Looming Deadlines

"Alex, take a practice sword and spar with me." said Miss June, the training instructor for the beginner class.

Alex was puzzled by this sudden offer of sparring. "Hmm?!"

Aurora, standing on the side, understood the reasoning behind the offer. "She saw potential in you during your duel and is basically trying to improve your swordsmanship."

Alex's class now had practical training. The usual routine involved swinging swords and practicing stabs on dummies.

Miss June, their assigned instructor, didn't usually take the class seriously and was often late. However, today was different. She arrived on time and unexpectedly asked Alex to spar with her.

The reason behind this change was the rumor about the duel between Alex and Marcus. Miss June taught both the beginner and intermediate classes on swordsmanship.

Initially, June didn't believe the rumor and dismissed it as a child's prank. But upon learning that the duel was official, she decided to investigate.

'At least the person who challenged Marcus is either a brave soul or a fool seeking fame.' she thought as she entered the arena before witnessing the duel.

From her perspective, if it was a brave individual, they deserved commendation. However, if they were merely seeking fame, they were in for a harsh reality check.

But regardless of their motivation, she assumed the person would lose and likely leave the academy to avoid further embarrassment.

Her thoughts quickly shattered when she saw Alex in action. She couldn't believe that a student from the infamous "failure class" could hold their own against one of the top three students from the intermediate class.

June's reason for her thinking was quite straightforward. Marcus, was not just a random student from the intermediate class, he held the third rank in that class. With a bit more effort, he could soon advance to the Advanced class.

On the other hand, Alex was a complete unknown to her. She only knew that he hailed from the infamous "failure class."

However, on the day of the duel, Alex's swordsmanship had left a profound impression. June couldn't label his moves as flawless, but they were near perfection, especially for a first-year academy student.

As an A-rank in terms of strength and a master swordswoman, she noted that Alex's sword movements were somewhat stiff and featured unnecessary motions.

Nevertheless, given his age and student status, it was forgivable. She had the confidence to say that if she were to instruct him for a little over half a year, he would undoubtedly be in the top five of the intermediate class.

June didn't want to let this diamond in the rough go to waste. She was eager to teach him and help him reach his full potential.

Thus, during their upcoming class, she chose to spar with Alex first and then determine how to enhance his skills and swordsmanship.

◆　◇　◆　◇　◆　◇　◆　◇　◆

"She saw potential in you during your duel and is basically trying to improve your swordsmanship."

When Aurora informed Alex of Miss June's intentions, he understood the sudden call for a spar. This was precisely what he had been hoping for, and the results came quicker than he had anticipated.

Without hesitation, Alex selected a sword from the available options and approached Miss June. She instructed, "Come and attack me as you see fit. Don't worry, I'll only defend, not attack."

Taking her words to heart, Alex lunged at her with full speed and power, not holding back for formalities. June skillfully raised her sword and effortlessly blocked his attacks.

She observed, "Your speed and strength are adequate, but your movements are too simple and lack ingenuity."

Alex attempted attacks from different angles, but the outcome remained the same. June continued to block his strikes with ease.

However, Alex's determination didn't waver. He began incorporating new and diverse moves with each swing. As he did so, his attacks became more refined and perfect.

His skill, "Novice Weapon Expert" was the key to his progress, even though June remained unaware of it. She found herself reevaluating her assessment of him.

"I witnessed your match against Marcus, and I have to say you shouldn't confront someone like him, who is much stronger and more powerful than you, head-on. I noticed that you already understood this during the fight, but you should aim to find flaws in your opponent's movements." June advised.

Alex nodded in acknowledgment.

Marcus was significantly larger and more robust, and with his broadsword, his attacks were equally imposing. Engaging him in terms of sheer strength would be sheer foolishness for Alex.

"Now, instead of doing that, try this..." June continued, providing Alex with instructions on various techniques for swordplay.

She imparted her knowledge on how to fight effectively using a sword, emphasizing the importance of strategy and technique, especially when facing stronger opponents.

"Okay, let's stop here for today." she said. "From what I can see, you hold your sword very stiffly, but your movements don't seem to be affected by it. This is the first time I've witnessed something puzzling like this. It's as if you're learning as you go, but you seem to already possess the knowledge of it."

Her words might sound confusing, but the situation itself was bizarre and perplexing. Alex wasn't learning the traditional way; he was doing so through his unique skill.

He had theoretical knowledge about swordsmanship in his mind but lacked the essential practical experience.

However, as he sparred and trained, he was gradually incorporating these practical aspects into his skill set.

'If this goes on, he will advance further in his swordsmanship within just a few months. I made the right choice by thinking of teaching him.' June evaluated after her session of sparring with Alex.

June was not a bad teacher; she was simply being realistic. The beginner class had minimal potential and struggled to make progress. In this cutthroat world, only strength reigned supreme.

She recognized Alex's potential and was determined to nurture him thoroughly. She wasn't going to miss the opportunity to teach a possible shining star.

"That's it for today's class. You can practice the set of movements I showed you just now. Remember not to be too stiff; relax your muscles. And don't forget to practice daily."

With these words, she concluded the day's class. It was time for Alex's next class.

They had three practical sessions per week, and June would be personally instructing him in every one of them from now on.

Alex was thrilled about this development, as he was eager to improve his swordsmanship, and the currently system also didn't offer much assistance in this regard.

◆　◇　◆　◇　◆　◇　◆　◇　◆

Three days had elapsed since Alex received the two quests. While he had made notable progress in his swordsmanship under Miss June's guidance, his magical abilities had no time for improvement.

The task of slaying 15 E-rank monsters still loomed over him, and time was ticking away. His previous encounter with one of these creatures had taken almost an entire day, and it had been a grueling battle.

The challenge wasn't solely about the power required to defeat them; it was also the need to find 15 of these creatures, which proved to be a time-consuming endeavor.

To make matters more challenging, he had to venture outside the city into the wilderness, a place fraught with danger. Alex needed to become significantly more powerful to take down these monsters.

While his strength lay more in his magical abilities than his swordsmanship, it still wasn't enough to complete the quests.

In light of his predicament, Aurora suggested, "Why don't you try asking for her help?"