I tossed one of the swords to Kojiro, who caught it effortlessly and gave it a few experimental swings to test its weight and balance. His expression remained composed, but I could see him mentally adjusting to the weapon's characteristics.
"These swords are dulled for safety," I explained, settling into a ready stance with my own practice blade. "They'll still hurt on impact, but they won't cause lasting damage. Don't hold back, I need to understand where my skills truly stand against someone with your level of expertise."
Kojiro nodded once, his grip shifting slightly on the sword's handle as he adopted a defensive stance. "Understood. I will provide the challenge you seek."
...
The moment we both settled into our stances, I could feel the intensity radiating from Kojiro. His dark eyes assessed my stance.
