Chapter 263: Magic Sword
Darion thought about it. Because that could only be the reasonable explanation for this. Why hadn’t he even thought of this before? The sword was magical. It had to be. That was why it had a training manual on how to use it.
A normal sword didn’t need a manual. You just picked it up and swung it. But this sword, this sword had been hidden away in a secret room, sealed behind stone and mortar, waiting for someone to find it.
And it had come with a book of instructions. That wasn’t a coincidence. That was... the thing!
His eyes suddenly lit up. He asked Garren to hand him the book. Garren did, and now Darion read the moves, not skim through them, but actually read.
He studied each page, each diagram, each carefully written instruction. The sketches were detailed, showing a figure in various stances, the sword held at different angles, the feet positioned in specific ways.
The handwriting was precise, the work of someone who had put a lot of effort into teaching the art of sword fighting.
And then he realized. Certain positions, certain stances, all unique. They didn’t look like ordinary sword techniques. .They were too deliberate, too specific.
The figure in the sketches moved in ways that seemed almost unnatural, as if the body was being contorted to achieve something beyond a normal strike.
He kept flipping. The pages were filled with diagrams, each one building on the last. A series of movements, each one flowing into the next. A sequence that seemed to be building toward something. Something big.
Garren watched him, silent. He didn’t interrupt. He just observed, his expression calm but curious. He had seen Darion read before, but this was different. This was intense. Focused.
Darion continued to study the book. He noticed that the movements, when performed in a certain sequence, produced a much bigger move. Like a move that unleashed some sort of finishing blow.
He could see it in the diagrams, the way the figure’s body was positioned at the end of the sequence, the sword extended, the energy of the movement concentrated into a single point. It wasn’t just a strike. It was something more.
He set the book down and thought about it. Movements performed in certain ways, combined with the right timing and the right focus, could create some sort of magical enhancement to the sword.
And then, boom. It did something. Something powerful. Something that a normal sword couldn’t do.
He scratched his face, his mind racing. "Garren, look at this," he said, pointing to a specific diagram. "See how the figure’s body is positioned here? And then here, the sword is angled differently. These movements aren’t random. They’re designed to channel something. Something that makes the sword more than just a piece of metal."
Garren leaned forward, his eyes scanning the page. He studied the diagram for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. Then he looked at Darion, his eyes suddenly lighting up with understanding.
"I now understand," Garren said. "The movements are designed to channel energy into the blade. It’s not just about swinging the sword. It’s about aligning the body, the mind, and the sword in a specific way. The technique is meant to amplify the sword’s power. To make it do something beyond a normal strike."
Darion nodded. That was exactly what he had been thinking. The sword was magical, and the manual was the key to unlocking its power.
The movements were a form of channeling, a way of directing energy into the blade. And if they could master those movements, they could unlock the sword’s true potential.
He thought about it. That meant if the sword was channeled in a specific way, all they had to do was perform the move, and then the sword would just do the magic.
It wasn’t about brute strength or speed. It was about precision. About understanding the flow of energy and directing it through the blade. And one could become very powerful with this sword. All they had to do was memorize the moves and just unleash it, and watch the sword become OP.
The idea of fighting himself now looked very interesting to him. Because at some point, warriors would have to fight themselves.
They would have to rely on their own skill, their own instincts, their own strength. And if he could master this sword, he wouldn’t have to rely on his undeads for everything. He could stand on his own.
It wouldn’t be bad if he learned some of these moves, right? I mean, just for fun. It wasn’t about replacing his undeads. It was about adding another tool to his arsenal. Another option. Another way to protect himself and his people.
This was super cool to him.
"You would like to learn the moves?" Garren asked.
Darion nodded in the affirmative. "Yes. Let’s see if it still works. Be my teacher."
Garren nodded, smiling slightly. "Sure."
Garren agreed to be his teacher. And Garren helping him to master the moves was actually a good idea. Sure, it was possible for Darion to just take the sword and master the moves himself: studying the diagrams, reading the instructions, practicing the stances over and over until they became second nature.
But that would be hard. The manual was detailed, yes, but it was also complex. The movements were precise, requiring exact positioning of the feet, the hands, the body.
One small mistake could throw off the entire sequence. And without someone to correct his form, to point out where he was going wrong, he could end up practicing the wrong technique until it became a habit.
Breaking a bad habit was harder than learning correctly the first time.
It would be more stressful too. Darion had enough on his plate already: the renovations, the barony, the constant demands on his attention. Adding the burden of teaching himself an entirely new fighting style would be exhausting.
He would have to spend hours analyzing the diagrams, trying to understand the flow of the movements, making guesses about what came next.
And all that time, he would be second-guessing himself, wondering if he was doing it right. That wasn’t how he wanted to spend his limited free time.
Using a teacher would be better and easier. Garren had years of experience with a sword. He understood body mechanics, footwork, and the importance of proper form.
He could watch Darion’s movements, correct his mistakes, and guide him through the sequence step by step. With Garren’s help, Darion could focus on learning, not on figuring things out on his own.
It would be faster, more effective, and far less frustrating. Plus, having someone to practice with would keep him accountable. He couldn’t just skip a session when he was tired or busy. Garren would be there, waiting, ready to push him forward.