We had been training tirelessly for a week. By now, both Julius and Marius had stopped complaining. They were laser-focused on applying the techniques I had taught them.
Julius had improved remarkably. His attacks were now precise and unpredictable, no longer easy to read. "I've really grown this past week," he said confidently. He constantly sparred against Mark and Elan, pushing himself to the limit every single day.
Marius, too, was brimming with enthusiasm. On the first day, he'd been overwhelmed by Vivin and me, ending up battered and bruised. But now? He was parrying our attacks with ease. His defensive skills were steadily becoming formidable.
"Marius, you… you're really shaping up to be a defender, not an all-out attacker," I said, genuinely impressed as I watched him fend off a flurry of blows without breaking a sweat. His shield moved with a rhythm that felt instinctual, almost effortless. What was once a weak point had become his greatest strength.
