novelraw Chapter 164 - 164 - School of hard knocks
Chapter 164 - 164 - School of hard knocks
I get to sweat quite a bit as the lesson goes on and Szymon or rather Szymona takes to the floor across from me again. Keeping up that charade is really troublesome, yet at the same time I don't think me breaking the veil, thin as it may be, would be appreciated at this time. No, I really better not. Lady Izolda might just see need to make an example off me if I did. I'd probably only get to regret it for a very brief time. I better butter her up lots more before I ever seriously consider it.
For now I really need to focus on my opponent anyway, even if she is only here for some friendly sparring to practice the lessons the head maid just taught us. I'm a little worried though. Not because the young heir of the city is an accomplished master fencer. No it's quite the opposite that has me worried. Will they be able to pull their thrusts just like Lady Izolda did? Otherwise I might soon be in need of a little more healing than I can easily apply myself. Well, I'm getting paid for this, thus I really have no room to complain.
Before I can worry too much or actually say anything tough, the head maid takes firm control of the situation again, with a firm voice that brooks no argument or dissent. It doesn't leave room for interpretation or error either. At first her words are directed at my opponent.
"Szymon. You will aim for the vulnerable spots, doing your best to circumvent the armor best you can in the order I introduced them in. You will not go straight for them though. That would be reckless and I don't want you to develop such bad habits. Instead you will have to get Viviona's blade out of the way first, either by making her overextend on her own attack or by blocking it out of the way hard with your buckler."
Then she turns slightly to address me directly.
"You, Viviona, in turn will do your best to keep your defenses up. Don't make this easy. Every hit has to be hard earned. No gifts. Call a stop though should it get too much for you. I don't want you to drop dead on us either. We'll use a potion in that case to keep going."
I'm sure this is meant to reassure me, but I can't help but worry anyway. I haven't had to drink any healing potions up until now, since my own meager healing skills and the occasional second wind through a timely level up and my natural healing have been good enough so far. And somehow the idea of drinking one just so I can get stabbed some more sounds wrong. Like something that should really give me pause. And it does, in the confines of my own mind only though, as I don't dare voice those thoughts. I'm sure they know what they are doing. Right? That's about all the time I get to think about it anyway, as the head maid calls for us to get started with a firm voice.
"Ready? Begin!"
The lord's heir begins with the an attack similar to the one used by Lady Izolda before. Except, as she instructed I don't allow it to get through my defenses. If the young lady wants to score a hit she will have to earn it. The attempt is good enough to help improve my [Shields] skill and my [Block] skill a little at least. More importantly though, I decide to counter after deflecting her rapier with my buckler, aiming for the very same vulnerable spot at the axle.
I pull back at the last moment, to take the majority of the force out of the thrust, but the notification I receive leaves no doubt that the hit was good. It removes the last vestiges of doubt in another regard too.
[*Ding!* Critical Hit! Szymona's Health reduced by 61!]
The attack makes several of my skills, [Melee Weapons], [Blades] and [Thread the Steel] progress a little. More important though is the notification that brushes through my mind like a whisper in Fox's voice.
[*Ding!* Your skill Long Blades has leveled up to level 6!]
This one counts towards the progress of my masked mediator class, which is quite welcome. I have a feeling that that class may make some more progress if this keeps up.
The girl pretending to by a boy on the other hand, loses the grip on her shield as the arm, of which I hit the shoulder, goes numb, stumbles back a step and in the end lands on her ass with a groan. Justyna quickly rushes to her side, her eyes wide in worry.
I lower my weapon, stand back and look to Lady Izolda in turn. Her opinion on the matter is what really matters right now. Given the situation, I already see another opportunity to work on my skills. I won't spring into action without her permission though.
"May I offer some healing first before you use a healing potion?"
She already saw what I have in mind when I healed myself a little earlier, thus she gives me permission with a curt nod without any hesitation.
I put away buckler and rapier to kneel with Szymona and Justyna. I place my hand where I landed the hit and start to pray.
"Fox, divine guardian of many masks. God of making mischief and Goddess of having fun. I beg you, heal this poor soul injured through my hands and ease their pain."
A minuscule amount of my Karma evaporates and, as relief becomes visible on my patient's face, my [Prayer] skill improves a little too. What really matters though, is the notification about the other involved skill I receive.
[*Ding!* Your skill Healing Touch has leveled up to level 6!]
As Szymona and Justyna get back up the former is blushing a little while the latter looks more than a little relieved. It's the lord's heir who speaks up though before we can continue our training.
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"Thank you, but I better have a potion anyway. I don't think I could take another hit like that without."
Lady Izolda acknowledges the statement with a simple nod, which in turn prompts Justyna to step to a side table. She opens a drawer and fetches a small potion bottle after apparently using an identification skill on it first.
I take the sudden lull in activity as a chance to exchange some more words with my sparring partner.
"You need to work on some vitality based skills. It would improve not just your health but your defense in general too."
The head maid looks at me with a raised eyebrow but does not protest. The advice is pretty sound after all. The girl pretending to be a boy though laughs out loud in turn before she answers.
"Easy for you to say."
Then she drinks the potion Justyna hands her with one gulp and another wave of relief washes over her before she continues.
"I'm cooped up in the keep just about all day on just about every day. It's not easy practicing most skills like that. In fact my heavy armor and shield skills are the easiest to improve during these lessons. Other skills? No such luck."
She picks up her dropped buckler and resumes a ready position.
I do not though. Instead I turn to address Lady Izolda once more. I'm aiming for a respectful tone as I do, just in case.
"Please forgive me if I'm too presumptuous, but maybe we should take the chance to work on that first? It shouldn't be too hard to improve the mentioned heavy armor and shield skill by means of some unarmed attacks before we resume the fencing lessons. Or am I mistaken?"
The lady in question taps her chin thoughtfully for a moment, but that probably is just for show. Finally she nods in agreement.
"Yes, let's do that. Szymon, please set the rapier down. You will try to either block with your shield or you will soak the hits up with your armor. Let's find out if we can make some more progress before it is time for lunch. Viviona, if you please would proceed at your own discretion."
A little later we face each other without weapons. I put the buckler away too. I can't help but think that Szymona looks both a little nervous and yet excited at the same time too. I flash her a grin.
"Alright, an easy one to get started. Block that one with your shield. Afterwards we'll make it up as we go. Don't hesitate to call for a stop though should it turn out to be too much for you."
I start as promised with an easy to read swinger and it gets blocked with the buckler as intended too. Beyond that I don't pull my punch this time around though. It's shouldn't be necessary. The notification I receive as the punch connects with the buckler reassures me of the latter.
[*Ding!* Hit! Szymona's Health reduced by 0!]
My own [Brawling] skill progresses a little too, although it still has a long way to go until the next level up. Never mind that though. What really matters is the look of excitement, even though it's mixed with clear signs of exertion, on my opponent's face. This is for their benefit first and foremost after all. My own skills improving as well is only the icing on top.
"Alright! Try to block the next one with your gauntlets. Get your arms up in a guard position for that."
I barely give her enough time to drop the buckler and do as I have said. The lord's heir is quick on the uptake though and gets her arms up in a guard position in time to catch my straight jab on the gauntlets instead of her chin.
[*Ding!* Hit! Szymona's Health reduced by 6!]
Judging by the sparkle in her eyes one of her skills must have just leveled up. It's only natural that she is excited by this despite actually suffering some damage this time around.
My own [Brawling] skill improves another little bit too, thus I have no reason to complain. Instead I egg my sparring partner on a little while Justyna and the head maid watch on from the sidelines.
"Received a level up notification? Good. Let's keep going to earn you some more. Next up a kick. Try to block it by taking it on the greaves. You'll have to maintain your balance too!"
Once again I'm pleasantly surprised as she manages to block my kick as instructed. Lady Izolda looks pleased as well. And Szymona even manages to stay on her feet although she has to take a step back to bleed off the momentum my kick imparts her with.
[*Ding!* Hit! Szymona's Health reduced by 5!]
Judging by the lower damage dealt this time around at least one of her defensive skills must have really leveled up. And given the excited look on her face she just earned another notification. This is really paying off for her. Good. And of course my [Brawling] skill keeps making progress too. Even better.
Of course she is making much better progress than me. It's only natural considering that her skills are probably at a lower level. Or rather, it's my conclusion that her skills have to be at a lower level considering how fast she makes progress. The early levels are the easy ones, as I have been made aware before. Overall this puts me in a pretty good mood.
"Ready for some more? I have been told if you soak up enough hits like that you can earn an achievement to unlock an additional defensive skill. One that doesn't depend on gear or circumstances."
It's at this point that Lady Izolda, as the actual teacher, interjects, providing some additional insights.
"There are several skills that can be acquired like this in fact. Iron mind and iron skin being the most well known ones as well as the ones easiest to acquire. Easy, of course, is a rather vague term in this case. Either way, acquiring those skills would be a rather long term project. Let us focus on improving your vitality based defense skills first and foremost, young lord."
It's a much appreciated interjection. Especially as it makes my [Gather Information] skill tick a little closer to the next level up, which is a rather unexpected development. I quickly turn my attention back to the task at hand though.
"Very well. Pick the shield back up. Next up is another kick. Do your best to block it with the buckler."
I give her enough time to comply, then I come at her like announced, with another powerful kick. Again my [Brawling] skill improves a little. The notification I receive afterwards suggests that the buckler is really making quite the difference.
[*Ding!* Hit! Szymona's Health reduced by 0!]
Judging by her look she must have received a notification as well. Not just the one about not suffering any damage either, but another level up notification. For Szymona this training session is really paying off big time.
Before we can continue though the head maid calls for a stop.
"Good. I think we should have a break now and get something to eat. We can continue afterwards."
Her ward looks almost disappointed, but I certainly won't object to anything the head maid suggests. And anyway, why would I turn down a chance to get a free meal, even if it probably will be another rather bland one?