Ryan entered the fencing ground, his breaths calm, but his heart beating at a faster rhythm than usual. He wasn't afraid, but excited. Finally, after days of theories and lectures, the time had come to apply what he had learned in practice.
The ground was spacious, its floor made of polished hard wood, its walls covered with various swords of all types and sizes. In the center of the ground stood Professor Gareth Ironwood – the huge bald man with the thick beard, whose presence alone was enough to silence any student.
He wore light training clothes, and in his hand was a long wooden sword. His grey eyes scanned the students one by one, as if assessing them before the duel began.
He shouted in his thunderous voice:
"Line up!"
The students quickly lined up, holding similar wooden swords. There were about thirty students, some excited, others looking tense. Ryan was in the second group – calm, focused, observing those around him.
said Professor Gareth as he paced before them like a hungry tiger.
"Today we will apply what you learned theoretically,The Severing Strike, the Deceptive Thrust, and the Defensive Circle. You will see them practically, then you will apply them yourselves. Those who don't apply them correctly will repeat the exercise until they master it. I do not go easy on the weak."
He stood in the center of the ground and began explaining each technique again, but this time with practical application. He struck the air with his wooden sword, tracing the paths of the strikes in the air.
he said as he struck forcefully.
"The Severing Strike relies on weight, not speed,Use your sword's mass, and let it fall with force on the opponent's defense. Don't try to be fast. Be heavy. Use gravity to your advantage."
Then he demonstrated the Deceptive Thrust: a move that looks like a direct thrust toward the opponent's chest, but veers at the last moment toward the shoulder or side.
he said, repeating the movement slowly.
"This requires wrist flexibility,Don't freeze your hands. Be flexible. Deceive your opponent. Make them think you're attacking from one direction, then strike from another. The eye follows the obvious movement, so make your movement unclear."
Finally, he demonstrated the Defensive Circle: a circular motion with the sword that follows the opponent's sword path, then rebounds with a counterattack.
Professor Gareth admitted.
"This is the hardest,But it's the most effective if you master it. It requires patience, understanding of the opponent's movement, and the ability to anticipate. Don't block the strike directly – follow it, then use its angle to rebound with your own attack."
After the explanation, Professor Gareth divided the students into groups, then into pairs.
"You will practice now. Each pair will exchange attack and defense. I want to see each technique applied at least three times. Those who finish early will face another opponent. Don't underestimate anyone, for every opponent teaches you something new."
The students began pairing up. Ryan was looking for a partner when he heard a voice behind him.
"You."
Ryan turned to see a girl standing behind him. She was tall, with long chestnut hair falling over her shoulders, and sharp hazel eyes. She wore the official fencing uniform, and in her hand was a wooden sword. She was smiling, but her smile was not friendly. It was a confident smile, the smile of someone who knows they are the best in the room.
Ryan asked coldly.
"Yes?"
said the girl.
"You're my partner,I'm Valeria."
Ryan said nothing. He had heard of Valeria before – daughter of a high noble, famous for her fencing skills, and also famous for her pride. She was known for never having lost to any first-year student, and that she had been training since she was six years old.
said Valeria as she twirled her sword between her hands skillfully.
"I saw you in the theory class,You were paying attention. But theoretical attention is one thing, and practical application is another. Many know the theories, but few can apply them."
Ryan replied calmly.
"I know."
said Valeria, her smile widening slightly.
"Good,Let's see if you can keep up. Don't worry – I won't be too hard on you."
The two began the practice. Valeria was fast, agile, and her attacks were precise. She struck with force, retreated quickly, and maintained an ideal distance. She used each technique with confidence, as if she was born with a sword in her hand.
Ryan defended with difficulty at first. Valeria was faster than him, and more experienced. But he remembered Professor Laurian's advice about conserving spark, and also remembered Professor Gareth's words about reading the opponent.
He began to observe Valeria closely. He noticed she preferred to attack from the left side, and that she tended to raise her sword slightly before each strong strike. He also noticed that her breathing quickened slightly when she was about to execute a complex attack.
'Her weakness is on the right side... and her legs are unstable when she raises her sword... and she breathes differently before big attacks.'
He waited. When Valeria attacked again, Ryan used the Defensive Circle. He followed her sword's movement in a circle, then rebounded with a quick counterattack toward her right side.
Valeria was surprised. She hadn't expected that. She stepped back, almost losing her balance. Her hazel eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.
shouted Professor Gareth from afar.
"Good! That's the way! Ryan, well done! Valeria, don't underestimate your opponent!"
Valeria's face reddened. It wasn't embarrassment, but anger. Her eyes blazed.
"Lucky hit." she said coldly, and this time there was no trace of a smile.
She attacked with more force this time. Her strikes were faster, more violent. She was using all her power, as if she wanted to destroy her opponent rather than defeat him. But her anger made her make mistakes. She struck without thinking, draining her energy quickly.
Ryan had begun to understand her style. He was reading her movements, anticipating her attacks. He remembered Professor Gareth's words: "Deception is not cheating; it's wisdom."
He used the Deceptive Thrust: a move that looked like a direct thrust toward her chest, but veered at the last moment toward her shoulder. His wooden sword lightly touched her shoulder.
said Professor Gareth.
"Another point,Ryan is advancing."
Valeria was angry now. Her eyes blazed, and her face reddened more. She attacked with rage, and began making more mistakes. Her movements became slower, less precise, because she was draining her energy in uncalculated attacks.
Ryan continued to defend, waiting for the right moment. He remembered Professor Darius's rule: "If you are going to lose, make sure your opponent pays a heavy price." But he didn't just want to defeat her – he wanted to prove that intelligence in combat was more important than brute force.
When he saw she was panting, and her breathing became irregular, he attacked. He used the Severing Strike – a powerful strike that relied on his sword's weight, not its speed. He struck her defense with force, breaking her balance.
Valeria's sword fell from her hand, and she stumbled back, panting with difficulty. Her chestnut hair was disheveled, sweat covering her forehead. Her hazel eyes were wide, not from pain, but from shock.
Silence fell over the ground. The students stared at Ryan and Valeria. Some were staring in amazement, others whispering to their classmates. No one could believe what they had seen.
Professor Gareth clapped his large hands.
"Very good! That's what I call practical application! Did you notice how he read his opponent's movements? How he used her weaknesses? How he conserved his energy while she drained hers in anger? That's a smart fighter!"
Valeria stood there, looking at Ryan with angry, burning eyes. She said nothing. She just picked up her sword from the ground, turned, and walked away without looking back. But in her eyes, there was something else besides anger – something like curiosity.
Ryan said nothing either. He didn't need to. He knew he had won not through strength, but through intelligence. He knew that the real battle wasn't always in the arena, but in the mind.
He left the fencing ground feeling a sense of satisfaction. But he also knew that this victory might cost him new enemies.