"Why do I need a new name?"
Master smiled.
"Now think hard. What would happen if you told everyone who you are?"
"Well, they'd know my name then."
Her smile broadened.
"Right! You don't seem to understand the problem. Be careful, it's very simple.
Let's just assume someone knows who you used to be and that someone wants to harm you.
He could then gather information about you and maybe even figure out how to get you to do something for him, i.e. blackmail you. Therefore, in your position, you should never say your real name to anyone, it could be fatal! That is why the vassals are given bodies that look different from the previous ones.
Do you understand all of this? "
I thought about it for a moment and found this consideration actually quite logical, it served the protection of the vassal and his master.
"Yes, I think I have understood it so far. I have another question, however.
What will the training look like and what will we train? "
Master's smile became malicious and dangerous.
She spoke with an amusement in her voice that was enough on its own to make it clear that she was going to be having a lot of fun now.
"In the beginning we will familiarize you with your body and train you in sword fighting."
The girl went to one of the mirrors and held out her hand.
"Sword!"
It sounded like an order, like telling the mirror what to do.
A glimmer of light fell on the mirror and blinded me briefly.
The little lady turned back and handed him a sword.
"This will be enough for the beginning. It is a simple forging as it was used in Central Europe in the Middle Ages. It will be enough for this training.
You will now fight a shadow.
The shadows are weak magical creatures that are sometimes used by us masters.
They can come in a variety of forms and are fairly easy to kill.
So ready? "
I grabbed the sword offered to me and cradled it briefly in my hand.
"Do I have any other choice?"
I asked rather resignedly.
"Of course not.
Shadow!
Sword!"
It began to flicker on the surface of a mirror and a shadow emerged, in its barely recognizable hand it held a sword.
The shadow had a human, or at least human-like body, but it was all black and it seemed strangely blurred, as if a camera had been set incorrectly.
"Fight!"
The shadow rushed towards me, sword held high.
I held my own sword tightly in my right hand and waited for the attack.
In one corner of my mind the question of what I was actually doing here was filthy.
I fought with a sword in hand against a three-dimensional shadow and that in a body that is not mine.To be honest, I still didn't know what I was supposed to be here and why I was playing this game.
That scornful voice stopped when the shadow reached me.
The shadow let down his sword, I hurriedly jumped a few steps back and avoided the blow.
While the shadow lifted his sword up again, I took a big step forward and let my sword whiz through the air in a wide arc.
I parted the shadow without encountering any resistance.
The shadow stopped in the middle of the movement and began to dissolve, a few shredded many on the mirror where they then disappeared completely, only the sword remained on the ground.
"Sorry little lady but I was expecting something heavier !?"
The little lady looked thoughtful.
"Have you ever fought with a sword?"
I grinned.
"My grandfather said that it was never wrong to master a martial art.
He persuaded me to learn fencing, but I was never very good at it!
But apparently better than nothing! "
At these words I looked at the sword on the floor.
"Right! Better than nothing!"
Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"However, I should tell you that we are not finished yet!
Shadow!
Sword!
Fight! "
Again a shadow appeared, again with a sword and again he attacked the same white one.
"The same again? How boring!"
I jumped back two steps and was about to dash forward again when I realized that the shadow attacked other white people this time.
He didn't let the sword hit the ground like before, but let it swing in an arc and used the momentum to attack me again.
I was so surprised that I almost couldn't defend myself, I just got my sword in between.
"What the hell!?"
I applied a little more pressure and then jumped back to gain more distance.
Now I was facing the shadow, he was holding his sword and did not move.
"Well then, differently!"
This time I stormed forward and started working my opponent with a few quick strokes.
At first I succeeded in cornering him, but he parried better and better, and now he began to strike back whenever the opportunity arose.
I had a suspicion, but first I had to defeat him.
I read that the shadow drove me back, then when he was attacking me I ducked under his blow and stabbed with my sword!
The shadow dissolved, only the sword remained.
"That was not a bad vassal at all! But you should also consider that your body now has greater powers than before."
I turned to her.
"Excuses the question, but can these shadows analyze my fighting style and copy it?"
Again that malicious smile appeared on Master's features."Right, the shadows adapt to the capabilities of the opponent. However, they still have weak bodies and usually disappear after one hit.
Oh yes, you said before that you would be bored. We can do something about that!
Shadow!
Sword!
Shadow!
Axe!
Fight! "
The two shadows rushed towards me!

"Damn it! Why did Gabriel have to intervene? I would have killed him and then it would have been quiet! Now we probably have to play babysitting and accompany him on every one of his missions!"
Katalena got more and more into it.
"Calm down. If he's really that weak, he'll probably die soon anyway!"
"Exactly! Either he will be killed on a mission or he will be cast out by our Lord!"
Katalena looked over at Saraki and Bendriss.
"You're probably right. Where is Gabriel actually? I haven't seen Delia for a few days, she's on a mission?"
Bendriss, the plain-faced giant answered.
"As far as I know, Delia is really on a mission and she is not expected back anytime soon! But Gabriel should actually be where he is?"
"Maybe we're lucky and Gabriel fell down the stairs and broke his neck!"
Saraki smiled at the idea.
"Hopefully."
Replied Katalena.
The three hopes were quickly dashed.
The door opened and Gabriel, in his shimmering armor, entered the conference room.
He eyed Saraki.
The slim man with the gaunt face stayed calm and didn’t make a mine.
Finally Gabriel turned away again.
"Let's start the meeting."

"How much longer do I have to do this?"
He was already panting audibly and devaluing one of the numerous shadows.
Their number has meanwhile increased to twelve, and their fighting skills got better and better.
"Until I don't feel like it anymore!"
The little lady replied with a grin.
The shadows disappeared.
"But you are right my vassal! Enough now."
She let her gaze wander.
In the meantime there were a few spears, a good dozen axes and a number of swords in the most varied of shapes in the ground.
The little lady smiled again.
"From now on you take an ax! Maybe we'll try a spear then!"