Day 76, Year 3000.
Joan and Gawain were alone on the training ground, facing each other. It was 3 at the night, and no one was there to observe them.
"Move."
With a wooden sword in her hand, Joan rushed toward her disciple to make the first attack.
Gawain prepared himself to block her attack. Fortunately for him, she was holding back.
'Clack!'
The collision happened. Joan was quick to retract her sword and initiate the next attack. Gawain made his decision and moved his shield to absorb the hit almost instantly.
'Clack!'
Another block. This one was against a side-cut. Adjacent to his previous position, the sword was stopped in its tracks.
'Wait.'
Joan added a little effort to her attack. Still, in contact, Gawain was being pushed back from his initial position.
'Not yet.'
He held his stance. Joan had no choice but to take her sword back. From now onwards, this was a one-sided onslaught.
'Clack.'
A quick attack. He was forced to raise his left foot and take a step back, absorbing the impact to perfection.
'Just a little more.'
She proceeded to attack almost instantly. He moved his right foot this time, taking another step back and blocking the slash aimed at his right abdomen.
"Ha!"
Joan let out a small shout. Gawain braced himself for the final block.
'Now or never."
A swift slash aimed at his chest. He raised his shield and brought both of his feet to the same level on the ground.
'CLACK!'
The sound of two wooden objects clashing echoed in his ears. His legs were forced to absorb the brunt of her attack. Owing to his patience, the move was nullified, and for a split second, he had the upper hand.
"Take this!"
He slightly bent his knees and added all the pressure to his ankles. With everything possible, he pushed back the sword at the perfect moment, creating a void of imbalance in Joan's posture. He prepared the sword in his other hand and made the final choice.
'Her neck.'
His sword was getting closer to it. It seemed like it was his victory.
'Sweep.'
She rotated her body and met his sword. Overpowering him in an instant, the wooden sword left his grip and flew up in the air.
"Your loss."
Her sword was at his throat. She had won the duel.
"I was able to"
"That is right. You had almost defeated me. I had to raise my level to turn the tables on you."
Joan looked at the shield in his hand.
"Congratulations."
Gawain looked at the sword on the ground.
"My attack was-"
"Weak and slow. People would have no difficulty dodging it normally."
He thought the same.
"Don't beat yourself up."
She walked to the sword and picked it up.
"You have earned a well-deserved break. Tomorrow, no training."
He didn't like that idea.
"I don't need a break. I want to be as ready for Poseidon's trials as possible."
She nodded her head in disagreement and handed him the sword.
"That won't do. If you stretch a cotton string for too long, it breaks. Then, no matter what you do, you can't restore it to its previous, undamaged form."
He forced a smile.
"I guess that makes sense."
She could understand his dilemma.
"Why don't you go out and explore the capital?"
"I don't know anyone here."
That thought didn't even pass through his mind.
"Take Celia with you."
"I wouldn't dare to. She is already angry with me for some reason."
Ever since he had moved into the house chamber, her relentless taunts were a common occurrence.
"If I-"
"I request you. Don't put me through that. I'll go out on my own."
If he was getting a day off, he was going to use it in his way. Sightseeing would be a nice change of scenery.
"What about the duel? Do you have some advice?"
"Remember my words. Stability over swiftness. Moving fast alone is not enough. If your offense and defense are not stable, you will find your guard down in crucial situations, no matter how proper your style and preparation is."
Reflexive actions tend to be incomplete. Approaching every move with the mindset of being able to properly execute them from start to finish with the required confidence is key to combat effectiveness.
"From the way your legs move to stabilize your body, to the way your muscles contract to provide the appropriate strength. Practice and self-reflection are crucial when you want to improve your ability with a weapon. And due to the constant need for concentration when you use two objects to simultaneously defend and attack, your motor skills need to be on par with your normal actions. Sometimes, you might not have the required time to think."
Her insight made him realize something.
"Did I have a chance?"
The way she deflected his last attack, she took time to think and push him back.
"You had no chance. I could have chopped your legs off in an actual bout, even if my level was as low as you."
She was awfully honest. A thought came to his mind.
"Can I have a proper duel with you once I learn how to attack properly?"
"Hold your horses. You are 4 years too early if you think that you can duel me at my strongest."
He instantly recognized his mistake.
"That isn't what I meant. I want to fight you while you use a sword and shield. As a reference point to learn more."
He could only imagine what she was like with a shield and a sword. After giving his request some thought, she opened her mouth and said,
"No. Like I said, 4 years too early. Reach the second tier, and then we talk."
If she agreed, he would base his combat with her as an ideal. She wanted to completely squeeze all of his raw talents and let him take his path.
Gawain wasn't dejected.
"I understand. 4 years will pass in no time. I hope that you will remember your promise."
With a mocking grin on her face, she said,
"I will be waiting, but if I were you, I wouldn't get my hopes up. If you are striving to improve, then so am I."
Who knows what level she will be at in 4 years? If he is worthy, she wouldn't hesitate to give him his fight.