Chapter 30 - 29 - Stance, Step, and Strike
Riven looked visibly excited the moment he heard that Ashtoria was willing to teach him. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, as if the pain in his body had vanished all at once.
"Are you sure?" Riven asked, just to be certain.
Ashtoria gave a small nod. "I trained with knights at my estate. I know what I’m doing—more or less."
Riven nodded, then asked out of curiosity, "In that case... how bad is my swordsmanship?"
Ashtoria stared at him blankly. "Very bad."
Riven turned his face away, slightly offended. He had trained almost every day on his own, without any formal instruction, so to hear that stung.
"You don’t even know how to hold a sword properly," Ashtoria continued mercilessly.
"What?" Riven choked out.
Ashtoria only sighed briefly, then took a step back and raised her sword to chest height. "Try swinging at me again."
Riven was still a little upset, but he obeyed. He adjusted his stance and swung Crysthalis toward her.
Clang!