>>5131066>>5131067>>5131068The second month of training went down smoothly, fighting with a sword seems to be a lot easier for striking hits compared to the lances. Instead of only piercing with the tip of the weapon while using the pole for blocking, swatting or for acrobatics, the blade of the sword sacrifices range and precision for slashing power and for your strikes to still be lethal even if you swing instead of thrusting. It's a weapon that requires less precision, but the weight of it feels unnatural compared to a lance. You're already too comfortable to change your main weapon, but perhaps you could practice with a bardiche instead? Slashing does seem very useful...
The third month of training was everything but successful. It was as if Gallahad wanted to train you to stop cannon balls on the daily. The first thing he did was bring you to a nearby forest and tell you to punch a tree trunk until you managed to snap the tree down. Punch after punch after punch, your hands only managed to bleed and get hurt by several splinters as the oak trees only shook with your hits. You tried doing more push-ups, enhancing your wrist strength, and even punching with gauntlets, nothing seemed to take the tree down.
"Maybe your body's just built for the acrobatics. Here, let me show you how it's done." With a few stretches, a staredown between Gallahad and the tree trunk, and a roar of "TIIMBEEER!" The royal knight managed to punch the tree down in a single, focused punch.
"Still got it! Don't recommend doing this for actual lumber work, there's a big chance you lose some of the wood from the fall."
Since you were better with your legs, you suggested training your kicks with him while fighting one on one in unarmed combat. Terrible idea. Your hits on him were more like light taps on a brick wall while his punches felt more like a mace being bludgeoned on your body. That month of training felt more like you were waking up just to get beaten into a pulp by him, and you couldn't wait for it to be over.
"You can't win 'em all, kid. Look on the bright side, you didn't break any bones. Got some resistance training done even if your own punches don't do much. If anything, just stick to your weapons, so long as you draw first, you'll be fine."
Yeah, right...
On one afternoon, going home early from another unproductive training session, you were greeted by an unusual visitor in your estate, observing the flowers being watered by your garden servants and admiring the tapestry from the outside.
"Good afternoon, Vlad. I was hoping we could catch up on our affairs. It sure has been a while since we've last met."
>Of course, come on in.>How do you like the garden?>Griffith! How have you been holding up?>Sorry, I suppose training took a lot of my free time away. 