As usual, my training isn’t progressing much as I blindly attack and fell for every feint. For over two days, Master scolded me many times. He told me this and that. I tried to do various stuff but to no avail did not land any strike to him at all.
I tried to calmly analyze our sparring sessions. From what I have learned, master’s favorites are a feint. That’s all. Nothing relevant to it all and I just fell for it like the idiot girl I am.
My swings are always on target but my eyes always follow the movement of the sword, which is bad. That is what master said as I am not paying attention to the enemy movement and their motives and I am not looking at the foe’s next attack.
Give me a break.
No, I already had too much break and I am given enough time to think through everything. I already collected myself to the point of not breaking down into tears anymore. My frustration is almost non-existence and my insecurities…well…they are still there but it’s not that it can distract me anymore.
But this is hard…
I am still trying to grasp the basic of the essential of the technique master is teaching me. I can’t differentiate it from what we are doing right now and how I trained before.
Are there any differences?
…
And now, another day ended without any reasonable results. It’s been two days and there is still no considerable result for my effort.
“Asagao.”
“Master?”
“How do you feel?”
“…”
“What?”
“It’s rare for you to ask me that.”
“Well… I need to know how you feel about the training, that’s all.”
“Hmm… I feel like there’s something that our training lacks. I want something different. Maybe that way, I can learn a thing or two.”
“…I see. I’ll see to it. For now, take a rest. It’s been only two days since you started training this art.”
“Yes!”
I wonder what is it that lacking. Is it my effort in this training or the plan for this training?
Either way, I need to make an improvement.
.
.
.
The next day, the same thing happened.
No improvements, no visible results. It’s just me being played around. But master today is spacing out a bit but that wasn’t the reason for him to be defeated with my half-assed attacks
“Asagao.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to hold a real sword?”
“Are you…going to lend me one?”
“I will, and you may keep it.”
Master draws out a sword from his dimensional storage.
It is just a simple short sword with no designs. It was sheathed in a scabbard and it only shows a silvery hilt. When he handed it to me, I draw it and saw the silvery luster as the same as the handle has.
“So, how’s that sword?”
“Master, it’s comparatively heavier than our practice sword but I think I can swing it without straining myself.”
“Is that so? Then keep it with you for now. It doesn’t have anything special to it.”
“You have legend class weapons with you right?!”
“I can’t lend them to you as you are so careless.”
“Auu…”
“Go rest today.”
“Okay…”
Master isn’t in his usual self. Things are a bit odd today too. Master was spacing off during the training and Milin wasn’t present when I woke up earlier.
Anyway, I want to eat and take a bath then off to dreamland.
.
.
.
I just got out of the bath. I am a bit sleepy now. I am dabbing my hair with a towel as I got out of the bath. I have placed the sword master lent me besides the door.
I take a glance to it.
It was there standing, leaning on the wall.
Does master want me to use a real sword in our practice tomorrow?
There’s no point thinking about it now. I am getting further drowsy so I change into my sleepwear and launch myself to the bed.
Goodnight.
.
.
.
I feel something warm and wet right into my stomach.
It’s dark so I don’t know what’s happening.
Did I pee in my sleep again?
No, it feels different.
It is so dark, no, too dark.
My eyes are opened but I can’t see even the faintest moonlight.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
What’s happening?
Suddenly, I sensed a pulling sensation from my stomach and it’s bursting out with liquid.
No…
As the thing was pulled out completely, I have already grasped what happened as the pain kicks in and air escaped from my lungs.
“Ah…gah…wha…”
It hurts! I can feel the hole made into my body throbbing painfully!
I was stabbed! I can’t move a single muscle in my body.
What?!
Why is this happening?!
I immediately hold my wound with my hand and presses on it.
“Barrier!”
Out of confusion, I cast a barrier around me. Out of fear, I instinctively retreated to the farthest corner of my bed shaking with fear for the unknown and unseen attacker in the dark.
What should I do?!
…
That’s right… call for someone!
Before I realized it, the wound closes by itself but my mind is still in shamble.
I try to think of anything, but my body started to tremble. Am I really that credulous to fear?
…
This is not good.
I have to think of something!
I can’t hole myself up in my barrier for so long.
…
I know the interior of my whole room. Just straight ahead from my bed is the door. I just have to run!
I stand up and charges ahead without knowing where the attacker is. I kept my barrier activated so there would be no hindrance. I dash unknowingly and fearfully but I was able to reach the door.
…
The knob, turn!
…
It’s…jammed?!
Eh?!
BAM
BAM
BAM
“Hello! Is anyone there?!”
I banged the door multiple times but there are no answers. Should I try destroying this door?!
“[Barrier!]
[Forc-!”
SHATTERS
Eh?!
My barrier broke.
Eh?!
CLANK
CLANK
CLANK
It seems the enemy is wearing an armor base on how a metal clanks as he moves.
But how was he able to destroy my barrier that easily?!
SWISH
“AHH!”
He swings a sword towards me and it slashes my leg leaving me unable to run.
“W-what do you want?!”
“…”
“Why are you doing this?!”
“…”
“…[Barrie--!”
SHATTER
As my barrier starts to materialize again, it shatters.
Ahh..
What…
What should I do?
My body is trembling too much.
I hear him making steps towards me.
My hand tried to grab anything besides me. I frantically hoped something would save me from this predicament.
Haa…Haa…
No…
I don’t want to die yet.
I was given another chance at life and I am going to change many things.
Myself and the way I live.
And things I believe and I want to protect.
I can’t die here yet.
I want to change for the sake of getting stronger. I needed time. I need people to support me. I can’t do everything alone. But this moment, I can rely only on myself.
I still doubt myself a bit.
I don’t want to die and I will not die here.
I keep repeating those words in my mind to give me mental fortitude but my body says otherwise as my body is still shaking and my hands are frantically trying to grab anything.
…
Ah.
I touched something.
There is something like electricity runs into my spine as I realized what it is. I grab the sword master lent me and unsheathed it.
I need to apply what master has taught me after all.
But in a situation like this, so dark and an unknown enemy with armor standing there, unseen.
I hold out my sword towards my enemy and prepare myself.
If I at least die here, I am not going down without a fight.