S1: Chapter 3 - Training Before Exam

On their way to the Masters home, outside the city next to a near mountain, two of them got to know each other a little bit more.

- So, what's your name again kid?

- Pantović Leyce sir.

- I see. Then I'll call you Leyce.

You can call me Kagutsuchi.

- Kagutsuchi. What an odd name...

- You're the one to talk.

...

- Listen closely Leyce. The final exam is in a bit less than two weeks. First, I'd need you to take this somewhat seriously and tell me everything that you know about hand to hand combat.

- Isn't this a swords academy? Why hand to hand combat?

- And this is a serious conversation between Master and student. Why answering a question with a question?

- Tehee

- Quiet. Before learning basics of sword, I need to make sure that you're capable of fighting hand to hand. If you can't do that much, you can't wield a sword neither.

- I see. But still, I don't think I'll fight fight without a sword.

- You don't know what could happen. And this exam isn't about who is the best swordsman. Best swordsman doesn't get to pass. Winners does. And every single one of them will do everything in their power to win, even if it means playing dirty. The most common things is going to be them looking for an opportunity to take your hand out, or to get the sword out of your hand. So in that case you need to fight them in hand combat.

- I get it now.

- Finally, you got something. Now, what do you know about fighting with unarmed?

-.....

-?????????

- Nothing.... At all...

- I saw this coming... That's probably the only thing that's keeping me here. Fine, then we will start of with the first phase of your training.

- First phase?

- That's right. We don't have enough time to finish half of the first time within two weeks, so in order for you to do anything, we will do all three phases in two weeks.

- Say what now?

- You don't think you can do it? Fine, let's call it quits.

- No I'll do it.

- Anyways, first phase is simple. All you need to do is head up this mountain. Climb to the top of the mountain, and come back down. That's the first phase. Afterwards, we will proceed to a second phase. Feel free to start whenever you want.

After a small break, Leyce made his first attempt... Which failed horribly.

The path was a small forest which is going slightly up, into a steep road, until finally climbing over rock to the very top.

Day by day, Leyce couldn't do it. Until finally on fourth day this happened.

- I did it Master Kagutsuchi!

- Is that so. Good. You should rest, it was probably exhausting. Four days of training isn't child's play. We start with next phase of training tomorrow. However, before going to the second phase, I need you to do something quickly.

- Yes, what would that be?

- I need you to climb the mountain again. I'll wait at the very bottom.

- What did he just say?!

- What's wrong Leyce? Go.

- How does he know? There's no way he would've known. I took my time climbing, it wasn't obvious at all. I even wonded myself, made scratches on multiple places. How did he see through it??

- You should be able to do it quickly Leyce, what's stopping you?

- No its not that, I'm just tired from today... It was though.

- Oh is that so... But if you followed the instructions from the letter I left at the top of the mountain, you shouldn't have problem climbing it again. Did you see the letter I left up there?

- A letter?? This guy's nuts. He actually left a letter for me up there, and unless I obtain it he isn't gonna let me go to the next phase. What should I do...

- If you cheated just say so. No big deal, just keep trying and eventually you will mak-

- I'll go now. Wait here.

- Hmph. Fine, let's see what do you have up your sleeve now.

Yeah I'll wait here.

While climbing the mountain Leyce decided to do it no matter what. And he's not going back until he make it. Forest was easy to pass, however at steep road, it got harder to breathe. And before he even got to rock, Leyce was long out of breath.

- It's so thin. I can't even run in this air, yet I'm supposed to climb?

Yet he still kept going. Hurt, cold, he gritted his teeth and went for it. Falling, while using stick he picked in the forest as support, he was so close. Until, with the tip of his finger, Leyce knocked a smaller box.

Inside a box, there was a letter explaining the proper way to breath in different situations.

The most useful way to breath on greater heights, and places where air is thin is by taking long deep breaths through your mouth while gritting your teeth. Hold the breath all the way, until you encounter things as jumps, quick smaller runs or any action that required you to strain. Then at that very moment, exhale through your nose quickly.

By following the instructions, after 4 hours, Leyce made it down the mountain with ease.

- Hmph, not bad.

- Mission done. And next time, feel free to tell me about things like these breathing techniques from the start.

- Hahaha, then you would never even bother climbing. This way not only did you climb it to the very top, but you also applied the lesson you learned in practice.

With the sun setting, it marked the end of an long, hard but successful day.

First phase of training, was completed.

Up next was regular training during which Master Kagutsuchi was teaching Leyce basics of hand to hand combat. However, this phase of training included serious physical training as well. Both for body and soul, such as showers with freezing cold water, meditation, fasting.

In the menahwile, Leyce was supposed to train breathing constantly.

Afterwards, the third and final phase was upon them - learning how to wield a sword.

- Leyce what kind of sword would you like?

- What do you mean by "kind"?

- There are multiple types of swords. Not only that, also different shapes sizes lengths and so on. So, do you have anything specific in mind?

- Let's see... Well, anything that's has longer and sharper edge. Also, it shouldn't be too heavy.

- So you're going for clean cuts then.

- Clean cuts?

- Instead of overpowering your opponent by physical strength, you are going to rely on speed and precise attacks.

- Well, I have no idea how would I phrase that but yeah. Given my current physical strength, I'd probably lose in duel if it came to strength.

- This is an older katana I have. It's still in good shape and it will probably do the job. However, it might not survive for long.

- Are you sure?

- I want you to take it. You will pass this exam without a fail.

*on the handle of katana, there was written "Izanagi"

- I'll give it my best shot!

....

- Oh that's right. Kagutsuchi San, I wanted to ask you about the final exam. What's it like?

- That's a good question. I guess even you can say something smart every now and then.

- HEY OLD MEN WATCH YOUR MOUT-

- Hahaha. Fine, sorry. Anyways, final exam huh. Basically, all the students will be randomly picked and will fight each other. Like some sort of tournament. Then, according to rank list, top students will pass and enter the academy.

- And how exactly do we fight?

- With whatever weapon you want. For this entrance exam, close range weapons are necessary. However, many drop them after they enter the academy and chose long range weapons instead. As for how will winner be determined, it's simple. First one to be unable to move lost.

- Unable to move?

- Each of you will be provided with protection aura. It will surround your body and detect hits. You won't get hurt at all, even by fatal blows. However, the place where you get hit, the aura will tighten the muscles there making that part of the body unable to move. If your hand got hit, the aura will basically make your hand go numb.

- I see. So we can't get hurt. That's a relief.

- You can't get hurt. But you can lose easily. These will be quick matches, so prepare yourself for the worst. Many will try to play dirty.

- So will I.

- No. You will win fair and square. A single dirty move and I'll disqualify you myself.

- But if everyone els-

- Silence. That's all. You're dismissed for today.