"Put more strength around your wrist!" Hector shouted and parried his son's attack with a simple swing.
"How many times should I repeatedly remind you? Pay more attention to your opponent's wrist and estimates his strength! This is the surefire way to obtain nine victories out of ten battles!" Hector repeatedly yelled at his son as they sparred.
This was the usual daily program whenever they sparred. To strengthen Hespar's awareness in a fight, Hector would keep reminding him here and there and forcing more information into his head to make him keep thinking.
During this half an hour of training, the amount of experience Hespar received was at least more than what he got from sparring against his friends by fivefold. Even the instructor would be benefitted from this training Hespar had with his father.
Of course, the academy's lesson cannot be compared with what Hector was teaching him. The instructor might be skillful, but they're bound by the academy program on what they can and cannot teach.
From what Hespar was told, the pre-requisite for being an academy instructor is to achieve the ability of a regular 100-men squad leader. And to accomplish Hector's achievement, one has to be at least at the level of a 300-men squad leader.
'What if I try this?' A brilliant idea suddenly appeared in Hespar's head. Guided by his mind's instantaneous creativity and tactic, Hespar approaches his father openly like a blank textbook. His action was devoid of trickery.
"Oh? Unwilling to give up? That's a good mentality as a starter. Unfortunately, dad needs to leave now." Hector said. But his words hardly matched his action. The sword in his hand was still cautious of all incoming attacks.
This cautiousness from Hector had both advantages and disadvantages to it. And this sudden idea in Hespar is one created to feed on the shortcomings of Hector's swordplay.
By holding the sword slightly different from the norm, Hespar created a fake impression of trying to attack his father from the waist.
"Not good enough!" Hector instantly retaliates by moving his sword to parry that attack. Little that he know, Hespar was trying to pull him into a trap.
"Wait! A fake attack?" Hector instantly noticed the inconsistency behind the fake blow. Based on how much he knew about this swordplay, the attack was hardly comparable to half of the power it should contain.
Hector quickly stepped back without losing his composure. He swung his sword in a circle to defend against Hespar's next attack. And to his surprise, the subsequent two attacks were the same feint blows as the first.
There's hardly any strength in Hespar's attack. The only thing it had was the posture.
"Hespar! I told you many times before this. Half-hearted attacks like this only work to exhaust your own stamina! If you cannot take the lead on how you want your enemy to follow, all the effort will be wasted for nothing!" Hector yelled.
After speaking his mind, Hector accurately swung his sword down to break Hespar's immersion in his swordplay. The attack barely missed Hespar by a few inches, but it still struck Hespar's sword.
This clash made Hespar lose control over his weapon, but the impact was not significant enough to convince Hector. From his years of battle and swordplay experience, he could easily discern which part of the weapon got struck by his heavy sword.
"This doesn't feel like the blade at all. Did I knock the handle instead of the blade?" Hector immediately came up with a conclusion. But before he could clarify his suspicion, Hespar's attack was inches away from him.
Sensing that he had fallen into his son's trickery, Hector had no choice but to get serious.
At the same time, he had the urge to laugh due to Hespar's creativity. The thought of how he holds the sword shows how great was this boy's potential. But again, having potential doesn't mean he could win.
It would be pointless without sufficient strength to offset the talent.
Hah!" Hespar roared as his attack was inches away from his father's neck. As long nothing came in between to stop his attack, this would be the first attack he landed on his father.
It would be a memorable one, as it would be the first hit over their ten years of sparring matches.
Unfortunately, Hespar was too green in his father's eyes. Hector's sword was already between his neck and the wooden sword while Hespar used the time to make his winning roar.
Furthermore, this was Hespar's first attempt at the trick, so his control and strength over this attack are questionable. With no stability and constant practice over an attack like that, all there was in the swing was mere flattery.
Added to the lack of bloodlust in his sword, Hespar's attack was no different from a child's play in front of Hector's eyes. The lack of practice in his swing, the void of deadly intent in his attack, and the missing commitment made Hespar's attack a mere flowery strike for Hector.
The deflecting force causes the boy to lose his balance. Right before Hespar could try to control his fall, another hand came and grabbed his wrist. This sudden move immediately disarmed him before Hespar could do anything else.
"Not fair!!!" Hespar screamed.
This was his first time getting disarmed by his father forcefully. Not having experience on what to do next, Hespar ended up as his father's toy when Hector lifted him up with one hand and started to flip this pitiful boy around.
Hespar was left dizzy and nauseous aftermath by the time Hector had enough fun toying with his boy. But he couldn't help and gave Hespar's head a pat.
"Not bad, boy." Hector smiled as he believed Hespar was worthy of his affection, based on how much more he made Hector get serious.
"Your examination is coming up in the next few days, correct?" Hector asked and softly kicked the wooden sword that had fallen on the ground. The kick was tricky but could be helpful during a battle, as it brings the handle up without bending down to pick it up.
"Yes," Hespar answered.
There's still a hint of sourness on his face due to losing to his father again. Even after ten years of sparring with his father, Hespar is still unable to defeat this man even once.
"Alright. I'll teach you how to control your Aura starting tomorrow. Let's go to the frontline and get some experience before the examination day is here." Hector said with a smile on his face.
"Really?" Hespar was surprised by his father's suggestion. But it didn't last because it was time for Hector to return to his work. But in his mind, he's happy that Hector had finally acknowledged him.
(Father finally agreed to guide me! I will become another Aura user just like him!)
"Yes!" Hespar made a fist pump to express the excitement in his heart. Then, without further ado, he went inside the house and started helping his mother with their house chores.
...
...
...
Hespar excitedly went to the class after he finished his foraging activities around the outskirt of the forest. As today was going to be his first Aura training lesson, he found it challenging to control his excitement.
There are only nine days to their final examination. It is up to Hespar right now to see how much he can comprehend before the finals.
Instead of sparring with Hector after the training class, the father and child duo walked closely as they exited Lavos Village via the south gate. It was common knowledge that nobody was allowed to leave the village through this gate unless they had a permit.
The reason was to avoid the people obstructing the security team and the danger lurking along the roads leading to the nearest settlement under the ruling of the Fennis Empire.
"I can see that you're ready for today's lesson. But before we start, let's begin with the basics of Aura," said Hector with a smile. Having such an expression was normal, considering this was his son he was going to teach about the Aura.
"Yes, father!" Hespar responded to Hector with a serious expression. But no matter how stern he looked, it couldn't hide his eagerness to start the lesson.
"Yes, father!" Hespar responded to his father with a stern expression. But it couldn't hide his eagerness for the lesson.
"Good. Let us begin," said Hector as his expression turned a little serious. Red threads invisible to naked eyes started to swirl around him as the impression Hector gave turned deadlier as seconds passed.
"I want you to tell me what feeling you had as I release my Aura," Hector continued. The atmosphere around them instantly changed as Hector finished with his sentence.
The air around the father and child immediately darkened as it mixed with an intense bloodlust. Although it was just an impression, Hespar couldn't help but fall into a temporary confusion as all he saw in his eyes was a scene painted with blood.