Chapter 32 - 31 - Pressure and Adaptation
On a bright afternoon, as they stopped beneath the shade of a large tree, Riven resumed practicing his slashes, thrusts, and the basic movement patterns they had repeated dozens of times. The sound of his sword cutting through the air echoed steadily, matching the rhythm of his labored breaths.
Ashtoria sat cross-legged on a large rock not far from him, watching intently. After a moment, she spoke.
"Once you’ve mastered all the necessary basics," she said, "the next step is to develop your own fighting style."
Riven paused mid-swing and turned to her. Sweat clung to his temples, but his eyes still burned with focus.
"My own fighting style?"
Ashtoria nodded. "Yes. Everyone is different. Some rely on speed, others on defense, and some on cunning. There’s no single style that fits everyone."
She stood and began walking slowly toward him as she continued, "It’s perfectly fine to imitate others. In fact, it’s a good place to start. But if you want to grow stronger... in the end, you’ll need to find the way of fighting that best suits your body, your instincts, and your goals."
Riven listened to every word with full attention.
Ashtoria stopped just a few steps from him. "And do you know the fastest way to improve?" she asked, rhetorically.
Riven shook his head, holding his breath.
Ashtoria gazed into his eyes. "Fight someone stronger than you. Or fight while putting your life on the line."