Chapter 209: The Circle and the Lesson
All eyes turned toward the boy who had just broken ranks. His boots beat against the earth as he sprinted toward Orion, both hands gripping his longsword so tightly his knuckles blanched.
Orion did not so much as blink.
He merely shifted his weight slightly, watching the blade's descent. Then, just as the edge cut through the air toward him, Orion sidestepped lightly—so fluidly it almost seemed he had drifted. With one finger, he flicked the flat of the sword.
The clang rang sharp and hollow. The boy stumbled a few steps, struggling to keep his footing.
Orion's tone was calm, almost instructive. "Your grip is wrong," he said, reaching forward to adjust the boy's stance. "If you hold it that tight, your own strength works against you."
The boy blinked up at him, red-faced, panting.
