The Author's POV

Laying down on the floor panting, I turned my head to the right where Donna's figure could be seen holding onto a large metal staff. Seeing this, I pleaded.

"Huff..huff...huff...Miss Longbern, please let me rest!"

Hearing my plea, Donna ignored me and proceeded to lightly sway the metal staff on her shoulder as she shook her head and said.

"Nope, we still have got one hour left before the session ends so hurry up and get up"

" Ghhh...damn it!"

Helpless, I could only lift my tired body up and once again prepared myself to be subjected to Donna's merciless beating.

-Clank!

"khh..."

As soon as I stood up, without giving me a chance to recover, Donna appeared before me and horizontally swung the staff in her hand. As she swung her staff, hurtling in my direction, it's metal body split the air apart.

"huup!"

Seeing the staff move, without hesitation, I ducked my body down and avoided it within a hairbreadth.

"Not bad but not good enough"

Seeing me dodge her attack, a faint smile appeared on Donna's lips as she suddenly halted her movement mid-swing and swung the staff downwards. Seeing this, I helplessly mumbled.

"...that's cheating"

-Bang!

The last thing I heard was the sound of the staff splitting the air before a tremendous force hit my back causing me to fall face-first on the ground.

-Dank!

"Gaaaahhh!"

Hitting the ground, a painful groan escaped from my mouth as I clenched my fists and tried my best to withhold the pain.

...it hurt like hell.

It felt as though someone had slapped my naked back with the palm of their hand at full force. The pain was something that couldn't be described in words...excruciating.

On the bright side, fortunately, she held back, otherwise, I would've found myself without a spine.

"Not bad you've improved quite a bit since your first lesson"

Leisurely putting the metal staff on her shoulder, Donna walked around me as she nodded her head in appreciation.

...ever since the first day that Donna had started training Ren, she realized that he was indeed talented.

With every lesson they had, she would see him improve quickly. When she asked him how he was able to learn so quickly, the response Donna got was...

'I just repeat what we've learned in the previous lesson until I memorize what I could've done better and where I went wrong, this way I don't make the same mistake again'

was exactly what every

talented...but unless you put in the work and actively sought to improve yourself rather than remaining complacent...only then that you

those that actively sought to be better regardless of their talent

along those lines, Donna's impression of Ren

that you were moving and positioning

just spoken, as a small groan escaped from my mouth, as

of your amazing teaching ability Miss Longbern. Without

half of it was

beaten black and blue by her. There was not a single day where I

most annoying part of the training was that whenever I managed to somewhat adjust to Donna's rhythm, she would once again increase her intensity

had persisted for one and

month and a half had passed since I started training with Donna, and my strength had seen a considerable

I've finally managed to get a better understanding of wind psyons which resulted in my sword art seeing an improvement

Greater realm of mastery which was resulted in

however, unlike that move, what set this move apart was that it allowed me to teleport anywhere within

wasn't perfect as it required far more mana to use

I was now significantly stronger than what I was back

took from Donna. Simply put, if the current me fought against the me from a month

figure and hearing his sarcastic remark, Donna shook

You've started to learn the art of

I firmed my tone and seriously looked

that I just said came from the bottom of my

before I could finish speaking, with her purple eyes

the sarcasm, I can see

my head, I once again

shall diligently and wholeheartedly follow the

metal staff in the air,

"You want another beating?"

the staff, smiling kindly, I shook my head and

it seems like I have to go...goodbye Miss Longbern, see you on

it looked like I was running away, in fact, I wasn't. Even though I

and a half with Donna, we had gotten a little bit

I still did not refer to her as Donna and just called her Miss Longbern, our relationship had gotten to the point where we would occasionally share a bit of banter with each other

serious

...I hope.

I

as I was about to leave, Donna's crisp

before you leave I have

around, I raised my

do

tablet from her dimensional space. Thereafter, scrolling through the tablet in her hand, Donna briefly

will be coming in a couple of days so you better

in my heart. Squinting my eyes I

"...Ready for what?"

the staff, Donna twirled the staff on the ground and softly

around the academy on the first day. Do not worry, you won't be alone as you will

"..."

short pause, I couldn't help but groan out

"...you're kidding"