NOVEL NEXT Chapter 193: Trained
Van sighed. "I promise, I'll repay you…"
Theresa's expression didn't change, but Van saw some hesitation in her eyes.
"You want to improve your swordsmanship, right?" Van said.
Theresa finally smiled, just faintly. "So you noticed."
"You train behind the laundry shed, usually after curfew. You have learned a good Swordsmanship Style, but it's not suited to your physique, so it's hard for you to advance."
Theresa's eyes lit up.
"I've never had a teacher," she admitted. "Only seen some drills from Harvey's manuals and watching older guards train."
"I can teach you. Not perfectly, but I've been trained before. I'll help refine your footwork, your stance, and show you where Aura fits into it all."
Theresa looked at him for a long moment, as if she was trying to see through his sincerity. She knew how great Van was, and it was true that he might be able to teach her.
She could recall their battle against the One-Horned Magic Beasts before, and Van certainly had good observation skills that could help her.
Finally, she nodded.
"I'll see what I can do. But no promises. If he asks too many questions, I'll back out."
"Fair…" Van replied.
Theresa then smiled. "I didn't forget the way you fought in the arena. You're not normal. And I'm not sure what you're trying to become… but I'll help this once."
She then paused for a moment before she continued.
"Still, you have to start teaching me tomorrow… Master Harvey brought three Slaves with him. He wanted us to fight against each other next week. Whoever wins will be rewarded, and he'll be bringing them to another mission site."
Van gently nodded. "Alright… Let's train tomorrow. I'll help you."
With this new arrangement, Van's circle of influence had quietly grown.
A single ingredient was a small thing—but to him, it was a step closer to his freedom.
To Theresa, it was also a very helpful matter as she also obtained a teacher, a path, and perhaps… something more…
***
The next day passed quietly.
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Theresa slipped out from her quarters, heading outside.
Wrapped in a plain cloak, she moved quickly…
Hidden inside the folds of her garment were two small containers—one wrapped in waxed cloth, the other a glass vial lined. She had done it.
She found Van in the empty courtyard behind the supply barracks, where the early kitchen smoke hadn't yet reached.
He was already there, crouched near a flat stone slab where he was holding her wooden sword.
When Theresa appeared, Van looked up. He seemed tired, but she could tell that Van realized that she had managed to bring the items.
"You came…" he said.
She nodded silently, then handed over the packages.
Van unwrapped the waxed cloth first, revealing the thread of Moonvine Silk, its surface even seemed to glow like water. Then, he also carefully examined the vial of Dew Resin. A pale amber fluid glowed inside…
"These are perfect," Van whispered. "You really got them."
Theresa gave a half-smile. "He thought I was trying to reinforce my sword's grip and increase edge retention. I didn't lie."
Van looked up. "Thank you. Truly."
She waved it off, though her cheeks were slightly flushed. "You promised sword lessons, didn't you? I'm here to collect."
Van grinned faintly. "Then let's begin."
***
After Van stored the items, they moved to near the Garden Fountain—a quiet, disused part of the garden where servants rarely wandered during early morning hours.
The stone tiles were cracked but dry, and the moss-filled walls formed a natural training enclosure.
Theresa drew her practice blade—a well-worn training sword with dulled edges but balanced weight. Van stepped back and activated his Ocularis Lens to observe Theresa for now…
"Show me your sword training…" Van said.
"Got it…"
Just like that, Van's Lens started working.
[ Analyzing Combat Form… Identifying Motion Patterns… Assessing Muscular Strain… ]
He watched closely as Theresa began her drills.
Her footwork was basic but sharp. She followed the textbook forms with a discipline that was clearly self-taught.
Her transitions between cuts were passable, but not fluid.
There was a stiffness in her hips. Her knees turned at slightly off angles, and her grip was two fingers too tight on her right hand, which would eventually cause strain.
She executed a downward slash, turned into a side sweep, then dropped into a guard position.
After showing a few more of her movements, she finally stopped.
"You move like someone who studies but never sparred properly… Still, that sword style is definitely above average compared to other servants I've seen in the arena." Van said.
Theresa frowned. "But you still noticed how I barely fought in real battles. I've mostly practiced against wooden dummies."
'No wonder…' Van mused.
"Dummies don't move. Real opponents make you change angles, adjust breathing, break rhythm."
He stepped forward and took the sword from her.
Well, he also wanted to know its weight or center of balance accurately. That way, he would be able to give better advice.
After a few swings, Van gently nodded. He already had a rough idea…
"Here. The way you hold it, you're locking your wrist. That's why your arcs aren't clean. Relax your grip by two degrees. Let your left hand lead the draw, and your right hand guide the point. Like this."
He demonstrated the movement, then handed the blade back. It seemed quite simple, but the way someone was holding a sword was crucial in every sword style.
The books or manuals she read might show how the sword should be wielded, but not how the grip or hand movement should go.
Theresa then followed his correction…
After a few tries, the motion flowed smoother already…
'As expected… Getting a teacher is still the best.' She mused.
Van nodded. Then he continued to check his Ocularis Lens for some other information that it had obtained.
[ Overlay: Ideal Footwork Path. Corrective Movements Engaged. ]
'Ohh… Alright…'
Soon, he walked around her as she resumed her practice.
Thin blue lines formed in his vision, showing her steps.
With soft, subtle instructions, he corrected her positioning…
"Left foot two inches back before the turn... Your right knee should face forward during your charge. Your weight should roll through your toes, not your heel."
Theresa adjusted as sweat began to bead on her brow.
Still, since she knew that she was really improving with Van's help, she never uttered any complaint.
Van then focused on her offensive movements.
After all, correcting her sword style or movement wasn't enough to win against other Aura Users.
She needed some changes in her combat style as well since she wasn't a First-Level Aura User yet.
Her sword style seemed to be a derivative of a standard knight school form, likely lifted from one of Harvey's old manuals. Meant for taller, bulkier builds. Not ideal for her lean frame.
Something must change, and Van only needed a few minutes for that…
[ Combat Analysis: Style Efficiency – 62%. Detected incompatibilities with the subject's musculature and core balance. Recommending custom form optimization. Initiate? ]
Van mentally confirmed.
[ Initiating: Optimized Flow Style - Variant: Featherstep Curve Form ]
Indeed, it only took 3 minutes for him.
"Alright… Your body's better suited to a lighter, flowing combat style—less emphasis on brute force, more on evasion and angled counters. Something like... this."
He stepped in front of her and demonstrated a curved strike, followed by a twist of the blade and an off-angle parry.
"You don't need to meet force with force. Use your opponent's weight against them. Redirect. Control. That's already the essence of your sword style, but it was just lacking. We're only making some changes to it."
"Yes, teacher!"
Theresa tried to mimic it. Her first few attempts were clumsy, but Van slowed the motions, stepping through each part beside her.
Minutes passed into an hour…
Her balance improved. Her stances became firm, and her wrists loosened. There was no more stiffness in her movements…
The blade now followed her body, not the other way around.
"Am I actually a good teacher? I guess this isn't a bad profession, huh.." Van mused as he imagined himself building a Sword School or something similar.
'Well, that's impossible here in the Phyrexia Kingdom.
Van then continued training Theresa as he struck gently, guiding her blocks.
"Anticipate. Don't just react. See where I'm going before I finish."
"I'm trying!"
"Don't try. Breathe. Let your Aura sense the motion…"
She gritted her teeth and focused harder.
Then—clack!—their blades met cleanly. Her parry had intercepted his attack!
Van smiled. "There it is."
Theresa blinked as she was also getting tired already...
"Did I do it?" She asked.
"You did. Well done..." Van replied. He knew that he should still praise her, and he didn't mind doing that.
Theresa smiled after hearing his acknowledgement.
It wasn't easy, but it was definitely fun.
After all, Van could easily find her mistakes. He accurately mentioned what was wrong, and thanks to that, she had an easier time correcting her mistakes.
Genuine pride lit her face.
"Thank you!"