Footwork [part 1]

**The Darkness Recognized**

The silence in the courtyard was palpable, enveloping everything in an aura of cold tension.

The governess stared at me, her gaze like a blade cutting through the shadows.

There was no visible emotion on her face, but the gravity of the moment was unmistakable.

I had crossed a threshold that few dared to approach, and she, my stern governess, was fully aware of it.

"You've surpassed the Circle," she repeated, this time with a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction in her voice.

"The forms you've created are not just yours, Schadet; they represent an evolution. A darker, more lethal force that only a few are capable of mastering."

Her approval, though veiled, was unmistakable.

But there was no room for complacency.

I knew that, for all I had achieved, my journey was just beginning.

I was immersed in darkness, a power that had transformed me into something more, but that required absolute control, a discipline that went beyond mere physical exercise.

"You are ready," she continued, her tone growing colder and more detached.

"Now that you've demonstrated your mastery of the martial forms, it's time to take your training to the next level. Footwork is the key to turning your power into an unstoppable force. With it, you will not just be a fighter—you will be a shadow in motion, lethal and unstoppable."

Her words penetrated my mind like a sharp blade. Footwork—a discipline that required balance, precision, and a deep understanding of body movements.

It was the perfect complement to my recent transformation, a way to further refine what I had begun to build.

**Preparing for the Next Step**

The governess observed me closely, as if she were evaluating every thought, every breath I took.

There was no room for error, I knew that.

My evolution had to be complete, and the next step required absolute concentration.

"We will start with the basics," she said, breaking the silence that had deepened further.

"Footwork is not just about speed or agility. It is a systematic method developed to make your sword or fist technique more offensive, defensive, or simply faster. And you, Schadet, have shown you are ready to master it."

**The River Footwork**

As the governess spoke, her tone became even more solemn, imbued with a gravity that reflected the importance of what she was about to teach me.

The night was deep now, and the torches cast long, menacing shadows across the courtyard.

I felt a tension growing in the air, as if the ground itself was anxious to see what would happen.

"The footwork you will learn now," she began, "is called River Footwork. It is a technique that incorporates the flow of a river, a continuous and unstoppable movement that knows no obstacles. When you master this technique, you will be able to glide across the battlefield like a river through a valley, adapting, reacting, and attacking with the precision and lethality of a perfect predator."

The governess moved slightly, just a step back, and then began to demonstrate the technique.

Her feet glided over the ground with surprising lightness, as if she were walking on a gravelly riverbank.

Every movement was fluid, natural, as if she were part of the flow of the water itself.

"There are ten movements in total in River Footwork," she continued, "five offensive and five defensive. Each one is designed to keep you in constant motion, never losing balance or focus. Every step is a flow, every dash a current that adapts and reacts to the obstacles it encounters."

**The Offensive Movements**

The governess began to show the first five movements, the offensive ones.

Her feet moved quickly, yet always with the same fluidity.

Every step was a strike, a hidden attack that manifested suddenly with deadly precision.

"The first movement is called *Rushing Stream*," she said, advancing with impressive speed.

"It's an offensive movement where you launch forward with the speed and force of a torrent plunging down a waterfall. Every step is a strike, every movement a threat."

She then proceeded to the second movement, *Cutting Current*.

In this movement, the governess slid sideways, her feet slicing through space like a knife cutting water.

"This movement allows you to strike from an unexpected angle, like a river that suddenly changes direction to avoid an obstacle and continue its course."

The third movement was *Whirlpool Spin*. The governess spun around herself, her feet rotating with surgical precision.

"This movement creates a spiral of power that can be used to disorient and attack in quick succession, like a vortex that swallows everything it encounters."

The fourth movement, *Cascading Steps*, was a rapid advance downward, as if she were descending an invisible waterfall.

Every step was a strike that followed with an unrelenting rhythm, hammering the ground with increasing force.

Finally, the fifth movement, *Overflowing Rush*, was an explosion of speed and power, where the governess surged forward with such force that she seemed on the verge of overwhelming anything in her path.

"This is the final blow," she said, "when you want to end a fight quickly and without hesitation."

**The Defensive Movements**

Then, without breaking the flow of her movements, the governess began to demonstrate the five defensive movements.

"The first defensive movement is *Gliding Drift*," she explained as she moved backward with a slight sway, as if she were being carried by an underlying current.

"It allows you to retreat without losing position or balance, like a river sliding away from a rock to continue its course."

She then moved on to the second movement, *Shallow Dive*.

The governess lowered herself slightly, her feet almost imperceptibly gliding over the ground, like a river hiding among the rocks.

"This movement is for dodging and preparing for an immediate counterattack."

The third movement, *Riverbend Retreat*, was an elegant and fluid rotation, where the governess turned on herself, moving away from the incoming attack.

"Like a river that changes direction to avoid a dam, this movement allows you to deflect attacks while maintaining control of the situation."

The fourth defensive movement was *Ebbing Flow*, a slow but steady retreat, where the governess withdrew without ever losing eye contact with the opponent, ready to react at any moment.

"This movement allows you to catch your breath and assess the situation without ever compromising your position."

Finally, the fifth movement, *Surge Block*, was a sudden and decisive block, like a river crashing against a dam.

The governess stopped her movement with impressive stability, her feet firmly planted on the ground.

"This movement is the last line of defense when you need to stop an attack with all the force at your disposal."

**The Test**

After the demonstration, the governess stopped and fixed her cold, penetrating eyes on me.

"Now it's your turn," she said with an icy calm.

"Learn these movements and make them yours. Only then can you truly master River Footwork and become the lethal shadow you are destined to be."