Aiden's Point of VIew

"You're not even paying attention, are you?" Zoricho asked.

"Wha..." I muttered, the glazed look on my eyes dissapearing. I was holding the sword in my left hand, since that was my dominant hand. We were currently running over certain material that was apparently very important in swordsmanship.

Of course, I fight by just winging it and smacking my sword around. So it would be obvious that I would not give very much effort, much less hard work. I mean, why would you need to know information like 'balance' and stuff? In a real life situation you're not gonna go, "Oh, I'm unbalanced! Hey attacker-person, would you mind if you could stop trying to kill me for a second so I can run over important information I'll need to use against you so I can beat you?"

"Aiden, are you serious? This is the 4th time you've glazed out on me." Zoricho said again, waving his hilt at me from across the practice area.

"Well, I'm sorry. I'm not an analytical person, if you haven't gue-" I was cut short because Zoricho swung his sword at me, aiming for my head. Just in time, I managed to shove my sword in the air to block it.

"Are you trying to kill me?" I asked him exasperated and huffing from the speed of the attack. He was currently putting more weight and power into the sword and I was struggling to keep him at bay.

"If you're not up for learning analytically, we might was well learn physically." He said as we both pushed our swords against each others, knocking both of us back. I took a large puff of air before grinning at Zoricho.

"Now this," I ran towards him, aiming my swipe to his right side. He blocked swiftly, but I since we were so close, I could hear the gasp escape quietly from his mouth. I looked him in the eye; "is my style."

He shoved me back and I stumbled on my feet a bit as he stood his ground. He went to for a lunge but I jumped to the right side quick enough to dodge, and aimed for what seemed like his blind spot while he was still in motion.

But I missed.

Suddenly, Zoricho was missing. I looked around for him, keeping my guard up. He wasn't anywhere in my field of view, which confused me. Where could he be?

I gasped in realization, but was a little too late. From behind me his sword swings for the back of my leg. The amount of force was enough to knock me off balance and fall forward painfully on my face.

Something weird happened right then. When the impact flew through me, I felt my mind seemingly explode into a billion thoughts of analyzing thoughts and details. I barely understood what my head was going through, nor did I really have time to really understand it because as soon as the billions of thoughts came, they left.

But on the bright side of all this confusion, I felt re-energized and...happy.

I don't know how but when I held my sword again, it's like my hand knew exactly what to do.

"C'mon, I thought you were going to actually put up a challenge," I hear Zoricho taunt. I glanced up at the ice soldier, adapting to a new stance and a tighter grip. Before now, I was just going for anything and everything. Now, I felt confident and, although I didn't understand it, I felt like the sword I was holding had a strategic mind of its own, just using me as a host.

I didn't have any more time to dwell on the thought, because Zoricho had noticed me spacing out. He was taking it even harsher this time. Swing after swing left a loud thud of wood slapping against wood, the soft sound of it cracking due to the amount pressure both of us were putting.

Both of us jumped back, giving both of us time to recover and re-strategize.

Zoricho let out a grunt as he swung with as much force as he could muster towards my side, which I had somehow left open. I gasped, totally oblivous the moment before to my weakness.

Just in time, my sharp blade forced its way to meet the incoming saber. A clang and a several sharp cracks resounded in the air, before all fell silent.

I stared, aghast, at the broken swords that were once against each other, now lying in broken pieces strewn all across the ground. Zoricho seemed just as astonished, viewing the scene in disbelief.

But he recovered quickly, hiding his mind-boggled thoughts. He coughed nervously, "Training is finished, you've done well. Spend the rest of your time for today in rest. I have important business to attend to now, so I will see you again."

And with that, he was off.

I stood there, still stunned. When my mind broke into a million thoughts of information, I felt...I don't know how to explain it. It felt...like I was meant to know this already, as if I were living here my whole life, training as a master swordsman of some kind.

But I haven't been here, much less lived here.

So why is it I feel like I belong here, as if I truly do have a purpose?

What's wrong with you, Aiden? My obviously annoyed consciousness questioned irritably. What are you talking about? That's all nonsense. You live in reality, not some petty game created in Sweden. Get your mind fixed, you idiot.

I sighed in irritation. I would deal with this 'reality and virtual dream' debate later. Right now, I was really worried about what Zoricho thought of me.

After hours of walking around the castle, thinking about the impression I gave Zoricho, I couldn't help but think in the end, "Did I do something wrong?"

~*~

It was finally night time, and I was heading to my room so I could sleep. But I doubt I could, considering all the stuff that happened to me today.

My hand glided against the cold, frozen wall as I walked down the hall to my room, which was on the top floor and beside another flight of stairs that led to the rooftop. The shivering cold snow that created the walls felt as soft as a pillow, making my a little sleepy, but my soul was too jittery to fall asleep. For now, at least.

I continued my peaceful walk when suddenly, a door opened in my face.

I fell on my tush with an 'umph'. "Ow..." I muttered as the person who opened the door realized they hit me.

"Oh, I'm sorry-" they speedily apologized, but stopped mid-sentence. That voice was very familiar, and my eyes widened when I realized who it was.

"...Jerome..." I said, more mixed emotions flying through me, much more than I cared to even think about.