In the afternoon, after Kaiser finishes preparing, he steps out of his room. As he opens the door, he sees Zani standing by it, her eyes gazing aimlessly into the distance.
Hearing the door open, her eyes refocus and turn toward Kaiser. She then extends her hand toward him without saying a word. Seeing this, Kaiser reaches out and takes her hand
"Good afternoon, Zani" he says softly
Zani doesn't say much and only nods in response. She then leads Kaiser to the training grounds
When they arrive, Zani points toward a rack of various weapons and says
"Choose a weapon. We'll have a practice duel"
"We're starting right away?" Kaiser asks
"The fastest way to spot your weaknesses is through combat" Zani replies confidently
Hearing this, Kaiser doesn't ask any more questions and walks over to the weapon rack
'Axes, scythes, swords, daggers, and spears,' he thinks, doesn't know what to choose
"You can try each one to find the weapon that suits you best" Zani suggests
"Can you teach me to use all of them?" he asks
"No, I'm only skilled with swords. You'll have to learn to improvise and figure out how to counter my attacks on your own" she explains
'Sounds like I'm going to get hit a lot' Kaiser thinks to himself
"Is this how Myreni teaches you as well?" he asks
"Yes. She teaches both me and Farah in this way. However, Myreni's swordsmanship is more structured, so perhaps the method is one she specifically created to train us" Zani explains
"By the way, just who is Myreni? She seems skilled in so many areas. She's even someone with an Aspect. What does she do?" Kaiser asks, realizing there is still much he doesn't know about Myreni, the person who has taken him in
"We honestly don't know. She's the one who rescues me and Farah from slave traders. And during the ten years we follow her, we don't learn much about her past. She promises us that once we graduate from the academy, she will tell us what she's been doing" Zani says, gazing up at the sky with a thoughtful expression
"You and Farah are rescued from slave traders?" he asks, shocked by this revelation
"Yes. It seems that during one of her missions, Myreni saves us" Zani replies
"That's why Farah and I work so hard to train and improve ourselves so we can help her… And you should do the same. Strive to become strong and support her" Zani says, looking directly into Kaiser's eyes
"I definitely will" Kaiser replies, agreeing with Zani's words and deciding not to ask further questions
"Then let's begin, choose a weapon" she says before moving to the center of the training grounds
Kaiser turns back to the weapon rack, pondering for a moment before picking up a wooden sword. He figures that since swords are the most common weapon, they must also be the most versatile
He grips the sword and faces Zani
"Attack me" Zani says calmly
Kaiser takes a shaky breath and charges forward with an uneven swing, aiming directly at Zani's midsection. The movement is very clumsy
Zani shifts her feet slightly, her body gliding effortlessly to the side. The blade whistles past her, slicing nothing but empty air. Before Kaiser can regain his footing, she flicks her wrist, the flat of her wooden blade striking the back of Kaiser's thigh with a sharp thwack
"Too slow" Zani remarks, stepping back into her original position as if she has never moved
Kaiser winces, stumbling forward but managing to stay on his feet. He turns and swings again, this time from above, tightening his grip as he brings the sword down with all his strength
Zani sidesteps once more, her movement so fluid it seems she anticipates the attack before it even begins. In the same swift motion, she spins behind Kaiser and taps the flat of her blade against the back of his neck
"Your balance is off" Zani notes in her usual even tone
Kaiser staggers forward, nearly dropping his sword. His breathing grows heavier, and his knuckles whiten as he tightens his grip on the hilt. Determined, he charges again, this time feinting left before slashing wide to the right
Zani tilts her head ever so slightly, and the blade misses her by mere inches. She ducks low, her legs coiling like springs before exploding upward with a perfectly timed strike. Her wooden training sword lands a sharp blow against Kaiser's ribs
Zani steps back, her expression composed but her eyes softening slightly
"You rely on strength and desperation. A sword is not a hammer. You must feel the rhythm, the flow of combat. Watch your opponent, not your own blade" she advises
Kaiser staggers upright, sweat dripping down his brow. His hands tremble, but determination burns in his eyes
"I need to change weapons" Kaiser says
After receiving a nod from Zani, he heads back to the weapon rack. The fight makes it clear to Kaiser just how wide the gap in strength and speed is between him and Zani. He decides to choose a weapon with a more unexpected element
Once he selects his weapon, he stands before Zani again. Seeing his choice, Zani shows a slight expression of surprise
"So you chose that, huh? That's quite an unusual choice" she says
Standing before her now is Kaiser, gripping a large scythe with both hands, its size even greater than his own