Chapter 6 – Training (Part 2)
Lucien decided it was time to move on to control training.
Their speed and balance had improved a lot. Their movements were stable now.
But there was still one big problem.
Control.
They could move fast, but they couldn't always stop when they wanted.
If they couldn't control their body and swords perfectly, speed meant nothing.
That was why this training was important.
"Control training," Aren repeated.
Lucien nodded. "Yes. This part is very important."
Aren planted his wooden sword into the ground.
"So… what do we do?"
Lucien replied calmly, "This training will be difficult. The first step is called the Stop-Before-Impact Drill."
Aren listened carefully.
"We swing our swords at a target," Lucien explained, pointing at a mark on a tree.
"But we stop the blade just before it touches."
Aren frowned. "That sounds hard."
"It is," Lucien said.
They marked a few targets and began training.
Aren quickly realized how difficult it was.
Stopping a swing at the last moment required focus, timing, and control.
Sometimes he stopped in time.
Sometimes the sword hit the mark.
He glanced at Lucien.
Lucien wasn't perfect either—but he stopped cleanly more often.
I'll master it before him, Aren thought, clenching his teeth.
Lucien noticed Aren's determination and smiled lightly.
"Good. Stay fired up."
Even though Aren was talented, Lucien knew this step would still take time—for both of them.
Two Days Later
"Lucien!" Aren said excitedly.
"I can stop it now. I can swing without touching the mark!"
"That's good," Lucien said.
Aren asked, "What about you?"
Lucien stepped forward.
He swung his wooden sword—
and stopped it perfectly, just before the mark.
Then he simle.
"…You mastered it first again," Aren said with a bitter smile.
But he quickly added, "That's amazing."
Lucien smiled. "Then let's move on."
Second Step – Half-Power Strikes
"The next step is Half-Power Strikes," Lucien explained.
"We move fast, but we only use half our strength."
Aren nodded.
They began swinging again—fast, but controlled.
Relaxed shoulders.
No forcing power.
At first, it felt strange.
But slowly, they memorized the feeling of half-strength.
This will take about three days, Lucien thought.
Three Days Later
Lucien finally understood it completely.
It's all about remembering the feeling… and repeating it.
He looked at Aren—and noticed Aren staring at his own hands.
"Are you okay?" Lucien asked.
Aren grinned. "I did it. I finally got it."
Lucien smiled inwardly. As expected.
"Good," he said. "Next step."
Third Step – Breathing
"Breathing?" Aren asked.
"Yes," Lucien replied.
"We inhale while resetting our stance.
We exhale during the strike."
He demonstrated.
"Inhale. Reset.
Exhale. Strike."
"And we count our breaths mentally," Lucien continued.
"If the rhythm breaks, it means we're rushing."
Aren tried it.
Inhale.
Step back.
Exhale.
Strike.
"…It feels calmer," Aren admitted.
"That's the point," Lucien said.
"This step isn't about hitting. It's about staying steady."
He looked at Aren seriously.
"When our breathing stays clean, speed won't break us."
Aren nodded. "Alright. Let's do it."
Lucien knew this step would take four days.
Four Days Later
They no longer had to think about breathing.
Strike—exhale.
Reset—inhale.
Even when they sped up, there was no panic.
No heavy gasping.
"We mastered it," Lucien said.
Aren smiled. "Finally. So… next?"
" Touch, Don't Hit. "
"This is about precision," Lucien said.
"Only one clean touch."
Aren nodded. "Anything more is wasted."
"And dangerous," Lucien added.
"If you miss?" Aren asked.
"Reset. Don't chase," Lucien replied.
"We control our instincts now."
They began.
Touch.
Withdraw.
Balance held.
Five Days Later
Lucien stepped in and lightly tapped Aren's wrist—then pulled back instantly.
"Clean," Aren said.
They reset.
Again.
After training, Lucien drew a short line in the dirt.
"This is simple," he said.
"But it will expose every mistake."
He explains.
Strike.
Freeze.
No sway. No correction.
"After every strike," Lucien explained,
"we stop completely."
Aren tried.
He struck—and leaned forward slightly.
"There," Lucien said. "That."
Aren reset and tried again.
This time, he held his balance.
"…That's hard," Aren admitted.
"That's why we're doing it," Lucien replied.
Four Days Later
Both of them could stop perfectly after every movement.
No shaking.
No imbalance.
"We're done with balance," Lucien said.
"Now we keep it."
He stepped in front of Aren.
"Next —we stop thinking about ourselves."
Aren frowned. "What does that mean?"
Lucien moved his hand slightly.
Without realizing it, Aren copied the motion.
Lucien smiled. "That."
"Mirror movement," Lucien explained.
"One moves. The other copies."
"No attacks?" Aren asked.
"No attacks," Lucien said..
"Only reading."
They faced each other, silent.
Lucien shifted again.
Aren matched him instantly.
No words. No signal.
Lucien smiled.
They were no longer learning moves.
They were learning to read each other.
_________________________________________
End of Chapter 6
_________________________________________