Improvement

(Wilhelm Dragonsong)

Months passed and I was starting to show some results…I was no longer as stick thin as I used to be I had a little bit of muscle on my arms, legs and in other places which pleased me no end. I was also starting to get the hang of the various basic stances and movements they had started to teach me in martial arts and the sword.

Today I had just finished the various exercises I had been required to do, then breathing heavily (though nowhere near as badly as when I first started) I grabbed my cheap training sword and started to hit a sword target in various ways, and as close to what I was taught as was possible for me.

Suddenly I heard some clapping. I turned around and blushed when I realized it was the Vice Master herself. That’s rare I thought, as I realized she had come alone without any of her usual entourage. I blushed slightly when I realized this as I was feeling slightly shy. Since I usually trained solo to begin with, we were completely alone.

“Good job, not only have you gotten the basics down much faster than I expected, for someone with no prior experience to do. You also do it without any complaints or giving up once. You really impressed me.” Hearing this I blushed even more.

“Thank you for the compliment, but it is your guidance that has really helped me in my practices, so it is yourself you should be impressed with, you are a really good teacher.”

It was her turn to blush and she didn’t disappoint, her face was now beat red. Feeling a minor sense of accomplishment I kept my inner smile to myself, and took up an attentive position and faced her. Soon recovering from my flattery she then said.

“We-Well the reason I came here wasn’t for compliments but to tell you that I think, and more importantly my father agrees, that you are now ready for the next stage of your training. That is practice in actual combat. With your permission as a small test, I will spar with you, don’t worry I will go easy, this is only to see how you stand currently in your training, and to better understand what would be best help in training you in the future.”

At my nod she lifted up the spare training sword she carried with her and after we both bowed, she rushed me.

To her surprise I was somehow able to lift my sword up in time for me to block her…but it was soon revealed that it was somewhat of a fluke. Although with my battle experiences I was able to keep track of her movements…my body was far too weak and slow to follow them. However just as she said, she used far from her full speed, and used only light taps when she “attacked” me.

She would speed up, and slow down while trying all of the different basic stances they had taught me. She also didn’t use a single move above apprentice level in skill, even so it was obvious to my discerning eyes that she was far above average at her real level. After a few minutes of this, exertion my low stamina came into play, I started breathing harder and my blocks and attack attempts became more and more weak.

Despite this I continued to “fight” and tried to prolong my ability to continue by using moves that used the least amount of energy as possible. Finally after almost half an hour, she stopped, and I collapsed on the floor gratefully. Unlike me she wasn’t even breaking a sweat, as I sat there limbs spread out clumsily and panting deeply she gave me a very strange sort of look.

“So” I said somewhat jokingly after I had caught my breath somewhat “how did I do?” she raised one of her perfect eyebrows at my question and replied

“Well I can say with honesty ‘not bad’ you are definitely ready for the next stage of training however…” I waited patiently for her to continue curious as the reason for the strange look on her face.

“It’s just that, unusually it seems like you have more battle experience then what your ability shows, but as it is impossible to gain such battle experience at your current level it is strange…I think that perhaps you may be an instinctive fighter…or you have natural battle instincts. You are lucky either are rare and good things, if you are serious in wanting to become a warrior”.

Natural battle instincts? I am lucky? I wonder what she would say if I told her the truth. That I do have a lot of battle experience, just not as a “warrior”. However after thinking about what she said, I have become somewhat happier, I had thought that all my prior battle experience wouldn’t be of much use, as a warrior is something far different then what I was/

But now after hearing what she said and really thinking about it, I am filled with a sense of contentment. Perhaps my past won't hinder me in following my dream as I feared but actually be an advantage instead. I soon come to the happy thought, that perhaps it is not just these battle instincts that I can transform and use to help me new skills I am learning now.

“Well” she suddenly interrupts my thoughts “Now that it is settled that you are ready for the next stage you are definitely going to need a better training weapon.”

She looked disdainfully at my “sword”. I don’t exactly disagree with her assessment, my 'sword' is just a cheap stick that had been carved vaguely in the shape of a sword. I had bought it in the marketplace nearby by going to a general purpose merchant and asking for their cheapest practice sword.

This had been about after my first month of training when she had decided I was now strong enough to start training with a sword and asked me to find one. Normally a poor student would ask one of his peers to either lend him one of his backup swords or some money. However for some reason the Vice Master had taken an unusual interest in me and had taken the time to train me personally.

I think the reason, has probably something to do with my many differences compared to the other students. Appearance wise I look fragile in such a way that in my experience tends to have the effect of making women want to take care of me. Since I don't seem to be obsessed with her beauty, and don't go and try to force my way into her presence, if she wants to talk to me she has to come and find me. This is probably refreshingly unique, compared to the other students who are constantly fighting over who gets to train with her.

More importantly my attitude is much better the other students. Compared to their lazy and complacent schedules, and their tendency to neglect their practice in order to have fun. I had a much stronger than usual work ethic. Was rigidly obedient to the work schedule they give me, and most importantly, unlike the other students who usually stop training as soon as they reach a level they consider a "strong" then barely maintain their battle levels unless there is going to be a contest.

I despite being so weak in the beginning, have made great improvements, even though I am still fairly weaker than most of the students in the dojo, I have shown consistent steady improvements. I know from my own personal experience in teaching that it is very gratifying to teach someone to continue to show improvements and grows in knowledge.

So I am not that surprised that she took an interest in teaching me. However to most of the other students, who didn't pay attention to what I am doing, and who usually despite numerous attempts didn’t even manage to get even a small word of advice from her, the interest she shows in me appears completely unnatural, and they were utterly jealous and fiercely envious.

Thus I knew I would get nothing but hatred from that source. Mostly because I didn’t want to attract attention but also because I didn’t want to waste something nice on a noob even if that beginner is myself. When picking my first practice sword I decided to just go with the cheapest.

Fortunately for me my weak strength had become an advantage when I started to train with my sword. If I had been strong it would have immediately broken after one use, but since I was weak even after a few months of constant use it was still mostly intact. Looking at my battered stick (as I like to call it) I grimaced.

Probably mistaking my facial expression as pain at my lack of money, the Vice Master was quick to say.

“Don’t worry about the money, my father has given me permission to use 250 gold from the dojo’s funds in providing you with a weapon. In fact if you think you can handle it after the spar we just had, I was planning to take you to the market today.”

As I have explained to you before, having potential means having more benefits, so practically being given a sword by the dojo rather than having to buy my own must mean that they have reassessed my potential and decided to give me benefits in proportion to this “increase”. This makes me quite happy, and as it is appropriate to the situation I allow my happiness to be shown on my face.

“Of course I can handle it, the thought of getting a new sword is giving me lots of new energy!” I get to my feet without that much trouble, I sway a bit from exhaustion but I am not that bad off, so after a few seconds of instability I am able regain my balance. “Let’s go” I smile at her.

***

The dojo is located on the outskirts of a small city. This city called Nern is a city that has been somewhat famous for its dojos and the warriors it produces. The city is located quite far away from the capital and has an extremely low mage population. I had originally chosen this city partly because of these features, but also somewhat because Nern is located near several large monster territories, where it would be perfect to practice what I would eventually learn.

Since the war is over, there is no longer an obvious place to prove your skills in battle as well as gain more experience. However monster territories are the exception. Since when monster population increases past a certain point they tend to leave their territory and attack human civilizations in an attempt to increase it,.

So my eventual future practice is a good thing, sort of like preforming a public service. In fact from what I can sense from here. Many people, advanced in warrior skills are already having fun there right now. I bring my attention back to the here and now, when the Vice Master pokes my cheek.

“No need to have a serious face, smile! You should be having fun, from what I have seen, hasn’t it been a long time since you have left the dojo for anything other than food? I know! Let me buy you a meal before we go to the weapons shop maybe that will clear up your dullness.” laughing happily she grabs my arm and pulls me towards one of the many nearby food stalls.

She hands over some copper, and gets several meat on a stick, then returning to, she stuffs one in her mouth surprisingly inelegantly and hands me the other. I take one with gratitude and slowly take several small bites to make it last longer…while she has already finished hers and is already dragging me to look at something else.

This time surprisingly it is an accessory merchant, as I have never seen her wear so much as even a hair tie I am a bit stunned to see her look longingly at a small jeweled hair pin before moving on. Well I guess I now know what I should get her if I ever need to get her a present, I think as I observe her drool over several other pretty things at various stalls.

One particular merchant reminds her of our purpose in coming here when he recognizes and greets her as

“Lady Swordarm”. Panicking at the sound of her own name when it makes her realize her own unusually unproductive actions, she immediately starts dragging me in more specific directions. Eventually we reach the shop she intended us to go to.

Vocabulary:

Monsters: Various magical non human creatures that are powerful and dangerous to most people. Most are like animals and have no soul and Warriors (and the occasional battlemage) use them to practice their combat skills.