They stood there for a while, catching their breath. The silence that followed wasn't the same as before—it wasn't exhaustion or defeat. It was focus. They were starting to understand what he meant, even if they couldn't put it into words yet.
Asher looked at each of them. "You're improving. Every mistake you make now is smaller, but more important. Don't rush to fix everything at once. Focus on one flaw at a time, and polish it until it disappears."
Maxwell nodded, still gripping his sword tightly. "We'll get there."
"You will," Asher said. "But it takes more than effort. You need awareness. Know what your body is doing at every moment. Know when you're tense, when you're relaxed, when your rhythm slips. Control starts with knowing."
Amanda tilted her head slightly. "That's easy to say. Harder to feel."
"That's why you train," Asher said simply. "Repetition creates instinct. Instinct creates control."
