Bang! Clang! Clang!
Pluvia looked on at the training grounds from her seat on a stump by its edge. Currently, her and the hobgoblins had been relegated to the side to watch and learn from her father and Lord Hakurou's spar. Pluvia's eyes burned from how long she had gone without blinking, but she couldn't bring herself to stop looking for even a second. Her mind was in a constant race, trying to pick up on every single detail she could perceive.
Pluvia went over her father's moves and the tactics he used in her mind, even as she examined more of them. Every second, she would make changes to what she planned to do in combat. She used her father as an example of how to refine her own style further than what she could with simple fighting experience and the vague words from her teacher.
' They're more...dancing than fighting...a sword dance, so elegant but focused and constrained...so...beautiful... '
Pluvia couldn't help but admire the sight before her eyes. Then, in a single motion, her father's blade stopped moments away from Lord Hakurou's neck. He had won the dance. While the battle had only gone on for a minute at most, to Pluvia, it was as if it had gone on for a hundred years; that was how much insight into swordsmanship she had gained just from that moment of absolute combat.
Pluvia shook her head as she dismissed herself from her reverie. Her father and Hakurou were busy discussing what just went down with her and the goblins, but she wasn't paying any attention. Her mind was enraptured by her own thoughts as she thought over her own capabilities and how she could replicate such art.
' Hm... let's see...
[Unique Skill: { Insatiable Desire }
Subskills:
Power Hungry: The user will have an immense desire to constantly grow in strength to fight and to take on more and more opponents. Nothing else matters because strength is the only thing that is important in existence. Every second in battle enhances their capabilities further and allows them to grow ever more.
Absolute Understanding: The user will grow and adapt to different situations that they can perceive at an alarming rate. Nothing can escape their understanding once they put their mind to it.
Graverobber: Among the many absolutes in the world, death is a constant, lingering force. Every time the user kills someone, they will reach into the victim's soul and take a skill that resonates the most with the victim.]
...This skill is my best bet... '
Pluvia understood that the greatest method in her arsenal for improvement was this skill. It was an interesting skill. She had had it for as long as she could remember. With it, Pluvia was sure that if she could just get her father to keep sparring, to keep showing her those motions and movements, she would understand, she would improve, she would become great.
" Pluvia! "
Pluvia blinked rapidly as her father's voice brought her out of her thoughts. Looking forward, she found him crouched down over her.
" You okay, sweetie? You've been sitting here for quite some time... "
Pluvia looked around and found that the others were already dispersing or talking in small huddles in their corners.
" Y-yeah... I was just thinking about how I could improve...Um Dad? Could you spar with Lord Hakurou again? Or just do the sword movements in the air for me? "
Rimuru blinked a few times in surprise at the eager tone in her voice before nodding slowly.
" Sure, sweetheart. "
The two were stuck there for a few more hours as Pluvia made Rimuru perform the motions again and again. Yet, throughout it all... The Lord was patient and understanding with his daughter's insistence.