Mythshaper

Chapter 21: Progress

"When are you going to teach us the third form?" I asked, wiping a line of sweat from my face. My wooden training sword rested on my other arm, its brown colour darkening over the past month, marking the time I had spent with it.

"When it is time," Father said vaguely.

"Blight and ashes, you’re becoming as bad as Mum," I swore.

"You have not yet mastered the first two forms," He said. "There is no need to rush."

"If I haven't mastered them," I said, furrowing my brows, "then why did you teach Tidal Surge before I even mastered the first form?"

"Whispering Gale alone is too simple," he shrugged. "You needed another form to truly have good practice going."

I let out a small mewl before turning to Eran, who sat cross-legged—not meditating, just doing some breathing exercises. Along with my father and my wooden cane, Eran had been my constant companion in practice. I could only recall one morning he hadn't shown up, ignoring all the others when the ashen storm had plagued our days.

What Father taught us was none of his concern. Eran absorbed all his teachings without complaint.

"Is it because you think we’ll quit?" I asked hesitantly. "Is that why you refuse to teach the third form?"

His expression froze as his eyes focused on me. "Where did that come from?"

"Mum doesn’t like me practising swordsmanship," I told him. I figured Eran’s parents felt the same.