Training

Riven did what Liam said, getting into the right stance. Liam smiled and nodded. "That's better. Now grip your sword tight, but make sure it's still comfortable and you can still move it around easily," Liam said.

Riven nodded. He gripped the sword like Liam said, making sure that his grip was sturdy, but he didn't hold it too tight.

"Good, that's perfect. Now, you were trying to practice swings, right? Then that's what you'll do. Take the sword above your head, but not too much to the back.

A common misconception is that the blade gathers more power from a fully overhead slash, and that's true in some cases, but for a sword like this, it just has to be slightly above your head.

You start the swing with your shoulder, but midway through it, you change the main power point to your elbows. That way, you generate a whip-like slash movement that's fast and very impactful," Liam explained as best as he could.

Riven nodded. He took his blade over his head, doing exactly what Liam said he shouldn't. Liam palmed his face and let out a small laugh.

He got behind Riven and pushed his hands forward a bit, putting it the right distance. "Now remember—start with your shoulder, move into your elbows, and finish the slash," Liam said.

Riven didn't respond. He simply did what Liam explained. The sword whistled through the air, but it didn't get that power that Liam spoke of on the first try.

But after the first one, he had an understanding of what he was to do, and so he tried again, this time getting it correctly.

Liam's lips curled up into a smile as he saw that. 'Is this really the son of the baron with a bad name?' he asked himself.

Riven continued swinging the sword. He made ten swings before the notification came through—the one he had been waiting for.

[Sword Slash Lv1]

[Sword Slash Lv1: Increases all sword slashes by 5%]

He almost leaped for joy when he saw how much percentage was given to him. He immediately swung with more vigor. He kept going until his arms went sore.

Sadly, he wasn't able to make it to level 2, unlike for pinching. He stopped swinging and stabbed the sword into the ground. He arched forward with his palms on his knees, huffing and puffing.

"That was pretty good. You've gotten the form down," Liam said. He patted Riven on the back while smiling at Riven. Riven looked up, smiling back at Liam.

"So why did you choose to come here this late and without anyone to guide you? You are the son of the baron. I'm sure you could have gotten one of the knights to train you," Liam said.

"I can't, or more like I don't want to. I know you already know what my reputation is, but that's not me anymore—or I hope to change it.

But people don't believe that people change just like that. If my father saw me training, he would think I was plotting something. What was I doing with the sword? Did I want to kill someone? Or bully people?

He wouldn't see it as me trying to change. He'd see it as me plotting something different," Riven said. He stood straight and pulled the sword out of the ground.

"But is that why you are here? Is that why you are doing it?" Liam asked.

"No, that would be stupid. I want to train because I know I've wasted a lot of my life already, and if I don't get better, I'll lose everything.

Fourteen is the prime age in Vermilion, and I'm almost at fourteen," Riven said. He placed the sword back into the rack.

"I see. Then how about this, Riven? Every night, come here, and you and I will train in the sword. I'll help you reach the goal you want to reach. How does that sound?" Liam asked.

Riven's eyes lit up as he heard that. He turned to face Liam. "Are you serious?" he asked, his eagerness radiating off him.

"Yes, I'm serious. So do you want it?"

"Yes, definitely."

"Good, then let's continue tomorrow. You should get some sleep today. You've done enough," Liam said.

"Thank you very much, Sir Liam," Riven said, bowing his head to Liam. After that, he walked out of the building, headed back for the manor as the cool breeze flowed over his skin.

Liam stared at the door for a while as if waiting for someone, and then a few seconds later, the baron walked into the training ground.

Liam immediately bowed his head to the baron.

"Be at ease, Liam," the baron said. He walked closer to Liam. "So what's your take? Do you believe his words?" the baron asked.

"He was honest, that's the most I can say. It seemed like he was genuinely pained by the fact that his reputation was so bad," Liam explained.

"I still find it hard to believe that he decided to change all of a sudden. I feel something is wrong. I need you to keep an eye on him, even when it's not the training time.

Riven is now your personal mission. Watch him and report to me. I trust you can do that, Liam," the baron said.

"I'll do my best, my lord," Liam said with a bow, and left as well.

"Riven, what are you up to?" the baron muttered a question to himself.