Journey To The Lands Beyond

"Alright, break's over! Get back to training!" Boyd told the guards.

"And Blaine, here!" He gave Blaine one of the wooden swords.

"U-um…" Blaine stammered.

Boyd looked at Blaine in confusion.

"I-I've never done this before… I don't even remember holding a sword in my life." Blaine stammered again and laughed nervously.

"No need to worry." Boyd assured Blaine. "First of all; no need to be tense, and secondly; relax."

Blaine took a deep breath. *Inhale* *exhale*

"Okay! I'm ready! Tell me what to do!" Blaine relaxed himself. All the nervousness that had made his shoulders stiff and tense up, was now gone.

"Alright! First, move your right foot forward. Hold the sword over the head, and swing it down with all your strength." Boyd gave Blaine basic instructions to swing a sword.

Blaine himself had enough knowledge on how to swing a sword properly. But he never put it into practice. He had never even held or touched a sword in his life.

He had knowledge, but, not courage.

But now, it was different. Because this time, he had a teacher. Someone who can help him. Someone who can teach him.

Blaine held the wooden sword over his head, tightened his grip on the hilt, and swung it down with all the strength he had.

"Okay… That was good!" Boyd told him as he observed his movements.

Blaine smiled. He was proud of himself.

"Now, give me twenty more swings!" Boyd was excited to see Blaine's progress.

"Yes, sir!"

Blaine tightened his grip once again. And swung the wooden sword twenty more times.

"Huff… huff…"

"This is much harder than I thought!" Blaine was panting.

"Now, give me one hundred swings!" Boyd's face turned serious.

"Wh-what? One hundred?" Blaine stammered and asked.

"Haha! Don't worry, this is just basic practice!" Boyd responded.

"I have to do this! I don't want to be weak! I want to become stronger!" Blaine thought to himself and pushed forward.

"Haah! Haah!"

Blaine shouted as he continuously swung his wooden sword.

He grunted. His arms were sore. His body ached. But he never stopped. He kept going. Again and again.

*Few hours later*

It was a few hours until the Sun would start to set. And everyone had finally finished their training.

Blaine was sitting on the ground, wearing casual clothes he wore before he started his first day of training. His whole body was drenched in sweat. "Huff… huff" He was tired and panting, as if this was the first time he did any real hard work.

"Blaine… You did good today." Boyd smiled.

"Thank you, sir!" Blaine was still panting. But slowly catching his breath.

"After the hundred… How many swings did you manage?" Boyd smiled and was curious.

"Four thousand, sir…" Blaine narrowed his eyes. And looked at Boyd.

"?!" Boyd widened his eyes.

"…?" Blaine was confused "Is something wrong?"

"No…it's just… I did not expect that… Normally, a person can only swing one or two thousand times before they give up or are too tired to continue. But you, Blaine, are truly something." Boyd's eyes had widened and he was shocked. "I believe you have great talent for swordsmanship and you will definitely become a great swordsman. But, that is your choice to make. I will not force you to become something you don't want to. But, anyways, excellent work today. And I hope to see you again tomorrow!"

"Yes, sir! And, thank you for today!" Blaine stood up. Cleaned off the sweat from himself Then left.

He was on his way back to the house. He opened the back door and went inside. As he was going to his room, he saw a few maids and greeted them.

After he entered his room.

He went to the bathroom and took a shower.

And after he was done. He dried himself with a towel and wore his normal clothes. One of his suits.

Blaine got ready to go to the library, where Sebas was waiting for him.