Are you stronger?

Half an hour later Alexander found himself face to face with Béatrice in the courtyard. The tension between them was palpable as the cool autumn air circled between them. 

Béatrice stood before him, no longer wearing a dress and heels, but a black Keikogi-type uniform with a white undershirt and belt.

Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and on her feet were simple slippers. 

If Alexander hadn't known anything, Béatrice looked as if she had just walked out of an anime. 

"You're late." Béatrice stared casually, "You have a reason for that?"

Alexander frowned, "sorry, I can't really tell time on a grandfather clock." He said this sarcastically, though he legitimately couldn't tell time on a clock face, even in his previous life.

Béatrice found the corner of her lips twitching at Alexander's answer, but whether it was from a frown or smile Alexander couldn't tell.

"I see." Béatrice finally replied, "Then I suppose I'll have your tutors teach you this in the afternoon." She answered with a nod, "For now, we'll begin with the basics."

"Of what?" Alexander asked.

"Sparring of course," Béatrice replied, "ready your stance and strike when ready."

Alexander frowned, not thrilled about his situation or opponent. However, he wasn't going to complain, besides at least this would give him an excuse to hit Béatrice.

Alexander spread his feet apart, one leg behind the other as he turned his torso somewhat to the side, minimizing his profile. 

He then raised his fist, just below his nose.

Béatrice tilted her head curiously, "interesting stance." She replied. 

Whether that was a compliment or insult Alexander didn't care. 

He began taking a deep breath, circling his world energy into his feet and hands.

The warmth of his world energy sent a shiver down his spine.

Béatrice narrowed her eyes as she slowly lowered herself into a fighting stance, her fist tightening as her feet distanced themselves.

Alexander smirked at her response.

Good, at least she is taking me seriously.

Alexander then charged his feet with world energy, the white glow at the bottom of his feet shined brightly as he blitzed forward with speed.

Béatrice quickly dashed towards the left, her gaze following Alexander as his fist crashed into the air where she once stood.

Alexander gritted his teeth when he realized he missed, before quickly turning on his heel to face Béatrice again. 

He charged his feet with world energy again as he blitzed towards Béatrice, time barely passing from the first strike.

Béatrice's eyes narrowed further as she spun into a kick. Her lean frame spun with speed and perfect balance. 

As Alexander approached he realized what was to come. He slowed his perception of time to increase his chances of dodging.

But he failed, and only caught Béatrice's kick in slow motion as it connected with his midsection. As her foot dug deep into his stomach, Alexander let out a pained grunt.

Staggering back while holding his abdomen, Alexander fought hard to stay upright. The force and precision of Béatrice's strike was remarkable. It was clear to Alexander that Béatrice was no simple noblewoman, but a force to be reckoned with.

Béatrice straightened herself up as she stepped towards Alexander. "impressive explosive power, but it's directionless and sloppy." Her words were stern and harsh, "Still, it seemed you've improved overall since Claire's training."

Alexander, still holding his stomach, rose. "Yeah, being trained by a demon does that to you." He replied bitterly.

Béatrice grinned subtly, "Ahh, now I see." She said with a nod, "That explains your sudden power and your brute tactics."

Alexander scoffed.

Béatrice lowered her stance into one of readiness, her grin still present. "We'll have to change that, break you back down, and build you better."

Alexander tightened his fist as he frowned, his stomach still aching. "Yeah, it seems you and your daughter are good at that part." He muttered. 

Béatrice ignored the remark, her grin simply widening as her gaze locked onto him. Then, without warning she blitzed towards Alexander with incredible speed.

Alexander, who was still distracted from earlier, barely had time to react. 

And by the time he realized what happened Béatrice fist was mere inches away from his face. 

Slowing his perception of time Alexander just barely missed Béatrice's first blow. As the wind blew past his ear, his heart began racing and adrenaline pumping. 

Alexander attempted to use the momentum of his doge to counterattack, charging his feet and hands with world energy. 

But as he moved to attack, Béatrice dodged effortlessly. Her body twisted as she moved to hit Alexander with a backhand punch. As the hit made contact, Alexander's jaw flew open.

Béatrice didn't stop there however, she followed the backhand up with a series of rapid jabs to Alexander's back, sending him stumbling forward. 

Alexander wanted to scream out in pain, but the air in his lungs had been knocked out. He gasped for air as he stumbled forward, his body throbbing in pain and agony.

"Leaving your back open?" Béatrice taunted with a laugh, "You are terrible at this, I could fight you blindfolded."

Alexander ignored her, barely hanging on to consciousness. 

Béatrice's training was unlike anything he had ever experienced, she was far less forgiving and ten times more brutal.

"That's…" Alexander's voice was hoarse and raspy, "What is this?"

"Training," Béatrice replied with a cold laugh as she approached Alexander. "Did you expect it to be easy, to cry that you're trying and hope that I go easy like Sergeant Claire?" Béatrice's words stung as she towered over Alexander.

Alexander coughed, spitting up blood as he tried to rise. 

"Pathetic." Béatrice hissed, "You're nothing but a child with too much hatred, too much pain, full of weakness, and devoid of love."

Alexander tightened his fist as he looked up to Béatrice with a glare, straining his neck. "What are you…" Alexander croaked out, "some kinda villain?" 

He let out a weak but defiant laugh.

Béatrice squatted down, her arms over her knees. "Villain?" She echoed, "No, but I don't have patience for words anymore, get up."

Alexander gritted his teeth as he forced himself to his feet. His body trembling under its own weight and regenerative healing barely made a difference. "Fine," Alexander barked through the pain, "I won't hold back!"

Béatrice grinned as she rose. "Excellent."

— — — 

The following months were a blur of brutal physical and mental torture, that left no room for failure. 

Béatrice trained Alexander relentlessly, eventually even taking over his academic duties just to have more time to drill him. 

She stripped Alexander down of everything, his prior training, his prior knowledge and experience, all of it.

She then drilled him endlessly with Better stances and footwork. She taught him different attack points, techniques, and skills, with each mistake he made turning into a brutal demonstration.

As the months stretched into years, Alexander began to see improvements in his ability to fight.

He could stand against Béatrice's relentless series of attacks, he learned to adapt and defend. Eventually even getting to the point where he could land strikes on Béatrice and dodge her counters.

If just barely.

But those changes revealed more flaws in Alexander's performance. He could dodge and counterattack, but could he do it consistently and retain enough stamina to go on the attack?

No.

He could watch Béatrice carefully and read her attacks, but was he aware of his surroundings, or if his opponent forcing him into a disadvantage?

No. 

And so, Béatrice's training grew harsher, she stopped giving Alexander room to breathe and began to squeeze him from all sides. 

Either he would learn to adjust and fast, or he'd end up outside, sleeping in the elements with no food, no water, and no sympathy.

And currently, Alexander was in that exact situation, sitting outside near the docks with two guards watching his every movement.

— — —

Alexander groaned, it had been just over two years since his training had begun with Béatrice and he still felt no better than when it first began. 

He looked up to the sky, spotting the first snowflakes of winter. As they slowly fell, Alexander felt a shiver run up his back.

Tonight was going to be a cold one.