Dodging 2

"Haah… Haah… Haa… why… why can't I hit you…?" Gracie questioned as she gasped for breath. She couldn't believe that despite her trying with all her strength, she wasn't able to land a hit on her mother even once!

"That's what your first lesson is for.

Dodging.

Now would you like to learn how I dodged all your attacks?"

"I do! You were so cool! I want to become like you!" Gracie quickly regained her spirits and exclaimed as she glanced at her mother with shining eyes.

Simply Adorable.

Ace, who was standing behind the 2 thought inwardly as he nodded his head repeatedly.

Maeve also had a smile on her face and replied,

"Alright then,

First, we will start with your stance,

Since you will become a mage in the future, you need to have a comfortable stance so that you can cast spells without having to worry about anything else. Now, stand in the most comfortable way you feel."

Gracie nodded before she relaxed her body and stood still.

"Now, I will attack you with this sword and you will have to dodge the attack, don't worry, I will be very slow since it is your first time" Maeve instructed before another wooden sword flew in her hand.

She raised the sword up and attacked Gracie slowly. Her attack was so slow that it looked like a video being played at 0.25x speed. With an 'attack' like that, even if it does somehow manage to hit Gracie, it won't hurt her at all.

Of course, even though the attack won't hurt her, it didn't mean that Gracie won't dodge it, so before the sword could even reach near her, she jumped back five steps with a big, triumphant smile on her face.

"Haa? Mama, what are we doing? Aren't we just wasting time? I can didge these attacks with my eyes closed, don't worry, you can increase your speed. I am strong!" Gracie announced as she patted her chest repeatedly. Ace smiled wryly, choosing not to reply to that.

Maeve then shook her head and continued,

"What you did was wrong, Gracie.

Remember, whenever you dodge, don't forget these rules.

First, never dodge until the attack is near you. If you dodge it too early, it gives your opponent a chance to change his attack and hit you."

"But… won't that make it easier for Mr. opponent to attack me by changing his attack at the last moment?" Gracie questioned with a little head tilt.

"That's where your instincts comes in. If your opponent plans to attack you change his attack at the last moment, he would have to initiate his attack accordingly, giving you countless hints beforehand and that's where the second rule comes in.

Always try to read what your opponent is trying to do, never lose eye contact with him."

Maeve replied and Gracie nodded.

"Third, try to dodge the attack with minimum movement possible, this can save your energy in a long out battle and would grant you a simple victory. It would also sharpen your battle instincts and reduces the chances of you falling for your opponent's combo assaults and provides you a chance to counter-attack."

Of course, half of what Maeve was saying was flying over Gracie's head, making her dizzier in an effort to comprehend all of it, but she understood the crux.

Whatever rules her mama is telling are good and she should follow them!

"Well, these are it for the starter, once you get stronger, I will teach you more. For now, we should start practicing." Maeve stated and Gracie nodded excitedly. She was already bored with the theory even before it started. Only god knows how will she learn all those spells which require high theoretical knowledge.

"Alright, I will attack you again, just as I did last time, now try and dodge.

Remember, don't dodge until the attack is near you, and keep your movements to the minimum"

Maeve instructed as she dashed towards Gracie just as she did last time.

This time, Gracie waited for a little before jumping 3 steps behind.

Maeve stopped her attack midway as she watched Gracie jumping behind.

'Well, I guess that explanation is a little too much for an 8-year-old…' she sighed inwardly before she glanced towards Ace and nodded.

Ace nodded back before he raised his hand and,

Swoosh~

Ice formed near Gracie, encircling her inside a circle of around 1.5 meters in diameter.

"Now, try and dodge all my attacks while staying inside the circle" Maeve instructed before dashing towards Gracie.

She moved her sword, forming a horizontal curve and since the speed was low, Gracie quickly crouched on the ground to dodge it.

Maeve then changed her sword's trajectory and slashed it down where Gracie was crouching.

But since Gracie's position was now locked into a crouch, she won't be able to defend the upcoming attack properly without jumping out of the circle. Of course, the only ones who knew it were Ace and Maeve.

Gracie noticed the changed trajectory before she glanced at the circle surrounding her. Since she couldn't jump out of it, she decided to tilt her head and dodge the attack instead.

Then, even though she saved her head, she completely forgot about the rest of her body. Seeing the sword slowly approaching her left shoulder, she panicked and moved but since her position was locked, she slipped up and fell down. The slow sword then touched her waist, completing the attack.

"Again! Again! I'll do better this time!" Before Maeve could even say anything, Gracie cried.

She looked utterly upset and grumpy. She couldn't believe she can't defend against attacks as slow as what her mama was performing.

Maeve smiled at her pouty but adorable look before she nodded.

She attacked again and this time,

The result was the same,

Gracie got hit again.

"Again! I will do it this time" Gracie cried, her face even poutier than before, her large eyes moist.

Seeing that look, Ace wanted to hug her into his embrace but calmed himself, Maeve on the other hand, was enjoying bullying this little devil and nodded before she attacked again and finally this time,

She failed again.