Chapter 6: Naemon's Spear

The familiar ache in Naemon's muscles was a pleasure these days. It meant that he was giving his 100% during his training with his father.

Gone were the days of awkward shuffling and clumsy footwork. Now Naemon moved with newfound confidence, and his body responded better to his commands.

Gunther, the beast of a man, watched his son in silence with a satisfied grin. He had just come from talking to Anne and didn't want to distract his son.

When he saw Naemon finish his warm-up exercises, Gunther couldn't help himself any longer.

"Not bad, Nae" he boomed, his voice rough and unstoppable. "You're starting to move like a soldier, not a scared rabbit, HaHaHa!"

Naemon chuckled and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Thanks, Dad. I'm trying." He knew he still had a long way to go, but the progress was noticeable.

Gunther grunted. "Trying is never enough. You have to want it, boy. The will to fight, to protect yourself and the people you care about, that's what drives a warrior."

Gunther nodded and patted Naemon on the shoulder. The gesture was surprisingly gentle for such a large man. "Okay, enough of that for now. Let's move on to something new" he said and disappeared behind a nearby shed.

He reappeared a few moments later, holding two long, sturdy objects. Naemon's eyes widened. They were wooden spears.

The spearheads were blunt and carved from sturdy but harmless wood. "A soldier learns to use a spear first, Nae. It is a versatile weapon, good for attack and defense. And for a beginner, it keeps one at a safe distance from his opponent" Gunther explained.

He tossed Naemon one of the spears, the weight of which was surprisingly balanced despite its length. Naemon caught it instinctively and held it close to the base. 'You can't buy spears like this here, and he didn't bring them from the city either. That means he carved them himself!' Naemon concluded.

"Hold it firm, but not too tight" Gunther instructed, stepping in front of Naemon. "You want control, but not so much that you can't react quickly enough."

Naemon adjusted his grip accordingly, finding the ideal point between tension and flexibility. He raised the spear in front of him and felt the shift in weight as he experimented with various imaginary positions.

"Good" Gunther said, nodding in approval. "Now, watch closely."

Gunther took a step back and began to demonstrate basic spear techniques. He showed Naemon how to thrust the spear forward with a powerful, controlled movement, then quickly pull it back into a defensive position. His movements were fluid, a combination of power and simplicity.

"Remember, Nae, the spear is an extension of your body" Gunther instructed. "Move it purposefully and always be aware of your surroundings. Attack and defense are two sides of the same coin."

"Your turn" said Gunther, stepping aside and motioning for Naemon to take his place.

Naemon took a deep breath and positioned his spear as Gunther had shown him. Then he began to imitate the thrust and pull-back movements. His first attempts were clumsy, but with each try, he improved.

Gunther watched closely, his sharp eyes analyzing every move. "Not bad, son" he said with a hint of pride in his voice. "You're learning quickly. Now let's see how you handle a real target."

Gunther set up a simple straw training dummy. "Aim for the center" he instructed. "Focus on precision and control."

Naemon nodded and gripped the spear a little tighter. He assumed a stance, preparing for thrust and strike. Then he thrust the spear forward with a quick movement and hit the middle of the training dummy. He pulled back and thrust again, his movement becoming more confident and fluid with each attempt.

However, no one could have expected that it was not a normal training dummy. Gunther pulled on the ropes attached to the dummy, and it began to move in place.

Initially irritated that his thrusts missed the target, Naemon soon adjusted and started hitting the dummy again.

Gunther's eyes widened slightly as he watched his son. "You have a knack for it, Nae" he said, a broad smile spreading across his face. "You are a natural with the spear... of course, nothing else was to be expected, you are my son after all, Hahaha!"

Naemon beamed with pride. "Really, Dad?"

"Really" Gunther confirmed. "But don't get cocky. There's still a lot to learn. The spear is a versatile weapon, but it requires discipline and practice. Every day we'll work on different techniques and exercises that I picked up in the military. Before you know it, you'll be handling the spear like a pro, and if you're lucky, you'll even find a spear manual."

Naemon's heart filled with determination. 'Father is right! I don't need a family legacy if I can find a Spear Manual of my own!'

The father and son duo spent the rest of the afternoon honing Naemon's skills with the spear. Gunther showed him different moves and strategies, and Naemon practiced them diligently. Together they found a suitable training regimen. By the time the sun set, Naemon was exhausted but enthusiastic.

"That's enough for today" Gunther said, patting Naemon on the shoulder. "You did well, son. I'm proud of you."

Gunther chuckled. "We're going to make a real warrior out of you, Nae. Now let's go home and get some rest. You deserve it."

As they walked back to the house, Naemon felt a deep sense of accomplishment. He was on his way to becoming a warrior. He could already imagine the Drei Family prostrating at his feet, begging him to come back into the family, but he never would.