Tutor Lorenz stepped to the center to explain the rules of today's sparring.

"Attention everyone, because of the recruits who have started training the second stance, we will change the sparring format.

Those who didn't get into the new group will continue under the old rules. Recruits who have started training for the second stance will fight against each other. 

Tutor Horen recruits during sparring, as an attacker can only use the first stance, and a defender can only use the second stance. In this way, you will improve your skills from both stances at the same time. A person who is not hit even once during three duels in a row as a defender can move to the third stance.

All of you to your tutors, who will draw you a pair for sparring."

Kane and the rest were divided into pairs, already thinking of how to get to the third stance.

Kane's opponent today turned out to be the boy Landis had been talking to. A tall brunette with short hair, despite being 12 years old, he was already well-built, which explained how he got here.

"Hi, I'm Jin".

"Kane"

"Landis told me about you, he said you were a good swordsman".

"He was quite good, too."

Jin looked at Kane with piercing eyes

"Someone trained you? You didn't get here so quickly for no reason, and from what I can see, you're not too muscular yet, so you didn't get through due to sheer physical strength."

"No one trained me, when I arrived, it was two days ago that I held a sword in my hand for the first time."

"hmmm...."

He looked at him with a slight smile, planning to test Kane's skills.

"And you were trained by someone?"

Kane asked, curious to see the boy's silhouette.

"Yes, my father has Master rank, so I inherited his talent, and he trained me as soon as I turned 8. I wanted him to continue teaching me individually, but he said the army would be good for me and sent me here, although I wanted to stay."

"So he can use the Ren?"

Kane began to inquire, still curious about what this power was.

"Yes, after all, if he couldn't, he wouldn't have become a master."

"Will you tell me more about it? Tutor Nilon couldn't tell us anything more."

"Well, I don't know..."

He started teasing Kane.

"If you win at least one duel with me, I'll tell you as much as I know."

"Okay, shall we start?"

"Yes, you attack first."

Both of them set up their positions. Kane in the first stance, Jin in the second stance. They both glared at each other, waiting for a reaction. Jin knew that the second stance mainly needed a quick reaction time to work, and that he must not lose vigilance even for a moment.

With his sword up, Kane knew that he was not facing just any kid with a blade and focused on it so much that he forgot about the surrounding place, the sounds, and the smells. All he felt was a racing heartbeat.

When he felt it was the right moment, he attacked.

Jin did not allow himself to lose his vigilance and reacted immediately. Kane's attack was slower than the opponent's swing, so Jin deflected the attack happily with the end of his sword. Because of the opponent's strength, Kane lost feeling in his hands, and the impact's was so strong that he had to move his leg back to keep from falling to the ground. 

"Okay, now I understand what the tutor meant. Even if the stance is simple, you have to adjust the timing to match the opponent's attack. I made a quick enough swing to almost miss your sword."

Shy laughed at Jin's clumsiness.

Kane realized after the first blow what a gap there was in physical strength. If Jin had gotten his sword right, he knew it would have fallen out of his hands.

"You have four more strikes."

The situation repeated itself with every strike, no matter how fast or hard Kane attacked, Jin deflected all his attacks, on top of doing it better and better with each next strike.

After the first sparring loss, Kane let his frustration at not being able to do anything get the best of him. It was only after he calmed down that he remembered how Landis had handled his second stance.

He had a plan to use this against Jin at the next opportunity.

"1 to 0 for me, now you defend."

Kane positioned himself in the second stance, hoping that at least the defense would come out better. 

He waited for Jin's attack, which slowly approached him.

As soon as his opponent's sword moved, Kane, after almost a second's delay, began his swing. 

Jin's attack was so fast that Kane didn't have time to make a full swing and got hit in the collarbone with the sword, falling to the ground in pain.

"I guess I had too high expectations of you..."

Horen's tutor immediately ran over to the two boys after seeing the injured Kane.

"What happened?"

"He didn't manage to deflect the attack and got hit with a sword."

They both looked at Kane, who was reeling in pain

"Show me where he hit you."

Horen saw his collarbone all reddened and swollen. He looked at the wound more closely and found that there was no fracture, but to fight further would be impossible.

"Go to the doctor to get you treated, your training is over for today."

All the recruits in the group looked anxiously at Kane's condition, realizing that even if these were wooden swords, they could get hit hard with them.

Frustrated and sore, the boy went with his eyes on the ground to the doctor. 

Kane, after years of suffering and not being willing to live, felt determination and a desire to learn, or interest, for the first time in his life after being sent to Byrock. The army gave the boy what he needed—a reason for life.

The boy realized this after losing, and the fact that he was completely unable to do anything only ignited a flame of determination to improve his technique and build muscle to gain the strength he needed to fight.

Kane made his way to the doctor, who treated his wounds, when, in the meantime, tutor Horen came over.

"How do you feel?"

"It hurts, but I'll be fine."

The tutor sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"Listen, in the new group, you have two types of recruits. Those who got in through physical strength and those who got in through talent. You belong to the second group. Your body limits your talent, so I have a suggestion. 

Starting tomorrow, you will get up at 7 a.m., and you will start your day with strength training, with which I will help you. At this hour, we put out equipment anyway, so I'm on the training ground. 

At sparring sessions, I'll temporarily give you someone who isn't far off in strength from you so that you'll be able to continue polishing stances and possibly getting into the third stance. You will have these additional exercises as long as they are necessary. Do you understand?"

Kane appreciated Horen's efforts, knowing that the extra training would help him greatly.

"Thank you, from tomorrow on, I'll come at 7 a.m."

The boy left for supper with the knowledge that he would work even harder tomorrow.

Entering the dining hall, everyone stopped talking and looked at the boy with his hand wrapped in bandages. 

Kane silently sat down next to Auren, starting his food without a word, as everyone looked at him and slowly began to continue their conversations.

"What happened to you?"

Asked Auren, surprised by Kane's condition

"I was sparring with one boy, and I didn't manage to block a strike,"

"Did it hurt badly to get hit with such wood?"

"Yes, my whole arm is swollen."

"Due to the fact that my strength stands out from the rest in the group, tutor Horen offered me additional exercises in the morning, so from tomorrow I will have to wake up earlier..."

He sighed in pain, knowing that he could forget about sleeping like he used to.

He stared at his plate, pondering it in his mind.

"Every step forward, no matter how small, will bring me closer to my goal."