[After 2 Years]
Today, Arthur was going to learn how to use a sword from his father. Although not proficient to be called an expert, Arthur had some experience of swords because of the organization teaching him every weapon to some extent to use them in case of emergencies.
The sword had a sacred importance to the Blades for the founder of the Blades, William Blade used a sword as his weapon and developed the [Blade Sword Art] that was passed down through the generations of Blade. Its importance was apparent as it was symbolized on the Blade's emblem that carried itself from the start of the Blades history.
During these two years, Arthur trained himself harder and harder with his stigmata and learned martial arts from his mother who was actually, to Arthur's surprise, more proficient in martial arts than his father. She told him that she didn't learn to use a sword and was a close combater because she learned martial arts since she was a kid rather than Nolan who although learned martial arts, learned the art of sword when he was a kid.
Right now, Arthur was standing in the Blade training ground with his father this time rather than his mother. After he had turned 5, there was no use to hide his stigmata anymore and after waiting a year to make his stigmata rank more plausible he took off the gloves and started training in the Blade training grounds rather than the mana-proof chambers anymore.
To demonstrate the art better and for Arthur's convenience, Nolan took a wooden sword along with Arthur rather than his signature sword that was given to a Blade heir on his heir ceremony at the age of 10. Now, they stood on the stage a considerable distance and facing each other. Nolan was the first to break the silence among them with a straight warning.
"Let me tell you before we begin first son. This sword art can only be taught to a Blade and a Blade only and you must respect this rule and tradition that has been carried throughout the generations."
Arthur nodded with a face of understanding as if he understood the weight of his father's words.
"I understand."
Then a small smile played on Nolan's lips and he instantly took on a teacher's aura.
"Good. Let's begin then. A sword art is divided into three parts: Footwork, Sword movements and the Body stance. The Blade Art is no different and it was specially designed to suit our purposes as it embodies the art form's dedication to precision, agility, and strategic advantage in the realm of assassination and swordplay. Starting with the Blade footwork, I shall explain each part to you and demonstrate it to you separately to give you a better understanding."
Arthur gave a subtle nod which Nolan took as sign of continuing his teaching.
"The footwork of Blade Art emphasizes stealth and agility, allowing practitioners to move silently and swiftly, maintaining the element of surprise. They execute fluid, controlled movements, seamlessly transitioning between offensive and defensive stances while maintaining balance and poise. You need to move as like a leaf moves over water, silently and elegantly such that there is no margin of error in your movements like a water does not get disturbed by the movement of the leaf."
As soon as he explained the footwork, he started to demonstrate a series of steps while moving with his sword as he seamlessly switched between offensive and defensive stances with his sword while simultaneously switching his foot positions to allow his body to suit the purpose of offensive or defensive measures better by balancing his center of gravity and spreading the body weight evenly across all parts. His movements resembled that of a panther in the silent night under the cold ambience of the full moon as it hunted its prey, by seamlessly transitioning between offensive and defensive movements and navigating its environments with a lethal combination of stealth and power.
Nolan demonstrated all his movements slowly to help Arthur take in everything to give him an overview of the art and how it complemented your purposes. Arthur observed his movements with his eyes and brain at full throttle, trying to capture every movement to the smallest detail as he could. After replaying his movements three to four times, he moved forward to the next step.
"Next are the Blade movements. Sword movements in Blade Art are characterized by fluidity and grace, emphasizing precision and lethality. You execute controlled, deliberate strikes targeting vital points with unerring accuracy. In addition to this, your blade movements should incorporate quick, decisive movements, enabling swift counterattacks and deflecting incoming strikes with finesse. Move your blade in such a way to quickly transition between one movement to another, leaving little time for counters."
Again, Nolan started to demonstrate blade movements this time with fluid lethality and grace as if to show the elegance of the Blade art to the opponent and show symbolize their defeat with clean and noble movements. This time Nolan's movements resembled the relentless flow of a raging river. Just as a river's currents exhibit a seamless and unyielding motion, Nolan executed his strikes with precision and lethality, akin to the unerring force of water shaping the earth. Similar to the river's ability to adapt and swiftly change course, Nolan incorporated quick, decisive movements, enabling him to be able to counterattack his opponent if there was one right now, with finesse and deflect incoming strikes with fluidity, much like the river deftly navigating around obstacles in its path.
And again, Arthur observed his father's movements down to the last detail to etch an image in his mind to practice and Nolan also repeated the same movements slowly for 3 to 4 times to help his son. After he thought that Arthur would have an idea now, he moved to the last part.
"The body stance of the Blade art is designed to minimize the practitioner's profile, reduce visibility, and allow seamless blending into the environment. It maintains balanced poise, readiness for swift maneuvering, and focused concentration, enhancing the execution of precise and powerful sword movements with optimal control and efficiency. The stance is designed to swiftly transition according to your footwork and blade movements, to allow your blade to efficiently strike with deadly accuracy and speed."
Again like the first two times, Nolan started to practice the Blade art movements while swiftly changing his body stances to allow both his blade to strike accurately and quickly while also positioning himself by maintaining his center of gravity, to let him quickly evade and counter attack should the enemy fight back. This time his stance and its adaptability to suit his blade and for also defending against the enemy's counter attack was likened to the adaptability and camouflage of a chameleon. Just as a chameleon adjusted its body to minimize its profile and seamlessly blend into its surroundings, Nolan's body adopted a stance that was designed to reduce visibility and enhance his ability to merge with his environment. The focused concentration and balanced poise of Nolan mirrored a chameleon's readiness to swiftly maneuver and maintain control, akin to the reptile's ability to navigate its environment with precision and efficiency.
Again repeating the same steps like last time with Arthur observing and Nolan demonstrating, all 3 parts of the Blade Art were demonstrated. But before all that, it was necessary for Arthur to know how to handle his sword and strike, the basic foundations and movements of sword and Nolan demonstrated them with ease and also helped Arthur by adjusting his stance or hold where it was either too loose or too tight. Even though Arthur knew how to do this, he needed to pretend to not let his father suspect something because his knowledge could be given the excuse of the library but not the sword, his parents knew he had never practiced with a sword yet. After getting him to know the basic stance, Nolan gave the first task to Arthur.
"Now I want you to practice the basic movements for 10000 times to let your body familiarize with the body until it turns into instinct. But remember, your strikes should be constant and rhythmic like the motion of a pendulum, with not even a subtle difference. But the difference between the first and the last strike should be like earth and heaven."
Arthur affirmed with a nod and started to practice the movements according to his father's teachings. While not constant and having wavering in them in the beginning, Arthur's high perception and intelligence kicked in, making his movements constant after just 10 minutes.
*******
[4 Hours Later]
Arthur completed his movements with precision and elegance and turned to face his father, who was looking at him with his mouth gaping.
'Isn't he too much of a monster at this point? Who would have thought that the consistence and accuracy that took me whole 2 days to achieve would be achieved by my son in just 4 hours?'
Arthur's voice kicked his father out of his disbelief, who after seeing his son's light smile, coughed in embarrassment.
"Shall we go father?"
Nolan nodded and together they headed back into the manor where dinner was waiting for them.
"Yes let's go."
*******
[Inside the manor]
Right now, Arthur was seated on the dinner table along with his parents where he recounted all had happened today to his mother - who listened to him with her full attention and a smile on her face - because she asked him to.
"Oh yes, I forgot. We are going to have guests tomorrow honey." Alice informed Arthur with a smile.
Before Arthur could ask, Nolan already cut him to the chase,
"Who are they?"
Alice looked at Nolan and told him,
"They are the Glades dear. The wife of the patriarch, also my dear friend is coming tomorrow with her son and daughter to show respect for Arthur and his talent measurement."
Nolan heard her and then approved of the guests with a nod and then faced Arthur,
"The Glades are nice people, they have always been very supportive to us and have always showed their respect for us. I hope you can get along with their kids son and make friends with them."
Arthur thought about it and then nodded back at his father's suggestion.
"I'll try."
********
Hello! Author here. I hope you are liking this novel to this point and if so please support the novel with a review or power stones as a sign of your support. I have decided that I'll publish a bonus chapter when the novel reaches 20 power stone or a person has given 10 power stones. Thank you for reading again. :) :>