Chapter 12 : 2 Months Time-Skip

*Clang…

*Clang…

The sound of metal hitting metal resounded all around the training field, two swordsmen stood opposite of each other with swords in their hands, one blue and the other red, clashing from the last hour.

The intensity of their clashes was increasing with the tempo of the wind. Many people in Marine uniform could be seen around them as they watched in awe how both swordsmen fought.

"I still can't believe you have improved this much in just 2 months." Came a female voice, she was still in her teens, this was Tashigi who complimented the person to who she decided to teach swordsmanship of entirely her own volition.

She saw the boy who was even younger than herself picking up her swordsmanship which she had learned for more than 5 years in just a matter of months.

"You jest, even now if you weren't holding back then you most likely can knock out my sword anytime…" Replied the youth with a roll in his eyes, this was Ragna who had spent the last two month in Logue Town, living off the money he got from claiming Golden Hook's bounty.

In the past two months, he had solely devoted himself to learning everything he needed to sail alone.

It started with Tashigi offering to take out time from her busy schedule of life as a Marine Recruit and hone the basics of swordsmanship inside Ragna.

Part of the reason why Ragna never tried to use sword all by himself was practising bad form and habits, anyone could swing a sword and given time can be good at it, however, without a good teacher, it's inevitable that that person will make a lot of mistakes and learn wrong faulty stands.

A master should iron out these bad stands and habits in the early days of learning to make sure the student practices the right form and has a solid foundation, once those faulty stands and swings become a habit, it is especially hard to correct them.

That is why people say, it's easier to learn than to un-learn. Ragna after getting a sword was gonna find himself a good teacher anyway, but his luck was that his act of giving Yubashiri to Tashigi made her determined to teach him Swordsmanship.

What he was learning under her was nothing but just the basics of swordsmanship and that was only for last 2 months, however, it turned out that he had a talent for the sword.

According to Tashigi, he was picking things faster than anyone she knew, she herself took almost a year of training to get to the point where Ragna was.

"Don't underestimate yourself, you are only learning for 2 months, I have learned swords ever since I was 11. I am sure with your talent, in just a few years you can surpass my current self.

It's really extraordinary seeing someone picking up things as fast as you do…" Tashigi said, almost sounding emotional.

'It's not just his progress rate, he is much stronger than me. I'm not the only one holding back, Ragna too is holding back in terms of speed and raw strength against me. Though I currently can beat him due to the skill gap but so can he, he can overwhelm me with sheer speed and power.' Tashigi pursed her lips, not sure what to say.

"It just shows how good of a teacher you are, and I still have much to learn…" Ragna was though modest. He too had some idea what could the girl be thinking and he didn't want to flaunt in front of her.

He still had a long way to go in swordsmanship. However, that wasn't the only thing he was learning from the last 2 months in Logue Town.

From Toll, he was learning Navigation and since he usually spent time with the branch members of Logue Town Marine, he befriended them and learned much about sailing in general.

And as if that wasn't enough, in his almost non-existent free time, he took it upon himself to teach himself shooting. He was no marksman but it would be a crime to not put that excellent flintlock gun he got from Toll to good use when he finally goes back to the sea.

And now, finally, after 2 months of toil, he was ready to get going.

"Haha… okay enough for today, I'm not like you, I can't go on anymore like this. So Tried !" Tashigi let out an exaggerated sigh and sheathed her cherished sword.

In the past month, Ragna has seen the girl treating the sword like her own child. It was amusing and strange at the same time.

"So, are you really planning on going? Are you sure you don't wanna be a Marine? I know it's a little early for you but I'm sure that if I talk with Captain Smoker then he can make an exception for you, making you a recruit ahead of time." Tashigi tried again to change Ragna's mind. However, this position she speak of was actually unofficial in nature as even Smoker can't change Marine's rules.

Smoker can take Ragna in as a Recruit under his wings for the time being. He just won't get a promotion until he comes of age.

"Yes, I'm sure about this, I rather be a bounty hunter than a Marine. You already know that I wish to travel across the world. Marine position will only bound me in one position." Ragna replied. In the past two months, they haven't been just master and student, they have become friends and Tashigi long learned that she can't stop Ragna even if she wants to.

"Sigh," letting out a sigh she just shook her head. They had been through this talk many times by now. And always the answer is this, she knew that Ragna wasn't staying.

"So, when you are leaving ?"

"Tomorrow. Got few more things I need to figure out before departing." Ragna smiled and sheathed his own sword.

"Where you are planning on going ?" Tashigi asked with a little sad tone, they really have become friends there.

There are not many around her age in this Marine Branch, especially no one who is good in swordsmanship or enthusiastic about swords. So seeing Ragna ago was hard for her.

"I'm not sure, now I know how to navigate, however, I have no idea where I'm gonna get pirates with high bounty.

"In fact, regarding this, I needed your help as well."

"My help ?" Tashigi was taken aback. Even she had no idea about East Blue and it's pirate. It has been not more than 6 months since she joined the Marines and before that, she was just a girl who like swords.

"I'm sorry but I don't know much about pirates and where to find them ?" Shaking her head she said.

"Ah I figured, actually I wasn't asking you for help directly, what I was thinking was that you called that captain of yours, Smoker and I asked him. I'm sure being a Marine he too would like someone taking care of pirates in east blue. So maybe he might help me out…"

"Oh! If it's Captain Smoker then yeah, I'm sure he should know the hideouts of pirates in East Blue."

"Exactly!

So can you let me talk with him ?" Asked Ragna to which Tashigi just nodded.

—-

After a few hours, Tashigi took Ragna to Smoker's office where he met the man who was almost 7 feet tall, smoking two cigars at the same time and had white hair.

He honestly looked intimidating in person but it made sense seeing this was Logue Town and Marrine surely would put someone competent to guard this place.

Unlike what he thought, Smoker was easy to get along with. The conversation with him was quite short.

After hearing that Ragna wanted to hunt pirates for bounty and was here to ask them if he knew any of their locations. He was willing to say the few places he knew in easy blue which could have pirates.

Smoker himself would have taken action in those places if not for his duty in the Logue Town so in this case, he didn't mind if someone else handled pirates in his stead.

"One Last Question, do you know any pirate group who wear completely white clothes with White Masked." Ragna finally asked, being a branch captain, Smoker should have valuable knowledge about many different kinds of pirates.

Maybe he can get a clue from him about that culprit who burned down Lost Island.

"White ?" Smoker was confused, he had no knowledge of any particular pirate group who wore complete white and strange masks.

Upon getting nothing after rocking his brain he was just about to shake his head, but that was when something clicked in his mind.

'Strange Masks…' He thought and only one group of people came to his mind. They were not pirates but even more troublesome.

"No, why do you ask." He asked, narrowing his eyes, as he wondered how come this young man who Tashigi took a fancy to meet someone like those guys.

"They burned down my home Island. I was the only survivor." Ragna replied with a serious tone. Though he didn't show it but anger was burning in those eyes of his.

Smoker now was completely taken aback. 'Did I think of the wrong guys, why would they burn down an island ?"

"I see, I'm sorry." Smoker nodded and seeing that Smoker had nothing, Ragna too just nodded his head and was ready to get going.

But that was when Smoker called him out from behind.

"Kid wait,"

"Huh ?"

 "What was the name of your Island…" Smoker asked.

"Lost Island…."

xxx

[Word Count: 1640]

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