The Devil's Temptation!

232 Basic Training (2)

Standing under a big brown leafless tree that was coated with snow, away from the rest of the others, Levi handed Anna a wooden sword she could use to practice.

“I find it unnecessary to use real swords since we’re only getting into the basics.” He explained his reason for picking a wooden sword, and Anna had no problem with it. Instead, she found it very understanding since she herself couldn’t raise a sword to Levi, at least not now.

Levi also held one for himself as he took a step back, keeping a distance between them just Incase he plans on giving an example on a specific attack.

“I don’t think I need to get into too much detail since you already have a clue on what the basic techniques of Swordsmanship are.”

He took a stance, “there are eight different basic attacking angles in sword fighting- the first is; straight down from the top,” he showed an example of that technique, “straight up from the bottom, diagonally down to the left, diagonally down to the right, diagonally up from the left, same thing with the right, and the last is a left and right strikes which are horizontal.”

Anna watched him take up those attack stances, slowly and perfectly in order for her to follow and understand his movements. She’s never seen Levi wield a sword before, this is her first time watching Levi handle a sword, and she was impressed by how he took each step into consideration. He made it look so simple as she watched him, and his aura had always been less toxic and more graceful.

“If you’re able to perfect those stances into swordfighting, you’ll be much harder to beat.” He assured her with a genuine smile before hanging the wooden sword on his shoulder.

“Your turn.”

Anna took a deep breath as she tried to remember everything he’s said till now, she was indeed nervous and excited at the same time. Her skills were nothing compared to Levi’s cause she witnessed his strength and stamina, he always acted like the crazy one amongst the Astaroth family but who knew he was actually a master of swords.

.....

Aiming her wooden sword in the air and following Levi’s technique, she could still recall the steps in her head, making it easy for her to follow them. Levi approached her a few times and corrected her posture, reminding her that she had to keep her eyes and arms at lower guard.

While he continued to watch her, he took notice of her steps and each of her skills had their unique movements. Whenever she made a mistake, she had to start all over and it continued that way till her body was starting to get acquainted with the right basic techniques, even if that meant she had to run out of air in her lungs.

“You’re a quick learner, I’m impressed.” Levi complimented, and Anna took a minute pause to catch her uneasy breath, before smiling in appreciation, “it’s thanks to you, your ways of teaching are actually easy to follow, although I’ll admit that I was able to remember a few of the basics I learnt in Euphrasia, so it was beneficial.”

“Let’s advance to the next one then, see if you can use any of those techniques on me.” He suggested, “I’ll keep it defensive, it’s left for you to give it all you got so I know if you’re ready to move on to the next level.”

“Should I? I really don’t want to hurt you.” She admitted in a meek tone, but Levi laughed at her genuine concern. Finding it funny and sweet that she thinks she can hurt him.

“Don’t worry, we’re using wooden swords anyway and I’ll keep myself protected, come at me.”

Gripping her wooden sword tightly by the hilt, Anna lunged her attack at Levi, keeping the basic techniques he taught her in mind and using them to her advantage. But Levi blocked her hit with his wooden sword before she could process her next attack, leaving Anna’s eyes to widen at his quick defense.

But she wasn’t done yet.

Anna pivoted her attack and tried again, but Levi took a large step back, avoiding the wooden blade of her sword that kept coming at him in commendable speed, and he seemed to be enjoying it. Seeing him smile like that proved she wasn’t adding too much effort.

“Don’t go easy on me, apply as much pressure as you can, if you keep up with being soft, then I’m afraid you’ll have no chance against Azazel.” As far as Levi knows, Azazel and Roshan can be quite brutal when challenged.

The clashing continued as both engaged in a sword battle. Levi was fast when it came to blocking, and his glinting sharp eyes could detect her movement, making it easy for him to parry her attack and use it to his advantage, but he didn’t and loyally kept to the defensive side.

“You’re talented, you’re putting the basic techniques into good use, but what you need to work on is your speed,” he corrected her as he dodged all her movements, “you need to be aware of when to speed up, and when to reduce your pace, or else you’ll give your opponents the upper hand, like this–”

And Levi finally made a move as he redirected her sword by pushing it aside with the right amount of pressure, making it slip from her grasp and before Anna knew it, his sword had aimed for her throat, but he paused there while Anna froze in surrender.

“See?” He quickly withdrew his sword, to Anna’s relief, “your pace needs to be worked on, you’re good in all aspects, but you have a hard time knowing when to make the right amount of strike.” He explained. “Do you get it now?”

Anna proceeded to pick up her sword from the ground before nodding her head, “knowing when to strike, I’ll try to keep my focus on that, shall we go again?”

Levi smiled brightly, enjoying the training session himself, “as long as you’re ready.”

And they both clashed again.

At the top of stairs that led to a balcony, Roshan stood there, silently watching the friendly duo between Levi and Annalise, and his lips tugged into a smile when he noticed how determined she was to get it right.

“Your Highness,” a maid showed up at the balcony, keeping her head in a bow as she stood before Roshan.

“Speak.”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on the new maid like you asked. I saw her go into her chamber this morning, and after waiting a few minutes I went in as well, only to see she’s no longer in her chamber, your Highness.”

“No longer in her chamber?” Roshan turned to look at the maid, “did she step out?”

“Not at all your Highness,” the maid shook her head with honesty, “I was keeping watch incase she did, but when I sensed she wasn’t going to come out, I went in, only to find her room empty of her presence, and I get the feeling she’s vanished.”

Roshan found it impossible to believe, not that he didn’t trust the words she said but it’s possible she’s making a mistake, “a human can’t vanish just like that, come with me.”

He left the balcony to go see things for himself, and the maiden happily blushed at the fact she was able to speak and accompany his Highness.

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