Morning and it was their training session. Inside the training grounds, the trainees will be heavily trained by William.
It was a good wake up call and they assembled on the training grounds. Crickets were still sounding and the wind was still heard and felt at the moment. It touches every trainees' skin and felt chilly.
Troan was freezing and he sneezed a bit. Mark was rubbing his hands while slightly hopping. Sendrick was doing his hopping routine while having shaken his hands. All were busy warming themselves.
They soon sipped a coffee after waking up and was warmed up a bit inside their stomachs. Also, they ate bread while sipping its hot content. Blowing the hot coffee to become warm.
Troan and the others were sitting by the fire while hands on being warmed on the fire. Crackling of wood was heard after a small spark of fire was made.
They talked about their past travels and were idly sitting on by the fire. Soon, they finished and saw that they will be having a hard time. William was not in the mood today.
They warmed up a bit then William appeared. Staring at them with more fierce look. It made them shudder with just his stare. His looks were different from before and they noticed it all.
"Okay! We spar right here and right now! I am in a bad mood today and will let loose a bit!" William stated.
They immediately went towards the barracks and grabbed their favorite weapons. Also equipped with their training vest as a protection. Making them ready and were in full gear. They went outside and sir William was slightly agitated for making him wait for how long.
Soon the spar started and they attacked with full of energy. William can't even hide his temperament and was brimming with great agitation.
"Brave souls, grit your teeth!" William shouted.
"Ha!" Sendrick shouted energetically.
They approached William who wields a wooden sword. Aimed at his front and was ready to defend.
Troan slashed vertically and William blocked it.
Pak!
Mark then attacked him and William blocked his two-handed sword. Parrying it then thrusts his sword into his chest. Making Mark cough during the process.
Sendrick then swings his hammer and William just casually evades his slow swings. Sidestepping from every attack that he made with finesse and ease.
Mikael then rotated his two-handed hammer and swings it at him. This time, Mikael was fast on his swings. William was alarmed a bit at how fast he was able to swing the wooden hammer and was impressed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
He was able to swing it fast but not a single hit landed. It was only on the empty air.
"Try harder!" William said.
"Sure!" Mikael shouted.
He swings some more and then William deflects his attacks. He slashed him after an opening was made on his shoulders.
Pak!
"Again!" he bellowed once more.
Troan then attacked him this time around. Fast slashes were made and they were all repelled. Diagonal strikes and vertical, horizontal slashes were made and it was not even intimidating on William's side.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
It was then, that William slashed with greater prowess and Troan received several blows on his body. One on the shoulders, one on the chest, and one on the arms. Making him step back a bit after feeling the pain.
"Troan! Let us combine our attacks!" Mark said.
"Yeah!" Sendrick agreed.
"Sure!" Troan replied.
They soon renewed their wills and then watched William with a greater look. Seemingly not backing out yet.
"Come! Are we gonna stare all day?" William shouted.
They all ran towards him with their weapons ready. Troan and Mark slashed with their weapons and coordinated their attacks. Covering each other's backs and then slash at William.
William then parried them and then Mikael went on his side. Smashing him with his hammer and then William blocked it with his flat side of his sword.
Bang!
It was not enough to fling him but his feet moved a bit in the process. Sendrick then appeared on his side and then hammered him. He evaded and slashed him on the chest. Making him flung on the force. Not even having the response time to block with his shield.
"Ugh!" Sendrick let out the air.
Troan then covered him and then attacked with his sword. Still, it was not enough to make William shaken.
Great displays of sword mastery were seen and it made William to be impressed inwardly. Though it still lacked a punch and was weak.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
Mark then combined his attacks with Troan. Slashes were made and it made William step back a bit.
Numerous slashes were made and it didn't even graze him. Nor it land on his hair and skin.
"Is that all you got? Huh?" William shouted.
They soon ran and attacked once again. Sendrick stood up and attacked too. With the four of them on all sides, they attacked with their weapons.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
Four slashes from William and they were all down. Slamming their butts on the ground and then went kneeling on their other feet. Panting and were heavily bruised.
They were trained harder this time. Not just on the flesh but deep into the bones. Not even giving them a break or some sort.
"Useless! All of you! Is this all you got?" William said while swinging his wooden sword.
The boys were panting while their hands were on their knees.
"Is this all you got? What a letdown. The training is wasted. You didn't learn in the forest at all!" William said to them.
"Sir! We need a break, sir!" Mark screamed.
"No! You all need to be stronger! Again!" he bellowed.
They soon readied their weapons and attacked again.
Troan slashed his sword and Mark. William parried them and kicked them on the butts. Troan was stupefied, he didn't know that William was not being serious when they battled in the past. It felt like he was a monster right now.
After they attacked, Mikael and Sendrick also attacked. They soon swung their weapons at him and were just parried. The two-handed hammer was just swiped away and the one-handed hammer was swiped too.
Tak! Tak!
"Again!" William shouted.
They went slamming their butts and then they were kicked by William.
"Stand up! Again!" he bellowed.
They went attacking him again and again. Troan was not exempted among them. He slashed and their swords clashed randomly. Making Troan have a hard time while attempting to hit him.
'Darn it, my stats still lacked. If I have the same stats as him, then maybe I can defeat him,' Troan inwardly cursed.
He can't blame anyone for his shortcomings. As he still needed to accumulate more stats for now. While battling his master, he realized that they still needed to train more and reap more crystals.
They sparred again and Troan let loose. Making William notice that he was different this time. Faster and more accurate attacks while doing feints. He was making him have a harder time this time around.
Still, with slightly higher strength and speed applied, Troan was immediately overwhelmed. He slashed but his sword was flung in the process after their weapons clashed.
It was the utter destruction of their once-proud selves. They thought that they became veterans after experiencing the forest of trial. And it was enough to crush their spirits after such sparring.
The other three were on the ground, and wanted to stand up but were greatly weakened. They knelt on the ground while their weapons were put downwards on the ground.
Panting and was about to pass out, but still, they persevered. Their feet were shaking and trembling at their training. They managed to survive the day and it was a grueling practice. Thinking that they became veterans after the forest of trial was a great mistake.
"You are all weak! Still weak! You should all reflect on this and learn your lessons! Dismissed!" William shouted.
They were all shaken to the bones. They thought that they needed more strength to be at least able to stand against their master. Or to be passable on his standards. Making them think twice about being proud of themselves again.
Others were about to tear up but they hide it. Not wanting to cry for such a trivial thing in the open.