Adrian's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he replied, "Well, I've got nothing better to do... I'm ready to learn if you're ready to teach me..."

Knight Bernahl chuckled, amused by Adrian's enthusiasm. "Ah, eager, I see," he said, shaking his head with a smile. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Learning to listen is a long and arduous process you won't master overnight."

Adrian's excitement dimmed slightly, realizing that it would take time and patience to develop such a skill. He nodded, understanding the importance of thorough training. "You're the master," he acknowledged with a shrug. "But I'm willing to put in the effort and learn whatever it takes."

Knight Bernahl nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit, lad. We'll take it step by step, starting with a Battle Art—a simple technique that is invaluable to every warrior's arsenal."

Adrian's curiosity peaked as he asked, "What kind of technique could be so important?"

Knight Bernahl's gaze turned serious as he replied with two simple words, "Quick Step."

Adrian furrowed his brow, intrigued by the significance behind those words. "Quick Step?"

Knight Bernahl leaned forward, his eyes filled with experience. "Quick Step allows you to evade attacks with remarkable speed and agility. It enables you to dodge incoming strikes, reposition yourself, and gain the upper hand in combat."

Adrian was intrigued by the prospect of learning something new, but he couldn't help but feel defensive at the notion that his current skills were being underestimated. "Not to sound snobbish or ungrateful... but I know how to bob and weave my way around someone, at least..." he said with a frown.

Knight Bernahl chuckled, appreciating Adrian's spirit. "I've seen you fight the Kaiden Sellswords," he admitted with a nod. "And you did a decent job. But what I'm talking about is different..."

"I could explain it in words, but it'll take too long... it's better you see it in action and judge the difference..." Knight Bernahl concluded.

Adrian listened intently, realizing there was more to this technique than he initially thought. He was eager to see it in action and learn from Knight Bernahl's expertise. "Alright, show me," he said, curiosity overcoming any hesitation.

Knight Bernahl stood up, taking a few steps back to create space between them. "Draw your sword and attack me," he instructed, a confident grin on his face.

Adrian raised an eyebrow at the request but complied, drawing his sword from its sheath. He was unsure where this was going but trusted Knight Bernahl's experience.

Without warning, Adrian lunged forward, thrusting the tip of his sword toward Knight Bernahl's chest. The seasoned knight, however, remained calm and focused, as if he had anticipated the move.

Knight Bernahl lowered his center of gravity, shifting his weight to his right leg while stretching out his left. He pushed off from his left foot, sliding to Adrian's side with astonishing speed and grace.

His movements were quick and graceful, and though Adrian couldn't quite grasp everything that happened, he followed with his eyes and predicted where Bernahl was going.

Adrian adjusted quickly, attempting to catch Knight Bernahl at the end of his move, but the knight's grin widened, and with a seemingly effortless motion, he caught the blade of Adrian's sword with his armored right hand.

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"Now that," Knight Bernahl said, trailing at the end of his sentence. "Is how you dodge, more or less..." He added as he let go of Adrian's blade, causing the latter to frown.

Adrian furrowed his brow, confusion evident on his face. He had witnessed Knight Bernahl's swift movements, but he couldn't quite comprehend how they differed from his own dodging abilities. As he opened his mouth to voice his thoughts, Knight Bernahl interrupted him, his tone firm yet encouraging.

"You did well against the Kaiden Sellswords, lad," Knight Bernahl began, his voice wisdom. "But what I demonstrated earlier was just a glimpse of what Quick Step truly entails. It's not just moving your feet..."

Adrian's confusion deepened, and he couldn't help but feel a mixture of frustration and curiosity. He yearned to grasp the true essence of Quick Step and uncover its secrets.

"As I said, it's too complicated to explain with words," Knight Bernahl declared with a determined glint in his eyes. "Now, I'll show you the real Quick Step. Attack me again."

Adrian let out a resigned sigh but didn't hesitate to comply with the request. He opted for a sweeping strike, aiming his sword toward Knight Bernahl's side. With a swift motion, he swung his blade, hoping to catch the knight off guard.

Knight Bernahl's response was as lightning-fast as before. He executed the same elegant dodge, gliding to the side with remarkable speed. However, this time, something was different. Adrian's eyes widened as he struggled to track Knight Bernahl's movements.

Adrian's body turned mid-swing, attempting to follow the knight's dodge, but it was as if Knight Bernahl had vanished from his sight. Adrian stumbled, his balance disrupted, and a gentle tap landed on his shoulder before he could gather his bearing.

Confused and off-balance, Adrian realized that Knight Bernahl had repositioned himself behind him. The realization came too late as he felt a slight poke on his shoulder, causing him to lose his footing and fall face-first into the dirt.

The forest floor greeted Adrian with a soft thud, and for a moment, he lay there, stunned and humbled by the experience. Dust clung to his face, and he could taste the earthiness of the soil on his lips.

Knight Bernahl's hearty laughter echoed through the clearing as he extended a hand to help Adrian up. "You see, lad, there's more to it than meets the eye," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "It's more than being quick on your feet and having fast reactions...

"At the end of the day, no matter how quick you are, you won't be faster than a trained eye if you rely on quickness alone..." Knight Bernahl concluded, chuckling as he extended his hand toward Adrian.

Adrian's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and determination. He wiped the dirt from his cheeks and accepted Knight Bernahl's hand, pulling himself up to a standing position.

"Alright, wise guy, teach me," Adrian said, his voice filled with renewed resolve. "I want to understand the true Quick Step, to move like that."

Knight Bernahl nodded. "Very well, lad," he replied. "But don't get too excited now. It's a simple technique, and I don't expect it will take you much time or effort to learn it..." He added with a chuckle.

Knight Bernahl looked at Adrian with a thoughtful expression before continuing. "In most cases, I would start from scratch, teaching a warrior how to channel and manifest their energy and focus. However, in your case, Adrian, we can skip that step."

Adrian's curiosity was piqued as he leaned forward slightly. "Why is that?" he asked, eager to understand the connection Knight Bernahl was about to reveal.

Knight Bernahl's gaze held a mixture of respect and intrigue as he replied, "As a confessor, you already possess the ability to harness focus. The same energy and focus you use to cast incantations through the finger seal can be channeled into battle arts."

Adrian's eyes widened, his mind racing to make the connection. The realization that his confessor abilities had a direct link to his combat skills intrigued and excited him.

"You mean to say that the focus I use for spellcasting can be applied to enhance my physical movements and techniques?" Adrian asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

Knight Bernahl nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Precisely, that is the foundation for Battle Arts..." he affirmed. "The energy you draw upon as a confessor can be harnessed to heighten your physical abilities in combat. It's a matter of merging the two aspects, allowing your focus to flow through your body instead of a finger seal or a sorcerer's scepter..."

Adrian's mind buzzed with possibilities. Combining his confessor abilities with battle arts opened up a new realm of potential for him as a warrior. He could see the connection forming between the two seemingly distinct disciplines.

"Can you show me another example?" Adrian asked, his eagerness evident in his voice. He wanted to witness the integration of focus and physicality firsthand.

Knight Bernahl nodded, rising from his seated position. "I don't see why not..." he said, stepping back to create space between them. "Watch closely, lad."

With a focused expression, Knight Bernahl adopted a fluid stance, his body relaxed yet poised for action. Adrian's eyes locked onto him, eager to absorb every detail.

Knight Bernahl's energy surged through his body, and instead of executing a series of fluid movements, he decided to demonstrate the integration of focus and physicality in a different way. He planted his feet firmly on the ground and channeled his energy downward.

Adrian watched in anticipation as Knight Bernahl's expression grew intense. The air around them seemed to thicken, and a sense of power emanated from the knight. Suddenly, Knight Bernahl stomped the ground with a mighty force, sending shockwaves rippling through the earth.

The ground beneath them quivered, and Adrian could feel the vibrations travel up through his own feet. It was as if the very earth responded to Knight Bernahl's focused energy, acknowledging his command.

As the tremors subsided, Knight Bernahl turned his gaze toward Adrian. "Now then, lad..." he called out with a smile, snapping the shocked Adrian out of his daze. "We don't have all the time in the world, so let's get started at once..."

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