Chapter 89: Improving
"You moved too fast from the start, your stance was a total mess. And even the way you held the sword was wrong, while your movements were all over the place," he said while pointing at the sword below. Pausing slightly, he continued, "Only your last move was pretty good, it could have caught someone off guard. But well, there are no ifs on a battlefield. Let’s start from the basics."
Orion took a deep breath and picked up the sword again. Edgar moved and got a sword for himself as well and began showing him how to use a sword.
Over the next three hours, Edgar methodically taught Orion the fundamentals of swordsmanship. He began with the proper stance first—shoulder-width apart, dominant foot slightly back, knees slightly bent, spine straight, keeping weight evenly distributed.
"Hold the sword with both hands in front, angle the tip slightly upwards, and eyes focused on the opponent ahead," he instructed while fixing Orion’s stance himself.
"Your stance is your foundation," Edgar emphasized again, demonstrating the ideal posture. Orion carefully mirrored him, adjusting slightly based on Edgar’s corrections.
Next, they moved on to gripping the sword firmly but flexibly. Edgar patiently adjusted Orion’s grip, explaining the importance of wrist flexibility and finger positioning for precise control.
"Now, try a simple slash," Edgar instructed, demonstrating fluidly.
Orion mimicked Edgar’s movement, his initial swings clumsy but slowly improving with each repetition.
"Good, but put more power from your hips, not just your arms," Edgar advised, observing carefully.
Orion nodded, adjusting his movements, gradually feeling the strength and stability that came from his lower body. His slashes grew cleaner, sharper, and more controlled.
"Excellent! Again!" Edgar commanded, steadily increasing the complexity, introducing defensive stances, parries, and counterattacks.