5 Minute Freewrite Day 514: Control

To see the opening in an enemy’s defense, to keep your blade straight and firm, to read the wind and every creature’s move… what do you think it’s needed? –asked Giacomo.

The girl, covered in dirt and with a lightly hurt pride said “Good eyes?, reflexes…?”, her masters laugh was thunderous, he was in a good mood, but it stopped short when he talked, now in a more serious tone.

Those are indeed true, but not what I was referring to. Without discipline, without control of what you are, the sharpest eyes and the quickest actions are nothing, and that it’s also true for everything else in life, now, get up.

She did, and was handed her practice sword again. Swing it upwards, faster, a more acute angle, she was closer to hit the soldier, but again her rushing got the best of her. How to penetrate the other man’s defense?, a deep breath later and her sight was clearer, “control huh?”, she tightened the hold on her sword, and lunged forward. Hit, parry. Counterattack. The sun blinded her while she fell again but this time, she could see her teacher without a sword, clutching his bruised left hand.

That was much better.