The following day, Vivian arrived at the training grounds early. The grounds were a large, open space surrounded by a tall wooden fence. In the center of the courtyard were several straw dummies of varying heights, their arms and legs outstretched in a variety of poses.
Gerald was waiting for her, a wooden sword in hand. "This place needed some cleaning up, but I've already taken care of it. All the targets are set up and this is for you," he said, tossing Vivian another wooden sword that was tucked to his side.
Vivian just barely caught it before it hit the ground. "Alright, let's get started," he said, his voice firm. "The first thing you need to learn is the proper stance."
He demonstrated, standing with his feet shoulder-width apart, his knees slightly bent. He held the sword in his right hand, the tip pointed towards the ground.
"Try to mimic my stance," he instructed.
Vivian followed his lead, but her movements were stiff and awkward.
"Relax," Gerald said. "Don't tense up. Remember, the sword is an extension of your arm."
Vivian tried to loosen up, but it wasn't easy. She was still getting used to the weight of the sword in her hand.
"That's better," Gerald said. "Now, let's try a basic swing."
He demonstrated, swinging the sword in a wide arc. Vivian watched carefully, then tried to imitate him.
"Not bad," Gerald said. "But you need to keep your wrist firm. If you're too loose, you'll lose control of the sword."
Vivian nodded and tried again. This time, she managed to keep her wrist firm, but the swing was still a bit off.
"That's better," Gerald said. "But you need to keep your eye on the target."
Vivian nodded and tried again. She swung the sword, but it missed the target by a wide margin.
"You're getting there," Gerald said, trying to be encouraging. "Just keep practicing."
Vivian sighed. She knew she wasn't a natural at this. But she was determined to improve.
They spent the next hour practicing basic swings and parries. Vivian was starting to get the hang of it, but it was still difficult.
"You're doing well," Gerald said. "But you need to be more focused. Don't let your mind wander."
Vivian nodded. She knew he was right. She needed to concentrate if she wanted to improve.
As they were finishing up their training, Crystal came out to the courtyard.
"How's it going?" she asked.
"Not bad," Vivian replied, wiping sweat from her brow. "I'm starting to get the hang of it."
Crystal smiled. "That's great. I'm so proud of you."
Crystal put her palm to her head. "Oh, and by the way. Since you're training here, I offered to work here in exchange for lodging. We're going to have to downgrade our room, but they offered food too, so we don't have to worry about burning through what little funds we have!"
Vivian beamed back. She knew she had a long way to go, but she was determined to become a skilled swordsman. Thank the goddess, things were working in her favor.