Please don't call me a genius

When we arrived at the backyard the 'dummy' that mom asked Gibly to prepare was already standing in the middle.

Minerva: "Please show me what you are capable of. Is the sword you have alright? Magic is prohibited as I would think Vanessa already told you."

Lysa: "Yeah she did. And the sword I have since I was five is more like a dagger now... I don't think it represents swords as such."

Minerva: "Ok then..."

She 'conjured' a sword... How?

Vanessa: "I see you are still the same master of transfiguration as always... Did you just transform a stick into a sword?"

Minerva: "Of course I am. And yes I did as you said. I don't think any student has figured out what I taught them... It's sad that still, no one is on the level I thought I could bring them. The students nowadays really lack talent."

Vanessa: "You will change your mind on that very soon. Our darling is a little genius herself."

Lysa: "Please don't call me a genius. This is nothing but hard work!"

Minerva: "Well, now that you have a sword you can show me what you got."

I took the sword she presented and walked to the open space. It has changed over the years. First, there was this sand-like ground that has hardened. Now after years of training I did here the ground was a sturdy as stone.

The dummy was enchanted. It won't break no matter how hard I strike it. I always used it for my training. But I didn't use it in a long time since I don't have much sword knowledge that I am missing... The things I needed were fights and battles. To spar with someone was helping a lot more than just training with the dummy. So it was abandoned... To think I would use it again on such an occasion...

I wonder how much I should demonstrate... It would not create any complications if I just showed everything. Everyone in this house knows how much I can do... but then she will call me a genius all day long right? I would hate that!

I will use half of my strength!

I began with the simple sword moves: cutting and thrusting aka. slashing and stabbing.

The reasoning for this naming is simple. I am not really cutting it like I do when I cut a tomato it's more like slashing with the sword and inflicting wounds into the flesh (not in the case of the dummy). And stabbing is just a synonym for thrusting with the difference that thrusting is a straight attack moving along a straight line towards the targeted area. But when I stab my opponent/ the dummy, I stab from varying positions and not always straight... Since I change my attack in the last 'second'.

These basic moves are the first to learn. You can combine the two into various combos because each of them can be connected. The stabbing motion is just the single movement but the slashing motion has a variety of angles one can attack from. Like the overhead cut or the low cut, first coming from above, second coming from below the centre of the body. The other angles have names for themselves but are way too many to list them here.

________________

Meanwhile:

Vanessa: "No one taught her the moves... She just began one day and has since gotten even more creative regarding her moves."

Minerva: "Well, it is essential that one has a creative mind to learn new and unknown things for themselves. Without this trait, one is in the dire need of a teacher. I conclude that your child has talent as a spell inventor. If she has the needed talent for magic that is."

Vanessa: "Really? I wouldn't want her to get caught up in that dangerous field so early..."

Minerva: "Don't worry, as long as no one tells her one can create a new spell, she wouldn't try... (whisper: I hope) I can see that she has the basic traits needed for a good body magician. I never would have thought there to be a third female in this field."

Vanessa: "Basic traits?"

Minerva: "First of all the physical fitness needed to even fight with the sword without harming oneself. Then the mental strength has to be up to par. The cognitive abilities have to be trained along with the fitness. Being aware of your surroundings while still keeping your eyes on the enemy is essential. You have to judge the timing and distance and be cautious the whole time. The fourth and possibly most important ability would be to keep calm and confident no matter the situation."

Vanessa: "And Lysa has theses?"

Minerva: "As far as I can see, yes. But I don't have the practical knowledge. I can only judge through theory alone. So don't rely on my sight. I recommend Lydia to take a look at her."

Vanessa: "Lysa already spars with her multiple times a week..."

Minerva: "... I'm speechless."

Vanessa: "Of course you would be... Don't even try to imagine our reactions for the first time when Lysa asked."

Minerva: "Surprised? No probably more."

Vanessa: "Yes."

__________________________

While they were speaking about our Protagonist, Lysa already finished all of her combos and stood next to the dummy... As she was preparing to go over she overheard the conversation of the two at about the time of Vanessa saying Lysa shouldn't try out creating new spells... saying it was dangerous...

_________________________

Lysa: "Mom, if I showed you my magic would you cry or would you rage?"