"On the battlefield, if you can grip a weapon and have saliva in your mouth, you are a good soldier!" swordsmanship instructor Richard Nal was giving his last lecture to 55 students of Infantry Class 554 at the Army Officer Academy: "These aren't my words, but those of the old Marshal."
When the Army Officer Academy was established, the preparatory committee believed there were too many courses conducted in classrooms and that it was necessary to add a special physical education class. The initial plan was to choose one among swordsmanship, wrestling, and archery.
Most senior officers of the Alliance Army had attended Marshal Ned's evening "tutoring sessions" organized during the Sovereignty War, so everyone had learned longsword techniques from Marshal Ned incidentally.
Therefore, the Army's decision-makers wished to pass on the tradition of the longsword, making it one of the military subjects in the physical education curriculum at the Officer Academy.
"Classmates, this is your last swordsmanship class. You must have all thought about the significance of practicing longsword techniques for your future military careers," Instructor Nal paused and said without any courtesy:
"I can tell you now that the chance you will need to draw your longswords to grapple with the enemy in the future is very slim. Many of you might never hold a sword hilt in both hands again after leaving this training room."
"What is a longsword to you? What is swordsmanship? Is it really for combat? Outside the Ivory Tower of the military school, there are more agile and portable weapons in vogue. Want to know what weapons work in actual combat? Go watch the Duelists' Association! Not one of you could win against those guys in a one-on-one fight."
"In the world of officers, the longsword has become a ceremonial sword used to embellish dress uniforms, and swordsmanship has become a threshold to distinguish officers' origins."
"Although we try our best to give you the feeling of actual combat, for you, longsword techniques have evolved from a combat skill into a sporting activity. You must wonder if swordsmanship really matters. I can tell you now, it doesn't matter."
"Don't think just because you've trained for many years and each of you is proficient with a sword, you can go out and conquer on the battlefield. Two peasants with pitchforks could take you down!" Nal's swordsmanship class was much more relaxed and enjoyable compared to other cultural and military courses. This was the first time he had belittled his students, not sparing their feelings at all.
"Because when you truly reach the battlefield and face death, even the noble knights who have been trained to fight from the moment they could walk might find themselves so nervous that their minds go blank and their limbs freeze, unable to move."
"Although swordsmanship may not be of much significance to you anymore. But please remember what I'm about to say: if there comes a day, at some point in the future when you really need to draw your weapons for self-defense."
"No matter what you're holding in your hand, be it a spear, a saber, a club, a hammer, or even if you have no weapons at all and are just bare-handed. Think of my words today, think of the swordsmanship training you've had over the years."
"If you can recall even thirty percent of your ability from today, you might just save your life. If you can recall sixty percent of your ability, then there wouldn't be many on the battlefield who could stand against you. The principles of martial arts are always interconnected, and many of the philosophies behind the longsword can be applied to other weapons as well."
"The old Marshal always said, 'I fear those whose swordsmanship is versatile in practice but resort to wild chopping with brute force in actual combat'. That's why he emphasized simple and direct attacks."
"When that day truly arrives, I hope you will remember what I've said today. Don't grip the hilt too tightly! Don't let your arms become too stiff! Don't just rush forward blindly, be agile in your steps! And think again about the swordsmanship training you've received!"
Another cohort of students was about to leave the school, and Richard Nal, for once, was genuinely emotional, and each sentence spoke from the heart. Yet his students didn't treasure this emotional display, with most of them just thinking about rushing to have dinner.
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It would take at least another decade, after they had been battered by the winds and rains of adulthood, for them to know which of the past teachings were nonsense and which were gems of wisdom.
Only on that day, when they look back on today's swordsmanship class, will they understand the earnestness of Instructor Nal's efforts. But now, they are just a bunch of kids who grew up sheltered in the Ivory Tower.
After saying a lot in one go, regardless of whether his students took it in or not, Instructor Nal simply concluded the speech: "I've said my piece. Alright! Dismissed!"
Instructor Nal clapped his hands twice, giving the command: "Dismissed!"
The students bowed in unison: "Goodbye, Instructor." They then ran out as one to return their training armor.
The training room returned to silence and became empty once more.
The young men who had sweated and laughed freely here seemed like just a dream of this classroom.