As we reached the empty training area, Aiden and I grabbed training swords and positioned ourselves ten meters apart. I asked Aiden if he was ready, and he nodded, assuming his stance. We then waited for Mai's signal.
I would adjust my strength to match my age to ensure Aiden's safety. Because even with a blunted silver sword, it could end badly if I used too much force.
I faced Aiden, training swords in hand. We circled each other.
I made a thrust toward Aiden's chest, but he managed to block it just at the last moment.
Aiden stumbled back, surprised at my quick strike. I took advantage of his momentary confusion and followed up with a series of rapid strikes that he was unable to defend against.
Our swords clashed, relentlessly pushing Aiden back. I could see the sweat on his forehead as he struggled to keep up.
Although I matched our physical strength, my superior stamina and extensive reading of sword-related books, coupled with my quick comprehension, allowed me to progress my swordsmanship at a faster rate. But, I must admit, he is quite impressive. After only a month of training, he has already achieved this level of swordsmanship.
Then after around half an hour, Aiden was too tired to continue. He lowered his sword and offered a hand to concede defeat. "You're really good," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "I need to practice harder to keep up with you."
"Thanks," I replied, "but there is still much for me to learn," I said.
Mai eagerly grabbed a training sword and exclaimed, "It's my turn to show what I can do!" Aiden stepped aside while we chuckled at Mai's enthusiasm.
She chose to use a rapier, unlike Aiden, who used a long sword, for our upcoming spar.
We circled each other, searching for an opening. I swung my sword in a wide arc, but Mai was quick, darting in and out of range. She jabbed at me with her rapier, but I deflected it with my sword.
We continued, and it looked like she was dancing around me, but neither of us was able to land a solid blow. Mai was nimble and agile, but my long-sword gave me the advantage of reach. I lunged forward, trying to catch her off guard, but she parried my attack.
In sword fighting, patience was key. It was something Roy explained during my first day of training. I needed to wait for the right moment, the perfect opening. And so I circled around Mai, watching her movements with intense focus.
Suddenly, I saw it. With a quick feint, I drew her attention away from my sword, and then I struck. My blade connected with hers, and I watched her stumble backward, and I used that moment to win.
It's impressive how quickly they were able to learn, while I felt like I was taking shortcuts by relying on my skills.
We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about and exchanging tips on different footwork techniques and sword stances. I was able to provide a lot of helpful pointers since I have read more than a third of the sword-related books available in the library.
So I pointed out the various strengths and weaknesses of each one. We also discussed the importance of footwork in sword fighting, with each one of us sharing our own tips and tricks for improving our agility and balance.
As the sun continued to set, we practiced some of the techniques and stances we had discussed. We even shared a good laugh when Aiden made a mistake with a footwork technique and fell face-first onto the ground in a comedic way.
He grumbled as he got up and asked, "Does my misery amuse both of you so much?"
Without hesitation, we replied in unison, "Yes."
"Even my sister is against me. I feel betrayed." He pretended to cry, and we ignored him.
"Why do we look so tired while you seem perfectly fine?" he asked, noticing my lack of exhaustion.
"I've been working on my stamina. You should try it too because you never know how long a fight could last," I suggested.
"But even with a month of training, wouldn't you still get out of breath?" he asked.
"It's all about the breathing," I responded. "I read about it in the library, and it helped me." I lied. While I read about it once, I personally don't need it due to my stats, but they could surely improve with the help of it.
Mai was curious and asked, "Can changing the way we breathe really make a difference?"
"Yes, breathing only through your mouth can cause hyperventilation, and breathing only through your nose may not provide enough oxygen. The optimal way to breathe is to use both your nose and mouth to inhale and exhale, which allows for maximum oxygen intake." I recited what I'd read.
"Then I'll do it. Then I could beat Actually Satan!" she replied with determination.
"Yeah, but it's getting late, and we need to wake up early tomorrow, so we should head back to our rooms," I said, seeing as the sun was almost set.
"Yeah, I don't want to be late again. The last time still haunts me." Aiden replied, shuddering at the thought.
"I tried to wake you up for almost ten minutes, but you didn't wake up," Mai deadpanned.
Once we arrived at the church, we headed to our respective rooms. As soon as I got into my room, I quickly took a shower before going straight to bed and falling asleep.
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Authors Note:
Thank you for reading this chapter.
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