Chapter 4: Prodigy

3rd year of Riochiro's training

I've finished teaching him everything I know at school level, now it's time for combat training, grandfather, you mentioned to me that if Riochiro and Kyouka got into a situation like the one 3 years ago, they could get into trouble or suffer the same thing.

So I am currently teaching him to fight with the sword-martial style, a sword style of the Kisaragui family, in which the body and sword are used in a refined way. It also has melee techniques without a blade, like the one I used to immobilize Riochiro and a variant of this is the one you used to knock Kyouka unconscious.

I don't know why I'm describing this to you, if you already know it. But since you told me to write you the reports in detail, I guess I will have to literally be a dictionary.

For the moment Riochiro is practicing his sword skills, later on I will teach him the techniques, because if he starts training some of the moves that make up the big book of sword-martial style techniques....

Well, I have the thought that it would be as dangerous as giving a razor to a baby, no offense to Riochiro of course.

April 8 (3rd year)

Riochiro has finally mastered his sword movement to perfection. I know you're already tired of reading over and over again what I'm about to say, but I must stress.

"He learns too fast."

At first I thought he was just someone very perceptive and intelligent by nature, but it turns out that as he progressed in training he also became very analytical and bold.

As if he was enough to drive himself. Even so, it should be emphasized that, without intending to give me credit, I am an excellent teacher.

Note from your grandfather: I think that maybe, as Riochiro learns from you, you should learn qualities from him, at least a little humility.

I forgot to tell you at first, but as Riochiro learned to wield the sword with ease, he also learned 4 techniques:

-8 Points.

-Weight Concentration.

-End Fist.

-Reverse Cut.

This has an explanation...

When Riochiro finished training, he would ask me to give him an example of how to do some of the sword-martial techniques I knew.

Although I told him not to try or die to replicate anything I did or showed him, something inside me knew he was going to do it anyway.

So I only taught him 4 basic techniques that did not have much risk in being done and were not very complex. But for each one it was still necessary to know how to use body weight, footwork, reflexes, posture and body resistance.

 What I am trying to say is that the boy learned all that just by observing me, or what is worse, he simply does them without understanding any of those concepts and is applying them unconsciously.

 And no, he is not making any clumsy or poorly gesticulated movements, they are all fast, precise and forceful, I have already done all the tests.

 Grandfather, this means that this boy is not simply exceptional, he is a potential monster. If at only 11 years old and without any knowledge of the sword he is already doing this.

 To add a more convenient touch to all this, tomorrow he starts his training in techniques and fundamentals to apply them. With all this knowledge, I assure you that Riochiro will only improve.

 October 19th (3rd year.)

 Riochiro has finally mastered all the techniques of the Sword-Martial art, although he still has a long way to go, I have been able to test his skills in the flesh, we can say that he is a mid-range swordsman, not bad for a 12 year old.

 It's been 2 months since we started the practice fights, and although at the beginning I had no trouble dominating Riochiro and leaving him on the floor with a clear winner of the fight...

 At the moment it's not like that.

 I don't know why, but every time I fight with him I get the feeling that I'm being analyzed and scanned all the time, thanks to that, Riochiro has been able to match me in the fight, without using my Skill of course.

 He knows where I'm going to attack, how I'm going to attack, what is going to be the speed of my attack, what I'm going to do in the next one, it's like fighting against a sinister shadow that little by little is learning more and more about you, so that one day she will rise with her inevitable victory.

 That's good, very good. I feel, to a certain extent, proud. Although terrified in equal parts.

 Today we were about to start training, until a conversation came up that caught my attention.

 It all started when I asked him to take off his compression shirt to train fencing casually, I do that so that the wooden swords do not damage the clothes, some of them are splintered.

 By the way, I also do the same, although I leave on a sports top and make a Sarashi with protective fabric so that no impact will damage a breast.

 Note from your grandfather: Rikka, after I get home you and I are going to have a very very serious conversation about something your father and I should have talked to you about a while ago. Still, DO NOT WEAR UNDERWEAR IN FRONT OF RIOCHIRO.

 Note from Rikka: I don't know what I did wrong, but I'm sorry. Please grandpa, not another meeting between you and dad, I implore you from the bottom of my heart.

 When Riochiro took off his shirt, I could see it. The results of his physical training. His figure, slender and now defined, loomed in front of me, making him look imposing, at least that's what he looked like to me or what any boy our age could be.

 With his scarred arms and calloused hands, he picked up the sword again and for some reason, looked at me in confusion.

 -Come on, attack me now," I emphatically said energetically as I got into a guard position.

 -Eeeeeeeehhhhh....

 Riochiro was still looking perplexed towards my position, I even thought he was doing some kind of trick to confuse me and make me look back.

 -Master Rikka, these are real swords.

 I stared at her katana and now I realized that its blade was shining with the reflections of the morning sun. How clumsy of me, how could I not notice?

 -Oops, sorry, I forgot, here.

 From the tile behind me, I threw a wooden katana that was positioned in that place.

 The Katana, is the weapon that a Sword-Martial user should have in mind since this is the foundation of this art and it is easier to do certain techniques than with other swords, either by weight or size. For these reasons, the Katana is the ideal type of sword. Well, although there are Sword-Martial techniques that can be applied even with a fork.

 Rikka's note: Grandpa, come to think of it, I love to capture my thoughts and descriptions in the journal, even if you know them, so the informative texts stay.

 Note from your grandfather: Do what you want. I'm glad that my dear granddaughter is enjoying writing in her diary, I consider it a very good practice, although due to time issues, I stopped doing it years ago, unfortunately, although I may take it up again later...

 Riochiro was perplexed again, this time he blinked a couple of times before addressing me.

 -Now yes, attack me.

 He was silent for a moment, while looking at my hands. Did he want me to notice something myself? I'm so angry that he does that in the middle of training.

 -Teacher Rikka, you still have a real sword?

 Now I look at my hand in surprise.

 Damn, I forgot again, I never look at what I have in my hand, gosh...