6 Chapter 6: Sparring (2/2)

”Naïve!”

Dad stepped back and avoided the thrust with a spin, and then twisted his sword to almost knock mine out of my hand. Realizing the danger, I intuitively withdrew and avoided a crack to my temple from Dad's vicious strike.

”Very good! You've improved!”

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Dad closed in again, swinging with precise, controlled strikes. I parried and blocked with both my swords, sometimes crossing them to endure a particularly powerful hit, but most of the times I deflected and exchanged blows with my father. He pushed me all the way back to the wall, his bamboo sword pummeling me with what seemed like the force of a nature.

I briefly wondered how Dad would fare against combat mages. I was under the impression that even without magic, or even without summoning Angelica, he could still overpower them with just his swordsmanship alone.

However, I was far from done myself!

I delivered a feint to an opening that Dad deliberately revealed, and just as I expected, he countered with a backward swing to where my head would be. Fortunately, I had already anticipated that and using my footwork, I spun to his side where he seemed most vulnerable.

Today was the day I finally got to land a hit on Dad for the very first time!

However, before I could finish thrusting my sword, my instincts screamed danger. I was under the impression that a ferocious beast was glaring at me with bloodthirsty eyes. My surroundings seemed to melt away, swallowed up by an immense shadow.

Within just a single instance, my Dad seemed to embody the essence of death itself.

”!!!!”

I quickly aborted my attack and retreated, crossing my swords in reflex. And a good thing I did too, for Dad's bamboo sword clattered against my crossed wooden blades with such force I was actually hurled backward and smashed into the opposite wall.

”Gah!”

The wind was knocked out of me and I almost blacked out from the immense pain. Sliding down the cracked wall, I landed in a heap on the ground.

”Oh my God! Richard! Sorry!”

Dad hurried over to my side, abandoning his sword and checking on me with a concerned look on his face.

”I'm…all right.”

Wheezing, I assured him. Dad grimaced and patted my head.

”Sorry about that. I acted subconsciously and accidentally used too much strength.”

Bloody hell. Used too much strength? Was he a monster? And this was without using magic too! How the hell did he pull that off?!

No wonder he could establish a contract with an existence as otherworldly and powerful as Angelica.

”But man, you really improved!”

Dad looked extremely delighted as he helped me to my feet.

”That was an excellent move! You actually forced me to counter on reflex! That's the first time you made me lose a bit of my control!”

”A bit of your control?” I repeated incredulously. That was only a bit of his control?

”Ah ha ha ha, yeah…” Dad scratched his head sheepishly and patted me in the back. ”Good job. I guess that's enough for today?”

Enough swordsmanship, that was for sure. Grimacing, I realized that I had landed next to the rack with bows and arrows.

Shaking my head, I returned the two wooden swords I had taken, and proceeded to retrieve a bow and a quiver of arrows.

”Mind if I practice a few shots before I retire for today?”

”No, of course not!” on the contrary, Dad looked pretty happy. He nodded in approval. ”I'll stay and watch.”

I was grateful to him for doing so. Dad often helped to appraise my archery and offer advice on how to improve my accuracy or my stance.

”Thanks.”

Taking a deep breath, I made the necessary preparations, stood in front of the target that was a hundred meters away, and then fitted an arrow to my bow. Pulling the string back, I took aim, peering at the target through my glasses.

Then I released the arrow.