would Valerio really leave the prestige of his clan to decrease?
Ironically enough, not cultivating was precisely better for the prestige of his family. It was much easier for people to justify an eccentric heir only working on professions and disdaining cultivation, rather than simply a weak one who cultivated.
Lucius snapped back into battle.
Valerio didn't take Lucius' block into mind, using his momentum to opt for another diagonal slash from the opposite side. Lucius parried, his spear brushing the sabre sideways and thrusting towards Valerio's neck.
Even with his spear about to kill his best friend, Lucius couldn't help but continue thinking. Perhaps even Valerio didn't know exactly why he had taken initiative; he'd probably just felt he wanted to. Even if Lucius was right about this underlying trait of Val, who was he to tell him who he was?
Valerio swerved his head leftwards as he retracted his sabre and slashed against the spear where his throat had been. Lucius took advantage of his newfound horizontal momentum to swing in a semicircle, aiming to slash Valerio's waist in half.
Alas, Valerio had already started moving forward, his sabre in his left hand now. He rapidly grabbed the shaft of the spear, yet just as he pulled on the spear, Lucius let go.
That was the small bit of pride Lucius allowed out; he was bitter.
Valerio almost stumbled, an action that would have cost him his life in a real battle. After a second of recovering his balance, he jumped back, staring at Lucius with a wry smile.
Staring at Valerio's smile and those knowing eyes, Lucius let out a sigh.
'Still can't beat him at the same level.'
'I shouldn't be surprised that I'm losing in a battle of pure mental planning to a rune master, but man, it's been 2 years since he last properly trained.'
It was important to remember that Lucius was restraining his physique, soul, and cultivation to match Valerio's, so only a few factors affected the results of their sparring: their reads on each other, mental flexibility and speed, and technique.
Though Lucius' technique was better than Valerio's, it wasn't enough to bridge the gap between their calculative abilities. Well, not without him unleashing his soul cultivation.
Lucius sighed.
It looked like he'd won, but in reality, letting go of his weapon was a death sentence many times greater than Valerio's small stumble. If they had continued fighting, the following events would've been something along the lines of Valerio forcing Lucius into only dodging and looking for an opportunity to grapple him, which Valerio wouldn't have given, and eventually losing.
"Alright, alright, you win. I would've lost anyways."
Val chuckled, "Maybe next time."
They moved on to strength training and parted ways well into the afternoon; they both had to get dressed to welcome the guests that would be coming. Today, emperors and empresses would travel across galaxies to celebrate his birthday and join the Augustine family for dinner.
The event wasn't only to celebrate his birthday, but more so for the rulers of the galaxy to meet again and showcase a bit of their might.
Valerio smiled.
His parents were probably excited to see their friends again as well, and he'd get to see his childhood friends.
The Augustine family was one of the most powerful families in existence; they were known throughout the entire universe. They were one of the four ruling families of existence, alongside the Solarions, Decimus, and the Lux.
The Solarion Family carried the bloodline of the Vermillion Bird; they wielded the strongest flames in existence, freely producing and manipulating them to their desires.
The Decimus Family carried an enigmatic bloodline that many didn't know the details of. Of course, that was only for the public eye. Valerio was keenly aware of their abilities; the best way to summarise it was "the ability to understand the world".
The Lux Family were known as wielders of Light, they had a phenomenal affinity towards Light Lu. They were masters of speed and healing. The Lux lineage was hailed as the fastest in the galaxy.
Valerio stood in front of his closet, searching through all of the silk robes to find his formal outfit. Soon enough, a black outfit with dark gold and indigo accents appeared in his hand, a V-neck robe. Overall, it was a loose fit that gave Valerio an uncaring, yet regal look.
It wasn't the first time he was dressing for an occasion, evidently proven by the fact that his mom had yet to come check on what he was going to wear.
Just as he closed the door, he remembered he'd forgotten his spatial box.
'Can't embarrass the family now, can I?' thought Valerio, as he went to grab his tools for his profession.
Every time the four families met, a small competition would be held amongst them, a competition between their heirs, testing their skills in the arts and professions of the world. It used to be a minor event, but after Valerio had forsaken cultivating, he had practically been undefeated in the First Plane in any of the professions he followed; it had become a bit of a tradition for him to be challenged.
Valerio opened his drawer, pulling the spatial box out. He then took out a smaller one, just around the size of his palm. With expert precision, he rapidly transported the items he wanted into the smaller one and left his house with a newfound excitement in his steps.