Long road

I finished eating the very tasty meat from the boar's corpse.

"We should put it close to the exit now. The cold will freeze it and keep it good longer." Marcus said while standing up.

"I will help you." I want to help him, I've already moved that boar with me and it was really heavy.

"No. You rest now, I see that you are still tired." Matthew said worriedly. I didn't hear that in his voice but if he asked he certainly cared about me, he stood up and helped Marcus.

"Thank you…" I added with a full stomach and still heavy breaths.

"No problem." He nodded and in that same moment he lifted the boar together with Marcus, they put it right under the entrance but still in the cave. They again came back and this time they sat by the fire leaning against the walls of the cave. After the fight I realized how big the cave actually was from the inside, it was like a dome inside a very big one. Resembling me of the arena...

"Hayden, let's go." Estel made a gesture and we both stood up, all of my limbs still hurt like hell. It doesn't matter though I have to learn more. "Today I will try to do something different, I've thought about it some time ago but since only now I got someone to try it on." He finished the sentence but he didn't take the stick from the pile of branches in the corner. I took the one from the training before.

"Without a weapon?" I asked him, it's very weird that he won't use it.

"Don't worry, that's my small experiment." He then leaned into the position but without the stave. The very same position, with the left hand in front and right above his head as if he had his sword. But an illusionary one.

I looked him straight in the eye, I saw the passion in them. Clear passion and something that resembles a fire. I leaped onto him from the stance from before, the 'sword' pointing at him but more towards the ground.

"I just want to tell you before we start, I remembered a thing the master told me when he taught me. Before his death... Something may be very basic but not everyone knows that, every sword stance has its own name and the one I taught you. Well, not completely yet. It's called the 'fool's guard'. The sword is pointed downwards with one of your legs pointing to advance and the other supporting that kind of movement. A thrust."

"Why is it called that? And why did you teach me it then! It sounds like I'm an idiot." I don't even know why I got angry actually…

"It's not because you are an idiot but just the use of it. It's a stance that gives you range but your moves are very restricted, It's harder for you to move left or right but the range compensates for that. That's why it's called the 'fool's guard' because normally using it is very situational." Now it makes a little bit more sense. "And I taught you that one because it's a very easy thing to teach since you learned how to use a spear. Somewhat at least.�� I actually just realized that it was so easy to get used to it. "You can still do some slashes but their power will probably be weaker than other stances." In the fight before the slashes I made felt really slow and almost as if they wouldn't do anything even if they hit.

"Will you teach me other stances?"

"I will but it's not that easy to teach them. It was very easy because you've practiced using your spearmanship for some time, other stances learned from nothing are not that easy." The spear lessons from before actually helped more than I thought. "Get ready." After those words we went again into a fighting position, I still wonder how he is going to fight…

We both jumped! I saw both Matthew and Marcus looking at us from the walls of the cave. I threw a thrust which he dodged to the left, I tried to change the direction from a thrust into a slash but it felt sluggish. He of course ducked the slash and jumped from right under my arm and punched me where the ribs are located. I felt the punch… I felt the tremendous strength pishing on my ribs. His punch even when wounded felt like a brick, not an elven fist. I fell down on my knee with the stick in my hands, he backed up with quick jumps. Those moves… Felt exactly the same as when he had the sword. Quick movements with little room to work with, it doesn't seem like that if you look at his position but those moves are really dynamic and small. Incredible…

"How can I get back to that world?" I spit blood while asking the question.

"Haha! As I said, mastering this is not that easy. I can always get into it and out but the control of that world is very minor. Making that shine right into your eyes was The most I could do. The limit of my abilities, you still did good before though! Getting in there once was a very nice surprise." How long is the way? How long is the path of swordsmanship… If he is only able to get out and in after two years. It seems like an unending path to mastery, but I don't even see the beginning of the road.

"Is it your dream to master the sword?" I asked and while doing it I slowly started standing up.

"It is one of them… But the very first one is having that bastard's head in front of me. His face is always there when I fight, it reminds me of why I took the path of the sword. The teacher once told me that one way to make the way of the sword easier is when you will feel the sword. If you will be able to express your emotions through your sword, it's when your path will be set. I still can't do it though, so I can't teach you that. Sorry…" He looked into his palm sad. It looks as if he wished that there was a sword in his hands, to put those emotions into it.

"You don't have to apologize! I'm very thankful that you wanted to teach me, you are still doing it right now. I really have to thank you for that. I am not talented and I can't even use dark, but you still took me under your wings." I looked at him again. The cave became bigger than before and I went into my position, he smiled and went to his. In the corner of my eyes I saw both Matthew and Marcus also smiling, this moment feels so… Wholesome. I wish we could be like this for a long time. But for my goal I can't do it, I can't let myself lose anyone… I don't want to put my friends, saviors even. To achieve my goal I have to be alone, my soul doesn't see them as a sacrifice for my own sake.

He also went into his position with a fist in the air.

"Let's go!" He moved to the left, close to the wooden wall at the entrance. I stood in place with my sword pointed to the ground, like a predator preparing to jump to its prey. Or rather prey preparing to attack the predator. Like a weak man with a dagger in his hand leaning towards a warrior experienced in battle, praying for forgiveness. On the ground with the dagger prepared. In a deep prowl wanting to stab that knight in the throat. Making a circle once again for a third time already this day.

I leaned down really low as I could, almost as low as him. I must look really weird with the sword pointing down and myself also leaned close to the ground. I leaped in his direction, it's impossible for him to predict me attack from this position. He didn't! The attack scratched his head, a dirty mark appeared on his face. But in the same moment, he made a spin and with the back of his fist empowered by it, he hit me under my ribs. Not the same one as before luckily but it still hurt like hell.

I backed off a little and looked him in the eye. I held the stave harder with my hands, while he was approaching me once again. I also made a spin with the 'sword'! He didn't predict that, he probably thought I won't be able to move but it surprised him. Estel of course ducked it because of the inhuman reflexes and his very nimble body, from that position he wanted to attack with his fist. In that very same moment, the sword in my hand still holding the power of that swing gave me a thought. 'Let's spin one more time'. A dumb thing to do since my back will be completely open for attacks but he is so close to me that there are no further options. If he hits me one more time it will be over. So I made another spin this time a little lower on the level of his head. He is still ducking so for him it's the head. The second swing of mine started approaching his face and so did his fist. I felt the hand hitting the other ribs but actually, at the very end of our attack, we both automatically stopped.

A voice came from behind the wooden entrance stopping the fight, we both looked at the entrance Matthew together with Marcus also stood up.