"PARRY! STRIKE! BACKSTEP!! MAINTAIN YOUR BALANCE!"
Bant yelled the commands as he put Lisa through the drill. It was designed to test her reaction times, footwork, balance, stamina, and general skill with the sword. But after having been doing the drill for twenty minutes Bant was beginning to see why this would be a challenge. Lisa's skill with a sword was exceptional. But her ability to counterattack left something to be desired. and her balance wasn't the best.
"Stop," he said as he stepped back and lowered his own sword. Lisa did the same. She was breathing heavily but wasn't at her limit yet.
Bant considered for a moment. Then realized his mistake. He was comparing her to a Hidden Sword member. He was expecting her to already be there. She wasn't. As a fighter she was probably equal to five of the kingdom's average knights. And could probably beat the said knights at the same time.
He had to train her to make her one of the best. And to do that he had to inspire her to push herself beyond her limits. To become the best.
Coll slipped off the fence he was leaning on and came over with two leather water skins. He passed one to each of them and grinned. "I've seen worse."
"So have I," said Bant as he took a couple sips of water. Lisa, he noticed, was also only taking a couple sips of water. That way she wouldn't get stomach cramps.
"Coll, go get your sword," said Bant. "Lisa, I want you to watch this closely."
Coll grinned and walked off to the stable where he'd stashed some of his stuff.
"I thought Coll only used a bow and knife," said Lisa.
"I've taught him how to use a sword," said Bant. "I've yet to see him find a weapon he can't use without some degree of skill."
"How good is he?" asked Lisa.
"You'll see," said Bant. "If I'm off somewhere and you want to train Coll would be an excellent teacher. Just don't ask him personal questions about his family. I don't want to have to deal with that again anytime soon."
"Why?" asked Lisa curiously.
"Don't ask," Bant shuddered as Coll emerged from the stable carrying a short sword. "He has a troubled past that if he wants to share with you he will. But don't ask him questions. It'll just cause you trouble."
"It's been a while since I used a sword," said Coll as he unsheathed it and put the sheath down. "Let's see how this goes."
Bant stood up and walked into the training area. He unsheathed his sword and saw Lisa frown.
"What now?" he asked.
"it's not a fair fight," said Lisa. "He's shorter and so is his sword. You have more reach."
"No fight is fair. Ever," said Bant. "And no fight is impossible to win or lose. You can guess with some degree of success but nothing is garuanteed. A young boy with a dagger can defeat a knight in armor on a horse with a sword. It's unlikely but it can happen. Nothing is set in stone. I have the advantage of height and reach. He has better balance and is able to use his sword faster because it's smaller. My sword can deliver a heavier blow. He can redirect it better and faster than me.
"There's advantages and disadvantages to everything," continued Bant. "You need to learn to analyse your oppenent and yourself. You need to learn your weaknesses and turn them into strengths or advantages as circumstances require."
Lisa seemed to consider that then nodded. Bant turned back to Coll who nodded.
"She'll learn quickly that'n."
"She will," said Bant as he raised his sword to a ready position. "GO!"
Coll rushed Bant as soon as he yelled go. Bant was expecting it. Coll had been a bit away from him, out of reach of his sword but not too far away to get in quickly and catch him off guard.
Bant blocked blow after blow. Using his reach and height to keep Coll at a distance while looking for an opening. He blocked a blow and then positioned the sword for the next one.
Coll swung and Bant swung his sword away from the blow while spinning away from the blow. Coll stumbled and almost fell but turned his fall into a roll that ended him up on his feet and spinning around to face Bant.
Bant was already on the offensive. He'd completed his spin and taken two steps towards Coll while he rolled and spun. Only to find Bant's sword already swinging towards him.
Coll was a smaller man and Bant knew he wouldn't be able to withstand his blows for long if he just blocked them. But he knew Coll was too skilled a fighter to do that so instead he swung his sword in arcs that Coll deflected at angles.
Bant used Coll's deflection of his blows to start the next blow. Keeping his sword moving in strong blows with little to no pause between each blow.
Then Coll did something unsuspected. He blocked a blow. With Bant's momentum gone he tried to kick Bant's legs out from under him. Bant jumped over the kick, acting on instinct and rolled past Coll.
Instead of Letting his roll propel him onto his feet Bant stopped on one knee and angled his sword over his shoulder and across his back. Blocking Coll's blow then he shoved with his sword. Sending Coll stumbling back and using the breathing space he'd given himself to jump back onto his feet. He turned ready to face an offensive onslaught from Coll.
Only to find Coll standing there grinning and with his sword stuck in the ground and leaning on it with both hands. "You haven't lost it," laughed Coll. "And I thought I could get you with that kick."
"You haven't lost it either," grinned Bant. "You're still a better fighter than most people I've fought."
"What was that!?!?" yelled Lisa. "No one lost!"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRDYt7uL8A
Bant turned to her. "Another lesson, apprentice. Not all fights are won or lost. Some fights are won and lost by both parties involved. Sometimes there is no loser. Me and Coll are too close in skill for either of us to lose easily. We fought for less than three minutes. What did you see us both do?"
Lisa thought for a minute. A frown on her face. Bant watched as she replayed the fight in her head.
"Give her a break," laughed Coll. "She's just a beginner to this skill level."
"You both tried to get each other off balance," said Lisa slowly. "Bant, you didn't block Coll's blow. And Coll tried to kick you. But you both rolled."
"And why did we roll?" asked Bant as he walked over to the fence.
"To put distance between yourself and to quickly get back on your feet," said Lisa. "But you didn't get back on your feet right away. You blocked his blow."
"Because?" prompted Bant.
"Because his sword is smaller and quicker and in the time it would have taken you to get to your feet he would have hit you." said Lisa.
"Good," said Bant. "My instinct was screaming at me to turn to face him but I couldn't in the time I had. So instead I blocked where I knew he would strike."
"How did you know that?" asked Lisa. Another frown on her face.
"Because no one would aim a blow at someone who is on one knee that wouldn't kill," said Bant. "There are circumstances where that could happen, if they're trying to capture you, for instance. But most people will kill on instinct. Don't forget that."
Lisa nodded and Bant knew the lesson had struck home. Both lessons.
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