Aziel circled him slowly, boots crushing the desiccated rose stems with each deliberate step. His gaze was penetrating, assessing every aspect of Arthur's form with the precision that belies his age.
"You aren't ever gonna be a good swordsman in the conventional term, no matter how much you train," Aziel declared, his voice cutting through the still air.
Arthur was thrown for a small loop after hearing him, breaking his stance in surprise. "What!?" His grip loosened momentarily on the sword hilt, the carefully maintained posture faltering.
Aziel stopped his circling and looked at Arthur sternly, unmoved by the reaction. The dead roses around them seemed to emphasize the harshness of his assessment. "Don't get your panties in a bunch," he said firmly. "I said in the conventional term, that doesn't mean you can't become effective with a sword..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Now get back in your stance."