Slam!

A sudden sound shook my eardrums. Drool ran down my chin as I quickly sat up.

"Huh?...WHat's the big idea?"

Katsu's figure stood in the doorway. Blade on his hip, he was ready to head out. And I just knew he was going to force me to get out of bed. Whatever it was, I was not ready. I needed a good hour or two more of sleepy time before I’d feel refreshed.

"You know what time it is." said Katsu.

And the way he said it, it was clear what he was referring to. Yet, I acted clueless.

"...No, I don't..."

I lied back down, covering myself before turning over on my shoulder. My eyes shut.

'Please just a few more minutes'

Katsu pulled the blanket from me then tossed it on the floor.

"You'll never get better with a blade if you can't force yourself to fight even when you lack the energy." There he was again, being a buzzkill about something. This man was way too serious about things, "In a real-life situation, you may be exhausted, but that won't stop a monster from trying to claim your life. Or maybe it won't be a monster, maybe it could be a criminal."

I climbed out of bed, letting out an obviously heavy sigh.

"...okay, I get it..." I felt the inside of my stomach quake with hunger. Grrrr. "...Can I at least eat something first? I'm really hung-"

Even through Katsu's silver helmet, I could feel his gaze. Like he was about to lecture me once again.

"Right..." I said, "In a real-life situation, I could be attacked before I've had the luxury of having breakfast."

With a firm nod, Katsu answered, "Correct. You're starting to understand."

As much as I hated being woken up this early, and the lectures, maybe he was onto something. He did help me grow my strength a bit, and he's the reason I was still in one piece, even after going on many quests. Maybe it was worth listening to his judgment occasionally, because when all was said and done, he was right. This world was way harsher than I thought, and it certainly wouldn't play fair.

I threw on my cloak and put on my boots.

"Okay, let's do this." I rubbed my eyes, attempting to get rid of this sleepiness.

_____

Once out of the mansion, we walked out way out to the grassy, green field. And sitting on the front porch was Lily, sipping on her morning cup of tea. Seeing me and Katsu take up our fighting stances, I could see that Lily started watching even closer. Like it was entertainment to her.

“Get ready.” Katsu didn’t seem all that serious for once, holding his blade with only one hand, “Today, I’ll give you a handicap. Go ahead and make the first strike. Whenever you’re ready.”

I squinted my eyes, trying to analyze him. This was strange. Usually, he’d count down from three, then we’d try to attack each other. Why was he allowing me to strike first today?

“Umm...Is this a trick?” I tilted my head, “Like some sort of test?”

Katsu shook his head, “It’s not. I just wanted to see how much you’ve improved. It’s hard to do that if I’m fighting seriously.”

Ouch. In other words, if he fought seriously, he’d beat me easily, before I even had a chance to show my improvement. Understandably though. He was on another level when it came to swordplay.

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‘Being the main character isn’t as easy as the movies make it.’

If I even was the main character.

My hands gripped my wooden sword tightly, “Well then, here I come.”

Dashing in his direction, I swung an attack directed at his face, but it was a feint. Right when Katsu lifted his sword to block, I shifted directions, swinging at the side of his rib cage.

Fwsh!

In under a second, he parried my attack then maneuvered his way behind me. Faster than I could react, the top of my skull was impacted.

Bonk!

“Oww!”

The strike brought me to my knees and made my brain vibrate. I threw down my sword, holding my head in agony, “I knew it was a trick! You had a whole plan, didn't you?!”

“I assure you, I didn’t.” Katsu patted me on the shoulder, “With practice, I've learned to spot a fake strike when I see one.” he grabbed my wrist, helping me back on my feet, “Yet, it wasn’t a bad attempt. It might’ve worked on someone less experienced than me.”

I sort of expected a lecture on how my decision was faulty or would’ve got me killed in a ‘real-life’ situation. But instead, he praised my attempt. It sorts of made me feel happy, like i wasn’t completely helpless.

Katsu walked a few feet away then raised his sword.

“Now, again.”

I raised mine as well, “Okay, again.”

In the next few moments, I was dropped from a strike to my knee. Then again, a strike to my shoulder. Again, again, and again, he bested me each and every time.

“This isn’t fair!” 5 rounds in, I didn’t have a single freakin’ victory. This was like putting a toddler against a sword master.

I thrusted the point of my sword at Katsu’s chest, which he easily side stepped then tripped me.

Thump!

My face hit the grass and caught a moutfull of dirt. That was it, I’ve had enough.

‘See, now I’m just frustrated.’

Watching from the porch, Lily tried to encourage me, but honestly, it just felt insulting.

“Don’t worry, Amaya! You go this! I believe in you!”

Getting back up on my feet and spitting out the dirt, I was determined to win at least once.

“Let’s call it a day.” Katsu asked, twirling his sword before sheathing it.

“One more.” I refused to let it end off like this, I took my stance, wielding my wooden blade, “Just one more round.”

“Well then...” Once again, Katsu unsheathed his weapon, “...Impress me. On you’re Mark.” He nodded.

The two of us stared at each other. In my case, I was glaring with frustration. I had to come up with some sort of plan. Something good, something smart. He seemed to have some sort of maneuver for any attack I made.

[‘Analyze’ Activated] [Analyzing possible solutions.]

There were four distinct beeps in my mind, before something came up.

Beep...Beep...Beep...Beep

[Solution: He seems to only counterattack. The best course of action is to attempt to predict how he will counterattack. Or perhaps force him into counterattacking a certain way.]

I gazed at Katsu, up and down, from head to toe, trying to think of something. Until it hit me. I’ve had just the solution.

A breath entered my lungs, then as soon as I exhaled, my body shot forward.

[Burst activated]

Fwsh! Clink!

One sudden swing of my sword, Katsu parried. I didn’t give him a chance to counterattack just yet. One after another, I flooded him with the many slashes of my sword, all which he avoided in some way.

“Aggressive.” Katsu grunted.

I struck down with an overhead slash. Before it could connect, he raised his sword, blocking. Our swords were locked together. Through his helmet, I could see his green eyes, glimmering.

“You impressed yet?” I asked.

“Not yet.”

Releasing the handle of my sword, I spun around, throwing a roundhouse kick right into his chest.

BMP!

My eyes watched as his figure tumbled across the grass, before he caught himself in a kneeling position.

‘...Woah. I actually did it! I hit him!’

Silence filled the air for some time. Eventually, he got back on his feet and patted the dirt of his coat.

“Now I’m impressed...” walking over to me, his hand touched my shoulder, “But that wasn’t just swordplay. That was martial arts, along with the use of a skill.”

I replied, using his own logic against him, “In a real situation, swordplay isn’t the only aspect of a fight. An enemy would definitely use skills.”

“Point made.” he turned around and began walking back to the mansion, “Get your gear together.”

“What? Why?” I asked.

This was sudden. As far as I was aware,we didn’t have any plans for today.

“We’re going into the city.”

For what? I had no clue. He went inside before giving an answer.

‘Well. With Katsu, it could be a lot of things.’

[Gut feeling]

A sigh flew from my mouth. Deep down in my gut, something was telling me that it was going to be a long day.

_____

End of Chapter Stats

Amaya | Level: 8 | EXP: 27,800 / 34,000

HP: 54 | DEF: 14 | ATK: 8 | Str: +4 | Dex: +4 | Con: +2 |Wis: +0 | Int: +0 | Cha: +0 |Luck: - 10