Chương 60: Chapter 52. Advice and Farewells

We made our way to Crest's class with Sarah holding my hand, for some reason, Asha seemed to deem this as acceptable? We arrived at the field to find Crest warming up with his sword and Sharon doing the same. Paul had to go back to his family home 2 weeks ago, so it's just been us since. We greeted everyone and proceeded to warm up as well. As we were finishing warming up, Crest began to speak to us all." Ok! today will be my last day as a teacher!

I have to head back and prepare strategies for when the Hero Party attempts to invade us! Having said all of that, I'd like to give some last-minute pointers to everyone." Having finished his thoughts, Crest began to take each person aside one by one and give them advice. I waited for my turn patiently. Crest had spoken to Sharon first. When he finished speaking with Sharon, he approached Asha. While I waited for my turn, Sharon had come to speak to me. She seemed quite happy with what Crest had said.

From the look on her face, I could tell what she was going to ask me." Hey, John! Do you want to spar with me after Crest gives his advice to you?" Since Anna, Sharon, Asha and Cynthia have joined our training, a few things have become the norm. one of these things is Sharon's daily sparring with me. To the point where most days, she's my most frequent sparring partner. At this point, I think she is the person I've sparred the most. I felt bad when Paul would stare at me as I agreed to spar her every day.

At first, I thought it was because Paul had a crush on Sharon, but it turns out, he really missed just sparring me. It seems that Sarah, Anna, Cynthia and Sharon are too strong, and Asha is too weak for now. I'm the only one he could have a close spar with. I reminded him that the way to get better was to fight as best as you can and practice what you know. Having said all of that, it's not like I do much better in terms of sparring.

Since I can only rely on my Swordsmanship, I continue to lose to everyone except Asha. With this all in the back of my head, I agreed to spar Sharon after Crest talks to me. Sharon and I started to have a conversation as we waited. One thing I appreciated about Sharon was how I could relax and talk to her like I would a Friend. Considering things are a bit awkward with Asha and Cynthia occasionally and Sarah and Anna have a romantic relationship with me. Sharon and I just talked like students in the same dojo.

However, every now and again, she blushes when I mention something or another. For instance, the other day, she had her hair in a ponytail since her hair has gotten long after a month of training and I mentioned how it suited her. For the rest of the day, she could barely speak to me. When we sparred, I got close to beating her, but she would counter me in the last moments. Once Crest had finished with everyone else, he called for me. I walked over to him in no real rush.

I started to speak to him after I arrived in front of him." Crest, you know, I'm really going to miss our classes."" Believe it or not I will to. This has been a fun 3 months! From teaching you how to hold a sword to all of the basics, you have been a great student, John. I know you may feel some disappointment in not being able to land a strike on me. But allow me to tell you this. You are far from the guy you were when the first class started.

Heck, at least now, you can actually move without looking like you had weights strapped to your body!"" Yeah, that advice of needing about 3 weeks to properly adjust was frighteningly accurate."" Well, this will actually lead into my advice for you, John. You see, there is no quick way to get better at a Martial Art. Doesn't matter if it's Pugilism or Swordsmanship! I've pounded the Basics into you over the past 3 months! Because of that, you have the tools to develop your own Style now.

My advice to you is simple, John! Continue to do the sets of exercises that you have been doing over the past 3 months and add to it as you see fit. Spar with people when you can! And as one last thing, I think it would be a good idea to try attacking more often, instead of only fishing for a counter strike."" Really? That's everything? No advanced special forms or anything? No secret technique to be passed down from Master and pupil?" Crest looked at me with a smile as he chuckled.

He started to speak in response to my joke." Well for that, I can't teach you! For your Holy Swordsmanship, however, well, in the same way Aqua and Warrick can't teach you Holy Magic! To figure out your Holy Swordsmanship from here on out. You need to find the trick to get Holy Swordsmanship Spells and Skills like Holy Mana Blade and White Slash. Just like you have with Holy Magic" The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

I nodded my head to Crest's explanation. I then couldn't help but voice a question out loud." How the hell do I do that?" Crest's ears flickered and he had a puzzled expression on his face. He responded to my accidental question after a few moments." Honestly, the only thing I could think of is to try manipulating your mana while your Mana Blade is active."" But aren't I already manipulating my mana when it is active?"" Yes and no. When a Mana Blade is active, the Skill will stay active as long as you want it to.

It may be hard for you since you have just started using it, but if you practice manipulating more mana while you have it active, you'll eventually get the hang of it. Doesn't Warrick use Spells while he has his Mana Blade active while sparring with you guys?"" No, not that I can recall."" Hmm... Must mean he really is just trying to teach you the best he can. Well, don't sweat it too much, I think you will be fine. You're a hard worker, John! You'll figure it out as long as you put in the effort too!

I can promise you that!" With a few slaps to my back, Crest walked away to begin sparring with Asha. I began to spar with Sharon, her Skills have improved at an insane rate since she joined Crest's class. At least from what I could tell. Her original style received an overhaul after only a week of guidance from Crest. To the point where our first sparring match was still the closest I've come to beating her. After 5 matches, which she won all 5, Sarah wanted to spar with me. Sarah was different compared to Sharon.

With her halberd, she would keep distance and swipe at me with either slashes or piercing thrusts, her mostly offensive style naturally meant I could only defend for so long before getting struck. After 4 matches, of which I lost all of them, I was then asked to spar with Cynthia. Cynthia's speed was what set her apart from the rest. Her 2 daggers are so hard to track that you feel silly trying to anticipate their patterns in the first place. We sparred 3 times. I was beaten all 3 times. Next was Asha.

We only sparred once, mostly because Asha was starting to get tired from all of the physical activity. I was able to beat her comfortably. While I sat and basked in the feeling of victory, Asha started to pout at me. She began to speak." How come you always look so happy when you beat me!?"" Same reason you always look so happy when you win our Mana Clashes. Also, because whenever I fight anyone else, I get beaten. You have to enjoy the small wins in life, Asha."" Well at least you get closer and closer to winning!

I'm still stuck with the Basics!"" Yup! But hey, at least I help you practice in the evening, when I first started, Anna simply watched me and didn't offer any pointers at all." Asha blushed at me as she shushed me and then whispered to me." Don't tell anyone about that! If word gets out, I don't know what Sarah would say about it."" Probably not much, I mean, Anna is there with us, so it's not like we're alone or anything."" That's not what I mean... Oh forget it! Anna! John says he wants to spar you!"

Asha, apparently not wanting to explain what she was talking about, escaped by bringing a bright eyed and excited Anna in front of me. Anna began to speak with a booming voice." Master! You want to spar with me specifically?" I couldn't help but go along with it. Anna beat me senseless 7 times before Crest intervened and asked me to spar with him instead. I went and began to spar with Crest. At this point, I am so drained from losing to Anna, that it's barely a match.

Crest slashes my stomach like always and then he ends the spar and begins to say a few final words to everyone." First and foremost, the most pressing are the backliners, Anna and Asha! My advice to you both is to continue practicing the Basics! Also, have John or Cynthia help teach you. The others aren't suited to teaching! Anna, you're very Skilled with your mace, continue to practice the Basics with it and you will never go wrong! Asha, you need to further reenforce the Basics to your muscle memory!

Since you both will continue to be backliners, it is appropriate for both of you to be able to protect yourselves just as insurance! Also, everyone, assume from now on that I told you to practice the Basics!" Everyone said "yes" in unison. Crest continues." Sarah and Sharon! You both are strong Martial Artists in your own right. However, your strength creates gaps in your ability to fight. Never get too full of yourselves. Some Pride in your Skills is good.

Too much however, can cause more harm than an enemy's blade ever will to you." Sarah and Sharon nod their heads with serious faces. Crest continues on speaking." Cynthia and John! You both require more work in your Martial Skills. Continue to use the pointers I gave you both as roadmaps and you will do fine. Cynthia! do not be scared to ask for help from other people. John! Stop being so pensive, you are at the level where an attack from you can be more than just a feint to set up a counter!"

Cynthia and I nod our heads. Crest continues on." Now that everything I have to say is done. I hope you all can grant a simple wish of this teacher of yours." We all look confused for a moment. Sarah is the first to speak." What request, Uncle Crest?" Crest smiles. and begins to speak." I just want to see everybody in one piece and healthy the next time we meet!" Everybody smiles at Crest. I begin to speak." I promise you, Crest, I'll get everyone back in one piece!" Crest smiles at us and bids farewell.

He said he was going to report to Warrick and Aqua that he was leaving to continue his Duties in the Army. We all left to have lunch. It was a bit of a somber lunch as it all donned on us that Crest would be gone tomorrow. With heavy steps we all left to the field where Warrick was for his class.