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'

pleased. This was exactly what every teacher wanted to hear

sought to improve yourself rather than remaining complacent...only then that you will set yourself apart

those that actively sought to be better regardless of

those lines, Donna's impression of

you were moving and positioning yourself, I can see

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

improve so much is because of your amazing teaching

true, half of it was just me being

I've been continuously beaten black and blue by her. There was not a single day where I

Donna's rhythm, she

persisted for one and a

I started training with Donna, and my

to Donna's tutelage, I've finally managed to get a better understanding of wind psyons which resulted in my sword art seeing

the [Keiki style] and [Drifting steps] were now at the Greater realm of mastery which was resulted in a significant boost in my strength as

incredibly overpowered move that resembled the first movement of the [Keiki style], quick flash, however, unlike that move, what set this

it wasn't perfect as it required far

to perform the third movement, I was now significantly stronger than

my battle awareness and experience had also seen a significant improvement due to all of the beatings that I took from Donna. Simply put, if the current

sarcastic remark, Donna shook

You've started to learn the art

I firmed my tone and seriously looked

that I just said came from

finish speaking, with her purple eyes shining slightly, I

with the sarcasm,

my head, I once

shall diligently and wholeheartedly follow the wise words of professor

brow and lifting the metal staff in the air,

"You want another beating?"

kindly, I shook my head and proceeded

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

wasn't. Even though I said all of that, I wasn't really

with Donna, we had gotten a little bit more comfortable with each

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

actually serious about beating

...I hope.

right, I

as I was about to leave, Donna's crisp voice entered my

leave I have something I want to

around, I raised my

What do

from her dimensional space. Thereafter, scrolling through the tablet

couple of days

ominous feeling arose in my heart.

"...Ready for what?"

hand on top of the staff, Donna

the people that will orient the exchange students around the academy on the first day. Do not worry, you

"..."

after a short pause, I couldn't help but groan

"...you're kidding"