The next day, they traveled to the next villages along the road. The fields passed them by as they crossed through pastures for various animals. Training always happened in the afternoon once they got into the next village. Elias brought out his sword while Alice mimicked him with an imaginary sword in hand. They always found secluded spots away from the village housing or if that was not available they practiced in rented rooms.

He continued to practice Heavenly Descent Slash. The attack repeated continuously against invisible enemies to show it off.

“Let’s move on to the next sword technique. Rising Mountain Strike is its name. After attacking with the Heavenly Strike Slash, you can then move your sword easily into the Rising Mountain Strike. You will bring your sword upward quickly and tilt it either to the left or right depending on the situation and block enemies before pushing your sword forward. I’ll start from the ending position of Heavenly Descent.”

Elias smoothly transitioned from the ending position of the Heavenly Descent Slash into the beginning of the Rising Mountain Strike. His sword swept upward with a graceful arc, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. He then shifted his grip and angled the sword to the right, as if intercepting an incoming attack. With a powerful thrust, he pushed the imaginary opponent back, completing the move. He repeated the move multiple times first rotating his sword to the right to block a sword and then doing the same to the left. A few adjustments were made each time to showcase a few possible various that might commonly come up.

Alice watched closely, her eyes following every detail of Elias's movements. She mirrored his actions, her imaginary sword mirroring his path through the air. As they practiced, Elias offered guidance, ensuring that Alice's technique improved with each repetition.

"Remember," he said, "the Rising Mountain Strike is a versatile move. You can use it both defensively and offensively. It can parry incoming attacks and create an opening for your own strike. It's all about timing and fluidity."

They continued to refine the Rising Mountain Strike throughout the day. The sun hung high in the sky, casting warm rays over the fields and villages they passed through. By the time they reached the next village, Alice's muscles ached from the intense practice, but she could feel herself growing stronger and more skilled with each passing day.

Elias worked with her on the two moves allowing her to practice flowing through the two moves with ease. She picked up the basics quickly, her previous sword knowledge helping her intuit what steps would come next. Her hands held no sword as she practiced. They were still bandaged from the fight with the ogre. She looked down at her wrist as she practiced. It still held an ache and was a constant reminder of where her skills currently sat.

The sun set in the village and the pair returned to their rented rooms. Elias approached Alice’s door and knocked.

“Elias?” asked Alice opening the door slightly.

“It’s me. I wanted to check in on how you are doing. Your injury and self. It has been a few days and should be ready to remove the wrappings and clean up.”

Alice opened the door wider, allowing Elias to enter. The room was dimly lit by a single oil lamp on a small wooden table.

Elias took a seat on a wooden chair, and Alice joined him. She extended her injured wrist towards him, and he gently began to unwrap the bandages. As the cloth fell away, the wrist was revealed, and Alice couldn't help but wince at the sight of it. The skin around the wrist bore the marks of darker pigmentation and faint black streaks, a testament to the corruption the ogre's touch had brought.

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Elias inspected the injury carefully, his experienced eyes scanning the area. "The healing paste has worked its magic," he remarked, his voice laced with a hint of relief. "The corruption has receded, and the wound seems to be closing up nicely. It may leave a scar, but that's a small price to pay for your life and your sword arm."

Alice flexed her wrist cautiously, she quickly realized the pain had subsided, and her movements were no longer hindered. "Thank you for saving me back there. I couldn't have done it without you."

“You did a great deal of work as well fighting the ogre as well. Now, with that wrist healing, you can start practicing with your sword again. And maybe, just maybe, we can even spar soon."

“I would like that. I would like it a lot. It will be good to finally hold a sword again and put what is in my mind to real application.”

Elias left her room and Alice settled into her bed. The capital approached and so did the corruption in ways. Its influence was once just one small city and a few business leaders within. Few had noticed its spread before the war started against the growing evil. Villages and a few cities were ruined within the year. The places grew unlivable. Nothing was truly able to cleanse the rot inside. He thought back to the village they had encountered. Though the undead and ogre were slain. The ground would not seed life until the proper magic could be applied, and the area cleaned. It was a power only the hero could learn, blessed by the gods.

The next day they crossed blades. Traveling had taken them in between villages. Trees dotted the hilly landscapes. In the distance, the same river they had been following for days snaked across the grass. Alice was eager to resume training and jumped at the chance to pause their travels for more practice. Before they started to spar she ran through the same training she had been practicing for a week, this time with a sword in hand.

Heavenly Sword Slash was followed by Rising Mountain Strike. Her feet already knew how to move from her previous practice. With her sword in hand, she finished the moves. Elias watched her, critiqued her, and helped adjust things when needed. Sometimes the weight of the sword in her hand changed things so he was there to correct it.

He knew that she had made good progress so far but there was still much to learn. He wished he had more time. Maybe if he had been notified sooner or if she hadn’t had to travel so far to reach him. They could have more time. With the corruption spreading as far as the villages in the north he worried what he would see in the capital. It was by mostly luck and the death of old friends that the Elder’s Rock had not been destroyed already. But beyond that city, they would have to travel through corrupted lands that had twisted and strengthened their followers.

“The sun is getting lower. I’m glad that your previous practice was not for nothing. I was worried that it would take some time to adjust to using an actual sword. There are still a few more techniques for you to learn but I think those will have to wait for the city. We’re almost there and I think we can hurry there in the next two days. For now, though, let’s see how your sword techniques do in practicum.”

Elias drew his sword and took a step forward. He circled Alice and settled into position opposite her. She turned her sword to him ready to fight. With a determined look on her face, Alice tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. She had come a long way, and she was determined to prove herself to Elias. Elias, on the other hand, maintained a calm and focused demeanor. He knew the dangers that awaited them beyond the villages, in the corrupted lands where the followers of darkness had grown in strength and twisted power. He waited for her approach.

With a sudden and swift movement, Alice lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air toward Elias. He reacted quickly, deflecting her strike with a resounding clash of steel meeting steel. The force of the impact reverberated through their arms, but both stood their ground, determined not to yield. Alice attacked with the Heavenly Sword Slash, but the attack slipped off Elias’s blade like water. His blade twisted and then turned into the Rising Mountain Strike.

Their spar continued a dance of blades and footwork. Elias attacked with precision, testing Alice's ability to parry and counter. She moved with a grace that was born from hours of diligent practice, her body flowing seamlessly from one defensive stance to another.

Despite the intensity of their bout, Elias was careful not to overwhelm Alice. He wanted her to gain confidence, not feel discouraged. He feigned attacks, allowing her to successfully defend herself, but occasionally slipped in a challenging move to keep her on her toes. Time seemed to blur as they fought, their breathing synchronizing with the rhythm of their blades. The landscape around them faded into the background. The late afternoon turned to evening as another day passed in their journey.