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You've endured your loss and got back into it. Using your off hand to practice your knifework is a bit unorthodox, but given your amateur level of skill, it may still be worth practicing this way simply to learn the positional awareness and foot placement.
<span class="mu-r">”Don't twist your wrist do much- you're asking to get disarmed.”</span>
More then anything, you hope to have gained their respect.
<span class="mu-r">”...I know you want to keep the scar- but let's give you a deep tissue XS injection just to make sure all your ligaments will heal properly. Any residual stiffness would be very hard to deal with later...”</span>
Still, you aren't an instant expert. Beyond the initial shock of being dueled “by a girl” your blonde opponent tightens up his stance and moves- your sparring session ends with him still in a dominant position- but that's what this learning exercise is for. Out of all the traditions of the Hegemony and Supreme Rulership in specific- this one seems the most unnecessary. As you finish your first day, you think you have a better understanding of the men who make up the highest levels of the Hegemony.
It's not the dueling itself that really matters, it's about the absolute mental and physical focus it requires. It's a sure sign of mastery over the physical and mental space- it isn't like a debate or a popularity contest which could be manipulated or faked, it's a direct physical confrontation that is ultimately decided not by strength or size or even age- so much as it is speed and skill.
<span class="mu-r">”Dulioan! Good work today. I have something for you- a training sim. While nothing compares to real life sparring, this headset will let you train whenever you have extra time. The headset is loaded with a hundred duelist full body and skill scans; the AI automatically picks one most suitable to pit against your skill and fighting style as you progress through the ranks.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">”Thank you, Teacher.”</span>
When you get home later and put on the headset, you are shocked to find the AI selected... Eoba Garastra?! It looks just like him- frozen in place, until you grab the holographic knife to begin the duel...
