She gave me a weak smile. "You've fought before," Fen observed, her voice steady and firm. "And you've taught yourself well enough to survive. But surviving and mastering the art of combat are two very different things."

Caught up in the rhythm of her question, I could do nothing but nod, though my pride made me hesitate.

"I've managed so far. I've fought men and monsters twice my size and lived to tell the tale," I boasted, feeling defensive. After all, I had dealt with a fair score of opponents so far.

"Perhaps you have," Fen agreed, her eyes narrowing a fraction. "But you fight like a man who has only ever known chaos. You have only the vaguest forms of training. Added to that, your movements are wild, unpredictable, and, while that can work to your advantage, it also leaves you vulnerable. Also, you have not made the things you have learned upon your path of carnage your own. So, my first task is to unteach these habits before I can build new ones."

She motioned for me to step closer. "First, we start with the basics. Unarmed combat. It is the foundation upon which all other weapon techniques are built. If you understand how to control your own body, you will, in turn, understand how to truly control a weapon. It is the first step to mastery."

I frowned, still reluctant to obey - until the realization that I would need this skill for the Festival dawned.

“I will do as you ask, that is very well and good; but I must learn more than just how to punch and kick. I must also learn more about fighting with a weapon," I added.

Fen raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "An adept can make a sword, spear, mace, or any other weapon an extension of their arm. Mastery is much more than that. To master a weapon, you must first master yourself. Now, assume a fighting stance."

I complied, shifting my feet into what I believed was a stable and sure position. The middle-aged woman circled me like a sculptor assessing a block of marble, her gaze sharp and critical:

"Your stance is too wide. Bring your feet closer together. Bend your knees slightly. Your center of gravity must be low, but mobile."

She reached out and lightly tapped my right foot with her own, nudging it into place. "Good. Now, relax your shoulders. Tension will slow you down. If your body fights itself, it will not be able to deliver its full potential."

Easier said than done, I thought to myself. Still, I did as instructed, feeling awkward and exposed. Fen moved back in front of me. "We'll start with a simple punch. A fast strike. But remember, power comes from your core, not just your arm. "

She demonstrated without further warning, her movement fluid and precise. Her fist snapped out, stopping just a hair’s breadth away from my face, the force of her movement sending a rush of air past my cheek. "Now you."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

To my credit, I did not blink. However, like a master, I conceded, she had made it look effortless; made it look like anyone could do it.

I swallowed hard, steadying myself. Fen’s eyes bore into mine, expectant and unyielding. I mimicked her stance, tried to relax myself, and threw a punch. In comparison to the Weaponmaster’s, it felt clumsy and uncoordinated.

Fen corrected me, adjusting my posture and guiding my arm. "Again," she said, and he repeated the motion.

Hours passed, the training remaining relentless. Fen was patient but demanding, her corrections constant. Each movement, each stance, each breath was scrutinized and perfected.

Strangely, I did not grow tired. When I thought to check my Status to see the state of my Stamina, I was shocked to find it gone. Panicked, I tried to view the rest of my user interface, but could not summon it. Without those markers, I suddenly felt helpless, lost, and adrift.

I took a deep breath. Calm, find your center or whatever it is, I commanded myself. If this was a dream, it would make sense that I could not access my Status.

But what about magic? I tried to cast an Identify spell. It felt muted, as if I were calling magical energies from leagues away. The spell petered out pathetically before I could even form the construct.

And what of time? The woman had mentioned that time was passing slower here, but time was not a coin I could so easily fritter away. While this was undoubtedly a necessary step toward my ultimate goal of achieving eternity, I could not help but worry just about how much of my time in the waking world I’d have to sacrifice.

Fen Vaigorus regarded me with an annoyingly childish and triumphant grin. “It will not work here, because I do not wish it to work here,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I did not think you walked down that path as well. There is more to you than I thought. Perhaps Vincenzio has chosen well.”

“What do you mean by that?” I shot back, feeling a spark of irritation.

“In this place, I make the rules. You have, perhaps, noticed that despite your rigorous training, you have not grown tired, yes? That is because I have made it so. Likewise, I have forbidden the use of magic here, for it would have been a distraction,” she answered pleasantly, her serene tone a sharp contrast to my growing annoyance.

“I see,” I responded, striving to keep my voice calm. A part of me knew that showing my irritation would be a defeat. She was treating me like a child, and I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me riled.

…And come to think of it, Vincenzio had mentioned that I would need to defeat the guardian of this dream. If I could not use my magic, then I was going to be robbed of one the biggest aces in my deck.

There was nothing for it; I would have to bite the bullet and throw myself into this training.

*****

By the end of the first session, my mind felt numb from the endless repetition.

Fen stood before me, her expression as inscrutable as that of a statue. "You're beginning to understand," she remarked. "But this is only the start. Unarmed combat teaches you balance, control, and awareness. These are the principles that will carry over to any weapon you wield."

I nodded, exhausted.

"I can imagine that to be so. There is more to this," I said evenly, my voice betraying none of the mental fatigue that weighed on me.

"Much more," Fen agreed. "Tomorrow, we continue. Though your body will not tire, your mind will require rest to digest what you have learned. We will resume in one turn of the sands,” she said with a flourish, producing an hourglass from seemingly nowhere. “The path to mastery is long, but with dedication, you will walk it. Or, perhaps, run."

Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Fen had shown me a glimpse of true mastery, and in truth, I was eager to learn more.

It could not hurt to learn something new.