Bully Lord

Part-219

James shook his head, intrigued. “Why’s that?”

Ryan shrugged. “People think it’s outdated. You’ve got kids learning MMA, boxing, and all this modern stuff. No one sees the point of using a sword in today’s world. It just doesn’t attract much attention. Most of the people who sign up just quit after a few sessions.”

James thought about that. Ryan had a point. Swordsmanship wasn’t exactly a skill you needed in daily life, especially with more practical self-defense techniques available. But for James, this wasn’t just about practicality; it was about something deeper, something instinctual. There was a connection he felt to the sword, a sense that mastering it might be key to overcoming the challenges in the dungeon.

“I get that,” James said, agreeing with Ryan’s logic, “but it still feels like something I need to do. Maybe it’s not popular, but I’ve got this gut feeling, you know?”

Ryan shrugged, though he seemed to understand. “Hey, if you want to do it, go for it. There’s this old guy at the center, Carlos. He’s the one teaching it. You could check it out.”

James nodded, feeling more determined than ever. “Yeah, I think I will.”

---

Later that afternoon, James headed to the martial arts center. It was a familiar place, but he hadn’t visited in a while—especially not the sections where less popular classes were held. After making his way through the main training areas, past the sounds of heavy bags being struck and mats filled with people practicing throws and grapples, James finally reached the small annex where the swordsmanship class took place.

As he entered, James noticed there were only four students—three men and one woman, all dressed in traditional gi uniforms. The atmosphere was quiet and focused, a stark contrast to the intensity of the other training rooms. At the center of it all stood Carlos, the instructor.

James recognized him immediately. Carlos was a well-built man in his late forties, his posture straight, movements fluid, and his presence commanding. He wasn’t the kind of person you’d expect to teach an “unpopular” class. There was an air of discipline and experience about him that made it clear he was a serious martial artist.

James took a deep breath and approached, bowing respectfully before speaking. “Excuse me, sir,” he began, “I’d like to learn swordsmanship. I heard you teach here.”

Carlos turned, his sharp eyes locking onto James. There was a brief moment of silence before he frowned, his expression one of clear disapproval. “No,” he said firmly.

The refusal caught James off guard. He blinked, taken aback by the abruptness of the response. “Why not?” he asked, unable to mask his surprise.

Carlos crossed his arms, looking James up and down as if assessing him. “Too many kids come here out of curiosity, thinking they can pick up a sword and learn something flashy. They don’t take it seriously. They quit the moment it gets tough or when they realize it’s not as exciting as they imagined. I don’t waste my time anymore.”