Kalistra's eyes glowed as she grinned at me. "I see you remembered your lesson."

"You mean avoiding your sneaky ambush from the start of the match?" I wisecracked.

"Yup!" she replied happily as my opponent used her superior strength to push me back.

I tried hard to maintain my balance by hopping back on my toes.

Suddenly, the wily swordswoman pulled her scabbard back and instantly made a thrust at my solar plexus!

Dice started rolling inside my head. "Dexterity check SUCCESSFUL. +25 XP." I somehow managed to block the strike, drawing a multitude of oohs and ahs from the audience.

Some students were forced to pay out their losses on wagers; they did not believe I would be able to last through the initial or second attack from the Headmaster. In their eyes, my performance had already exceeded their expectations.

Kalistra's tail swayed from side to side as she considered her next attack. Suddenly, she launched a rapid series of strikes! In the blink of an eye, she attacked me five times in succession!

I gritted my teeth and tried my best to follow with my eyes and coordinate with my hands to block. I managed to make five more successful dexterity saving throws for 125 XP. Consequently, not a single attack landed.

The students gasped. They were surprised that I was able to keep up with the Headmaster! More money changed hands.

As I drew back, I found myself huffing and puffing. I looked at my stamina bar and I suddenly realized that the blue line had been drained. Ah, so that was what Kalistra was aiming for: to make me too tired to fight her!

My wily opponent saw the realization in my eyes and she grinned. "So, my pupil, what are you going to do about it?" she taunted me.

"Jovat!" I yelled. This was the magical incantation I chose to activate Dimension Door when I copied the spell into my spellbook. This spell created a portal immediately before my body and took me to another location within my line of sight. My destination? Kalistra's back. "Dimension door SUCCESSFUL. +100 XP."

A moment later, I stood behind my opponent. I immediately launched a thrust at her back.

However, Kalistra somehow knew where I had reappeared. Without turning around, she slammed her scabbard on my skull. *BAM*

The tremendous force of the blow knocked me unconscious.

***

As I opened my eyes, I felt the softness of human flesh under my skull and neck. I realized that I was sleeping on someone's laps. The mystery was solved when my eyes saw Sister Waverly's bright blue eyes looking down at me.

"How are you feeling?" the nun asked softly.

I blinked my eyes as I checked my body's current condition. I felt neither pain nor dizziness. I smiled at her. "I'm fine. Thanks to you." Apparently, she had healed me.

"You're welcome," she replied with a smile of her own.

I gingerly pulled my head off her laps. "How long was I out?" I asked as I began to check my in-game notifications. I winced when I learned that the last blow from Kalistra was considered a critical attack which resulted in 100 points of damage. Thankfully, her sword was sheathed and therefore, the damage was halved. Nonetheless, -50 Health in one blow was a huge shock to my body and thus, it was understandable for me to lose consciousness from the attack especially since it was directed at my skull.

I was not surprised to learn that I lost 100 XP for losing the match against Kalistra. What WAS a surprise though, was the fact that I gained 3,000 Reputation and a corresponding 6,000 XP. In addition, my status within the school had been upgraded from "Adept" to "Journeyman." In other words, Kalistra had recognized my improvement in swordsmanship and granted me a higher rank within the school. Furthermore, this high rank now made me eligible to teach at the dojo.

While I admit that this was not what I planned for when I originally decided to visit this village, I was ecstatic at this elevation of my ranking within the Butterfly School of Swordsmanship because it meant that Kalistra was pleased with my performance in our duel. Obviously, there was no chance that I would beat her in our match but I lasted far longer than anyone expected.

Despite this welcome development, I had not achieved my purpose in coming here: to learn another sword technique. "How long was I out?" I asked again. The nun still had not answered this question.

"Oh, sorry. You were out for 8 hours. You missed supper," Waverly said apologetically.

I sighed deeply. I didn't expect to be unconscious for that long. Suddenly, I felt something in my pocket. I reached in and pulled out a beef jerky. It was as hard as a stick. I stared at it with a scowl. There was only one person who would give this to me: Kalistra!

The sister giggled at my reaction. "Would you like some water to soften up your meal?" she asked in a neutral tone of voice.

I looked at Waverly. The illumination from a lantern nearby revealed the glimmer within her eyes.

Suddenly, the nun reached for something behind her. A bowl with a lid appeared in her hands. "Here, this is rice porridge. You can soak your dried meat into it," she said.

My eyes lit up at the welcome sight of the bowl. I ate rice porridge on occasion back home on Earth 1, but I had never eaten this food in this world for whatever reason. I began to suspect that this meal was unknown on Earth 2. I was delighted to discover that I was mistaken.

I took the spoon that the sister gave me and began to eat the food. It was still warm. While the porridge was bland in flavor, it was a good complement to the salty beef jerky. I ate quickly because my body was famished.

When I licked the bowl clean six minutes later, Sister Waverly giggled again as she passed me a waterskin. I took a big gulp of water and returned the container back to her. "Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome."

Suddenly, Kalistra appeared in front of me. "I see that you're back with us," she remarked with mild amusement.

I rubbed the top of my head where she hit me earlier today. "That was a nasty hit," I complained.

"It's only fair when you cheated during our match. Magic isn't allowed," she wagged her paw at me and tsk-tsked.

"You started it," I pointed out. "You focused on draining my stamina during our match."

My master grinned and her eyes glowed. "Ah, I see you noticed. Excellent!" she praised me. She patted me softly on my right shoulder; she touched the exact spot where I had received so many claw-pokes from her in the past.

I couldn't help but shudder involuntarily.

She grinned again at my reaction and then she turned serious. "Did you notice your increased rank within my school?" Kalistra asked me.

"Yes, Headmaster. Thank you!" I bowed deeply to her in appreciation.

She nodded slightly. "You earned it. It's been a long time since anyone lasted so long in a match against me," she explained.

I turned toward Waverly. "Did anyone bet on me? I want a cut of the winnings," I said.

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The nun shook her head. "Unfortunately, our companions lacked faith in your martial prowess," she explained with a sad expression.

I shrugged. "It couldn't be helped. Honestly, I don't think I would have bet on myself to win either," I admitted.

Kalistra nodded enthusiastically. "There's a difference between being hopeful and stupid," she remarked and puffed her chest.

I really wanted to knock the arrogant cat girl down a notch. But I didn't have the fighting ability to back it up against her. Hence, I could only grin and bear it. Someday, I WILL beat her in a duel. Hmph!

I decided to turn my attention to a more important matter. "Headmaster, will you teach me a new technique tomorrow?" I requested and bowed deeply to Kalistra.

"Sure," she nodded. "I was actually planning to teach you today. Unfortunately, you were out far longer than I expected." The cat girl shrugged.

"Thank you. Can I pay my respects to Kalistro? And how is Master Gurgne? I haven't seen him," I observed. Master Gurgne was a dog man and the former #2 in the dojo. He also served as the resident blacksmith and helped to fix and maintain the school's equipment.

Kalistra turned her face aside suddenly. "Master Gurgne has left the dojo," she announced.

My eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"

The cat girl's head turned back to face me. "He said he hadn't visited his family in too many years. He felt that now that I had ascended to the Headmaster position, it was a good time for him to leave," she explained.

"Is he coming back?" I asked.

Kalistra shook her head. "I'm not certain," she admitted.

I was truly bewildered by this development. Gurgne was a kind man and very patient. He had a calming influence on Kalistra. No wonder she was so upset! I tried my best to comfort her. I resisted the temptation to pet her head and instead, patted her on the shoulder. "Master Gurgne sees this dojo as his family. And you're like a daughter to him. I'm confident that he will return before you know it." I smiled broadly for emphasis.

The cat girl looked me in the eye and nodded. "I will take you to the Inner Sanctum. The cremated remains of my father are inside the chamber," she said. Kalistra turned around and led me along the right side of the dojo. She stopped in front of a wall. She pressed a button to slide the panel to the right side, revealing an opening. We entered and she closed the panel behind her.

I was in a small room which was ten feet by ten feet. On the northern wall was a shelf with a black urn. Next to the urn were two incense holders. There were two sticks of incense. I approach the shelf, lit one incense stick and bowed to the urn three times. Then I placed the stick in the holder.

Kalistra repeated my action. She slowly turned around to face me. "My father was very fond of you," she admitted. "He believed that you were a good influence on me and my service as your instructor helped me become a better Headmaster. I'm sure he was very proud of you for helping to defend the school against Hleandros."

I bowed deeply to her. I never realized how much the late Kalistro liked me. While the cat man was a very strict disciplinarian, he had always treated me fairly even though I was a human. My heart ached when I thought about the passing of this great man. "I miss him," I admitted.

"Me, too," Kalistra replied as she petted me softly on my head. "You can spend the night here."

"What about my companions?" I asked.

"Rijana is a temporary student. She has the right to sleep inside the dojo. But the rest of your party will have to sleep outdoors," Kalistra answered. "But don't worry. My pupils will patrol the village during the night and ensure the safety of your friends."

I chuckled. "I'm not worried about them spending the night outdoors. They're used to it by now. Very well. I will accept your offer to spend the night in this chamber." I bowed deeply to Kalistra.

"Good. I will see you tomorrow at dawn." The Headmaster nodded and left the room.

Perhaps I had become too accustomed to my soft bed at The Big Oak Tree because I found myself having difficulty sleeping on the ground. It was hard, stiff, and cold. Kalistra didn't provide me with a blanket either. After an hour, I gave up trying to sleep on the floor. I sat up in a meditative position and leaned my back against the wall.

Oddly enough, I was more successful in keeping my mind empty of thoughts. I knew that if I gave in to the temptation to start thinking, I would not be able to fall asleep. And knowing how rough my sword instructor was in providing her training, I absolutely needed my rest. I decided to enter a meditative state and check my soul.

I found a white pillar of light intersected by several lines--one red, one blue, and two green. These were the leylines that I had unlocked and gained access to. They reminded me that I wasn't alone on this Earth and I was a part of a greater whole. Staring at my inner soul was soothing and gave me a sense of peace. Before I knew, I fell asleep.

***

*SMACK* The sting in my right cheek immediately awoken me. Instinctively, I put up my fists and prepared to attack! My eyes finally became focused and I saw Kalistra looking down on me.

I dropped my hands and sighed deeply. "Couldn't you wake me up like a normal person?" I complained. I dismissed the in-game notification of -1 Health.

"Would you prefer a claw-poke?" she groused as Kalistra hopped to her feet.

"No, Headmaster!" I accepted the proffered paw and the cat girl helped pulled me off the floor.

Kalistra pressed a hidden button on the wall and the panel on the eastern wall slide open. Once I stepped out of the chamber, she closed the panel behind her.

I looked up at the sky and saw that it had a dark purple hue. The sun was still on the horizon.

Despite the early hour in the morning, the village was already buzzing with activity. A large group of students was stretching their bodies in the courtyard. There was a campfire on the side with a big pot over the fire. A middle-aged man dressed like a commoner was tending to the pot. Near the pot was a large table with many bowls and spoons. Some students were lingering nearby as well.

The Headmaster approached the man.

I looked at his caption and read his name as "Isley."

The commoner noticed Kalistra and bowed deeply. "Good morning, Kalistra."

"Good morning, Isley," the cat girl nodded. She turned toward me and said, "This is Brother Lawrence Eugene Mulligan."

"Pleased to meet you," I said with a bow.

"It is my pleasure and honor to meet the Dragonslayer," Isely replied with a deep bow. "My name is Isley and I am the domestic helper at the dojo. I cook and I clean and it's plenty of work," he laughed.

"So what's for breakfast?" the cat girl asked impatiently.

"Vegetable with barley soup," the man announced proudly.

Kalistra's ears bent. "No meat? No fish?" she asked in a soft voice so that the pupils couldn't hear her complaint.

Isley drew closer. "I'm afraid we can't afford it. Not with so many mouths to feed here at the dojo," he answered in a soft voice.

The Headmaster's tail whiplashed behind her. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a gold coin. "Please take a group of students with you to visit Tregome and buy some meat and fish," she ordered.

"Yes, Headmaster!"

She turned toward me. "While we wait for breakfast to be served, let's use the time to stretch and warm up our bodies," she ordered.

"Yes, Headmaster!"

Kalistra led me to an unoccupied spot in the courtyard and she began to stretch.

Once we warmed up, she pulled out her sword. "I'm going to teach you a school technique called 'One Hundred Butterflies.' Now, stand back and watch."

I quickly backtracked until I stood at least two sword-lengths away from my teacher.

Kalistra activated the skill and her sword started swinging in fast but deadly arcs. The sword blade moved so quickly that it resembled a butterfly hovering in the air. It flew in a circle around the swordswoman. The butterfly soon stopped its flight and the sword was returned to its scabbard.

"The purpose of this technique is to deal with situations where you are surrounded by enemies. The technique trades power for speed. It is not meant to do much damage but it will force your opponents to back away and give you time to chain another sword technique afterward such as Sprint," she explained.

Suddenly, a small bell rang.

Kalistra's ears perked up and her whiskers twitched. "Great! Breakfast is ready. We'll practice this technique afterward." The cat girl quickly crossed the courtyard and soon we arrived at the table. Kalistra passed me a bowl of soup and a spoon and then took one of each for herself. We joined a group of students sitting in the courtyard and ate the soup quickly.

Kalistra took out a beef jerky. "Want one?" she offered me. When I declined, she dipped the dried meat stick into her bowl of soup. Once it was suitably softened, she took a big bite.

I ignored her and focused on eating my soup. There were more vegetables inside my bowl than I expected. I had chunks of carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes. The broth had a red color due to the ingredients. Unfortunately, the dojo couldn't afford to buy salt and the soup tasted a little bland as a result.

Kalistra and I finished our breakfast within 10 minutes. She dragged me by the arm and led me to a quiet spot in the courtyard. She took out her sword and began to swing it in slow motion.

I realized that the sword was swung like a pendulum but the sword swing was made at an insanely high speed. In addition, my teacher was turning her body in a circle. Ah, this was what she meant when she said the technique traded power for speed.

Finally, Kalistra stopped spinning. "Now you try it," she ordered.

I pulled out my sword and tried to copy her pendulum-like swing.

"Faster!"

I swung my sword faster.

"Turn!"

I turned my body in a clockwise direction.

Suddenly, Kalistra stuck her own sword into the path of my swing. *CLANG*

The sudden interruption forced my swing to cease immediately.

Kalistra pulled back her sword and said, "It's not enough for you to copy my movement. Anyone with a brain can stop you by sending something to block your swing. You need to keep your eyes open and be alert while you swing your blade. This means seeing and avoiding obstacles. Now try again!"

I started swinging my blade and turned my body around. I noticed Kalistra jabbing her sword and dice started rolling inside my head. "Intelligence check SUCCESSFUL. +25 XP." I was able to comprehend the movement of her blade and directed my arm to lead my sword away from it. Kalistra persisted in sending her blade to block my own four more times. But each time, my intelligence check succeeded and I simply continued swinging my sword.

"Stop!" she yelled.

I stopped moving and examined several pop-up messages awaiting me. The first four granted me 100 XP for making my saving throws. The next one was what I wanted to see: "Sword skill LEARNED: One Hundred Butterflies. +100 XP, +1,000 Reputation, +2,000 XP."

"Congratulations," Kalistra said with an approving nod.