Wuwu was disappointed. This was the new instructor? That lanky and messy looking guy who was barely any taller than he was? And he didn’t even use one sword, he had two short ones lazily dangling from his hip.

“Are you really a teacher?” Wuwu said, mockingly “You look more like the guy that hides in the back and lets everyone else do the fighting”

The Mad Hatter of Veruno smiled. “Appearances can be deceiving, young lordling… let me show you how”

He unsheathed his blades and gestured: come at me.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Wuwu tried to achieve his trance again, but he only managed it partially before Hatter moved. His swords were quick, and he barely managed to block them in time. He tried to counter, but the instructor’s successive strikes forced him to the defensive.

“You’re lacking in fundamentals, lordling” Hatter said, mockingly “you’re barely holding on with your instinct, but your stance is full of gaps, like so”

Hatter feinted with one of his swords, forcing a block, and used the second to lightly tap on Wuwu’s shoulder.

“Seriously, what were your other instructors doing?” Hatter continued, dropping his guard “Did you just beat them by luck?”

Wuwu was starting to lose his cool. How dare he make a mockery of him! He needed to be fight better, be better. He would never reach his father like this! Focus, focus, focus!

The world blurred again. Then… strangely, it blurred some more. No, not again, not now! And yet… red starting filling his vision. His sword was red. His instructor’s swords were red. The world didn’t exist, his opponent was all he saw. He couldn’t think anymore, so he rushed at inhuman speed.