Spar with Cassius

Two knights came rushing at me. They seem to be from a superior position based on their attire.

After introducing themselves, they said, "Young master you are here, are there any ways we can be of assistance?" The captain of the second unit is quite thin and sturdy, while the vice commander is a little muscular.

Without hesitating, I asked them straight out.

I requested a private conversation with Cassius, the captain of the second knight troop.

He initially exhibited confusion but nonetheless agreed to my proposal.

"What!? Hand-to-hand combat? Are you serious?" Cassius exclaimed, his eyes wide with panic.

I could tell he was hesitant and nervous about the idea; he fears he would probably be punished for introducing martial arts or swordsmanship to a noble.

Soon I assured him and told him about my decision to learn swordsmanship after failing in magic.

Also, I made it clear to him that this was important and asked him not to disclose this information, me asking him out for a spar.

Cassius hesitated for a few moments, bargaining with me back and forth before finally agreeing to the spar.

His apprehension was palpable as he prepared for the fight.

Knights, unlike mages who got their private quarters, were given poor dorm rooms to reside in. However, Cassius, being the captain, was fortunate enough to have a private quarter.

It was located close to a small training ground, which was perfect for him to keep up with his training.

As we walked towards his quarter, I noticed that Cassius was constantly checking our surroundings, ensuring that we were not being watched or overheard.

Once we reached his private quarter, Cassius led me to the training ground outside, which was probably concealed from the view of others.

The training area was modest, at 20 square feet in size. Small patches of grass sprouted on the edges of the plainly irrigated soil that made up the majority of the land.

The open-air setting made it possible for the lovely scent of blossoming flowers to fill the venue, enhancing the tranquilly.

Swords and spears rested idle on a broken weapon shelf to one side, knowing they would be useless in this hand-to-hand conflict.

As I assumed my position, I couldn't help but feel uneasy as I observed Cassius's perfect and powerful stance. It was obvious that I had misjudged him, so I was aware that I needed to exercise caution.

Now that we were both ready, Cassius yelled at me, his voice resonating across the quiet practise field. "Here I come!"

As he charged forward, a cloud of dust was left in his wake. I could sense his mana building up as he approached, preparing for his attack.

Suddenly, his fist came hurtling towards my lower chin, infused with his mana, the punch was deadly.

With quick reflexes, I dodged his attack and felt the breeze of his punch brush past my cheek. But before I could even react, a kick came flying towards my ribs.My instincts kicked in, and I raised my forearm infused with mana, blocking the hit just in time. The force of the kick was so strong that it sent me sliding backwards, my feet digging into the soft soil.

Regaining my balance, I quickly shifted to an offensive stance. Although I had improved my flexibility during training, my offensive skills were lacking.

Cassius, however, was more than capable of defending himself against my blows and kicks, his movements quick and fluid.

But as we exchanged blow after blow, I could feel myself growing more precise with each movement. My attacks became more focused, and I was able to anticipate Cassius's defences, leading to more successful strikes.

As time went by, my offensive capabilities grew, and I was no longer solely relying on dodging and avoiding.