While it did seem that Aison wanted me to use magic and try and land a hit on him, I was still reluctant to do so. It wasn't that I thought I could not but that I was worried about being capable of not wounding him.

The spells that I used in previous combats were [Shaped Mana], [Flint], [Cut], [Floating Board], and [Low Illusion]. Of these five, only the latter two were harmless, but I doubted they would be of much use against a prepared opponent.

Aison did not wait for me to decide on a strategy and started approaching me with his sword poised to strike. And thanks to that, and recalling the 'held back' beating until now, I decided that screw my worries.

[Shaped Mana] depended on the caster's imagined form, so it was probably the only spell that would not tell Aison anything. So I started with it.

"Shaped Mana"

In a feat of quick thinking, I summoned something that was a crossbreed of a police baton and a sword-breaker, as the tonfa-like form counted with a few saw-like notches for catching the blade.

And with that "thing" in my left arm, I blocked Aison's lazy sweep. But he had been teaching me to avoid concentrating only on swordplay, and he indeed acted on his words now. As if unfazed by my block or that I could pry his blade out of his hand, he moved his left leg forward and sent me a punch towards the gut with his free hand.

But as I attempted to swing the wooden sword in my right at the approaching arm, Aison abruptly jerked his body, and only by sheer luck I noticed that his right leg was flying in a kick towards my torso.

Unable to block it with anything but the [Swordbreaker Summon Mk1], it was apparent what his objective was. But, who said I am limited to only one [Shaped Mana] spell?

During my [Book Machine] epic, I found that, either because of the level or my proficiency using it, I could have several constructs summoned simultaneously. And all of them would be fine if I kept them separated in my mind, as otherwise, the forms would warp.

"Shaped Mana." I muttered the spell. Almost immediately, at the cost of one mana point, I was covered by a spiked shield-like construct that extended from shoulder to ground, all over my left side.

"Screw it!" Voicing the obvious (think of anyone whose leg was about to hit a plate covered in 5 cm spikes), Aison jumped back using only his left leg. He also somehow freed his sword without me noticing it.

{Damn, that's what a master is! He wasn't ready for either but somehow managed to avoid all. But now, he's open!} Half of his body was still shifting, breaking his movement and returning his raised leg to normal. So, I assumed that Aison's guard would be low and launched forward.

As I took a step forward, and my training sword flew in a quick thrust towards his solar plexus, Aison suddenly, almost as if in panic, let go of his sword and practically fell back. {It's going too well. Can it be a trap? But hell, I can get him!}

But it turned out that I was still underestimating my instructor, as it all turned out to be a play indeed. Or maybe he just adapted to the situation. Who could say?

"Fuckk!" I wailed as the sword he supposedly let go was kicked into my stomach, and before I could react, a punch was just about to hit my inclined forward face.

Still, a game of ploys and counterploys involves both sides, something he told me himself, so I also decided to play.

"Shaped Mana" A spiked, helmet-like thing covered my face. Thankfully the spell's constructs were nearly transparent, as otherwise, it would be impossible to use it for such.

"Low Illusion" A long and blunt spike, similar to my mana constructs, extended from my left knee. As if I was planning to stab at Aison's gut.

"Shaped Mana" A spike, this one real, extended from my raised hand, aimed towards his chest.

"Low Illusion" I let go of my sword, but it remained in my arm. Now go and find out which is the real one.

"Floating Board" And a panel appeared beneath his raised leg before floating up.

Somehow, Aison managed to stop his punch. And from there, it was a question for him to retreat. Regretfully for him, he had no idea of the maximum weight of the floating board (10 kg), so as he stepped on it, it went down, making him lose his balance.

Then, in an almost unbelievable feat, unexpected for a burly and muscular man, he impossibly bent his body, allowing BOTH spikes to pass without touching him. All without stopping looking at the sword in my hand, assuming it was real. Not that it was a great mystery, as the one falling on the ground never reached it.

*Poke*

Regretfully, for him, after the previous exchanges, I had assumed he could avoid everything. Thus, I decided to cheat a little. {Inventory} allowed me to silently disappear the sword and make him believe it was the fake one. And now, the real one had unexpectedly appeared before him, and his now regained balance made him touch it.

"Hoh? Now, this is something I did not expect!" At first, he looked astonished, but a smile quickly spread over his face as he exclaimed and raised his hands as if conceding.

***

After the exchange, Aison decided that we should take a long rest and go eat something. Although he offered to visit one of the taverns, or the kitchen on-site, I excused myself by mentioning the girls, and he quickly agreed I should go home.

"When you return, we will continue working on the sword. Magic is good, but as you see, an opponent can react to most of your tricks, although I can say that not many could have blocked everything you sent at me." Aison said, and I felt inclined to agree.

Just for interest, as I had been using the skill to the utmost lately, I decided to check on [Shaped Mana] and found that I actually had increased the level thrice.

Shaped Mana 8→11/100 Simple and transparent mana construct. Can take any form. Mastery increases size and durability (<40000→<65000 cubic cm, Steel).

The 8th level was iron, and now the 11th is steel. So now, I wonder, what were the 'names/materials' for the unseen durabilities? And what will they be in the future? I don't recall many materials stronger than steel, at least realistic ones for a medieval setting. Can it be that some level will be comparable to mythril (or its Lieade equivalent)?! Or even more, to something epical like dragon bone (As Sepyre's books mentioned dragons, so I take they do exist)?

***

To my surprise, I found no one home when I arrived. Judging from the sun, it was somewhere near the 7th sun, which meant mealtime, so why the girls weren't around? {Could it be that they decided to eat out? If that's so, then it is some notable advance from their usual spartan-like behavior.} I wonder why I did not feel worried at all, although it wasn't like there should have been any reasons with the girls being clever and it being broad daylight.

Going back would be stupid, and I felt too battered to cook, so after a few moments spent deciding, I started walking towards the [Dancing Horse]. The place is becoming a regular one, huh?

Received by the same waitress from my previous two visits, I, for the first time, took a good look at her. I had noted she was young and had a decent figure. But first, because of Gris and, then, because of Azar, I never gave much attention to anything else.

Brown hair with a tinge of red, round eyes of a strange, almost orange color, a perked up nose, and a warm smile, I could not say she was an absolute beauty, but she was far from average indeed.

"Did you come alone t'day, doctor?" Probably because she overheard my talk with Azar, she mistook me for a doctor, huh?

"Yes, and it will be a meal, whatever you recommend. And, I am no doctor, just an employee for one of the merchants." Taverns and inns were usually spots to gather information in all games and novels, so maybe it was better to avoid telling the absolute truth to each and every person inside.

"Ah, excuse me." She lightly flushed as she half-bowed and then quickly changed to the food topic, "The cook just finished a batch of bird meat pies, and the maester just received a barrel of [Vruz's Dark] just now."

"I see, then two of the former and a mug of the latter." I did expect something more meal-like, but it didn't sound bad either.

I would not call the pie a pie, more like a container for a mix of barley, vegetables, and some fowl meat, but it was flavorful, had a nice garlic punch, and went perfectly along with the dark ale-like beer. The latter actually deserves a separate mention as it was gassy (!). The taste was strong but not overly so, and it left a slightly bitter aftertaste that countered the garlic flawlessly.

As I finished my meal, I decided to leave half a crown for the waitress, which brought the total to two silver and left the tavern.

{Haa, now I want a smoke.} Busying myself the previous day, I had not thought about the [Demon's Bane] I had on myself, but now? I truly craved it. The problem was that I had no pipe, but wasn't I a mage? Why go and buy one if I can make myself one, spending effort and using [Earth's Blood], something that costs several times any, even most luxurious, pipe? Indeed, why not?

Working on the pipe's shape in my mind, I did not even notice how I reached the training grounds again. Aison wasn't around, so I sat down and summoned some of what I still called magic clay. But then, it was as if illumination hit me as I sent it back to the inventory and brought out a small cedarwood cut-off.

Two [Shaped Mana] applications and I ended with the two pieces of a classic pipe. The ones I could recall had a brass or steel connection, but here I went with the simplest indent-like one. After all, it isn't like I can't make myself another one as soon as this one gets damaged, clogged, or even needs cleaning. Blessed be the laziness. Or not, as I immediately did another one.

***

When Aison got back, he found me sitting in the shade of the warehouse's wall, puffing cloud after cloud. As Azar's non-human friend had mentioned humans did not smoke, I wasn't surprised by Aison's questioning glance.

"My vice, [Demon's Bane]." I introduced it simply, considering that the herb's name should be known to him.

"Oh, I recall that some adventurers talked about something like that. And, what, is it that good?" He asked with curiosity.

"I am unsure for others, but for me, it is. If you want to try, I can offer you some." Let's omit the thought of {Don't even dare to ask.} I had at the moment.

"No need. Beer and wine are enough for me." Aison shrugged and then pointed at the swords' box.

"Got it." Quickly emptying the pipe and storing it into a 'fake' [Storage], I walked to the box and took the same sword I had been using before.

"Now that I know you can survive, although not thanks to me, let's work on the swordsmanship part. First, do not fixate on..."