Following that Dave did as he said starting from square one. He first started by making me stretch to develop my horrible flexibility and after driving me to run five laps every day around the clearing, well it was supposed to be ten laps but after seeing my haggard expression after one lap he relented and narrowed it to ten. He also made me do normal exercises to enhance my strength.
I, who wanted to make a grand comeback after my depressing defeat, it filled me with conviction and I pushed myself further and further. He went through the steps to moves with me, which I continuously practised whenever I had the chance. At the end of each week, we would do a practice spar to see the results of my efforts.
I quickly got tougher to the point I could run twenty laps without breaking a sweat and gradually I built my way up, at first I could barely manage to attack Dave for five minutes then ten, thirty all the way until I could attack him for more than an hour and eventually I could make him step back over ten steps each timed we sparred.
Like that my days continued, begging in the morning, practising with Dave in the afternoon and after that accompanying the old man to dumpster dive. After using the scar cream the old man gave me some smaller scars gradually faded and more shallow whip marks also faded, but the deeper ones and cigar scars still refused to fade, I had gradually gained weight so now my body looked like that of a fairly well-fed young girl and my hair became silkier and was no longer brittle to the touch. Just like that, almost a year passed by, and it was nearly my eleventh birthday.
"Girl this is your time to shine show me what you've learned all this while, I'll be also attacking so prepare yourself" Dave laughed as he provoked me. I kept a calm, straight face, but inside I was bubbling with anticipation. This was my final spar with Dave as my mentor, and the first time he would be counterattacking.
I had donned a new look as now instead of just a thin discoloured dress I wore a black mid-thigh dress, my hands and legs were wrapped in white bandages on both my hands and legs to give slight protection and I also just really liked the appearance of it. The outfit was on the scandalous side, seeing as many women in this day and age were about modesty and meek appearances, however many adventurers were an exception or just some women who did not care like me. The clothes I wore were convenient to move in and not restricting like most long dresses many women preferred to wear, besides paying for that amount of cloth to cover me to my ankles was expensive, so I didn't care about the shortness of it.
"Thank you, teacher, for all this time," I thanked him, cracking my knuckles and stretching my body preparing for what was about to come. I had eventually changed my way of addressing towards him to master but after a lot of arguing we ultimately settled on just teacher.
"Ha-ha! Yes Indi, I hope you'll prove to me that the time I spent mentoring you wasn't just for show," He laughed again. He wasn't taking this as seriously. So I dashed forward, running straight at him at full force.
"This tactic agai-" Before he could finish I leapt over his enormous frame he looked up at the sun blinded him. 'Perfect he fell for it' I immediately raised my leg and sent it crashing down on him, but he grabbed my leg swung me a few times and threw me, I flipped and landed onto a branch.
"Not bad," He complimented me, but I still dissatisfied, I rushed at him again, he immediately assumed I was once again going to jump into the air again, but I slide under his legs with my nimble body and swung at his feet. Although he had a much larger frame than me, the power behind my sweeping kick was powerful enough to cause him to lose balance.
'Now's my chance!' Seeing him almost trip over his gigantic body I kicked his back and held his arms back which made him fall. I panted heavily, sweat trickling down my face. 'I won! I actually won!' I beamed my win filled me with a sense of accomplishment it felt like an enormous wall in front of me came crumbling down.
"Ha haha! Good job girl, me teaching you wasn't a complete waste," He looked over his shoulder to look at me who was sitting on his back restraining his arms.
I blushed a little at his compliment "Teacher, I only won because you underestimated me and went easy on me," I lowered my head in dejection
"A win is a win, didn't I teach you that your opponent may not always use fair means and may resort to the dirtiest of crimes?" He stood back up when I climbed off his back.
"Yes, Teacher," I gave a light smile. I was excited to show the old man my improvement and to spend my first birthday with teacher and the old man.