Chapter 86 Learning 3

The following next day, we started moving again in the morning.

Although our route was different from the ones we had prepared for, that didn't mean most of the things changed.

Aside from not stopping in a close village or something, we were pretty much doing the same thing.

Riding the carriage.

Getting rid of the monsters that were coming on our way.

Talking with others and training when I was free.

It seems for some reason. Aliya was pretty worked up.

Although we were talking from time to time, she was mostly bust reading something.

A week passed just like that.

I was trying to use the techniques Akira showed me when I was fighting with monsters, and to be honest. I am not suited for such a style since the weapon I am using is not a katana but an estoc.

At least not the raw style that he is showing me.

And I have no intention of changing my sword either.

/SWOOSH/

"You need to do it like this."

/THUD/

With her back turned to the tree he cut, he said, releasing his breath.

"…."

"When you deem your practice with your technique is enough, come and find me. I won't be showing anything else until that time."

"You won't be showing anything else to me?"

"Yes. I am not raising a successor to our family. I am just passing these techniques to you. You will choose what you want to do with those on your own. Now, you already have enough on your plate for now; until you are able to understand the reason I am showing these techniques to you, I won't show the way you will use your aura."

"…. I see. I understand what you mean."

"You understand, huh? We will see. Now, let me leave you alone with your realizations."

Saying that he turned his back, walking towards his tent.

"But let me say one last thing. The way you are swinging your sword. You need to make it your own."

"Huh? I need to-"

"Good night."

With that one last phrase, he left my place.

'I need to make my sword on my own, huh?'

/SWOOSH/ /SWOOSH/

It had been a while since I had practiced the family's sword.

With my Nihil raised vertically, I emptied my breath.

'Sword of Lightning. The trick of Light.'

/SWOOSH/

And dashed towards my front, attacking the tree.

/SCHLINK/

Putting my sword in its handle, I sat down and started visualizing everything Akira had shown me.

'School of Iai, Heaven Flash.'

'School of Iai, Unsheathe.'

'School of Iai, Night Rain.'

Remembering everything visually, I took my stance and started practicing again.

***

Waking up early in the morning after the practice, we started moving again.

"We are nearing our destination."

"Yes. We have almost reached the border of the empire. The last place is the territory of Death Bird."

"We should be around here."

Putting his finger on the map shown, the captain of the party, Wayne, said.

"Our pace for the last week was good and fast. However, everyone accumulated a lot of stress."

The merchant, John, said while looking at others.

Although we adventurers were not that tired, the other members of the convoy, those who were looking after the cargo, chefs preparing the meals, and many others were tired since they were not combatants.

"Indeed. We should take a rest. Now that we are reaching the territory of high ranking monster, we need to be careful while moving. We should be in our top condition."

"There is a lake nearby. We can take a rest here."

"Let me see."

"Here."

"I see. That place is certainly good. It doesn't seem that close to danger either."

"Yes."

"Then the location is set."

Just like that, the destination was set, and everyone started moving again.

"Here, Callius. You will be on the watch first today with Salma."

"Okay."

Hopping on the horse, I started looking around to see if something was abnormal.

"Hey, how is it going?"

And here, a woman with muscles was riding beside me another horse.

"What?"

"You look a bit troubled."

"Ah, just there is something in my mind."

"Is it related to a girl?"

"…. Seriously?"

"Sigh…. Sometimes, I forget you are humorless."

"I am not humorless. It is just you can't make jokes."

"…. If you always talk like that, no girl will like you, you know?"

"If a girl likes me because I am not being myself, then what is the point?"

"…."

"See."

"Okay, you win this time. Now, what is in your mind?"

"…."

"Come on, spill the beans."

"I was just thinking about my sword."

"Your sword? Isn't it hanging there?"

With her nose pointed to Nihil on the scabbard, Salma said with a clueless expression.

"Really?"

"What is it this time?"

"Sigh…. I am talking about my sword technique, not my sword."

"Ah… Then say it like that. How could I know?"

'Are you an airhead and not at the same time?'

"Okay, okay. My bad."

"Hmm…  Your sword technique, huh?"

"Yes."

Putting on a serious expression, she started thinking while looking at the horse.

Seeing no reply was coming, I started looking around again in case I missed something while talking.

"To be honest, I am not that smart. I can't look at the way you use your sword and pinpoint what you can do better like many others. And I don't want to confuse your mind either."

"…."

"But in my whole life, if I learned something, then that would be too much of nothing does good."

"Hmm?"

"As I said, too much of nothing is good. Eating too much, drinking too much, fighting too much, fucking with someone too much, or many others."

"Did you really need to say fucking someone too much?"

"It is what it is. If you fuck a man too much, you will eventually get bored, and maybe the man will develop some feelings for you. And believe me. It is not that worthwhile."

"Wow. No wonder you are still single."

"It is not that I couldn't have a relationship with someone. It is I didn't want to."

"Most single people would say that."

"Believe whatever you want."

"So? What is your point?"

"What I mean is, thinking too much is not that good either. By swinging your sword again and again and then thinking about the same thing, you won't be changing anything. You will just look at the same points."

"How do you do it then?"

"Me. I am just swinging my fists without thinking, letting everything go with the flow."

"Without thinking…. This is what I would expect from you."

"It is how I am. Sometimes, you need to let things flow. Let the river we call life clean you from all those thoughts that are plaguing your mind, and then get out of it with a pure, clean mind."

"You did sound wise now."

"It was not my saying. I heard it from someone in my hometown."

'Letting things go with the flow, huh? It has been a while since I have done that.'

Seeing the slightly melancholic expression on her face, I thought.

'I guess I should take a break from thinking about my sword for a while then.'

"Okay, I will listen to what you are saying. Let's see how this goes."

"Hope you will find your answer then."

"I hope."

"Then, Wanna see this big sister show you some skills?"

"Some skills?"

"Look."

Putting her hand on top of the horse, she reversed her body, standing on one hand with her head pointing towards the saddle.

'Wow, this reminded me of those motorbikers that like to show off.'

"How is it?"

"Good. You have a really good balance."

"That I am. Do you know how hard I tried to do this?"

"I don't know."

"Guess?"

"A month?"

"Wrong."

"Two months?"

"Come on, why are you increasing it?"

"A week?"

"Wrong."

"What? Only one day?"

"Nope. It only took one second for me to do that."

"…."

"My mother. She was an adventurer, and she was really strong. She would always be away from home, fighting with monsters and accepting quests. As for my father, he was the one staying at home looking after me."

"Ah… Right, you are from that place."

"Indeed. Anyway, my mother was always a role model for me. I wanted to be a strong woman like her who would crush others with my own hands. So, I was training hard."

"…."

"At first, it was good. I was able to beat every kid in our hometown when we fought, and I was strong. The feeling of getting stronger was addicting. However, at some point, that feeling was lost. I couldn't find a way to get stronger on my own, either. I asked my father but got nothing useful. My fists were no longer getting stronger. I wasn't getting any better.

"Then?"

"Then, at that time, I saw a monkey doing this position over a tree."

"You saw a monkey?"

"Indeed, and this position… I decided to try it."

"Then you did it on your first try."

"Indeed. And the moment I did this pose, I felt something."

"You felt?"

"Yes. I felt. Explaining it with words is impossible for me, but if I had to say it, then that would be feeling the balance of my body. And it was the moment that turned my life."

"How?"

"Because the way I fought changed after that time, making everything smoother and precise. And here I am standing. Do you understand what I mean? Sometimes, just a little monkey can change your life."

"I see."

Just like that, we kept chatting while riding the horse.

Not knowing we were directly heading toward the danger itself…