Practice makes perfect

"Switching to level 2."

Having said that one line, the dummy went silent and didn't make any movements.

"You know what, I don't think you did anything wrong. Its description mentioned something about five stages."

Asbjørn said while clapping Kris' back, to stop him from worrying about if he did something he shouldn't. While he did that, he himself was slowly calming down from what he saw before.

"Thanks, and luckily it repaired itself fully." Kris responded with a small, embarrassed smile, happy that he didn't permanently break his friend's training item. "And I'm just gonna ignore that you just mentioned something about five stages."

Asbjørn approached the dummy once more, but to look for changes this time, and at the foot of the dummy, he found that a dial with the numbers one and two had appeared at its feet. When he turned it to one, the same voice sounded out once more.

"Switching to level 1."

"Huh. Neat function." Kris said, as he came closer as well.

With his 'negative' emotions having mostly subsided, Asbjørn responded with a smile. "Yeah, the description mentioned that it's useful for those in the first three ranks." 'Not that I know what that means, dad didn't explain that.' He thought to himself.

"Me and everyone else have been in the third rank for some time now, but we're still a good bit from rank four, so, do you think we can come over and use this in a while?" Kris asked with a hopeful expression.

"Sure, though my usage will take priority, as you're all so much ahead of me in both experience and strength."

"Awesome dude, even if it was only once a week, it'd still be a great for us, because we'll be able to practice safely." Kris responded with a broad smile and clapped Asbjørn's back in joy, but he forgot to hold back a little, sending Asbjørn stumbling across the grass for a few steps, as he tried to regain his balance.

"No worries, I doubt I'd be able to put it to full use alone anyway, so all good," He replied. "But now I think it'll be best for us to return to my training."

"Oh yeah, that was the reason I came over here in the first place, I had completely forgotten about it just now." Kris said, as a smile formed while he raised his sword. "So, wanna go at me or the dummy first? I can give some pointers either way."

"I pick you then, as I can always hit the dummy." Asbjørn answered after a bit of thinking time.

"Then pick up your sword," Taking a defensive stance, Kris' smile broadened. "It's about time for some fun."

"Uhh… if you say so." Asbjørn said as he walked back to Kris, a little worried by the latter's smile.

"I'll just defend for now, as my sword is sharp, and I don't want to hurt you accidently," He gestured for Asbjørn to start, but noticed a lack of action. "Come om dude, you know I won't hurt you. Ohh, it was my smile, and saying it'd be fun that unnerved you, right?"

"Yeah, people saying something will be fun, like that, are often going to do something not so fun." He answered in his usual honest manner, to which Kris just lightly shook his head and smiled in a friendly manner.

"That's so like you, you always link way too many things, to what you've learned from what you've watched, but that's also a characteristic that makes you fun to be around, so don't worry about fixing that." Kris said as his smile just grew. "Whoops, seems like I gave that speech yet again, you must be tired of it by now."

"Nah," Asbjørn shook his head in a similar manner to Kris. "You saying that is such a 'you thing,' and also part of the reason you're my best friend."

After saying that, he walked closer to Kris and struck from down right to up left, which, of course, was blocked almost effortlessly by Kris, but he quickly pulled the sword a little away and moved his hand up left and struck from there, which Kris, once again, also blocked. They continued this for a few minutes before Kris said stop.

"Alright, you are a lot better than expected, have you been practicing in secret or what?" He asked with a broad smile.

"Actually yes, I did it in secret for some years with a LARP sword, but it broke a year ago." Asbjørn told the lie he had prepared, while he got his breath.

"That does make sense, I suppose you kept it secret from us, to ensure that your parents didn't figure out in any way, right?" He inquired.

"Yeah, you really know me too well." He said and went along with the easy lie Kris thought up.

"That's great dude, you will have it easier in rank 1 and 2 than I expected, so we might be able to power level you faster." Before Asbjørn could say anything, he continued as if he had read his mind. "And don't worry, I'll make sure that your skills will follow along." There was a heavy emphasis on 'I.'

Kris set aside his sword and brushed some of his hair behind one ear, to get it out of his vision.

"Anyway, let's not talk about that much more. I say it's time for you to hit that dummy, and now that I have a base idea of your level, I'll try and make some correction when I spot mistakes." He said in a friendly tone.

"Sure thing, thanks again for helping out." Walking towards the dummy to begin a smack down, Asbjørn responded in an equally friendly tone.

Throughout the training, Kris stopped him a few times to correct a few bad habits that come with LARP, such as just going for a touch instead of an actual hit, hitting with the side of the blade, and similar things.

At some point while the friends enjoyed their time together, Linda noticed that something was happening in her garden and went to check on it. But, when she found it to just be her son and Kris, she just smiled and reminisced the last time those two had that much fun together, which was a while back.

"Hey guys, having fun I see." She said as she entered the garden with a smile.

"Oh hey Linda, long time no see." Kris said and waved when he noticed her approach.

"It really has been a while since last time, are you staying for dinner?" She immediately asked what used to be the most important question, back when he used to come over often.

"You really mean that? I've missed your food so much." He said with a laughable expression that just screamed how much he wanted it, extremely unfit his imposing appearance.

Asbjørn, who had now put the sword away, laughed as he answered. "Of course, she means it, when have you ever been allowed to not stay."

"Hmm, that is true. So, yes please." Kris said hurriedly after quickly thinking about what his friend said.

Linda giggled at Kris' reaction. "Good to hear and remember that you're always welcome; you're practically family at this point." Her eyes looked up and down to fully take in his height. "You've grown a lot Kristoffer, should I make an extra portion or two?" She asked with a light giggle.

"That'd be awesome, I've been a lot hungrier recently."

"Alright, dinner will be in an hour. Have fun boys." She said, before talking her leave to let them continue what they were doing.

The two young men resumed Asbjørn's training, this time switching back to sparring between the two of them. At one point, Asbjørn took a step forwards and swung towards Kris' left shoulder at an angle, after having attempted a faint at his left hip. He had succeeded in bringing Kris's sword down towards his hip, but almost as if his intentions had been read, Kris parried the actual strike anyway, moving it to the side without slowing its momentum by much.

This caused the sword to move towards the ground, which required a lot of effort from the exhausted Asbjørn to stop, but this fully opened his whole upper body, something Kris took advantage of to step in and swing his sword in the direction of Asbjørn's neck, though he stopped it a good 30 centimeters before contact.

"Dead." With a big smile on his face, Kris uttered that one word.

"I say we stop here, seeing as you're visibly exhausted."

He sheathed his sword and walked over to his sweat covered best friend, who had landed on his butt from the surprise of Kris striking back, after having said that he would only defend.

With a slightly sour expression, Asbjørn asked.

"Why the attack? I was wholly unprepared to deal with it."

Kris took a seat on the comfy grass beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"That's the exact reason I did it, because the dungeon doesn't give a fuck whether you're prepared or not."

That response made Asbjørn think for a bit, before he responded.

"Hmm, now that you mention it that does make a lot of sense. I'll remember to stay on my toes when we train, even if you say that you'll only do a limited number of things."

To which Kris just chuckled lightly, while enjoying the cool breeze blowing past them.

"That's such a you response," He looked at his watch, which showed 18:43. "I think you should go take a quick bath, or at least put on a new set of clothing, just to not be covered in sweat at dinner."

Asbjørn looked down at himself and quickly agreed with that, so he went in to take a quick bath while Kris moved the dummy under the roof on the terrace.

It had now become dinner time, and Linda certainly hadn't held back when making it.

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Please tell me your thoughts on the chapter, I appreciate all comments that give constructive criticism (positive feedback is also appreciated), but if there's something that you don't like, please explain exactly what it is, and (hopefully) give some idea on how it can be improved.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.