Sajji was temporarily left with Naziya for "advanced studies."
According to Naziya, Sajji's knowledge of mechanics was entirely self-taught. Forget whether his foundation was solid or not, he simply had no foundation at all.
If he truly wanted to walk this path, he still had so much to learn.
Politely declining Jara's invitation to "eat our way through all of Val Habar together!", Altaïr went to the weapon shop and bought training versions of the Great Sword, Hammer, and Dual Blades.
While he was proficient in many weapon types, he needed to spend more time and energy training with each regularly to avoid his skills getting rusty.
Of course, he didn't forget to purchase an Iron Katana (the basic Ore Tree Long Sword).
The previous battle had sparked his interest in the Long Sword, a weapon that was well-balanced in all aspects except for its inability to be used for defense.
More importantly, Isis had agreed to teach him Long Sword techniques.
Since Sajji was working hard to improve himself through diligent study, Altaïr couldn't afford to fall behind either.
After moving all these training weapons back to his Hunter Cabin and storing them properly, Altaïr changed into his armor, slung the Iron Katana on his back, and knocked on Isis's door.
Isis, dressed in casual clothes, was lying on her bed staring blankly into space.
During her recovery period, Guild Master Sophia strictly forbade her from daily training and from leaving the Guild Hall casually, leaving her with nothing to do but grow mold in her room.
Altaïr's visit made her very happy, she finally had something to do!
"Let's go! We'll head to the training ground together!"
"Together?" Altaïr was taken aback by this. He glanced at the bandages on Isis's body. "I just wanted to ask a few questions about the movements. I can practice the rest on my own. You should focus on recovering..."
"Ah, I'm pretty much healed already! It's just Aunt Sophia who can't stop worrying!" Isis practically pushed Altaïr all the way to the training ground behind the Guild Hall.
"Besides, you can't be careless when building foundations. You need a teacher watching over you!"
Isis seemed to thoroughly enjoy this feeling of being a teacher.
Altaïr felt both grateful and helpless, but he didn't dare let Isis pick up a sword.
Her broken bones might have been set, but they definitely weren't fully healed yet. If she made any sudden movements and her bones shifted again, Guild Master Sophia would skin him alive.
"How about I demonstrate the movements, and you just correct any mistakes verbally from the side?"
Seeing Altaïr's firm stance, Isis had no choice but to abandon her idea of demonstrating personally. "Fine then. First, practice your sword stance and basic swings! The most important thing with a Long Sword is maintaining proper blade alignment!
Move your right foot forward more, with a wider stance. Engage the muscles in your legs and waist, you should feel like you're gathering momentum in one breath!"
Isis tried hard to recall how her family elders had taught her the Long Sword. Soon enough, Altaïr's movements began to take proper form.
Seeing this, Isis nodded with satisfaction. "Yes! Just like that! Now do fifty swings to start!"
Based on her experience, beginners would start to lose form after just a few swings, a dozen at most. That's when she, as the instructor, would need to step in and make corrections.
After countless repetitions, only when the practitioner had developed solid muscle memory would the first step be considered complete.
As she pondered what phrasing would make her sound more authoritative, Altaïr had already finished his fifty practice swings.
"Teacher Isis, what's next?"
"Huh?" Isis was momentarily stunned. Was he done already? Feeling ashamed of her distraction, she didn't dare admit it.
"Ahem, stand straight, relax your muscles, then try a few more swings," Isis cleared her throat to cover her embarrassment before speaking.
Based on her experience, when beginners like Altaïr relaxed and resumed movements, their form would inevitably deteriorate.
Yet Altaïr's movements remained precise, every step, every sword swing was as accurate as if measured with a ruler.
Isis fell silent for several seconds before speaking in a faint tone, "Are you messing with me? You must have practiced basic swings before, right?"
"No."
"I don't believe it! What beginner can perform without any mistakes from the start?" Isis puffed her cheeks.
Altaïr sighed helplessly, "I'm not a complete novice with no martial arts experience. I've trained in Great Sword, Dual Blades, Hammer, and Sword and Shield under skilled mentors."
"Martial techniques share common principles, and my physical coordination and body control are better than most, so I can memorize movements quickly."
That made sense?
Isis blinked, somewhat embarrassed to admit her mistake, "Alright, I misunderstood you."
"Anyway, remember to call me over when you start practicing in the coming days, so I can ensure your form doesn't deteriorate and your foundation remains solid."
"Understood, Teacher Isis." After nodding in agreement, Altaïr tentatively added, "By the way, could you teach me the basic sword techniques as well?"
"I learn these relatively quickly, so I could practice them together."
With his rapid mastery of basic swings as precedent, Isis hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing, "The Long Sword has few basic techniques: Overhead Slash, Thrust, Rising Slash, Fade Slash, and Side Fade Slash."
"All other more complex and flashy techniques evolve from these basics. Oh, and there are more complicated ones like Iai and Jumping Slash, plus the Long Sword's core 'Spirit' system."
"I'll teach you those after you've mastered the basic techniques."
"Understood, Teacher Isis."
Isis became intoxicated by the repeated address of "Teacher," spending several consecutive days accompanying Altaïr in the training ground.
She also taught him meditation practices like sword meditation to help sense "Spirit."
When she came to her senses three or four days later, Altaïr was already handling the Long Sword with considerable skill.
Though he hadn't yet mastered the core "Spirit" system or advanced techniques like Iai, Foresight Slash, and Spirit Helm Breaker, his basic techniques had reached a standard suitable for practical application.
He was no worse than ordinary 1-2★ Long Sword users.
This deeply discouraged Isis.
When her mother and grandfather had praised her talent and fast learning, they must have just been comforting her!
Unaware that he had inadvertently further diminished Isis's already limited self-confidence, Altaïr was excited about his first experience sensing "Spirit."
Unlike the Great Sword user's "fighting spirit" based on physical strength, the "Spirit" valued by Long Sword users leaned more toward the utilization of momentum and sword intent.
By continuously attacking monsters or precisely evading their attacks through techniques like Foresight Slash, the Long Sword user's "Spirit" grows increasingly potent, a process known as "Spirit Gauge."
Harnessing this "Spirit," the Long Sword user can condense a sharp Spirit Blade along the sword's edge to enhance destructive power, while also executing powerful sword techniques such as Spirit Blade and Spirit Helm Breaker.
Rumors suggest certain special techniques can unleash force comparable to the Great Sword's True Charged Slash, widely acknowledged as the single most destructive move among all weapons.
Initially dismissing these as mere legends, Altaïr's curiosity was piqued after first sensing the presence of "Spirit." Unable to resist, he posed the question to Isis.
"It's true," Isis replied woodenly from the training ground's edge upon hearing Altaïr could now sense Spirit. "I know of two such techniques: Sacred Sheathe Combo and Sakura Slash. The former packs greater power but requires charging like the Great Sword's True Charged Slash. The latter is faster and more flexible, though it demands extreme explosive strength from the user, often requiring external assistance."
"They really exist!" Altaïr exclaimed, placing his sword aside while wiping sweat, his entire being electrified. "Do you know these moves? Can they be taught?"
Isis' eyes widened like a dead fish's. "Those are generally sword arts reserved for four-to-5★ ranked Long Sword users, or even higher tiers! Of course I don't know them!"
"I see..."
Watching Altaïr's "What a pity, I could've learned them from you" expression, Isis finally snapped.
She snatched Altaïr's Iron Katana and charged into the training ground with a furious "Aaaaaah!"
If she didn't push herself desperately, this guy would catch up to her even in Long Sword mastery!