Halfway through the banquet, when the noise was at its peak, people realized that the most boisterous guest, Lord Robert Baratheon of Storm's End, had quietly slipped away sometime ago, arm-in-arm with several curvaceous, laughing women, his whereabouts unknown.
Euron and Brienne, who should have been the star of the feast, also left the banquet hall and came to the beach.
Moonlight poured like liquid mercury onto the quiet sands of Tarth. The soft white sand rustled underfoot, accompanied by the gentle sound of waves, creating a perfect practice ground.
Euron and Brienne stood facing each other, their blunted training swords shimmering faintly in the cold moonlight.
Brienne took a deep breath, gripping the hilt with both hands, adopting a standard knightly stance. Her swordsmanship immediately displayed distinct characteristics: broad, sweeping movements and a solid foundation.
Every slash was heavy and powerful, accompanied by the whistling of wind, showcasing astonishing strength far beyond her peers. Her defensive posture was extremely steady and orthodox; her blade always blocked in front of vitals in time, showing she had undergone considerable systematic training. She focused on integrating offense and defense, like a slowly moving but unshakeable tower shield.
However, her flaws were equally obvious. Excessive pursuit of strength and form made the transitions between her moves insufficiently fluid, lacking adaptability and spirit. Especially when facing an opponent of Euron's style, she lacked the ability to cope with swift raids and flexible changes. After a horizontal slash, a brief gap would appear under her ribs; after a full-force upward block, her lower body lacked timely follow-up protection.
Her combat mode was more like executing a preset program than engaging in a dynamic game with an opponent.
After their swords made contact, Euron activated the skill: [Doriki Test Lv1]. Brienne's personal attributes appeared before him.
Brienne of Tarth (273 AC)
Strength: 15 (10)
Agility: 6 (10)
Stamina: 10 (10)
Spirit: 8 (10)
Command: 6 (10)
Charm: 3 (10)
At eight years old, her Strength has actually reached 15 points. No wonder even the Hound, Jaime, and the Knight of Flowers won't be her match in the future.
Euron didn't resist with force. His response fully demonstrated his experience and talent. His footwork was light, like a leopard circling a giant tree, always dodging just enough to avoid the front of Brienne's strongest attacks.
He rarely blocked hard. Instead, he used precise deflection and redirection. A gentle nudge with the flat of his blade could divert Brienne's heavy strike, making her waste energy.
Euron's victory came from extreme observation and timing. After patiently circling for several rounds, he keenly caught a fleeting opening in her center after Brienne exhausted the momentum of a vertical chop. Euron's figure instantly shifted from extreme stillness to extreme motion. With no superfluous movement, his blunt sword thrust straight in like a flash of lightning. The tip stopped steadily an inch in front of Brienne's breastplate, precisely illustrating a one-hit victory.
Brienne stared at the sword tip at her chest. She froze for a moment, then lowered her sword, somewhat unwilling but convinced. In her azure eyes, the frustration of defeat was quickly replaced by a burning desire to become stronger.
Simultaneously, the system notification rang clearly in Euron's mind. For this instructive victory, he gained: [Defeated Brienne of Tarth. Gained Points: 30.]
After the spar, the sea breeze gently cooled their warm skin. Brienne panted slightly, her eyes fixed on Euron, filled with a thirst for guidance.
Euron stuck the blunt sword into the sand. His tone was peaceful but pointed straight to the key issues. "Your strength and basic defense are excellent, Brienne. You are solid as a rock. But to become a truly top-tier warrior, not just a sturdy fortress, you need to hone more."
Euron stepped forward, pointing out specifics. "Most importantly, your footwork." He drew a few lines in the sand with his foot. "Your strength is rooted in the earth, but your feet are like they're nailed in place. Powerful strength needs flexible steps to carry and unleash it. From tomorrow, don't just swing your sword at a wooden stake. Practice moving quickly, stopping abruptly, and changing direction on the beach, on pebble ground, on smooth hall floors. Make your steps light and agile like a leopard, yet able to root instantly like a battering ram. Remember, your feet carry your sword to fight, not the sword dragging your body."
"Secondly, pay attention to rhythm and deception." Euron continued, making a simple thrust motion, then flicking his wrist extremely fast, the tip instantly slashing in another direction. "Your attack intent is too obvious. Every swing uses full force, leaving no reserve. It's like you're shouting where you're going to hit; the enemy can easily judge your next move. Learn to incorporate feints, combine fast and slow. A seemingly full-force chop can be a feint, with the real killing move hidden in the light, swift thrust that follows. Let your sword moves have breath and a heartbeat, making you unpredictable to the enemy."
"Finally, observation and anticipation." He pointed to his own eyes. "You are too focused on executing the 'standard moves' in your mind, but you haven't truly used your eyes to 'read' your opponent. A slight movement of my shoulder, a slight shift of my center of gravity, could all signal the direction of the next attack. Learn to catch these subtle signals and predict the opponent's intent before they strike, instead of hurriedly blocking when the sword is in front of your face. This isn't talent; it's instinct cultivated through countless spars."
Euron concluded, "Strength is your shield and hammer. That is good; keep it. But now, you need to equip yourself with more dexterous wrists, swifter legs, and eyes that can see through the enemy. When you combine these three with your strength, few will be able to defeat you easily."
Brienne listened with immense focus. The light of understanding shone in her blue eyes, as if every word Euron spoke opened a new door for her. She nodded vigorously, imprinting this precious guidance deep into her mind.
"Thank you for your patient guidance!"
"This is a form of inheritance. Just like the Sword of the Morning Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, the White Bull Ser Gerold Hightower, and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen—they also instructed me unreservedly when I asked for advice. perhaps in the future, you will also pass on your experience to the next person worthy of guidance."
Am I the person worthy of his guidance?
Brienne responded happily, "Yes. I definitely will!"
"It's still early. Let's practice a few more times. Watch your body movement."
"Yes, My Lord."
---
Behind a towering reef far from the beach, two tall figures stood like silent sentinels, their gazes never leaving the young people sparring on the sand.
"It's a pity," Lord Selwyn Tarth's voice was low, carrying a trace of imperceptible regret. "Euron Greyjoy is already betrothed. Otherwise... with his strength and status in the Iron Islands, he would be a rare match for marriage." His gaze was complex, appreciating Euron's talent while silently weighing his daughter's future.
Beside him, the master-at-arms Goodwin crossed his arms. The old warrior's assessment was more direct and professional. "That Ironborn lad... his foundation is ridiculously solid. His swordsmanship is tricky and ruthless, but what's rarer is his unique insight. Those pointers he gave Brienne hit the nail on the head every time. Those are things only realized through life-and-death combat."
Their conversation was slightly disjointed, each talking about their own concerns.
A short but clear laugh from Brienne rang out from the beach after a clever block. Lord Selwyn's expression softened. Relief and emotion passed over his usually stern face. "It has been a long time... since I saw Brienne talk and laugh so naturally with others, showing such an expression."
Goodwin turned to look at his lord and old friend. A determined look appeared on his rugged face. "My Lord, I might have had doubts before. But today, seeing the light in that child's eyes... I think Miss Brienne might truly be able to walk that path no one else has walked." He paused, his tone becoming incredibly serious. "Starting tomorrow, I intend to stop teaching her only foot combat swordsmanship. I will teach her everything I know—horsemanship, lances, how to charge and kill on horseback—everything a true knight should know."
Lord Selwyn didn't answer immediately. He just gazed from afar at his daughter swinging her sword under the moonlight. After a long while, he nodded heavily. The sea breeze blew past, bringing new hope and the promise of change.
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