Learning the Sword

The leshy charged at me with lightning speed, its skeletal face contorted in a sinister grin. Its antlers, like twisted branches, protruded menacingly from its back. I could feel the ground shake beneath me as its massive form closed in, its primal fury radiating in the air.

I held my ground, a calm determination settling within me. With a flick of my wrist, I conjured a swirling vortex of wind around me, my body enveloped in a protective shield. The leshy extended its long, sinewy arms, attempting to deliver a bone-crushing blow, but I effortlessly sidestepped its attack.

Time seemed to slow as I channeled my mana, focusing my power into my fists. With a surge of energy, I unleashed a flurry of rapid punches, each strike enhanced by my strengthened mana-infused fists. The impact echoed through the night as my blows found their mark, sending the leshy hurtling through the air.

The leshy crashed into a towering oak tree, the force of the impact causing it to splinter and groan under the strain. For a moment, the forest fell silent, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the leshy's next move. But its defiance was short-lived.

I extended my hand towards the fallen Leshy, my eyes burning with determination. Water particles in the air coalesced into sharp, icy shards. With a swift motion, I hurled a barrage of water daggers at the creature, each one slicing through the air with lethal precision.

The Leshy howled in agony as the razor-sharp blades cut through its flesh, leaving deep gashes in its skeletal form. A mix of surprise and fury was etched upon its skeletal face, but I didn't relent.

Drawing upon the primal forces of nature, I conjured a swirling torrent of flames, weaving my fingers through the air with practiced precision. The flames roared to life, dancing in my palm, fueled by my intense focus. With a fierce determination, I unleashed a massive fireball towards the leshy, its intensity rivaling that of a blazing inferno.

The explosion shook the ground, scattering embers and ashes into the air. Flames consumed the leshy, devouring it until nothing remained but a pile of charred bones and the smoldering remnants of its antlers.

"That was easier than I expected," I said as I stood there, my chest heaving, surrounded by the aftermath of the battle.

The forest seemed to exhale a collective sigh of relief as silence settled once more. A mix of exhilaration and exhaustion coursed through my veins, my body tingling with residual mana.

I surveyed the smoldering remains of the leshy, a sense of accomplishment washing over me. At that moment, I knew I had gotten stronger. The efficiency and precision with which I had disposed of the monster-filled me with a newfound confidence.

I reached down and gathered the ashes of the leshy's antlers, remnants of its former intimidating presence. They crumbled to dust in my hand, a sight that left me with nothing but joy.

After the battle, I decided to head back to the palace as I was more than satisfied with the night's results.

I woke up earlier than expected, the excitement bubbling within me. After a brief session of mana breathing, Rose knocked on my door. Granting her entry, she reminded me of the arrival of my teacher.

"Your teacher is here Young Master," Rose informed me, her voice carrying a sense of importance. "Once you're done with your bath, I will accompany you to the basement for your personal training area."

"I have a personal training area?"

"Yes Your Grace, Her Ladyship commissioned it after you requested to learn swordsmanship,"

I nodded, acknowledging her words. As I prepared for the day ahead, thoughts of the training session swirled in my mind, mingling with a mix of eagerness and nervous anticipation.

Once ready, I followed Rose to the basement, as I stepped into the vast training area,I was immediately struck by its size and the sense of grandeur it exuded. The area was meticulously designed and equipped to cater to all aspects of swordsmanship training.

The room stretched out before me, seemingly endless in its dimensions. The floor was covered in a durable wooden surface, smooth and polished, allowing for easy movement and footwork. Along the walls, racks and stands displayed an impressive array of swords, each gleaming with sharp edges.

At the center of the training area stood a series of training dummies and wooden targets, strategically placed to allow for fluid movement and engagement from all angles.

In one corner of the room, there was a dedicated sparring area, marked by a circle drawn on the floor covered by thick, padded mats.

Adjacent to the sparring area, there were shelves filled with protective gear, including helmets, chest plates, and padded gloves.

After inspecting my surroundings my gaze shifted upwards and that's when I noticed him. His towering figure exuded a powerful aura that reminded me of my father. It was a force that seemed to suppress me, making me acutely aware of my own insignificance.

I approached him with a mixture of reverence and nervousness, bowing respectfully. "It is an honor to meet you, Master."

His expression contorted to one of surprise for a moment before returning to his dismissive demeanor.

"First off, my name is Garreth Feuerstein, a Mithril rank adventurer. The adventurer ranks, in ascending order, are Novice, Advanced, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Mithril, Divine, and Legend," he stated, pausing momentarily to gauge my reaction. Seeing my impassive expression, he continued, "As a Mithril-ranked adventurer, I have better things to do than tutor some spoiled six-year-old so we'll see if you're worth my time, and if you meet the requirements, I won't quit," he grunted, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Our training starts now."

As Garreth led the way, my eyes wandered across the expansive training area. I marveled at its sheer size once again, momentarily forgetting my nerves. But the sound of Garreth's voice brought me back to reality.

"Jog around the entire room" he commanded.

A seemingly simple task. But as I ran lap after lap, his commanding voice echoed in my ears. I realized the actual intensity of his training. Hours passed and I ran until my legs felt like they would give out and just when I thought I could catch my breath, Garreth produced a rope and ordered me to skip.

Fatigue threatened to consume me, but I refused to show weakness. With just my will carrying me forward, I skipped for what felt like an eternity, pushing my body to its limits and despite the physical and mental exhaustion, I remained on my feet.

After skipping for hours I was rewarded with a simple grunt from Garreth and a faint glimmer of approval in his eyes.

"Return tomorrow at sunrise, You're dismissed"

"Yes, Master."