"You are requesting instructors?"
"Hrm."
"I hope you don't find it rude of me for saying this, but, I'm confused—why? You, Grul, who can slice a manticore down in three strikes, are requesting an instructor for fighting?"
It was clear that Silver was asking for an answer from me; perhaps because the cost for getting an instructor worthy of my caliber is hard, or because he finds it redundant, or even because the thought of me getting stronger is a bit…questionable, in his position, to say the least.
Either way, I went back to drawing to show my reasoning.
I slowly started drawing on a parchment that was brought exactly for me to draw on, with an assigned piece of charcoal.
First, I drew a stick figure of myself—a bit ugly, but accurate.
Then, a massive axe and a big, red 'S' for strength, pointing up.
Then, I drew a stick figure of me fighting the stag from the chasm, the one that beat me black and blue and turned me into a mummy for (fortunately) just a few weeks.
Finally, I drew a small brain next to my stick figure, and then an arrow pointing to the big axe, piercing it and going straight to my head, killing me.
You could tell I was killed because I swapped my eyes with an 'X' and added 'Bleghh…' out from my mouth.
Silver watched me draw the whole thing, his eyes furrowed, but eventually nodding as he put his hand on his chin.
"Ah. You want to stop relying on your… might or strength so much. You want to learn how to fight smarter?"
Correct.
"Hmm…fighting smarter. That's a bit vague of a term, but I know someone who can help teach you how techniques and discipline. Both are rare qualities to have, and would surely help in your situation. Especially considering your…natural constitution."
Yea—
Wait, did you just backhand bad mouth me?!
But before I could voice out my injustice, Silver quickly moved the discussion forward.
"So, will that suffice for you? Because if not, then you'll have to wait a few months before I can get the necessary paperwork done to bring an instructor for you here—oh, speaking of paperwork and instructors. Since we're on that topic, Grul, you'll also be assigned an instructor for reading and, hopefully, reading the language we have."
Ugh…do I really have to?
"Unless you want our contract to be considered null and void at any given moment, you will have to learn how to at least read our text."
Fair point, but I don't wanna…
"Well, the assigning of your language instructor will be pushed until the day after tomorrow. For now, you can go ahead and rest at the lodging given to you. You'll meet your fighting instructor at the training grounds tomorrow."
Really?
Sleep at a comfy home right now?
But who is my instructor, exactly?
My questioning gaze landed on Silver, who, unlike our first ever actual meeting, was no longer all that scared of me.
At least no longer to the point of shivering like a tree branch on a windy day.
"Your instructor is, of course, Guard Captain Kael. …Yes, Kael. The retired legionary. He's a master of the Empire's standard fighting form. All discipline, footwork, and techniques of the legionaries, he's learned by heart. He has an almost pathological distaste for wasted motion. He'll be perfect to curb your, ah, enthusiasm for sheer brute force."
I was going to voice my discontent, but I realized I've never actually seen Kael fight seriously before.
Sure, I did fight him before, but that was when I was being underestimated and had a home court advantage.
Feeling curious as to what I could learn from the old man, I grunted in agreement and went to my room assigned to me.
Oh, and, just when I was wondering what had happened to those two little henchmen of mine…
"We'll continue to be in your care, Sir Grul."
"…Mm."
They were reassigned as my 'servants' instead of caretakers.
Basically just a title change, but still the same duties.
…
…
…
The next morning, I stood in the private training yard—which was just a cleared patch of dirt—facing Kael.
I had brought along the two siblings because why not?
They didn't really have much else to do in the house I was assigned to.
Plus, I might get some bonus points and get admired by them as a big, strong hero if I show them my power!
Anyway, going back to Kael…
He held a thin wooden practice sword, while I was forced to hold a glorified stick that felt as heavy as a feather.
"Sir Silver has informed me of your request."
Kael stated, his voice as dry as old parchment.
"You wish to learn 'technique'. The only 'technique' you know right now is 'hit hard, win fast'. That ends now."
He pointed at the stick in my hand.
"You will not use your strength. You will not swing that like a club. You will use the weapon like it is an instrument. Do you understand?"
I didn't understand what he was saying, but I grunted an affirmative.
"Good. Now, the stance. Place your left foot here."
And so began the longest, most embarrassing hour of my life.
Let it be known that I have an Unarmed Combat skill that's like B+ in grade.
I've fought bears, boars, and all sorts of big freaks of nature with my bare hands.
I am not a novice!
So, that's why…
"Hihi~"
"H…a…ha"
Stop laughing at me, you damn brats!
"Again! Your footwork is lazy. You move like a golem, not a knight."
*Thwack!*
The training stick was slapped away from my hand, despite me blocking.
I had overextended again.
I tried to use the Battle Trance thingamajig, but the system only responded with a big, fat red message saying it wasn't an actual combat, and therefore does not activate Battle Trance.
Damn devs.
"What are you dreaming about! Do you think your opponent will let you think in the midst of battle?!"
*Thwack!*
I couldn't get aggressive.
I couldn't be sloppy.
I had to use just enough power to move my body correctly.
It was a million tiny decisions, and my tiny Orcish brain could not handle it.
"You're not parrying the force, Grul, you're meeting it head-on. That's how a child fights! Redirect the energy! Let it slide!"
I tried to follow what he said and let it slide, and nearly fell on my face.
I could hear the kids giggling again…
It was exhausting in a new, terrible way.
Instead of my muscles, which would withstand the fatigue and get stronger the more I exert them, my mind was the one having to withstand the fatigue.
It was at this time that I realized how severe the stat imbalance was, and how much it could affect me.
What I'm trying to say, is: Imagine a young teen trying to control a raging bull—that was what's happening right now.
An Intelligence 20 mind was trying to control a Strength 54 body that primarily acts on instinct.
Obviously, the order gets jumbled and the two sides get confused from the other.
By the time Kael finally allowed me to stop, I was not sweating, I was seeping.
My body was tired, and my brain even more so.
I collapsed onto the dirt, too tired to even vocalize my exhaustion.
Kael simply stood over me, wiping a bead of sweat from his own brow.
"Four hours, and you look worse than when you came back after your journey into the deeper side of Quietus Forest. You are finally learning what effort truly is. We'll start again the day after."
I just laid there, staring at the beautiful setting sky.
I could feel the darkness affliction still present in my body, but right now, the only affliction that mattered was my Mental Fatigue.
I flicked my wrist lazily.
[STATUS SCREEN]
I scrolled down through my impressive skills, expecting nothing to have been added.
I mean, it's not like I did anything noteworthy; only that I failed for hours on end.
But at the bottom, there it was.
|SKILLS:
|- Logical Deduction (E) (Passive) (New!)
| ↳ Slightly reduces the mental drain when learning advanced or logical concepts. Increases insight gained from failure.
|- Tenacious Spirit (E) (Passive) (New!)
| ↳ Gain a slight bonus to Willpower and Resolve. General mental fatigue gain is somewhat decreased.
…Maybe losing isn't so bad…after all.
…
…
…
The next day…
"H-Hello, yes, I will be your language instructor for today. Fo-For no particular reason whatsoever, yes."
…This masked physician guy again?