26 Training Journal

<Fey's POV>

Day 1:

The training was not simple, not simple at all. I have no clue when Urokodaki-sensei did this, but as I was walking down the mountain, I was swarmed by traps. In the first 20 steps alone, I almost fell into a pitfall but I was barely able to cling to the edge and pull myself up.

How did I not see them or trip any of them on the way up?

I could've sworn I was taking the same path that I took on the way up the mountain.

After I almost fell into a pitfall, I realized I had to get serious. I started to walk slowly at first but with how little time I was given, there was no way I was going to make it down the mountain in time for more training, and so I sped up.

I had never climbed the mountain, and Urokodaki used this against me. His traps were hidden very well and I couldn't see them until I felt my leg brush off against some rope, or the ground caving under me.

That day felt like hell to me, not that I've ever been there but maybe I would've?

Even as I was pelted by rocks, tripped by some rope, or hit in the stomach by small wooden logs, I wasn't able to make it down the mountain in time for some training.

It seems I have failed.

When night came around, I thought to ask Tanjiro for some tips on how to avoid the traps. He told me he could smell them, and I thought he was joking at first but then he repeated the same thing again with a straight face.

I asked him if his ancestors were dogs.

They weren't, but it was fun seeing his face twitch slightly.

I never tried to use my sense of smell to detect traps but maybe I should've?

I will give it a try tomorrow.

Day 2:

I am never trying that again.

That bastard, Tanjiro. To think I treated you like a brother, and you would use that to play a prank on me. I took deep breaths as I was making my way down, which stung my lungs slightly because of the cold air but I powered through.

However, I couldn't smell anything different. To me, this small mountain was no different than the forest at the bottom, until I get hit by a wooden log and suddenly I'm forced to face the big blue sky.

I even went as far as going back to that same trap and smelling it, thankfully no one saw that.

I will have my revenge Tanjiro, just you wait for it!

Day 5:

Today I learned that some people are blessed with extraordinary senses from birth. I also learned that both my sensei and senpai are those kinds of people.

They were born with a great sense of smell.

Tanjiro, will you forgive your junior brother for putting rubbing some poisonous sap on your clothes?

Let's not find out.

Thankfully Nezuko is asleep and can't hear me, otherwise I don't think I would've gotten away with it.

Day 7:

Finally!

After having tried for seven days in-a-row. I was able to climb down the small mountain before evening, if only just barely.

I don't have Tanjiro's cheat-like sense of smell, so I have to rely on my reflexes to dodge the traps as I triggered them.

This means that I triggered almost every single trap I came across.

This also means that I am extremely tired, and because of that I couldn't participate in any additional training.

Day 12:

Today I was also able to make it down before evening, however, unlike before, my stamina has improved enough for me to take part in more training.

Urokodaki sensei brought me to a small stream and told me to sit down by a large rock and observe.

He took out his own katana and cut through the air slowly. He looked surprisingly powerful as he brandished his blade to slice through the air. It was as though he gained some mysterious strength when held a blade in his hands, and there was this invisible pressure that made me feel danger.

I felt as though I would be cut into two halves if he turned his blade to me and not the air, although with his speed I knew that this was more than just a feeling.

After he was done, he turned to me and told me that it was my turn. I tried to copy his moves as best as I could, but it is not as though I have a photographic memory. Whenever I made a mistake, Urokodaki sensei would take his palm and painfully smack me where I made the mistake.

Foot out of place?

Smack!

Arms at the wrong angle?

Smack!

Back not straight?

Smack!

Every problem could be solved with just a simple smack!

Although I hate to admit it, but the pain really did help to make sure I didn't commit the same mistake again

After I was done with training, Urokodaki sensei and I went back except that If I took off my clothes you would see that I looked slightly different.

There were palm-sized marks all over my body, and some of them spilled out from underneath my clothes.

When Tanjiro came back, he looked at me and slightly smiled.

I think he could use a little more sap in his clothes.

Don't worry senpai, your junior brother will help you train your poison resistance! The world is a dangerous place, surely this will come in handy!

Day 21:

Today Urokodaki told me that I had mastered the basics and it was time to move on to Water Breathing.

He told me its history, and how it was derived from an even greater style, as well as how Water Breathing is also the progenitor of other breathing styles.

Urokodaki sensei had me take long deep breaths while executing the sword techniques that he had showed me before.

I could feel my blood flowing differently as a sensation of power took over my entire body. This felt much different from practice, it felt more 'real'. I wasn't swinging my blade anymore, instead, I was using it to cut down the demons.

Today was the day I felt like I gained the most strength by far, but it is still not enough.

After practicing for some time, Urokodaki sensei told me to continue and to take deep breaths after I was done in order to increase my lung capacity.

Day 30:

I have felt this way for quite some time, but It's starting to feel as though the traps are different. Today I could've sworn that I saw spikes at the bottom of the pitfalls and even the rocks seemed somewhat sharper.

Thankfully, Urokodaki told me to take my blade with me in order to get accustomed to carrying it around during tight maneuvers.

Although, I can't help but wonder if this is still considered training.

Today I also talked with Tanjiro for some time, and he mentioned how Urokodaki had more apprentices on the back of the mountain.

I wonder why I haven't seen them until now?

At the end of the day, he promised to take me there when I finished my training as the journey is quite long and I usually don't have much free time anyway.

Day 45:

The traps around the mountain have evolved.

There are now pitfalls around the pitfalls, and the rocks have turned to arrows. The wooden logs which used to be as thick as my leg, have now become as thick as my torso.

At this rate, I might really die.

On the other hand, my Water Breathing training has advanced greatly. Even Urokodaki was impressed by how far along I've come saying that I was his most talented student yet.

I might even stay that way if he stops trying to kill me with his traps.

Day 78:

Today was different.

There was no waking up at dawn, no practicing sword techniques by the creek, and no climbing down the mountain.

Instead, Urokodaki came up to me and said.

"I don't have anything more to teach you."