Chapter 7: Training [Part-3]
As the days passed, Lucien and Aren grew closer through training.
Lira also began to open up to Lucien little by little.
Training soon became part of their daily routine.
Every morning, Lucien and Aren woke up early and trained together.
Lucien moved first—slow and deliberate.
Aren mirrored him without delay.
A shift of weight.
A turn of the shoulder.
A half step.
At first, Aren reacted a little late.
Then the delay grew smaller.
Soon, it disappeared completely.
Days passed.
Their movements began to synchronize.
Lucien raised his sword.
Aren raised his at the same time.
Lucien stopped. So did Aren.
Lucien smiled inwardly.
" This training is going perfectly."
He also felt his body becoming lighter, moving exactly as he wished.
"Alright," Lucien said.
He stepped back and drew two lines in the dirt.
"Next training," Lucien continued. "We limit ourselves."
Aren raised an eyebrow. "Limit?"
"Only two actions," Lucien explained.
"One attack or one defense. After that, we stop and reset."
"So no continuous fighting?" Aren asked.
"Not yet," Lucien replied.
"This is to teach control under pressure."
Aren nodded and took his stance.
"Alright. Let's begin."
They faced each other, wooden swords raised.
"Well, Lucien," Aren asked while smiling,
"how do you know all this training?"
Lucien froze for a moment.
" I can't tell him I read this in a novel…
He'll think I'm crazy." He thought.
"I… saw sword training like this somewhere," Lucien replied.
"Oh," Aren said. "That explains it."
"Y-Yes," Lucien answered quickly.
He took a deep breath. "Let's focus. Training starts now."
Aren smiled, his eyes serious.
"Okay."
The Limited Exchange Training began.
Lucien attacked once.
Aren blocked—but felt the pressure behind the strike.
He stepped back slightly and reset.
This time, Aren attacked.
Lucien defended, feeling the weight behind Aren's swing.
Lucien smiled inwardly.
It's working.
In this training:
The attacker focused on clean pressure
The defender focused on absorbing and redirecting
It looked simple—but it was difficult.
Four days later
They trained hard every day.
Now, they could clearly feel the difference.
Their balance improved.
They absorbed attacks more smoothly.
"We're starting to master it," Lucien said with a smile.
"Right, Aren?"
"Yeah," Aren replied, smiling back.
One day later
Their movements became precise.
Each strike was controlled.
Each defense calm.
Mistakes slowly disappeared.
Lucien lowered his sword.
"Good. We've mastered it."
Aren exhaled.
"Our movement is clean now," Lucien continued,
"but our grip is still too stiff."
Aren looked at his hands.
Lucien handed him the wooden sword again.
"Next training—we relax our hands."
"Relax?" Aren frowned.
"Won't the sword slip?"
Lucien demonstrated.
He held the sword lightly, resting it in his palm.
"When you move," Lucien said,
"your grip stays soft."
Aren nodded.
"So… the grip breathes."
Lucien smiled.
"Exactly."
At first, it felt strange.
Aren's fingers kept trying to squeeze the handle.
Lucien stopped him.
Aren tried again.
This time—
tighten at contact…
relax immediately.
The sword didn't slip.
Lucien nodded.
Days later
They moved faster now. Soft grip while stepping. Firm at contact.
Relaxed again instantly.
No shaking hands.
No stiff wrists.
Lucien attacked.
Aren blocked—tightened—relaxed.
Lucien smiled.
Their hands are listening now.
Suddenly, Lucien increased his speed.
Aren didn't panic.
His grip tightened at the exact moment—
then softened again.
Lucien lowered his sword.
"That's it," he said.
"You're no longer fighting the sword."
"It feels lighter," Aren said.
"That's mastery," Lucien replied.
They stepped back.
The foundation training was complete.
Lucien thought silently,
It's time.
"So what now?" Aren asked.
Lucien smiled and pointed his sword at Aren's face.
"You know what this means, right?"
Aren smiled back.
"Our first real sparring match."
They took their stances, faces serious, and rushed forward—
"Breakfast is ready!"
Lira's voice echoed.
"Breakfast?" Aren said.
"Ready?" Lucien said.
"Eh?" They both spoke at the same time.
Their balance broke.
Thud.
Both fell flat on the ground.
They lay there, staring at the sky.
Aren closed his eyes then he remember his past days without luicen.
"Thanks… for everything, Lucien."
Lucien stayed silent for a moment.
Then he said,
"No need to thank me, idiot."
Lira walked over, clearly angry.
"You two! Didn't you hear me?!"
"Break—" Aren started.
"Fast," Lucien cut in.
They both burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?!" Lira shouted, reaching her limit.
[R.I.P both of you — from the Author]
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END OF CHAPTER 7
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