Days passed in the sanctuary of the witches. Alice trained her swordsmanship with Elias while also improving her skill in controlling her Sword Breath abilities. As her skill grew Elias pushed her and himself harder. With the addition of the Sword Breath flowing through her body and sword, the fights became harder. For Thompson, his determination grew when he watched the pair, master and hero, prepare for the rest of their journey.
They trained in the slightly secluded area that Elias had found earlier. The houses around them were quiet. In the distance, the stream flowed gently. Elias clashed blades with Alice. His sword deflected off of Alice’s. Her sword glowed slightly as she focused energy from the Sword Breath into it.
The sun cast a gentle glow upon the training grounds as Elias and Alice continued their intense regimen. The earth beneath their feet seemed to reverberate with each step, each clash of their swords echoing through the quiet houses that surrounded the secluded area. Their breaths were in sync with the rhythmic sounds of metal against metal, and the soft, continuous murmur of the nearby stream added a serene backdrop to the fierce training session.
Sweat glistened on their brows as Elias carefully instructed Alice, guiding her through each form and technique with the precision of a master. They practiced various combat sequences, moving through memorized patterns and forms with a fluidity that spoke of their hard work and determination. Elias, with his experienced eyes, could see Alice's progress. Her movements were becoming more fluid, her strikes more confident, and the Sword Breath flowed through her with increasing control and power.
In bouts of improvisation, they let go of the structured forms, allowing instinct and creativity to guide their blades. Alice’s eyes sparkled with fierce concentration as she adapted to Elias’s unpredictable movements, her body and sword moving as one. The air around them seemed charged with energy, as the Sword Breath infused her sword, creating a dazzling display of power and control. Each swing, each parry, each subtle movement was a dance of energy between master and apprentice.
Elias pushed Alice harder, testing the limits of her endurance and the mastery of her skills. He challenged her, not just physically but mentally as well, ensuring that her spirit was as sharp and resilient as the sword she wielded. Alice, in turn, showed a remarkable spirit, meeting each challenge with a determined face, ready to rise to the occasion. He was also pushing himself harder to test himself. Their swords clashed, a bright glow emanating from the infused Sword Breath illuminating the training grounds with a subtle, magical light. With each strike, he saw the divide between them shrinking. With the added effects of Sword Breath, she grew stronger, and faster, and was able to anticipate his moves with more ease.
Elias took a step back. Their blades clashed one final time. “Good job. Your ability to integrate the powers you have gained this week with the sword forms I have taught you is remarkable. Let’s move on from sparring and go back over technique. I have taught you three of the forms I know so far. Now let me show you the fourth.” Elias adjusted his stance and turned his blade for demonstration.
Elias raised his sword, the blade catching the light of the fading sun, casting elongated shadows on the ground. "The Flowing Sun Pierce," he began, his voice calm and steady, "is a move that requires both grace and precision. It begins with a stance wide and rooted, like the stance of the Rising Mountain Strike, but your center of gravity must shift quickly, as fluid as the Eclipsing Void Strike."
He demonstrated, his feet shifting in the dirt, creating a small cloud of dust that shimmered in the sunlight. "You must imagine your sword as an extension of the sun's rays—direct, unyielding, and piercing through darkness." With a swift turn of his waist, Elias brought the sword in a wide, circular arc above his head, mimicking the circular nature of the sun, before swiftly thrusting forward in a straight, piercing motion. "This is the essence of the Flowing Sun Pierce. It combines the expansive reach of the heavens with the precise point of light that gives life."
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Alice watched intently, memorizing his footwork and the fluidity of his motion. She stepped forward, imitating his wide stance, feeling the weight of her own sword in her hand. She swung it above her head, trying to emulate the circular grace, but her movement was choppy, lacking the seamless transition Elias had demonstrated.
"No, no," Elias corrected gently, stepping closer. "You must not resist the motion. Let it flow through you. Here, let me guide you."
He positioned himself beside Alice, his presence a calming force. "Let's break it down. First, the wide arc—imagine drawing the sun's path in the sky. Now, as you bring the sword down, let it gather the day's warmth, and when you pierce forward, you are directing the sun's full power at your target."
He guided her arms through the motion, his hands steady on hers. She felt the difference immediately—the power that came from a movement that was both circular and linear, the energy flowing unobstructed from her core to the tip of her blade.
"Again," he instructed, stepping back to watch. Alice took a deep breath, her focus narrowing. She raised her sword, the metal gleaming, and then she moved. The sword followed a perfect arc, and as she transitioned into the thrust, her feet found the right position, and her balance was centered. The tip of the sword pierced the air with a quiet 'whoosh'. She looked to him for suggestions.
“The transition still needs some work. The difficulty of the move I know has grown and with it the need to be precise. When you spin your sword for its circular arc the move must be seamless. It must make a clean circle in the air. If that doesn’t happen then the energy and momentum of the swing will lessen by the time you are moving into the final strike.”
Alice tried performing the set of motions once more. The blade shook in her hand as she brought it through the end of its arc. The raising of the sword was uneven causing her feet to shift unexpectedly.
“Did you see how your feet shifted awkwardly because of how the arc was not performed correctly? Each piece is necessary for the greater whole. Otherwise arcing your sword becomes a silly flourish instead of a needed part.”
“Then why don’t you show it to me again from the beginning,” said Alice exasperatedly, her exhaustion from the day’s training showing.
“From the beginning then.” Elias drew his sword and took a deep breath in. When he was ready he moved. Slower this time he shifted his weight brought the sword up and let it fall in the controlled arc he wanted before letting the sword move gracefully into the ‘piercing strike’ part of the Flowing Sun Pierce.
Alice tried mimicking his movements once more. She went slowly through the motions. Elias watched carefully. Her sword was still unsteady.
“Watch the placement of your hands so that you can keep your sword moving smoothly through the proper arc.”
“I am,” she said. She reset and swung her blade through the motions.
“Do you want me to guide your arms another time,” Elias asked.
“No,” Alice responded firmly. She tried performing the Flowing Sun Pierce again, but her heart and mind were not fully in it. The exhaustion showed on her face. She gave up halfway through the arc of her sword and let it drop to the grass.
Elias remained silent, observing as Alice's shoulders slumped. Her frustration, like a palpable shroud, had settled around her, muffling the typically sharp focus she held during their training sessions. The sword lay by her feet.
He understood her determination, her burning need to master the move. Yet, as the sky painted itself in hues of the sunset falling, Elias also understood that there was a time for rest, a time for the mind and body to absorb the day’s lessons.
"You've done well today," he finally said, his voice carrying a gentle firmness. "Remember, the sun does not reach its peak in a moment, nor does it set hastily. It follows its course, steady and sure. We can return to training another time.” Alice stayed silent and walked away from him.