Witch Training Manual: My Water Magic Is Wrong

Gwen replied to Alice, "That's fine, but before I visit, may I test the young girl's features?"

She shrugged at Alice: "As you know, my grandfather has always had a foul mouth in the capital. If I bring a stranger there and bluntly tell him, 'There's a child here who wants to become your apprentice,' he'll most likely kick the person out immediately."

After listening, Alice looked at Aya: "Aya, what do you think? Would you be willing to let Gwen test your skills?"

Aya looked up, her gaze lingering on Wayne's face for a moment. Seeing him nod slightly, she turned to Gwen and earnestly replied, "I do."

Seeing her quick and decisive answer, Gwen's satisfaction deepened. She turned her gaze to Aya, sizing her up: "A first-tier swordsman. Quite impressive for such a young age. What sword techniques have you learned?"

Aya answered weakly.

"Basic swordsmanship...does that count?"

After listening, Gwen smiled noncommittally: "It seems you haven't learned any proper sword techniques. But that's fine too; an unpolished gem is more valuable for carving."

She took two steps back, stood in an open area of ​​the courtyard, stretched her wrists and shoulders, and then looked at Aya: "I will suppress my strength to the same level as you. You don't need to beat me. If you can last for twenty moves against me without falling, I will personally take you to see my grandfather."

Aya raised her head, her eyes showing no fear, but rather a gleam of eager anticipation.

"No problem, big sister."

Gwen was amused by her serious expression, and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "You've got quite the nerve. Come on."

The two stood in the middle of the open space, about five steps apart.

A servant brought two wooden swords.

Seeing that both sides were ready, she raised her right hand and then sharply swung it downwards: "Begin!"

Gwen made the first move.

Her movements weren't fast; she was clearly deliberately suppressing her speed. But every step she took was firmly planted in place, and the tip of her sword didn't wobble. It pierced straight at Aya's left shoulder.

Aya dodged to the side, the wooden sword grazing past her clothes. Taking advantage of a moment when Gwen's attack was fading, she slashed at Gwen's wrist with a backhand, the angle quite tricky.

Gwen let out a soft "hiss," flicked her wrist to easily parry, and then pressed forward, the spine of her sword striking Aya's forearm.

Snapped.

Aya was hit, her arm went slightly numb, and she involuntarily took half a step back, but the sword in her hand did not fall.

Gwen didn't pursue, sheathed her sword, and said with a hint of admiration, "Good reaction. Solid foundation too. How long have you been practicing this basic sword technique?"

Aya stretched her forearm, which had been photographed, and answered seriously, "I started practicing this spring."

After Gwen parried the sword strike, she took a half step back, looked Aya over again, and her tone became even more approving: "To have mastered basic sword techniques to this level in less than half a year... she is indeed a promising talent."

Alice stood on the veranda, watching the situation unfold, and couldn't help but turn her head, lowering her voice to ask Wayne, "Brother, aren't you worried?"

Wayne's gaze never left the field.

"Don't worry. I've always believed in Aya. She's a kendo genius, one in a million."

The offensive and defensive battles on the field continue.

Gwen's interest was indeed piqued.

After twenty moves, Aya not only didn't reveal any obvious weaknesses, but she became increasingly stable. Her breathing remained steady, and although her footwork was simple, each step was solid and without any unnecessary swaying.

Gwen started to apply a tiny bit more force, and the sword speed increased slightly.

Aya caught it.

She not only parried, but her parries became increasingly fluid. Her initially somewhat awkward blocking movements became smooth after a few exchanges.

Thirty moves.

Thirty-five moves.

Forty moves.

Gwen's swordplay began to change. She no longer used only basic sword stances, but occasionally incorporated more complex variations, such as wrist flips, feints followed by thrusts with a change of direction after a false start, and sudden changes of attack using shifts in her body's center of gravity.

Aya was startled by her and stumbled half a step, but quickly regained her balance.

Then, during her forty-third move, she made a move that made Gwen's eyelid twitch.

She used a variation that Gwen had used before.

Both the angle and the posture are impeccable.

Gwen sheathed her sword and created some distance.

She stood opposite Aya, looking her up and down as if she were getting to know the girl in front of her all over again.

"Are you imitating my sword moves?"

Aya, caught off guard, didn't panic or feel guilty. Instead, she nodded calmly, "Yes. Big sister, your swordplay is beautiful. I think learning it would be useful."

Gwen praised, "Very good, let's continue."

She spoke casually, but the sword in her hand was no longer as casual as before. Her gaze became serious, the angle of her strikes became more cunning, and her footwork began to incorporate more complex changes of direction.

However, Aya not only caught it, but caught it even more steadily than before. Her eyes were bright, as if she was seriously learning Gwen's every move; she seemed to be born to wield a sword, able to learn at a glance and use a move as soon as she learned it.

Gwen grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.

This little girl is a natural-born swordsmanship genius.

She deliberately increased her attack speed, and Aya kept up steadily. She added another 20% of her strength, but Aya still wasn't overwhelmed. She even started to counterattack using the moves Gwen had just used. Although there were still some traces of immature imitation, the speed and accuracy of that imitation made Gwen, who had grown up by the side of the Sword Saint, feel a bit of pressure.

The current situation is that no matter how Gwen feeds her moves, Aya can keep up, and even shows signs of gaining a slight advantage. Gwen's movements are getting faster and faster, and the wind in the courtyard is becoming more and more intense. However, Aya not only doesn't show any signs of defeat, but instead becomes more and more fluid and confident with each move.

She had begun to try to insert her counterattacks between Gwen's sword strikes. Although the force was not yet sufficient, the awareness of trying to control the rhythm made Gwen have a vague thought: if she didn't put in more effort, she might really crash in her own backyard today.

With that in mind, Gwen no longer held back.

Her swordplay suddenly changed.

The originally peaceful sword wind suddenly became fierce, and an invisible aura spread out from her body, causing the fallen leaves on the courtyard ground to scatter and fly in all directions.

"Sword Technique: Falling Wind!"