Chapter 22: The Blade's Edge
The first rays of dawn filtered through the small window of the training quarters, casting a faint glow over Argus as he stirred awake. His body ached in every conceivable way, muscles protesting as he shifted in bed. After yesterday's brutal training with Suzume, he had barely made it to his room before collapsing into unconsciousness. Now, as the light coaxed him awake, the memory of her relentless strikes still lingered in his limbs.
A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts, and before he could even answer, Suzume barged in, her usual carefree grin plastered across her face.
"Rise and shine, brat," she called, her voice far too cheerful for the early hour. She kicked the edge of the bed lightly. "We've got a full day of training ahead, and I don't want you slacking."
Argus groaned, sitting up slowly. "You never let up, do you?"
Suzume laughed, tossing him a towel. "I don't get paid to go easy on you. Now get your ass up, grab your sword, and meet me outside."
Within minutes, Argus found himself standing in the courtyard once again, the early morning air cool against his skin. Suzume was already stretching, her wooden practice sword leaning against a nearby tree.
"You're gonna love today's training," she said, her grin widening. "Sword work, but this time, I'm pushing you past your limits. No holding back, and no crying when it gets tough."
Argus rolled his eyes, but he gripped his own practice sword with renewed determination. His body was sore, yes, but there was a fire burning within him that pushed him forward. He wanted to get stronger, faster, and if that meant enduring Suzume's brutal lessons, so be it.
"Ready?" Suzume asked, though it was clear from her stance that she was already prepared to strike.
Before Argus could even answer, Suzume lunged at him, her sword moving faster than he anticipated. He barely managed to block the first blow, but the force of it sent a sharp tremor up his arm.
"Too slow, brat!" Suzume barked, spinning on her heel and coming at him with another strike. "Your grip's too tight. Loosen up, or you'll tire out in minutes!"
Argus adjusted his stance, trying to heed her advice even as he deflected the next blow. Suzume's strikes came fast and hard, each one testing his ability to react and adapt. She wasn't going easy on him—far from it. Every swing of her sword pushed him closer to his limits.
As the minutes dragged on, the clash of their wooden swords echoed through the courtyard. Argus's arms burned, his legs felt like lead, and his breath came in ragged bursts. But he refused to back down. Every time Suzume pressed him harder, he dug deeper, trying to match her speed and precision.
"Good!" Suzume called out as their swords clashed once more. "You're not as hopeless as you were yesterday."
But even as she praised him, she didn't slow down. Her strikes became more unpredictable, her movements a blur as she danced around him, testing every inch of his resolve. Argus's arms screamed in protest, but he fought through the pain, his mind focused on the rhythm of the fight.
It was during one of these moments that Suzume suddenly switched tactics. She feigned a strike toward his right, and as Argus moved to block, she twisted her wrist and delivered a sharp blow to his left side. The impact knocked him off balance, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Too predictable," she teased, standing over him with a cocky grin. "You fell for that one too easily."
Argus grunted, pushing himself up to his knees. His pride stung more than his side. "You fight dirty."
Suzume shrugged. "Fighting's dirty business. If you're expecting a fair duel, you're living in a fantasy."
Argus wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing labored. "Then teach me how to fight dirty."
Suzume's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with approval. "Now we're talking."
She reached down, offering him a hand to help him up. Once Argus was back on his feet, she pointed to the training dummy that stood a few feet away. "We're done with formal drills for today. You're gonna practice quick strikes—small, targeted blows. No flashy swings, no overthinking. Just fast, lethal moves that'll throw off your opponent."
Argus nodded, tightening his grip on the practice sword. His arms still felt heavy, but he pushed the fatigue aside, focusing on the task at hand.
"Quick and precise," Suzume instructed, standing beside him. "Go for the weak points—the neck, the joints, the legs. Anywhere that'll cripple your opponent in one move."
Argus swung at the dummy, aiming for its joints, but his strikes were too slow, too heavy.
"Too stiff!" Suzume barked, slapping the back of his head lightly. "Loosen up, brat. You're not chopping down a tree."
Argus adjusted his stance, taking a deep breath before striking again. This time, his blows were faster, lighter, but still carried enough force to be effective. He could feel his body protesting, but he pushed through it, determined to improve.
Suzume watched him with an appraising eye. "Better. Now keep going until you can do it in your sleep."
And so, they continued. Hours passed, and the training grew more intense. Suzume had him practicing quick dodges, learning how to get in and out of an opponent's range without taking damage. Each time he faltered, she was there, pushing him harder, teasing him with her usual mocking grin, but always with an edge of seriousness.
"Faster, brat! You think a real opponent's gonna give you time to think? Move!"
Argus darted forward, landing a solid blow on the dummy's torso before retreating. His muscles ached, his breath was ragged, but he could feel himself improving. Every swing felt more natural, every movement more fluid.
But just as he thought he was getting the hang of it, Suzume stepped in once again. She moved like lightning, her sword flashing toward him in a blur. Argus raised his sword to block, but the impact knocked him back a few feet, his knees buckling under the strain.
"Never get comfortable," Suzume warned, her voice low and sharp. "The moment you think you've got it figured out, someone stronger will come along and tear you down."
Argus nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Understood."
Suzume's grin returned, playful and mocking. "Good. Now get back to work. We're not done yet."
As the day wore on, the intensity of the training only increased. Suzume pushed him beyond what he thought were his limits, and each time, Argus found himself digging deeper, summoning strength he didn't know he had. Every block, every strike, every dodge became faster, sharper.
When the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the training grounds, Argus collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent. His body screamed in agony, every muscle burning from the hours of relentless training.
Suzume stood over him, hands on her hips, her usual grin plastered on her face. "Not bad, brat. You didn't pass out today."
Argus glared up at her from the ground. "Barely."
She shrugged, clearly unbothered. "That's all that matters. You've got more potential than most, but potential means nothing if you don't push yourself."
Argus closed his eyes, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. "I know."
Suzume chuckled softly, sitting down beside him. "You're getting there, kid. But we've still got a long way to go. Don't get cocky just because you made it through today."
Argus opened one eye, glancing at her. "I'm not cocky."
Suzume smirked, nudging him with her foot. "Good. Keep it that way. I've trained a lot of people, and the ones who think they've made it are the ones who fall the hardest."
Argus sat up slowly, his body protesting every movement. "What's next?"
Suzume's grin widened. "Tomorrow? We're gonna work on endurance. You're fast, but you need to last longer in a fight. You're not gonna get very far if you can't hold your own after a few minutes."
Argus groaned inwardly, already dreading the next day. But despite the exhaustion, there was a flicker of excitement deep within him. He was growing stronger, faster, more capable. And with each day, he felt closer to reaching the potential that Suzume had seen in him from the beginning.
"Get some rest," Suzume said, rising to her feet. "Tomorrow's gonna be a real pain."
Argus nodded, too tired to offer a snarky reply. He knew she wasn't kidding.