Braavos, Red Door Courtyard.
Moro, the bald, bearded Water Dancer instructor, tossed a training sword to Viserys.
Black-haired Rhaenys and silver-haired Daenerys watched the trial from small benches nearby. There were still a few wild flowers and weeds in the garden.
Viserys and Moro had sparred many times before, but today it clearly seemed more formal.
"Be quick, and your sword point accurate! Use the tip to pierce your enemy," Moro told Viserys. "Today, I won't go easy on you."
"Alright," replied silver-haired Viserys Targaryen, turning sideways to face his opponent. He wasn't a cat, but he needed a cat's speed and agility.
The Water Dance was a dangerous game, strong as a bear, swift as a deer.
A Water Dancer's rapier was somewhat similar to a fencing sword, but slender and deadly.
This was related to the survival philosophy of Braavosi assassins: frivolous and easily angered.
Assassins never wore armor, essentially being an extreme faction that charged into battle without protection. Life and death weren't that important; looking good was all that mattered.
Viserys didn't wait for Moro to approach; he flashed to the left, moving even faster.
A thrust, a precise parry, then constant movement.
Moro, a smile on his face, directly charged forward with his sword.
Moro was more robust than Viserys, and also more experienced.
Viserys also had his strengths; his talent was excellent, and his personal 'golden finger' was very powerful, so he showed genius-like progress.
Viserys's thrusting speed and strength were remarkable, completely unlike an apprentice undergoing surprise training.
The two rapiers clashed in mid-air; the Water Dancer's dance was dangerous and swift.
Moro's rounded sword tip darted around like a venomous snake, while Viserys dodged and then attacked.
The two went back and forth, clashing fiercely. Both Moro and Viserys were astonishingly fast.
Firstly, they both had a certain level of skill, and Water Dancers wore ordinary clothes, unlike knights who wore iron can-like armor for defense.
Silver blades collided in mid-air, a brief touch before the swordsmen began their next assault.
Retreat, coil, then explode with power—this was the assassin's way of the Water Dancer.
A purer form of assassination and assault.
The Water Dancer's training methods were fixed, but the difference between individuals was still quite significant.
It was like everyone studying the same textbook, but some scored 700 points while others scored 100 points. The key still lay in individual talent and effort.
"Clack!" In the end, Viserys's rounded sword tip struck Moro's torso. If it had been a pointed tip, Moro's chest and abdomen would have been gushing blood.
"Hooray, hooray Viserys!" Viserys's cheerleaders began clapping enthusiastically.
"Your trial with me is essentially over, Viserys," the bald, bearded Moro said to Viserys, dropping his training sword.
Moro's face held a mix of sadness and pride.
Moro had sparred with Viserys every step of the way, witnessing firsthand Viserys's progression from difficult parries to effortless mastery.
Moro had to admit that Viserys's progress was astonishingly fast. Even though he was young, his training time wasn't long, and he wasn't a child laborer who had practiced since childhood.
"Thank you for your long-term guidance," Viserys said.
This gratitude was sincere, even though Viserys had been constantly using cheats and spending money.
However, as an instructor, Moro had also provided Viserys with the maximum possible help.
Many instructors were known for their harshness and strictness, but Moro had a very good temper.
"Your training with me is over, but you still need to be careful when facing armored knights. Their equipment is too sturdy; while it slows them down, it also enhances their defense. And compared to Water Dancers, knights focus more on strength training."
"I understand," Viserys nodded.
Knights and Water Dancers were two different paths: knights focused on muscle, while Water Dancers emphasized slenderness and speed.
"Take this, your gift." Moro tossed Viserys a sword, a slender, single-handed fine steel longsword, the type most favored by Water Dancers.
By Westerosi standards, it might be considered too feminine. But in the entire Free Cities, this type of rapier was very popular.
"Thank you," Viserys said solemnly, carefully taking the sword. This represented the completion of a stage in his Water Dancer training.
"What will you name this sword?" Moro asked Viserys.
"Dark Sister," Viserys replied.
A shining silver flash, Dark Sister was also the name of one of their family's former dragons. However, that second-generation dragon met a tragic end, killed by Balerion in the Gods Eye.
"A good name." Moro looked at Viserys, hesitating. "Do you desire greater power?"
"Huh?" Viserys was a bit confused; why did that sound strange?
He wasn't looking down on Moro, but Moro's skill seemed to have run its course. Was he also someone who hid his true abilities?
"You don't have to answer me immediately. While your Water Dance has reached an entry level, it still lacks refinement in front of true masters."
"That's true," Viserys nodded. Even if he had reached the entry level, achieving the highest realm would still require a long period of effort.
The highest realm of the Water Dancer should be the Way of Insight, but such swordsmen were exceedingly rare.
And ordinary Water Dancers were often belligerent and aggressive.
"While your training with me has been rigorous, it wasn't the most difficult. If you wish to become stronger, you will need to make greater sacrifices. This path is extremely arduous. Do you still wish to continue…?"
"I do," Viserys said firmly.
To gain more power, he could only push himself relentlessly, even if it involved some danger, but this was inherently a dangerous world.
The delicacies and art Viserys knew were not as good as the protection of a sword.
As long as it wasn't at the cost of Rhaenys and Daenerys, Viserys had the courage to face anything.
To become a great man, he also needed the courage to gamble.
"Good." Moro looked at Viserys. "Get some rest first. In a while, I'll have you meet me at the Moon Pool."
After Moro left, Viserys was still pondering his words.
The Moon Pool, the Moon Pool was one of the most dangerous places in Braavos.
"Are you really going?" Rhaenys asked worriedly. Water Dancers danced on the edge of a knife, and Viserys's adventures concerned her.
"This is also an opportunity," Viserys replied.
He keenly felt that Moro might be bringing him an opportunity, otherwise he wouldn't be testing him this way… Braavos, Moon Pool.
Moro had told Viserys to meet him at the Moon Pool at midnight, but hadn't specified an exact time.
But Viserys still arrived there with Dark Sister. His short tunic was black on one side and red velvet on the other; such clothes were indeed somewhat ostentatious.
Viserys also wore a silver eye patch, but that was normal.
In the Secret City, everyone had secrets.
Balerion, the black cat, followed behind him. After much thought, Rhaenys still didn't trust him.
"Is he going to make me shed blood?" Viserys wondered.
The assassins' eyes were already lighting up. Walking around the Moon Pool at midnight with a sword signified that assassins had the right to challenge each other.
This time, he wasn't an observer, but a participant in actual combat.
"My friend says your mask makes him sick," a young assassin in a burgundy robe and yellow cloak approached Viserys.
Viserys looked at him. "Your red robe makes me sick too."
"Are you a swordsman?" The young assassin looked at Viserys. His hand began to rest on his sword, even just a finger, which was a sign of an assassin's challenge. "If you take off your cloak and drop your sword, I will forgive you."
But Viserys knew this was impossible, because the assassin would strip him naked.
"I don't want to kill you, but you are in the way," Viserys sighed. He saw the young assassin begin to draw his sword; this fight was unavoidable.
Viserys turned sideways and drew Dark Sister. The onlookers automatically cleared a path for them.
"Is this the boy you were talking about? The Targaryen boy?" Syrio asked from a distance.
"It is him. I think if his talent is very good, he might be able to touch the Way of Insight."
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