Each step splashed, as puddles took over the normally busy streets.
In the midst of the downpour Ash went on with his day, afterall he had to train.
It was a necessity, he had too many close calls lately... if we can even call those close calls, he practically lost most of them.
These close calls weren't exclusive to the prospected Icarus students either, even in the Arena he had a few close encounters.
Ash had to admit it, he was using his ability as a crutch.
Of course this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as the whole point of these abilities was to use them to one's advantage it was just that... he relied on them a bit too much.
Ash's abilities weren't really ones you would classify as combat skills. They had their uses in combat with Delusion proving to be especially powerful, but they were still practically useless without a follow-up.
And that's where the problem lie, his sword skills, his finisher.
Frankly it was crude, unrefined and maybe even barbaric.
It was a form of swordmanship that was purely instinctual, without any technique or refined will behind it.
Ash had still been using the same slashing skill he learned while stuck in Blackheart.
The skill worked, he was able to get all the way to the finals of the tournament, but against those that were a bit more trained, refined it was just lacking.
This brings us back to the present where Ash was standing alone in the rain before a shabby looking building.
'Swordmanship Dojo'
The name was to the point, so much so that it felt a bit untrustworthy.
'Will this place really be of any use?'
Opening the doors, Ash was welcomed by what tried to look like a reception table, naturally with no one behind it.
Ash's eyebrows raised seeing, just how empy the place seemed, but decided to dive deeper anyways.
He walked closer to the only other room which seemed to have light emitting from it.
The closer he got the more he could hear, the sound of someone.
It wasn't speech, just the sound of breathing accompanied by the sound of air being cut.
Looking into the room there indeed was someone.
It was lone woman, old by all means someone who should have retired long ago, but there she stood swinging her sword in a downward motion.
'Those motions are similiar to mine.'
Indeed they were similar, but it was just that, similar nothing more.
"It's rude to just stand there."
The woman said, while continuing to swing her sword.
"I came for practise."
Ash said while observing the large empty room.
"Go ahead."
The woman said, in a somewhat dismissive manner.
'What do you mean "go ahead", aren't I meant to be taught.'
Despite his thoughts Ash didn't say anything and simply stood next to the woman, before starting to swing his own sword.
*Swish*
*Swosh*
The swings kept on coming, filling the quiet room with the sound of air being cut.
But the silence was soon interrupted.
"Truly unrefined."
"Huh?"
Ash spoke up in surprise upon hearing the elders remark.
"The way you swing it's... garbage, total and utter garbage... no dogshit even. Anyways it's just terrible, honestly I'm surprised you are still alive."
Hearing the remarks hurt Ash, but he came for guidance anyways so he didn't protest... much.
"You say that like the people of the city are out to kill me."
"..."
The silence surprised Ash as even the sword slashes stopped.
"Forget what I've just said... the city is mostly fine."
'Is she embarrassed? She doesn't seem like the type though.'
The woman cleared her throat, before speaking up.
"Anyways, you are doing it wrong that's all that matters."
"So you'll help me."
The woman paused for a moment before speaking up.
"Did you see the sign by the door?"
"...Umm what sign?"
"...That's strange, it's meant to be super obvious... wait, did I forget to put it up?"
After thinking for a bit the woman gave up and simply looked Ash in the eyes.
"It's a paid service, twenty Primer per session, no negotiation."
'That's like the price of four meals at Fast & Good.'
Though reluctant in the end Ash pulled out his wallet, taking the necessary amount out of it.
"Here exactly twenty Primer."
In a moments notice the woman took the cash and put it in her pocket.
"Well then, introductions are in due. I'm Stacy Vike, once a part of the Eastern Exploration, retired Captain of the Holy Army Rank 5."
Hearing Stacy's biography, Ash's face slowly formed into a smile.
'This old lady was more impressive than I expected.'
"I'm Ash Lucchasi, Rank 2."
"Hmm... Lucchasi. How are you connected to Lucchasi Motors?"
Ash wanted to hesitate, but realised it was pointless as Caesar wasn't really a part of the family anymore.
"You could say that my adoptive father was once a part of that family."
"Past tense... anyways it wouldn't matter much even if you were the heir, I was just curious."
'Wow...'
"So anyways swing again."
"But you just said it's wron–"
The woman hit him on the back of his head.
"Just swing dammit."
*Swish*
"Hmm... you are swinging it wrong."
"I KNOW THAT, can you even teach properly?"
"Just wait a moment."
Then Stacy moved closer to Ash pushing his back around and fixing his hand posture.
"Try now."
*Swish*
"Hmm... still wrong, huh?"
This time the woman also changed his foot stance while still moving his arms around.
"Again."
*Swish*
"Hmm..."
This repeated for a few minutes before anything happened.
"How much do you know about muscles?"
"How much? I guess up the point where I know that they are what move our bodies around I guess?"
A momentary silence filled the room, before the woman spoke up again.
"This won't work."
"What?"
Stacy placed one of her hands on her forehead.
"You lack the knowledge necessary for me to guide you. Come back after you've learned a bit more."
"How much more?"
"Names, which muscles effect which ones... ehh pretty much the whole thing."
A frustrated look appeared on Ash's face.
"So this it, do I just go home? I paid properly and barely got ten minutes of training."
Stacy quickly stopped Ash.
"Don't worry, I'm not about to send you home. It won't work, this method atleast, I still have other methods that could be of use to you."
"Like?"
"Like sparring."
...
The two now stood at opposite sides of the giant room.
Stacy's hands donned a device that wasn't present before.
A suppresor.
It was needed for the duel, not to make it fair, but to make sure Ash didn't die.
"You ready?"
Stacy's voice sounded from across the room.
"I'm ready!"
Ash answered with loud voice.
"Then come at me, remember I won't be attacking you I'll only be defending."
Ash didn't hesitate and launched at Stacy with his highest possible speed.
Of course such speed still proved to be quite slow especially compared to the likes of the Burger Boy, but it was still much quicker than that of an average non awakaned person.
Arriving before Stacy while using the momentum in his favor Ash swung down at her with full force.
*Clung*
Metal met metal and the slash was instantly deflected.
Ash quickly distanced himself, trying to find another opportunity to strike.
But as Stacy was only playing on the defensive no such opportunity presented itself.
"Are you gonna just stand there?"
Stacy asked taunting Ash.
Realising he had to do something Ash once again charged at her this time trying to strike at a different angle.
*Clung*
He was met with the same result. His sword was deflected, but this time it went beyond that as his sword was fully pushed out of his hands.
"And you're dead."
Stacy commented, while Ash moved to pick up his sword.
"I've seen enough there's no need for us to continue."
"But I thought–"
"Don't worry you'll get your moneys worth, you'll just have to do with getting it through wisdom."
'Wisdom...'
The old woman sat down on the tatami floor.
"You're way too passive, you rely too much on you opponent creating an opening for you or on them having a clear weakness."
She paused for a moment before she continued.
"Of course there are sword styles which suit such a way of combat, but ... ehh I don't think it suits you a whole lot."
"You are aggressive wanting to quickly end the fight, but if you fail to do so, you kind of just freeze up."
"Afterwhich I assume you take up a defensive stance, trying to swing at you opponents when their own attacks miss."
She sighed.
"But that won't always work, like just now if you meet someone who also assumes a defensive stance, what then?"
"Do you just roll over and give up? Die? Surely not."
She looked Ash dead in the eyes and spoke.
"I'll tell you what it is you're missing. You need persistence, don't give up after the first swing, just keep swinging. If you want to be aggressive then be aggressive don't just half ass it."
"Other than that, you just lack technique. Only doing weak slashes, just won't be enough. Better footwork, deflects... all these aspects are still subpar... though I've already told you this many times. Either way that's all for today, come back whenever just learn a bit more about muscles and stuff."
With the training finished Ash left the building, and while he would have expected the sun to be out by now that was simply not the case.
"I guess it's just a rainy day."