Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - Swordsmanship Class
We went to bed shortly after eating; between the four of us no words were spoken.
I woke up early again and ran around until I ran out of breath. Rio joined me this time.
After putting on our uniforms and showering we went to class.
After a few minutes everyone was in class again and then the teacher came in.
"Goodmorning everyone."
He had put our schedules on all our desks.
That was fast...
After learning my schedule, I checked with Rio to see if we had any classes together.
"Let me see your schedule."
"Okay."
We had one, swordsmanship and except for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays we'd be separated.
"Looks like we'll be separated on Wednesday and Thursday."
"Unfortunately..."
"Well, you should try to make some friends then, especially some in this class, we'll be stuck together for 5 years after all."
"Okay."
Mr. Mispholfo had answered any questions we had before the bell rang.
We learned that on Mondays, and Fridays would be like regular school days, we'd learn history, math, geography, and go to P.E while Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we'd take the classes we picked.
For me I'd have swordsmanship on Tuesday, body training on Wednesday, and Real Combat on Thursday.
Rio and I had gone to the gymnasium which was where swordsmanship classes were held.
It seemed like this class was mixed with Class A and Class B, the only other people from Class C that were in here were Taku, Kazu, and Rio. It seemed like the Crown Prince was in here as well.
"Goodmorning class. I'll be your swordsmanship instructor. My name is Angelina Brent. Nice to meet you all."
"There are many different swordsmanship styles but if you don't know any then I'll teach you Plough Swordsmanship."
And that was how my swordsmanship class started.
Most of the people here had known some form of swordsmanship already, I was learning from nothing. I had never picked up a sword in my life.
She had given all of us a wooden training sword
"Wrong, keep your feet like this and keep your sword like this."
I could hear some people laughing at me.
Didn't I write it so that everyone wasn't a dick? Why were they laughing? Whatever, I could ignore it. I was used to it.
"Once you have your stance right practice swinging your sword until I tell you to stop."
I could hear other people swinging but I couldn't even get the stance right.
"You're messing up your stance when you swing, Leo."
"I know."
"Then fix it."
"I'm trying."
I could hear someone quietly speak
"Look at those idiots, they don't even know how to keep a stance."
It was a noble, one of the few 'dick' nobles I had in my novel.
So that's why. Whatever, I'll go at my own pace.
Of course, I wasn't the only one who couldn't keep a stance, there were a few other students struggling as well.
Ms. Brent had carried on teaching the other students while I was still trying to get the stance right.
Rio had easily been able to do the stance and swing perfectly thanks to his talent.
Swordsmanship class ended 2 hours later; I was one of the 3 students who couldn't get the stance right for the whole class.
"Hey Leo, are you alright?"
"Yeah."
Rio had asked, he seemed worried about how I couldn't get the stance right.
Most of the other students had begun to leave and were probably going to lunch.
"Should we go to lunch Leo?"
"Are you two going to lunch?"
Kazu had come up to us and asked
"Ah, I'm going to practice a bit more."
"I want to get my stance right before I eat."
"You two should go eat though."
"Leo..."
Rio looked somewhat sad, maybe he thought I was having a hard time? I don't know what he thought but I was enjoying myself, learning how to use a sword was more fun than I thought.
"I'll see you two later."
Rio and Kazu had gone to the cafeteria.
The gym was pretty much empty now, the only people left in here were me, Taku, and Ian the Crown Prince.
They were hard working people.
Picking up a wooden sword I tried to get into stance and swung my sword.
It didn't feel right though. It felt like something was off.
"Hey, Taku."
I decided to ask for help. People usually avoided the duke's family as well as the royal family. Even though everyone was to be treated the same in Heavensward there was probably some sort of fear that something bad would happen if you pissed them off.
"...Yes?"
"Swinging my sword feels wrong, do you know why?"
"Let me see you swing."
He was surprisingly willing to help.
I got into stance and swung my sword
"Your stance is wrong."
"Is it?"
"Yeah, spread your legs apart more."
After a couple minutes of his help, I eventually got the stance right.
"Now try and swing."
I swung.
"It still feels wrong."
"Does it?"
"Yeah."
"Get into stance."
I did as he said.
He came up behind me and guided my body step by step and swung.
"How about now?"
"It still feels wrong."
"But you just did a perfect swing?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe it's the style, do you want to try and learn mine?"
"I made it myself so it might not be the best but-"
"Can I?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
After a few minutes he taught me his stance and how to swing.
"How does that feel?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"It feels weird, like it's not meant for me."
"Hmm."
Ian had come up to us.
"Hey Ian."
Taku seemed surprised that I casually greeted the crown prince.
"H...ello."
When I was still under contract by Kathryn, I had of course met Ian a couple of times, we weren't friends, but we were probably acquaintances.
"Do you have any idea why it feels wrong to swing?"
"...Your style."
"My style?"
"...Should replicate how you grew up..."
My style should replicate how I grew up?
"Are you saying I need to find my own style?"
"...Yes"
My own style... How I grew up... That was going to be tough.
"Alright, I see... Thanks."
It had been a few hours since Rio and Kazu had gone to get lunch, so they'd probably be busy.
"Do you two want to get lunch together?"
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