"So you don't have time to teach her, but you won't let anyone else teach her either?" Hayata walked over and lightly tapped her husband's arm.
She knew that, more than anger, her husband was feeling... a little aggrieved.
Here he was, an unparalleled Great Sword user, yet his daughter had gone off to learn the Great Sword from some young upstart...
His pride would not allow him to show that grievance, however. He took a deep breath and at least managed to calm himself outwardly, then crossed his arms and said in a low voice, "Show me. The Surge Slash Combo is easy to learn but difficult to master. Let's see how far the two of you have come."
Altaïr shoved the training Great Sword back into Isis's hands. She pursed her lips and began swinging it.
At first, Isis did not perform particularly well. Over the years, she had grown more accustomed to executing these techniques one-handed with a Gunlance than wielding a Great Sword with both hands.
The two weapons differed far more in feel and movement than the Great Sword and Long Sword, which had developed from the same kind of weapon.
When she noticed her father's unconscious frown, her eagerness to earn his approval only made her more nervous. Her performance faltered, and the transitions between her moves grew disjointed.
Altaïr sighed helplessly, picked up a training Long Sword from the weapon rack, and moved to stand a short distance from her before matching his swings to hers.
Most Blademasters found it difficult to swing a sword alongside someone else, but the two of them were different. Fighting side by side came naturally to them; they often worked together like this during Hunts to suppress a Monster.
Although their styles of movement were clearly different, Altaïr deliberately mirrored Isis. She quickly recovered her rhythm, and her movements became steadily smoother and more fluid.
Once Isis had found her stride, Altaïr stopped swinging and stepped aside.
Rising Slash, Falling Slash, and Vortex Slash comprised three forms and nine moves, so a complete cycle did not take long. Isis ran through the sequence several times. Perhaps using a Great Sword again after so long had given her a fresh perspective, because she seemed to gain a few new insights.
When she finally lowered the Great Sword, Gordon, who had been watching for some time, clapped with a complicated expression. "Not bad. I can tell you've put a great deal of effort into mastering the Surge Slash Combo."
She works so hard at what that kid teaches her...
Despite his private grumbling, he beckoned Isis over. "Come here. Let me make a few minor adjustments. They might suit you better."
Isis had been feeling somewhat apprehensive, but his words made her look up in delight and trot over.
"She really trusts you."
As Altaïr let out a breath, Hayata's voice came from beside him. She had approached without his noticing.
Meeting her faintly amused gaze, Altaïr hesitated, as though he wanted to say something.
After wrestling with himself for a few seconds, he finally said what he had been thinking about for years. "Isis is exceptional. More exceptional than any Hunter I've ever known.
"Wouldn't a Hunter who reached High Rank at twenty have been exceedingly rare even during that golden age of remarkable talent?"
Hayata considered the question, then nodded with a smile. "Indeed. I reached High Rank at twenty-one, and her father reached it at twenty-two.
"Among all the Hunters I know, only two probably reached High Rank before the two of you. One was her father's disciple, the 'White Wind,' and the other was Maki.
"Both were from Kamura Village. In those days, the entire village was mobilized for war. Talented children began training at a young age and could take to the battlefield by thirteen or fourteen. Their circumstances were exceptional.
"In a sense, the speed at which you and Isis earned your promotions has broken records too."
"But she's always lacked confidence. She even goes out of her way to keep people from learning who her parents are. She's constantly worried that she isn't doing well enough and might tarnish their reputation.
"Even now, she often thinks things like, 'You would definitely have handled it better,' or, 'Am I really worthy of being your child?'"
The smile faded from Hayata's face, replaced by worry and guilt.
"Master Amos mentioned this in his letters to us as well, but we haven't been able to find more time to spend with her and guide her.
"Your criticism is entirely fair. This is our... failure as parents."
"No, no, that's not what I meant." Altaïr quickly waved a hand. "I only wanted to say... well, I hope you don't think I'm meddling, but perhaps you could praise her more.
"Not the playful kind of praise meant to humor a child, but something more specific and direct. Tell her what she's done well and that you're proud of her.
"After the Guanzorumu incident, for example, her father told her, 'You've grown up.' She was happy about that for a long time.
"It was only after that incident that I could clearly feel her inferiority complex beginning to fade."
"Praise, huh..." Isis's mother nodded with complete seriousness. "I understand. Thank you for reminding me."
Just then, Isis came running over with a cheerful expression. "Altaïr! Dad adjusted my footwork a little, and now I can put more power into my Rising Slash!
"Why don't you demonstrate the whole sequence for him too and let him take a look?"
Altaïr instinctively glanced toward Gordon, only to find him standing with his arms crossed and glaring darkly in their direction.
He immediately shook his head. "Not right now. Make the most of this chance to learn a few more moves from your father."
A smile returned to Hayata's face. "Don't worry about us. Your father is just about finished, and I haven't even begun yet.
"Master Amos asked me to test Altaïr's swordsmanship on his behalf. It's obvious that the old master wants to show off his last disciple."
Isis understood what her mother meant and eagerly ran to the weapon rack to retrieve two hardwood Long Swords.
A glimmer of excitement appeared in Gordon's eyes as well.
Right! A Great Sword was too dangerous for sparring, but Long Sword users regularly tested their swordsmanship against one another!
Hell yes! He was going to watch his wife beat the hell out of that kid!
Altaïr was excited too when he accepted the wooden sword from Isis. In truth, he had been looking forward to sparring with Lady Hayata ever since they set out for the Training Area.
At his current level, it was extremely difficult to improve his swordsmanship further through direct instruction alone.
The most direct and effective way to exchange swordsmanship was not through discussion, but by crossing blades.
Of course he knew he was no match for her, but as long as he gained some insight from the experience, he would gladly take a beating!
They stood several meters apart, swords drawn as they faced each other.
Altaïr's nerves were taut. The instant he came to a stop, he assumed a Focus stance.
Hayata, by contrast, was far more composed. She held her sword in her right hand and rested her left lightly against the end of the hilt, the tip of the blade angled slightly downward. Her entire posture was relaxed and at ease, yet she offered no opening.
"I'm ready. We can begin whenever you like," she said with a smile.
The instant the words left her mouth, Altaïr vanished from where he stood.
Instant Slash!
Of all the sword techniques he had mastered, this was not the most powerful, but it was unquestionably the fastest.
With every ounce of strength behind the move, his silhouette seemed to teleport. Just as the thrusting wooden sword was about to pierce his opponent, an extraordinarily sharp sense of danger seized him.
He felt his wooden sword being deflected, but he could not even see the path of Hayata's blade.
His body reacted before his mind. He executed Foresight Slash as quickly as he could and leaped backward, yet he was still a fraction too slow.
A chill brushed across his forehead. A thin line of blood ran past the corners of his eyes and down the bridge of his nose.
After sliding several meters back with Foresight Slash, Altaïr's heart pounded wildly and cold sweat soaked his close-fitting clothes.
Her sword had split the skin on his forehead. This was no razor-sharp real blade, either. The wooden sword in her hands was closer to a slightly curved club than an actual sword...
The bloodstained tip came to a steady halt a few centimeters above the floor. A flash of crimson Spirit energy appeared and vanished in an instant.
Hayata slowly raised the wooden sword and resumed her previous stance. A gentle smile still rested on her face, as though nothing had happened.
A Tempered Spirit Blade?
Although Altaïr had not seen the full path of her blade, he could roughly identify the technique from the way his own sword had been knocked upward and the nearly simultaneous counterattack had descended from above.
Unbelievably fast...
Then there was the Spirit energy that had cut the skin on his forehead. Could energy that had not been refined or condensed truly be this sharp? Was this the legendary "Red Blade"?
Total defeat was inevitable. All he could do was see how much he could learn before he fell!
There was no fear on Altaïr's bloodstained face. Instead, an exhilarated grin spread across it. He stirred his blood, activated Demon Mode, and launched another attack.