Wrong Hit

She walks over and picks up two swords, one being wooden and long, and the other being a small sword but bigger than my dagger. Are we going to duel or something?

"For starters, you need to get used to a real sword." She hands me the sword, pressing the pommel against my body.

I hold the hilt of the sword and immediately feel the weight falling onto my right hand. It's not very heavy, but it's definitely heavier than my dagger.

"It may be heavy now, but you'll gain more muscle and handle the weight." Yanma says.

"Okay, so where do I start?" I ask as I see my reflection in the sword blade.

"Um... I think you can start by doing the simplest attack there is: moving the sword up and down, understand?" She speaks.

"So, I just take the sword up to the sky and come down with force?"

"Basically. This is the type of training that improves attack speed as well as creating more physical resistance." Yanma responds while sitting on the floor against the castle wall.

I then raise my arms, holding the sword, and bring them down as hard and fast as I can!

"No, you're doing it wrong." She speaks.

"What!?" How can this be wrong? I literally did what she said!

"I have a question to ask you: what is a sword for?" Yanma speaks.

"What is a sword for?" I ask with some indignation, especially since it's an obvious question. "To attack, right?" I speak.

"Attack?" She questions again. "So, the sword is a weapon to hurt people?"

"Swords are sharp, pointy things. I think whoever created them was for that purpose." I answer.

"Hmm. So, it's only possible to hurt people with this object?" What is she trying to prove with these questions?

Although, swords can also be used to defend yourself...

"Swords are also for defense." I say.

"Interesting." Yanma responds. "I have another question, if you don't mind. I swear it'll be the last one!" She says.

"You can ask. We still have plenty of time." I speak.

"Why do you want to become a swordsman?" Yanma questions.

Without realizing it, I had nothing to say to her.

Why do I want to be a swordsman?

Why do I want to be the Supreme Swordsman?

Maybe, because I always admired my younger brother and always wanted to be like him but not a copy, I want to be like him in my own way.

Or maybe it's because the first thing I came into contact with was magic, and I'm surprisingly lucky to have been born with two magics and one of them being rare.

"Because I think being a swordsman must be really cool!" I answer.

"That's a pretty vague answer..." She says with a smile. "Can you give me more details?" Yanma adds.

"Swordsmen, like wizards, are like protectors of peace, heroes who protect our world..." I confess that I'm a little embarrassed to say this. "Therefore, I want to become the Supreme Swordsman."

The stories Mom told to Light and me always showed how glorious and powerful swordsmen were, and I want to be like that one day!

"Hahahaha..." Yanma laughs. "Well, I see that in your words you mean well." She says.

A strange silence hangs in the air...

Did she forget to say what was wrong with my scam?

"And my sword attack, what was wrong?" I ask.

"I already forgot, haha." I'm starting to wonder if training with her was a good choice... "Your attack sure has a lot of speed, but has no control."

"But I didn't drop the sword or anything..."

"Yes, but what you're doing is letting the sword do the work for you." I'm starting to understand... "You're not driving the sword to a specific point; you're just pushing and letting the weight of gravity and the sword do the attacking."

"I think I understand what you're saying..." I reply. "But how can I solve this?"

"I want you to do the same strike but stop the attack halfway through its trajectory. This will give you more control over the speed and force applied to the sword."

"Right!" I then position my sword upwards, just as I had done previously.

I start to move the sword at full speed, but when it's at my head level, I try to stop it instantly!

Putting my strength to interrupt, the blow stops, but the weight makes the sword go down a little, making me lose control of the attack.

That's what she was talking about...

I may have speed and strength, but if I don't know how to control it, I can't improve anything.

"You did well." Yanma says. "Now do that a hundred more times."

"WHAT!?"