It didn't seem like anything.
I was just swinging my sword around—like a fool.
I had finally understood what Edward showed me yesterday,
This is something completely different from what I knew.
"This is too difficult~!" I said, dropping onto the ground.
"Get up, try it once more," he said, taken aback as he looked at me.
"Let me rest for just a bit longer... it's still early..."
"You think your future life as my son will give you time to rest!?"
"...Yes?" My eyes shifted to my right.
"Get up—snap out of that dream of yours."
"Tsk... okay..." I leaned on my arms, lifting myself slowly up.
"It took me a while to get this under control—even your dad, who grew up learning this style was around your age when he mastered it." He had drawn my eyes back to him.
"So don't think that it's easy because it's the first technique—the first steps will be hardest after all, right?"
"Right..."
"I was wondering something, you mentioned it before, but how strong was my dad in battle... was he stronger than you?" I sat on the ground, staring at Edward.
It was his eyes that shifted away from me.
"We were both competing against each other—I hate to admit it, but during that time he became a captain before I did—" He looked up to the sky that began to regain its color.
"While we were both weaker than I am now, when he was still a knight—he was the strongest amongst us." A slight grin appeared as he spoke.
A grin of my own sprung forth,
"Is this style really that strong?"
"Yes—even your father hadn't mastered all of it."
"So you haven't mastered it either?!"
"...no I have not, I did master the cross style..."
"But I know the first three techniques of yours—that will be enough for now."
"...but where can I learn the rest?"
"I don't know—even Ewan didn't know..." He covered his mouth with his hand.
"Thank you..." I lifted my body up, and wiped the dirt off my legs.
"Don't worry mastering the entirety—these three will take enough time by themselves."
His blade was pointed at me,
"So don't delay it any further, and begin—now!"
I took my stance again, controlling every breath that went in and out.
I focused on each movement I had seen before—without missing a beat.
Even now, I was unable to achieve anything.
'Remember—he said you have to create, not imitate'
'I know, but it's difficult—so I tried to use his technique as my own—'
'But I don't think it's going to work...'
'What did you understand when he said it?'
'Uh... that I should create my own movements?'
'Yes technically you're right, but there should be more to it—try asking him.'
I lowered my blade, and looked at the growing figure right of me,
"Edward, what did you mean by create?"
"You already understand how those three constitutions work, right?" I nodded,
"Try to think from there onward."
"Thank you—I think I get it."
My essence, my body, and my self.
I need to create using these three... so making the technique fit for myself...?
But how can I use them to make it fit me? Should I think of them as I move?
I began again,
What makes me? My essence
What is my essence? It's to survive and live...
What is my body? All that I've learned and experienced.
I moved my body, followed by my blade, and I kept it all up in my mind.
Nothing happened.
The air kept flowing as normal, nor did I follow up with the second strike—I wasn't able to move the air.
I turned around, and looked at Edward, but before I could open my mouth,
"Once more!" The wrinkles formed revealed his upturned lips from behind his hands.
I repeated all the movements I had previously done.
But nothing changed.
"Once more!"
I followed his command and once again no results.
This cycle continued the entire time, until the first birds started chirping, with the sunlight heating up the dirt below us.
"We'll continue this at our next spot."
"Huff... huff..." I fell onto the floor, drenched in my cooled sweat, unable to speak coherent as I said,
"Why... did you... let me do this... for so long... just the same... over... and over... again..."
"You were the one to repeat it over and over again—I never told you to."
"Do you have another secret you haven't told us? Otherwise we will meet beasts today."
I sat up after having regained my breath again.
"I'll be ready then..."
"And keep your head high, there was a reason why I told you to continue..."
"Okay!" I met his eyes as I looked past the stretched out hand.
Both of us walked over to the dining room, where Mim and Katherine sat together, calmly talking.
We joined in, after we sat down.
A smell reached our noses, followed by steps—it was Albert.
"We were done right on time!" I said, turning to Edward.
"Hahaha, I could hear Albert in the kitchen, so it was me—not luck..."
"Are you even human?!"
"Who knows...." He shrugged, followed by him looking over at Katherine.
Both of them started snickering as they met each other's eyes.
"Wait—you are not human!?" Mim said, her mouth gaping wide, eyes narrowed,
"Yes, I am a monster—RAHHH!".
"AHHHH! I know you are just joking," the voice said from behind my right shoulder.
"Edward don't make scary jokes!" Katherine said, hitting Edward's shoulder, while she winked to Mim.
Even Albert let a snicker out as he brought the plates to the table.
The laughter and talking kept going until everybody was ready to leave.
We all followed Albert towards the coach out in front.
Before we sat down he let us know that this was the final part of the route, that a shortcut would be taken shortcut, leaving three days in the road.
While happy we could settle down, I was also saddened by the thought of it ending.
We passed by calm plains first, there weren't any troubles, making it possible for me to sleep for a while longer.
Both Mim and I leaned on one another, sleeping comfortably.
What is going on?
I was woken up after feeling something wrong with the carriage.
I lifted my head, and saw Katherine and Edward sitting calmly as if nothing was going on.
I was being pushed into the back of my seat, as if I was being pulled downwards.
After I moved the curtains slightly I realized what was happening.