Chapter 8 – Training (2)

As Asher made his way to the training grounds, Reika was sitting there waiting for him already. She looked at him and shouted.

"You're late Asher!"

"I had some rough sleep last night, sorry Reika."

Reika was upset and came straight up to Asher. Seeing Asher stare at her blankly, she felt flustered and spoke.

"Ar- Are you my seonsaengnim now?"(T/N : For those of you who don't know korean, this means teacher)

"Well you are my disciple now, and I am your teacher… Do you want to receive honorifics?"

"Huh? I'm not sure yet…"

"Well we need to come to a decision sooner, rather than later."

Whatever the case was, he was living under the new name of 'Asher'. He was no longer an old man who was counting his days till death. In this life, he wanted to remain faithful to whatever he did. Even if that was teaching a disciple for the first time. Because of this, he allowed Reika to make her own decisions about whether she wanted to drop or keep the honorifics of a teacher and disciple attitude, since it would contradict their status outside of training.

"Doesn't it feel uncomfortable though?", Reika asked.

"Well it doesn't matter when and where we use honorifics. I'll use them properly as you want me to. It still won't change the fact that your family is my employer."

"Hm, still feels weird. But, whatever! What are we going to train today? The rapier? Lepenia style? Imperial swordsmanship?"

Asher could visibly see the stark change of facial expressions from Reika more often these days. Just like right now, Reika's eyes were full of excitement. He could guess that it was only natural since it was the first time she had ever learned from someone directly in regards to swordsmanship. Asher just shook his head at Reika's barrage of guesses as to what they would do.

"No. First we spar."

"Huh, Why so suddenly?"

"It's simple. I don't know the extent of your fighting experience or skills yet. As a teacher, it's necessary for me to know my student's limits and capabilities."

Swordsmanship and fighting experience were different. One could always practice swordsmanship as long as they had a sword. However, it was only being able to implement that swordsmanship in duels where your life was on the line, that made the clear distinction of which was more of a priority to learn.

"You don't know my skills either Reika, and this will be a good chance for you to learn both your limits and my capabilities."

"Should I know them? Aren't you just a bit stronger than me?"

"You'll see for yourself. Take your posture."

Asher didn't say much more and went into position, nodding to Reika to do the same.

"Swordsmanship is different for everyone. Their attitude, skills, practicality of their movements all differ from one another. It's an entirely new world you are dipping your feet in. The easiest way to get immersed in this as quickly as possible, is to practice."

"Okay."

Reika was still a little confused but still lifted her wooden sword in her hand. Seeing this, Asher nodded his head with a smile and lifted his own wooden sword.

Asher took a look at the wooden sword in his hand. It was the sword his sister had given him when he turned 10 years-old in his previous life and had carried it with him all the time back then. But, there was no reason for that same exact sword to be in his hand right now, 20 years after his death.

He had asked Reika about where the lord had found the sword, but she said she nor her parents knew anything about how it got there. This greatly confused Asher, but he cleared his thoughts about it.

'I can always try to find out later.'

He closed his hand and blinked his eyes slowly, then spoke.

"Come."

"Ar-Are you sure?"

Reika looked towards Asher with careful eyes. Seeing this for a moment, Asher let out a laugh.

"Why are you looking at my sword with such anxious eyes Reika?"

"Well, you only know imperial swordsmanship… Wouldn't that make it difficult for you?"

"Ah."

Noticing that Reika still did not seem to comprehend that he was levels and levels above her in terms of skill, Asher clicked his tongue and shook his head internally as Reika seemed to think that just by knowing Lepenia's swordsmanship, made her much stronger than most.

"It will be better if you experience this firsthand what I'm about to do. Come."

"Okay, Whoa…"

Reika after hearing Asher tell her once more to essentially stop worrying so much and attack him with seriousness, focused her eyes sharply. Her muscles tightened up and prepared themselves to explode at any moment and surge with momentum. However, she also kept a well-balanced guard.

"How much power should I use?", Reika asked.

"All of it, of course."