Save Scumming

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-One - Training For a Maybe Future

I stepped back, raising an arm to block a swing, only it didn't come. Instead, Edwin stepped in closer, then delivered a straight punch towards my face. My arm was in just the right spot to block my line of sight, so I barely had time to react as the fist flew out towards me.

I did react, though. It wasn't much, but I managed to get my foot in the right spot so that when the blow struck me on the chin I was able to allow myself to fall backwards with it. It lessened some of the pain, even if I felt my entire world bounce at the jarring impact.

Using that step back for momentum, I staggered, then regained my footing and shifted my fists up closer to my face.

"Too open," he said.

"Yeah," I mumbled back past the mouthguard I was biting down on. I didn't mind being knocked around a little, but if I lost a tooth I was going to Reload this whole thing.

I stepped up and into Edwin's guard, used an elbow to redirect a hit, then tried to trip him up.

Obviously, that didn't work. The man might have been a little short, but he had fantastic footwork and that made up for any lack of reach he might have had. Plus he was damned fast for an old-timer.

We traded a couple more blows, and I leaned into the fact that for all that I wasn't as good as he was, I had a bit of speed on him and didn't mind taking a blow to give one back.

I still ended up on my ass when he hooked the back of an ankle with a foot and made me lose my footing and then my balance.

"Urgh," I said as I crashed to the ground. At least it was all mats. They weren't much help, but it was better than crashing into the hard floor. There was some bounce to it.

"You good?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied before rolling onto my front and pushing myself up. "Again?"

"No," he said before glancing at a wall-mounted clock. "It's getting late for me. I need to shower before my next course. But I can give you a few pointers."

"Sure," I said. I had paid a lot for this and I wanted to get my money's worth, though... all things considered, I was definitely getting that.

Edwin nodded and started to undo the straps of his gloves. "Your footwork needs practice. You often do the right thing, but there's too much hesitation. You've been taught what to do, but haven't put enough hours in for that to become second-nature. Or you're out of practice."

I nodded along.

"Your eyes need work too. You don't telegraph too much, but it's obvious when you do. Pay attention to that. Ah, and your arms get in your way. Low and steady."

"Right," I said as I removed the mouthguard. It was gross with saliva and I quickly brushed it off on my shirt. "Thanks. That was a good workout. Are you free tomorrow?"

"I could be," he said.

"A thousand per day. Every day for the next week," I said. "Sessions longer than this one, if you can manage it."

He stared at me, an eyebrow rising. "That's a lot. And I don't just mean the money. I mean the stress on your body. You're going to end up ripping something, or pulling a muscle."

"Then we'll stop if and when that happens," I said as I worked my jaw. "But until then, daily, or twice a day. I'm taking this seriously."

He nodded slowly. "Mind if I bring in some help? I know a few people between jobs that I've trained before."

"If they can come in with body armour, then sure," I said.

"You mentioned something like that. You're needing to train specifically against people wearing armour?"

"Yeah. For now, this is fine, but I need to know how to take someone in armour out. Quick and dirty. Maybe with only a knife?"

"I can work on that. Weird request."

I shrugged a shoulder. "I don't mean any offence, Edwin, but assume that I'm paying you this much not to think about it too hard?"

"Sure."

I left the dojo soon after. I did take a quick dip in his shower, but I hadn't brought a change of clothes, so I was still a little on the stinky side.

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Oh well. I didn't care very much. It was Sunday afternoon, I had a bruise forming on my chin and a few under my coat, and I was physically tired but mentally wired.

I was planning on spending the next week paying attention to the news, seeing what Luna Corp did about the Seraph situation, and seeing what Seraph did as well. Then I'd Reload and train some more.

What else could I do, though?

Since I was still very awake, I decided to ride my bike over a few blocks to a big library. I parked across the street, then paid the entrance fee. With nothing better to do, I might as well learn.

There were a few recording rooms on the second floor. I booked one, which was another small load of cash, then I sat within and ran through a speaking course in French. It was the kind of thing that I'd gotten used to doing, and... well, I didn't want to skip it too much. My vocabulary was already shaky at best, and it wasn't going to get any better if I didn't put in a few hours of practice here and there.

Even with good intentions, however, I soon grew bored. There was only so much pacing around a small room, asking about the weather and 'where is the hotel?' I could do before I started to feel like my brain was going to mush. The worse was how poor my vocabulary felt, even though I'd been practicing for... what, two months now?

Stupid skills, why couldn't I just master them instantly?

Even with the whole time looping thing, I don't think I was learning at a pace any faster than someone who had more time to dedicate to it, or who was just smarter than I was.

I spent a few minutes looking into Seraph and then Luna Corp. I was hoping to see an article on the news or something, but there was nothing of note, though there were a few mentions of the slime dungeon that Serap had hit a few days ago being super lucrative.

Whatever.

I left the place in a bit of a huff. I planned on going to Jane's shop, but something caught my eye halfway there, and I ended up pulling a U-turn and driving back to a shop I'd seen along the way.

Another thousand down, and then I had to figure out how to carry something heavy and awkward back, but it was worth it.

When I rocked into Jane's shop with a cloth guitar case over one shoulder, I could practically see Jane re-evaluating me.

I nodded, walked past her, then quickly went in the back and started to sweat as I turned the little electric guitar I'd bought. It had a tiny portable amp, so I could at least put some hours into practicing that.

Still... this was the first time I'd be playing where someone else could hear, and I was well aware that my playing wasn't far past beginner levels.

Mister Couchtop came out of hiding and settled on the bed next to me while I strummed away. Somehow, that helped. Not just the cat, but the slow repetition of making music, of plucking strings and focusing hard to try and master a skill that was still a little beyond me, but which I was getting better at.

And yet, I still had to wonder if learning this was the right move. I could be spending this time, even in-loop time, on so many other things.

Jane walked in maybe an hour later and stood by the doorway. I finished playing through something simple but catchy, one of those ancient blue-y songs that had a nice riff to it that sounded complex but really wasn't all that bad.

"Yeah?" I asked.

Jane paused. "I was gonna ask if you were hungry."

I blinked. "I could eat something," I admitted. I hadn't had anything for a while. I wasn't starving, but I was probably due some calories. "You said that you were going to ask? Did you change your mind?"

"Hmm, maybe I have. How long have you been playing that for?"

"A few months," I said. "Seriously, at least. I tried on and off for years. I'm still a ways from even halfway decent, but it's fun. I like music."

"Yeah," Jane said. She licked her lips and cocked her hips. "So... wanna fuck?"

"Oh," I said.

Holy shit, learning the guitar was the right move.

***