Chapter 29 - 26: Your Too Adorable
The morning air was crisp, carrying the distant echoes of clashing steel through the quiet Hoshimi estate. Ellen stirred, reaching out instinctively for warmth, only to find the futon beside her empty. For a brief moment, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind—had last night been nothing more than a dream?
But the lingering scent of Miyabi told her otherwise.
A rhythmic cadence of metal meeting metal caught Ellen's attention. Pushing herself upright, she followed the sound through the paper walls of the estate, eventually stepping into an open courtyard bathed in the soft hues of dawn.
There, in the center of the training grounds, Miyabi was locked in an intense spar with her father, Hoshimi Souichirou.
Ellen leaned against the wooden pillar, watching as their blades clashed in a beautiful yet deadly dance. Miyabi's movements were graceful, her strikes swift and calculated, yet Souichirou countered each attack with precision that spoke of decades of experience.
"Your stance is solid," Souichirou remarked between strikes, "but you leave too many openings. A skilled opponent will exploit them without hesitation."
Miyabi furrowed her brow, tightening her grip on her blade. She lunged, her yukata flowing with her movement, but her father sidestepped with ease, tapping the flat of his blade against her exposed side.
"You rely too much on skill," he continued. "Sometimes, instinct is the better guide. Remember, even a warrior with no skill can win with sheer force alone."
Miyabi exhaled, nodding as she reset her stance.
The spar continued for a few more exchanges before Souichirou finally stepped back, lowering his sword. "That's enough for now." He turned toward Ellen, his keen eyes settling on her. "Good morning, Ellen."
Ellen straightened up. "Morning."