The next morning's air was crisp as Amukelo, Bral, and Idin made their way to the training facility, their footsteps echoing lightly on the cobblestone path. As they approached the training facility, the sound of clashing swords and faint echoes of instructors' commands filled the air, were heard from inside.
Upon entering, they were immediately greeted by the sight of Padrin, already warming up, his movements precise and fluid, a testament to his rigorous training regimen. Padrin acknowledged them with a nod, his focused demeanor breaking into a brief smile as he approached. "Give me ten minutes, and we can begin," he told Amukelo, a slight intensity in his eyes hinting at the serious training session ahead.
As Padrin walked off to complete his preparations, Amukelo turned to Bral and Idin. "I'll get ready too. See you later today," he said, his tone mixed with anticipation and a trace of resolve. Bral and Idin watched him go, a sense of pride mingled with a poignant realization of their friend's rapid development.
Once Amukelo was out of earshot, Bral turned to Idin, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "We've known him for less than a year, yet it feels like a lifetime," he remarked, his gaze following Amukelo's retreating figure.
Idin nodded, his expression thoughtful. "He was always ahead of us, right from the start. But now, the gap... it's just growing more and more," he admitted, a note of admiration in his voice for their friend's prowess.
"Yeah," Bral agreed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered their own paths. "We must keep pushing ourselves. We can't let him down by lagging behind. He's setting the pace, and we need to meet it, or at least stay within reach."
With a mutual understanding, the two exchanged a determined fist bump before heading to their respective training areas, each lost in thoughts of their personal goals and the journey ahead.
Meanwhile, Amukelo met up with Padrin at the designated training ground, both armed with wooden swords to simulate a combat environment without the risk of severe injury. Padrin's stance was relaxed yet alert, the mark of a seasoned warrior ready to impart valuable lessons.
"Let's start with a simple exercise," Padrin proposed, his voice steady and instructive. "We'll exchange combinations up to five strikes each. Focus on defending and finding openings for counters. Remember, the goal isn't just to strike but to understand and improve our open spots. Mistakes are where we learn the most."
Amukelo listened intently, absorbing every word. This approach to training was new to him, emphasizing not just the mechanics of combat but the underlying strategies and mental adjustments needed for true mastery.
"People say that practice makes perfect. But that is not true. If you practice your mistakes, you will only make it harder to eliminate them in the future. Feedback is what you need. Combined with indefatigability, is when you truly grow," Padrin continued, his eyes locking onto Amukelo's with an intensity that underscored his words. "After each exchange, we'll discuss what went wrong. It's easy to celebrate what we do right, but real growth comes from scrutinizing our errors and correcting them. Correct should be your baseline, if you do something correct, you can't improve on it. But when you highlight your mistakes, is when you truly see what to improve on."
Amukelo nodded. Seeing that Amukelo understands everything he just said Padrin suggested for Amukelo to be the first one to attack, as he would show him what the defenders do.
As Amukelo focused, gathering his thoughts and planning his approach, the air around them felt charged with anticipation. He launched into action with a direct thrust, aiming to breach Padrin's defenses right off the bat. Padrin deftly slid his sword in a guiding motion that not only blocked the attack but also positioned him perfectly to deliver a swift counterattack. This was a similar position they had when Amukelo's head bumped Padrin during their sparring the day before. But instead of head bumping him, Padirn delivered a swift elbow strike to Amukelo's sternum.
Reeling slightly from the unexpected counter, Amukelo took a moment to regain his composure, feeling the sting of the blow but also recognizing the valuable lesson embedded in the exchange. Padrin, seeing Amukelo's readiness to continue, took the opportunity to teach.
"Remember," Padrin began, his voice firm yet encouraging, "in defense, your options include dodging, blocking, parrying, or even counterattacking directly. What you attempted was good, but your execution left you open after losing momentum, which I exploited to disrupt your balance and control over the situation."
Amukelo nodded, absorbing the critique. "So, the openness of my center after the initial strike was the critical error?" he asked, wanting to confirm his understanding.
"Exactly," Padrin affirmed. "And keep in mind, in a real battle, such openings can be fatal, especially if your opponent has secondary weapons or magic capabilities. Now, watch closely as I take my turn."
Switching roles, Padrin attacked, demonstrating a powerful overhead strike aimed at testing Amukelo's defensive posture. Amukelo managed to block the strike but was slow to react to Padrin's swift leg kick that followed, throwing him off balance. Padrin's subsequent spinning slash added to the momentum, pushing Amukelo further back, though he managed to block it.
Regaining his footing, Amukelo reflected on the sequence. "Your first attack left you exposed," he analyzed, "which could be risky against a faster or more agile opponent. Also, the spinning slash—while visually impressive—seemed to extend the time you were vulnerable."
Padrin nodded appreciatively. "Good observation. That maneuver does indeed have its risks. It's powerful but commits me heavily, leaving less room to adjust if the initial conditions change, like if the opponent is quicker to counter than anticipated."
They paused their physical exchange to delve deeper into these tactical nuances, discussing the potential adjustments and alternative strategies that could be employed. Padrin emphasized the importance of adapting techniques based on the opponent's capabilities and the battle context, enriching Amukelo's understanding of combat dynamics.
"Let's continue," Padrin said after a short break, signaling for another round. "This time, try to anticipate not just the first action but where the sequence could lead. Remember, every move we make on the field is a part of the slow process of gaining the advantage over your opponent."
As they resumed, after each clash they would dive into a analyzing and learning process where each could explore the edges of their abilities and the possibilities of their art.