Chapter 8 - Blade dance

The carriage rolled through the streets of Cassis seamlessly, as if the roads had been crafted to perfection. The buildings on either side were adorned with intricate patterns that took my breath away. "Wow," I thought to myself in disbelief. There were only a few cities on Earth with such attention to detail, yet this world seemed to be brimming with skilled artisans.

The carriage came to a halt, and the soldiers opened the door, beckoning me to step out. "This is your new life," one of them said. His face was hidden beneath a steel helmet. "Here you will train with other soldiers in preparation for the next assault."

I looked at him, puzzled. "Assault?"

"Yes, you will be debriefed tomorrow morning, so save your breath." With that, he and the other soldiers turned and left.

I stood there, dazed, when suddenly a warm, firm grip latched onto my shoulder. I jumped and turned to face a bold-looking man, a bit younger than the emperor, standing upright before me. "So you're the man Revalor talked about," he said, his grin widening.

If this man could speak so casually about the emperor, he must be important. "Yes, I'm Yoshida. It's a pleasure to meet you," I said, subtly urging him to introduce himself.

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot. My name is Commander Almon, but you can call me Commander," he replied.

I nodded in respect. He led me through the gates where I had been left. On the other side, there was nothing particularly special—just ten generic-looking wooden buildings. Dorms, maybe? "This is where we train," the commander said, pointing at a large dirt pit, clearly worn by the countless footsteps it had seen. We continued further until he opened a door to what seemed like an ordinary room. I wasn't going to complain, though, as I had been living on dirt and cold brick floors for what felt like an eternity.

As I glanced into the room, I noticed two beds. One was empty, and the other was occupied by a man about my age. He had muddy brown hair and a clean face, as if he had never seen combat. "Ruvy, meet Yoshida," the commander introduced us.

The man stood up, shook my hand, and looked me in the eyes, trying to assert dominance. "Why do you look like that?" he asked.

"None of your business," I scoffed back as I couldn't even be bothered to come up with an excuse. Ruvy narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased with my retort, but Commander Almon intervened before it could escalate. "Enough of that," he said sharply. "You two will be training together, so you'd better find a way to get along."

Ruvy reluctantly backed down, and the commander continued, "Yoshida, get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day." With that, he left the room, leaving me alone with my new roommate.

I took a moment to survey the room. It was simple, with just the basics: two beds, a small table, and a single window that let in a sliver of moonlight. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the empty bed, the mattress feeling like a luxury compared to what I was used to.

As I lay there, my mind raced with thoughts of the coming days. What kind of training would I endure? What was this "assault" they mentioned? And most importantly, could I trust anyone here?

The night passed in restless fragments of sleep, interrupted by the occasional creak of the wooden building or the distant sound of soldiers marching. When morning finally arrived, I was awoken by a loud knock on the door.

"Get up, Yoshida. Time to start your training," Ruvy called out, already dressed and ready. He tossed me a clean set of clothes—a simple tunic and trousers. I dressed quickly, and we headed outside to join the others.

The training grounds were bustling with activity. Soldiers of all ages and sizes were engaged in various exercises, from sword fighting to archery. Commander Almon stood in the centre, barking orders and overseeing the drills.

"Listen up!" he shouted as we approached. "Today, we'll start with the basics. Yoshida, Ruvy, you'll be paired together. Begin with sword training."

Ruvy and I picked up our practice swords, the weight of the weapon extremely light compared to what I wielded back in the gaunlet. We squared off in the dirt pit, the morning sun casting long shadows.

"Ready?" Ruvy asked, his earlier animosity replaced by a competitive gleam in his eye.

"Ready," I replied, gripping the sword tightly.

Our practice match began, the clash of wood echoing across the training grounds. Ruvy was fast and skilled, his movements fluid and precise and I struggled to keep up, my inexperience evident. He easily disarmed me, my sword clattering to the ground.

"Pick it up," Ruvy said, his tone taunting. I leaned down and grabbed the sword, this time focusing not on brute strength but on strategy. I calculated my next move carefully. We squared off again, and once more, I was defeated. And again. Each clash left us more exhausted until both of us were gasping for air. Despite not besting Ruvy once, my relentless effort wore him down, and I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

The commander stepped in, interrupting us. "It seems the scars on your face are not in vain," he remarked with a small smile. "But you're far behind. Stay behind after training for a word." My heart lifted. For the first time since stumbling into this world, I felt fate might be on my side.

After the commander's words, an awkward silence settled over us before we returned to training. This time, everyone moved in synchrony, performing various grueling exercises. The five hours of excruciating training tested our endurance and strength to the limit.

As we executed drills, my muscles burned, and my body screamed for rest. The intensity was unlike anything I had ever experienced, each exercise designed to push us to our breaking points. I could see the fatigue in my fellow trainees' faces, but there was also a shared determination. We were all in this together, striving to become stronger, better.

Finally, the commander called an end to the session. We collapsed onto the ground, gulping down water and trying to catch our breath. but I knew my day wasn't over yet. As the others began to disperse, I stayed behind, waiting for the commander.

Commander Almon strode over to me with a purposeful look. "Revalor personally asked me to train you, Yoshida," he said, his voice carrying a weight of significance.

"Me?!" I responded in shock, my mind racing. "Why?"

"I wasn't too sure either," Almon admitted, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "But after watching you today, I can understand his request."

"Now, let's begin," he said, handing me a training sword. "Watch my movements and try to replicate them." He drew his sword—a thing of beauty, with a straight blade and a hilt reminiscent of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, something that should've been foreign to this world. The intricate design hinted at its history and the skill required to wield it.

Commander Almon then began a blade dance, his movements fluid and precise. The sword seemed to be an extension of his body, slicing through the air with a grace that left me entranced. Each swing, each pivot, was executed with such finesse that I found it hard to tear my eyes away.

When he finished, Almon looked at me expectantly. "Go on, then. What are you waiting for?"

Doubt gnawed at me. My inexperience weighed heavily on my mind, but I took a deep breath and stepped forward. I tried to mimic the commander's actions, moving slowly, step by step. My movements were awkward, my sword clumsy in my hands.

"Terrible," Almon barked. "Straighten your arm! Use your hips more!" His voice was sharp, but not unkind. It was the voice of a teacher demanding more from his student.

I corrected my stance, focusing on the alignment of my arm and the rotation of my hips. I attempted the sequence again, feeling a bit more confident this time. The sword felt slightly less alien in my grip, but I was far from mastering the dance.

"Better," Almon conceded, though his tone was still stern. "But you have a long way to go."

We continued for what felt like hours. Each attempt brought new corrections. "Lower your shoulders. Keep your balance. Follow through with your strikes." The commands were relentless, pushing me to refine every movement. Finally, Commander Almon barked, "Stop!" A pleased smirk crept onto his face. "Return to your room and rest. We will continue every night from now on."

"Thank you for your teachings," I said, bowing slightly before turning to head back to my dorm. The fatigue hit me harder with each step, but there was a sense of accomplishment that buoyed my spirits. I reached my room, eager to collapse onto my bed, even if it was just a poorly made mattress. I jumped into it, the feathers squished under my weight as I sank down.

"Lucky you," Ruvy scoffed from his bed. "Turning up late and getting special treatment…"

"Oi!" I interrupted sharply, sitting up and glaring at him. "I don't know what your issue is, but keep your mouth shut, got it?"

Ruvy was taken aback by my sudden outburst. He turned his back to me, muttering something under his breath. The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension hanging heavy in the air.

As I lay back down, my mind replayed the day's events. The gruelling training, Almon's stern yet encouraging guidance. Despite Ruvy's hostility, I felt a sense of belonging starting to take root.

The exhaustion soon overtook me, and my eyelids grew heavy. I drifted off to sleep, my dreams filled with the fluid movements of Almon's blade dance and the promise of what tomorrow's training would bring.

The next morning, the sun filtered through the small window, casting a soft glow across the room. I woke with a mix of soreness and anticipation. Today would be another step on this arduous journey. As I dressed and prepared to face the day's challenges, I couldn't help but feel a spark of determination.

As I exited my room, I was greeted by the sight of Ruvy staring at me from the training pit, his eyes filled with a clear challenge. He was waiting for a rematch. Without a word, I walked over to the weapon stand, grabbed a training sword, and squared off with him. This time, I was determined to put into practice the movements I had learned the night before.

We began our duel, the air crackling with tension as onlookers gathered around the training pit, their murmurs a distant buzz. Ruvy's eyes locked onto mine with a fierce intensity. He moved first, his body a blur of motion as he slashed diagonally towards my head, the blade cutting through the air with a deadly whistle.

Almost instinctively, my training from the previous night kicked in. I brought my sword up to meet his and Using the momentum of his attack against him, I guided his blade down and away, deflecting it towards the ground. The effort required precision and control, traits Almon had drilled into me tirelessly the night before.

In that split second, with Ruvy's sword momentarily diverted, I saw my opening. I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, and swung the hilt of my training sword in a tight arc. It connected with the inside of his bicep, the impact precise and forceful. Ruvy's arm seized up from the shock, his grip faltering. His sword slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground with a dull thud, the sound echoing in the sudden silence.

I had done it. After merely a few hours of training with Commander Almon, I had decisively defeated someone I couldn't even land a blow on before. The onlookers, who had gathered around the training pit, watched the spectacle in awe. A round of applause erupted, and I stood there, breathing heavily, trying to process what had just happened. Was this my own talent emerging, or was it the result of the commander's teachings?

Ruvy, rubbing his sore arm, gave me a grudging nod. "Not bad, Yoshida. But don't think you'll get this lucky next time."

"Thanks," I said, extending a hand. He hesitated for a moment before shaking it, the lingering tension between us beginning to thaw.

By the time evening fell, we were all exhausted but satisfied with our progress. Almon dismissed us, but not before giving me a knowing look. "Yoshida, remember our nightly training session. You've made great strides, but there's still much to learn."

"Yes, Commander. I'll be there," I assured him, my resolve unwavering.

The future was still uncertain, and the road ahead was undoubtedly fraught with difficulties, but with Almon's guidance.I knew I could face whatever lay ahead.

To be continued…