Developing Skill

A week later...

He drew his sword and it caught William's attention. He walked over to him and smiled, saying nothing, "So, Mr. Grim said, power, confidence and balance," He mumbled as he felt William looking at him. He swung his blade normally before spinning and driving his blade full-force into the side of the dummy, his blade cut half way through it. He pulled it out and then looked at his feet, "Damn, a little off," He moved back to his starting position as he felt William leave, probably bored at the sight of him not failing. He swung normally and then drove his blade down, hitting the padded shoulders of the dummy, cutting into it and then driving his blade to the middle of the dummy's chest, "Off again."

"Aaron," Mr. Rulist walked over to him, "You are going to break with dummy."

"I guess, Mr. Rulist."

"Tell me, why do you keep looking at your feet after a swing?"

"To see if I was able to keep a steady base when striking."

"Tell me, why do you think that a steady base means no movement?"

"I am training strong style, so I need to be able to be balanced to deliver a strong hit," He said readying himself for another swing.

"Strike the dummy with one hit and try to break it then.

"Yes, Mr. Rulist," He moved away and then roared as he brought his blade down, holding it with two hands and bringing it down to strike the dummy. His blade struck the dummy as Mr. Rulist looked on and it shattered the dummy's head and then cut right through the dummy. He pulled back his blade and then kicked the dummy as it fell to pieces on the floor. He couldn't believe his own strength.

"Remember to look at your stance, you moved slightly too much to have full balance on the strike."

"Yes, Mr. Rulist," He sighed and then moved onto another dummy then noticed that Selene had been watching him and was smiling.

He tore a note from his book and then cut the ripped edge off and took a red ribbon and then neatly tied it and the held the wrapped message in his hand, "Tomorrow," His heart was racing just at the thought of it. He placed it in his nightside table and then hurried off to the arena to meet Mr. Grim, "Mr. Grim, sorry for being late."

"You are just on time, Aaron."

"Oh, so what are we doing today?" He asked before seeing Mr. Grim's blade appear in front of him, "Holy," He moved back and drew his blade, "It has only been a week since we started."

"I know," He lunged forwards and brought his blade down quickly, only for Aaron to parry it and send it back. Aaron hopped away from a swing then noticed what Mr. Grim was doing, he was forcing him to say on his toes and forcing him out of a stable platform to attack. He dodged another downwards swing and then saw an opening that Mr. Grim had. He lunged forwards then realized he had down the same thing as Selene had down to him, using the taunt style to bait him in. He pushed off of the ground and dived to the side and dodged the blade being placed at his neck and then returned to his feet, "Nicely done, Aaron," He smiled as he went forwards again. Aaron swung up to parry it then spun and slammed his heavier blade into the counter blade. The two blades clashed and then he pushed again, keeping his body low and shoved Mr. Grim back, causing him to step back, yet he was still extremely balanced. He withdrew his blade and swung once more, spinning left and aiming his blade low. Mr. Grim blocked it effortlessly and pushed Aaron lightly, making him stagger, "Checkmate," Aaron sighed and got up, "You are improving, don't get me wrong, but the road ahead is still long."

"I can tell."

"Good, at least you know your own capabilities," He said as Aaron held his blade out in front of him, "Are you strong?"

"Physically? I guess?"

"I think you should do exercise in the morning, a few push-ups, and something like that, it will help your strong style."

"Yes, Mr. Grim," He went forwards and their blades clashed. He pushed Mr. Grim's blade up and then spun to strike at his legs. His blade only cut through the air as he had hopped back to defend from Aaron's strike. Aaron kept moving forwards, holding his blade in one hand and swinging it with each step, clashing it with Mr. Grim's on each step. He ducked under a counterstrike and then used his foot to push Mr. Grim back and then pushed forwards again before Mr. Grim smiled and he parried all of Aaron's swings and then began pushing him back. He lifted his blade up and swung it down before dropping it and then clapped his hand in front of Aaron's face, making him blink and then slammed into him, taking him down before forcing the blade form Aaron's hand. He got up and dusted himself off before picking up his own blade and letting Aaron get to his feet.

"You don't need to have the upper hand in a fight, you just need to be on top when you finish it."

"Yes, Mr. Grim, thank you."

"Don't thank me, I am a teacher, I have to teach," He looked up at the sky, "Time for you to go to bed, and get some sleep, tomorrow, more."

"Yes, Mr. Grim."

"My first name is Herald, Herald Grim."

"Yes, Mr. Grim," He laughed at Aaron's response, "What did I do?"

"Nothing, I wish you good night, I shall be heading to my quarters as well," He sheathed his blade and then began walking out of the arena. He sheathed his blade as well and then knelt in the middle of the arena, alone.

"Father, guide me to the promised land, allow my wish to match my destiny and for my will to make my reality," Hiltokian's were religious, worshipping a god they called 'Father', as was chosen by their leader, Queen Elizabeth the IV, she was the new queen as men were never the rulers of the lands but the generals and the women were the rulers of the lands. Aaron's family was religious, he was seen as not very religious compared to his parents and to his grandparents, who were very, very religious. He got off of his knee and walked back towards his room, yawning. He felt how sore his legs were from his extra long days and the extra hard training.

He walked into his room and saw a note that had been slipped under the door, "What is this?" He crouched down and picked it up and then looked around his room, "Why am I paranoid?" He close his door with his foot and then began reading the message while taking off his sword and beginning to get ready for bed.

My dear Aaron,

I write to you with my heart full of hope, hope of our future together. You hurt me today, and I am willing to forgive you, of course, my dear, if you would accept to join me for the ball in three days and be my man for the night.

Rebecca Grand

"She will never give up, huh," He tossed the message aside and then lay in his bed, "I forgot about that, but I am not asking her, not Rebecca, or her, I have to get stronger, I'll wait for the next ball, I need to wait, maybe bide my time," He ripped Rebecca's note and tossed it aside, "I don't have time for relationships right now."