Chương 19: Practicing Swordmanship

That afternoon was reserved for elective courses. Students could choose between swordsmanship, archery, or first aid. Most of the girls opted for first aid, with few showing any interest in weaponry. As for Asher Griffin, he had selected swordsmanship right from the start. I was eager to gauge my current skill level to map out a proper training routine, and I was equally looking forward to receiving formal, systematic instruction once again. The training grounds consisted of a vast open field.

Fortunately, Averula's climate resembled the temperate regions of Earth; the sun wasn't too harsh. Even in the early afternoon, the heat was manageable. Today, Class F was scheduled to train alongside Class A and Class C. Since everyone's proficiency varied, the instructor usually had us pair off for practice while he focused on guiding those without a foundation. I remembered this instructor being quite young but having a very solid technique, though I couldn't for the life of me recall his name.

Everyone quickly paired up based on their acquaintances. A few chose to train solo, Jullius among them, since no one here could match his level. But today was different. With the addition of Kale Derick, Jullius was no longer in a league of his own. Jullius picked up a wooden practice sword and tossed it toward Kale, lifting his chin in a provocative challenge.

"Want to go a round?" Jullius's challenge instantly drew the attention of everyone present. A crowd quickly gathered, forming a wide circle around the two young geniuses at the center. I was curious about Kale's swordsmanship as well, so I squeezed through the crowd to get a better look. An energetic student from Class A stepped up to act as the referee. The moment the signal to start rang out, Jullius lunged into an immediate offensive. I had witnessed Jullius's fighting style countless times.

He leaned toward a high-pressure offensive, overwhelming his opponents with the element of surprise. His swing speed was exceptionally fast, and his changes in direction were both unpredictable and razor-sharp. In contrast, Kale seemed to favor a defensive stance. Or perhaps he had simply chosen to play defensively for this specific match. He parried almost every single one of Jullius's strikes with ease, yet he didn't launch a single counterattack.

Based on the stats I had seen, Kale's skills were slightly superior. Thus, I gathered that his purely defensive playstyle was a deliberate choice rather than a result of being outclassed. It looked as though he intended to maintain this approach until the very end. I felt I could already predict the outcome. If Kale wasn't going to go all out, then watching any further would be a waste of time. I figured I should mind my own business.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. I pushed my way out of the crowd and approached the instructor, who was still fixated on the duel. I cleared my throat to catch his attention.

"Sir, would you mind reviewing my basic forms?" The instructor looked somewhat surprised, as if noticing my existence for the first time in a class as overlooked as Class F. He clearly wanted to keep watching the duel, but his sense of duty won out, and he gave a nod.

"Oh, sure. Can you perform the 24 forms of the Zaken Swordsmanship set?" I nodded. This was the most fundamental set that every swordsman had to master. Its core focus was the rhythmic coordination between footwork and blade work to create stable, solid strikes. I executed the 24 strikes from memory; my body didn't feel stiff or hesitant despite the lack of recent practice. After all, Asher had spent nearly every waking hour beside a swordsmanship genius.

Even if he hadn't grasped the core essence, he had at least picked up the surface-level mechanics. The instructor watched my fluid swings and nodded appreciatively.

"Quite decent. Let's try something more advanced, then. How about the 18 forms of the Valentino Style?" This was a more complex combination of movements requiring rapid strikes and sudden shifts in direction. Coincidentally, it was the style Jullius had mastered most thoroughly. To a certain degree, I was still able to execute these 18 forms with relative ease. The instructor let out a small murmur of approval.

"I see you have a very solid foundation. Increase your speed just a bit more, and your movements will be perfect." He then called over another student who was standing on the fringes of the crowd watching the duel. The newcomer was clearly unhappy about being interrupted, grumbling:"What is it, Liam? I was right in the middle of watching!" The young instructor – Liam - replied cheerfully:"You'll have plenty of other chances. Come here and spar with... what was your name again?"

"Asher, sir," I replied.

"Okay, Asher. I am Liam Lurwich. And this is Ethan, my younger brother. You two go ahead and have a practice match." Ethan looked at him as if he found the introduction of their sibling bond entirely redundant, but he still gripped his wooden sword and dropped into a ready stance. I quickly moved into position as well.

"Begin!" Liam gave the shout, and Ethan and I lunged toward each other. Ethan's swordsmanship was clearly influenced by his brother; his style was very disciplined and steady. However, his speed was a bit slow and his moves were fairly predictable. I was able to parry his first few attacks with ease. Ethan gradually began to pick up the pace, but I could still see his blade path clearly. He threw a feint, slashing from the right before shifting into a straight thrust.

I only needed to parry the tip of his sword to the left... But before I could even pivot, the wooden tip poked me squarely in the stomach. Liam signaled for us to try again. I could still see every move with perfect clarity, and yet, I still couldn't avoid them. After several repetitions of this, Liam reached a conclusion.

"Your vision is excellent, but your reflexes aren't keeping up. That's quite strange... how exactly did you train your eyes?" I figured it was thanks to the left eye of Halunar, but I lied instead.

"I often watch Jullius practice." Liam rubbed his chin.

"Is that so..." Reflexes are something that can only be improved through innate talent or relentless training. Since Asher Griffin's innate talent was clearly lacking, my only option was to rely on non-stop, grueling practice.