At the beginning of the lesson.
Arlon and Herrig stood a few meters apart in the training grounds, their eyes locked in quiet assessment.
Unlike the other students, whose duels were filled with flashes of magic and ringing steel, theirs was a match of patience.
The goal was simple—counterplay. Learning how to react, adapt, and outmaneuver an opponent of a different combat style.
Herrig, the Elf archer, already had an advantage in that regard.
His stance was calm yet ready, his fingers lightly gripping the bowstring. His quiver rested on his hip instead of his back, allowing for faster reloads—a clear sign of his experience.
Arlon, on the other hand, had deliberately handicapped himself. No magic. No overwhelming speed. Just pure swordsmanship.
"You're not using magic?" Herrig asked, tilting his head slightly.
Arlon nodded. "It would be too easy. I wouldn't learn anything that way."
Herrig smirked. "Interesting. Most swordsmen struggle against archers unless they have a way to close the distance fast."
"That's exactly why I want to try this without magic."
Orlen's voice rang out. "Begin!"
The moment the match started, Herrig moved first—his feet light, his body swift.
Instead of immediately firing, he dashed to the side, creating distance and repositioning himself.
Arlon stayed put, watching. He's trying to make sure I can't rush him head-on.
Then, in one smooth motion, Herrig nocked an arrow and fired.
Whoosh!
Arlon barely had time to move before the arrow whizzed past his shoulder.
But that was only the first shot. Herrig was already preparing his next arrow, shifting his position again.
Arlon lunged forward. He had to get closer—but the moment he moved, Herrig shot at his feet.
Aiming to control movement. Smart.
Arlon twisted mid-step, avoiding the arrow, but it forced him to slow down.
Herrig didn't waste a second. Another arrow was already flying toward him.
Instead of dodging again, Arlon changed his approach. He slashed his sword in a precise arc—deflecting the arrow mid-air.
A sharp clang rang out as the projectile spun off course.
Herrig's expression barely changed, but Arlon could see the subtle shift in his stance. He didn't expect that.
"Nice reaction," Herrig admitted. "But can you keep up?"
Herrig dashed backward, his agility keeping him ahead. He loosed three more arrows in quick succession—one high, one low, and one aimed directly at Arlon's chest.
Arlon didn't deflect this time. Instead, he focused on the rhythm.
The first arrow—duck.
The second arrow—step to the side.
The third arrow—deflect with the flat of his blade.
His pattern is precise but predictable, Arlon thought. He's testing how I move.
Seeing that Arlon wasn't panicking, Herrig changed his strategy.
Instead of maintaining distance, he suddenly stopped retreating.
Then, without warning, he dashed forward.
Arlon's eyes narrowed. An archer closing the gap?
Herrig wasn't holding an arrow anymore. Instead, he flipped his bow, gripping it like a melee weapon.
With surprising force, he swung the wooden frame at Arlon's ribs.
Arlon barely had time to react, blocking the bow with his sword.
The impact sent a slight vibration through his arms. He's stronger than he looks.
But this wasn't just about blocking. Arlon was looking for the counterplay.
"Counterplay"
It was about reacting to the enemy's attack and finding the best way to turn the tables around.
But counterplay wasn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It varied depending on one's class, the opponent's fighting style, and the scenario itself.
For example, when Herrig shot an arrow at Arlon's feet to slow him down and retreated to gain distance, it was an excellent counterplay against Arlon's attempt to close the gap.
By controlling movement, Herrig dictated the pace of the battle—at least, in theory.
Had Arlon used magic, a simple wind spell could have disrupted the trajectory of the arrows while simultaneously throwing Herrig off balance.
A single well-placed gust would not only redirect the projectiles but also serve as an attack of its own.
But, it was hard to counterplay a ranged attack with a close combat class or weapon.
Thus, when Herrig came close, he lost his advantage. His movement was too hasty.
In Herrig's mind, his counterplay was surprising Arlon with a counterplay. But it wouldn't work against someone with this much level difference.
This was also bad news for Arlon. He could win anytime he wanted, but he was trying to learn Archer patterns.
Since Herrig wasn't a good fighter, though, Arlon's plan didn't work. Still, there was one thing he could learn, an archer's close combat.
Herrig didn't stop attacking. He spun his bow, swinging it again in a quick succession of strikes.
Arlon deflected the first one, then sidestepped the second.
A swordsman's instinct would be to go on the offensive—but Arlon held back. He was still learning.
Then, he saw it.
Herrig's attack had a tempo. The moment after he swung, his grip would slightly loosen to prepare for the next attack.
That was Arlon's opening.
As Herrig went for another strike, Arlon adjusted his stance.
Instead of blocking, he stepped forward—inside Herrig's reach.
Before Herrig could react, Arlon lightly pressed the flat of his blade against the Elf's wrist.
A simple move, but an effective one. If this had been a real fight, Herrig's grip would have been broken, his bow useless. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire
Herrig stopped immediately, raising an eyebrow. "Well… that's unexpected."
Arlon withdrew his blade. "You have a pattern. I just followed it."
"Hah. That was fast," Herrig said, shaking his wrist. "Most warriors just brute force their way toward me."
"I'd rather learn than just charge in blindly," Arlon replied.
Herrig sighed dramatically. "Well, I guess I'm not used to fighting swordsmen who think before swinging their weapons."
"Then you should practice against me more," Arlon offered.
Herrig grinned. "I might take you up on that."
Their match was over, but Arlon wasn't finished.
This was just the beginning of mastering counterplay. He still needed to see the archer's abilities and grasp how to see the approaching arrows better.