The morning felt different. Sensei had told them to bring their swords to the courtyard. It was a surprise since they hadn't focused on sword techniques for weeks. Mono looked at the blade strapped to his side before gripping the wooden practice sword in his hands. They all had real swords, ones chosen to match their strengths, but Sensei always insisted on wooden ones for training.
"Wooden swords help you learn without the risks," Sensei explained as the group gathered. "Mistakes with these won't cost you much. With real swords, a mistake could cost you everything."
Mono tightened his grip on the worn wooden blade, feeling its familiar weight.
Raiba gave a short laugh, spinning his practice sword in his hand. "Finally, something simple. No glowing energy to worry about."
Josei held her sword in both hands, ready and focused. Her steady expression showed she wasn't planning to waste time.
Hito rested his sword across his shoulder, smirking. "Bet I'll finish faster than everyone else today."
Tokira stood quietly at the side, his wooden sword held loosely. He didn't say anything but stepped forward with the others, ready to begin.
---
The first part of training was about stances.
Sensei moved between them, correcting positions and pointing out mistakes.
"Mono, widen your stance," he said, nudging Mono's foot lightly. "You need balance. If you're off-balance, you'll lose control in a fight."
Mono shifted his footing and felt the difference immediately.
"Raiba, stop leaning forward," Sensei said sharply. "An opponent can easily take advantage of that."
Raiba muttered under his breath but straightened up, adjusting his stance.
When Sensei came to Josei, he studied her posture closely. "Your form is solid, but you're stiff. Loosen up. Your movements need to flow naturally."
Josei nodded and made small adjustments, relaxing her grip slightly.
Hito's stance was more dramatic, earning him a quick rebuke.
"You're trying too hard to impress," Sensei said firmly. "Keep it simple. Focus on making it right instead of making it flashy."
Hito grinned sheepishly, lowering his sword.
Finally, Sensei stopped in front of Tokira.
"Your stance is good, but you're hesitating. Doubt gives your opponent an opening. You need to trust your movements."
Tokira nodded silently, shifting his position just enough to show he was listening.
---
Next, Sensei moved on to strikes.
"Start with overhead strikes," he said, showing them the motion with his own wooden sword. His swing was smooth, the blade arcing cleanly before landing softly on the training dummy.
The students lined up in front of their own dummies, trying to copy his motion.
Mono focused on keeping his swings steady, though his movements felt awkward at first. Sensei stepped in quickly.
"Tighter grip, Mono," he said, adjusting Mono's hands briefly. "The sword should feel like it's part of your arm."
Mono nodded, gripping the sword tighter, and his strikes started to improve.
Raiba's strikes were powerful, the loud *thud* of his blade filling the courtyard.
"You have strength," Sensei said, watching closely. "But strength alone won't win. Slow your strikes and focus on control."
Raiba sighed but obeyed, and his movements became more deliberate.
Josei's strikes were clean, her blade landing perfectly on target every time. Sensei nodded approvingly as he passed her. "Keep it steady," he said simply.
Hito's strikes were fast but chaotic. He twisted unnecessarily, adding movements that didn't help his technique.
"Stop spinning," Sensei said bluntly, stopping him mid-swing. "Every move needs a purpose. Don't waste energy."
Hito grinned faintly, correcting his motion.
Tokira's strikes were precise but cautious, earning a quick comment from Sensei.
"You've got the form," Sensei said. "But add more force. Every strike should have intention."
Tokira's grip tightened, and his strikes became sharper.
---
Hours passed as they worked through overhead strikes, moving on to counters and footwork.
"Your opponent will test your ability to react," Sensei said, demonstrating a clean counterstrike that flowed into a defensive position. "You must be able to adapt quickly, without hesitation."
Mono struggled with the counters, his movements feeling stiff and awkward. Sensei stepped in, guiding him through the motions until they started to flow more smoothly.
"Again," Sensei said calmly, pushing Mono to repeat the motion until it felt more natural.
Raiba's counters were harder to adjust due to his heavy strikes, but Sensei's advice helped him find a better balance.
"Don't rely only on force," Sensei said. "Timing is just as important."
Josei picked up the counters quickly, her movements flowing effortlessly between attack and defense. Sensei gave her a small nod of approval as she worked.
Hito's counters were fast but inconsistent, his eagerness leading to mistakes.
"You're rushing," Sensei said firmly. "Slow down and focus on accuracy."
Hito nodded, his grin replaced by determination as he adjusted his movements.
Tokira's counters were clean but lacked weight, prompting Sensei to step in.
"Add more force to your strikes," Sensei said, demonstrating how to shift his grip slightly. "Don't hold back."
---
As the sun began to set, Sensei called for a break.
The students dropped their swords and collapsed onto the grass, their bodies aching from the long session.
"Finally," Raiba said, letting out a loud sigh. "I thought he was going to keep us out here all night."
Mono laughed weakly, lying flat on his back. "Don't give him ideas."
Hito stretched his arms, wincing slightly. "Sword training is harder than I remembered."
Josei untied her ponytail, letting her hair fall loose as she leaned against the oak tree. "It's good to focus on something different," she said quietly.
Tokira sat cross-legged with his sword resting across his lap. "Energy training can wear you down too much. This was a good change."
The group nodded in agreement, the cool evening breeze brushing against their faces.
---
As they rested, their thoughts turned to Sensei.
"How does he even have time to fight beasts and still train us like this?" Raiba asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"He doesn't need much time," Josei said. "He's strong enough to finish a fight quickly."
Mono nodded. "Have you seen the way he moves? He could probably defeat a beast in seconds."
Hito laughed, shaking his head. "Seconds? Try *less* than seconds."
Tokira glanced at Sensei, who stood silently nearby. "He's stronger than we realize," he said simply.
The group exchanged quiet nods, their respect for their teacher growing deeper.
---
They weren't sure what challenges the next day would bring, but for now, they allowed themselves to rest. The tournament was only three weeks away, and they intended to use every moment wisely.