Ask Van Helsing to teach me

"Miss Van Helsing, would you teach me?" I ask.

"Me?" Van Helsing asks.

"Yes. I'd like to ask for your help."

"I'm not one to talk, but you're the woman who pointed a gun at you? You are definitely strange."

"It can't be helped. Every person under this roof is strange." Doreen says.

"Haha, so true." Victoria says.

"I saw your strength firsthand." I say. "If I need to learn how to protect myself, I'd like to take lessons from you."

Van Helsing nods in reply. "Fine, I'll do it. I'll teach you some basic necessities of fighting."

"Hey, don't go too hard on him, all right? He's a delicate boy." Nemo says.

"That won't be a problem. I was only a member of the Royal Order of Knights. I know how to handle both femboys and thugs." Van Helsing says. "Do not worry, Caleb."

I can't help but feel a subtle malicious intent in how she looks at me.

"Van Helsing's more of the assassin type than the teacher type." Lupin says.

"Will you be all right? Do you need any bandages before you go?" Victoria asks.

"Quite. Stay out of this. I said it would be all right." Van Helsing says.

"Ahah, but the expression you made while saying it was quite terrifying." Doreen says.

"Hmph." Van Helsing's silence is even more fearsome.

I start walking after Van Helsing, and we arrive at a riverbank near the mansion.

The breeze from the thames feels good.

"We're wasting time. There's no room for standing around in a daze." Van Helsing says.

"Yes, Mistress Van Helsing." I say.

"'Mistress'?"

"The one learning is the student, and the one teaching is the master, or if female, the mistress. Right?"

"'Mistress'. Hmph. Not bad. Never mind. If you're ready, let's hurry up and get started."

"All right."

"First, I'm going to teach you about fighting. The best advice I can give you is: Don't fight."

"That sounds like a contradiction."

"It's a far better strategy for an amateur than trying to depend on newly acquired defence skills. Don't hesitate, run."

"You're starting to sound like Lupin."

"Don't compare me to that cutpurse. There is no other way. It truly is an effective strategy to protect yourself." Van Helsing say. "With that in mind, I'm going to teach you some fighting techniques. No, I'm only teaching you unarmed combat. Amateurs let down their guard when they hold a weapon, thinking it makes them stronger."

"I see."

"I'm going to teach you some self-defence techniques useful to amateurs."

"All right."

"First, don't punch. There's a chance you might break your fingers. Don't try fancy swinging kicks either, as you may fall."

"What should I do, then?"

"Whether punching or kicking, it takes years of training for your body to instantly make the right movements in an actual battle." Van Helsing says. "It's not the sort of thing that can be taught in a few days. I'm going to teach you simple methods that don't rely on skill."

"No skill?"

"Yes. Get your opponent off-guard, and throw your body against them, leading with your shoulder."

"Throw myself."

"Once your opponent is knocked off-balance, you simply run. See? That doesn't sound too hard, does it?"

"I think I can do that."

"Good. Let's give it a quick try. I'll catch you. Come at me with all your strength."

"All right." I brace myself, then charge forward, leading with my shoulder. Or, at least I try. Van Helsing steps aside, and I fall. "You said you would catch me!"

"Ah. I'm sorry. I was a bit surprised."

"What about that surprised you?" I pull myself up.

"You're very fast. An impact like that could cause tremendous bodily harm."

"Isn't that normal?"

"Yes, in a skilled practitioner. It seems you have potential. After the body blow, next I will teach you how to hit."

"I'll do my best."

"Hmm... Before we officially begin training, let me ask you something." Van Helsing. "What do you think is most necessary when fighting unarmed?"

"Is it insight to see when the opponent isn't paying attention?"

"Hmph. That's right. You're quite perceptive." I wasn't expecting her to praise me. "No matter how strong the enemy is, if you can hit them when they're not expecting it, you'll have the upper hand. Attack first."

"Yes, Mistress Van Helsing."

"If you're going to call me that, I'm going to be very strict in training you. Don't even think of trying to run away."

"I'll be all right."

Van Helsing and I worked on teaching me combat skills until the sun goes down. She says that I have a talent for it, and even teaches me some basic kicks when she was only going to teach me a shoulder charge.

"I feel stronger." I say.

"Don't be stupid. That's just your body reacting to the workout."

"At this rate, I'll become stronger than you at some point."

"Now you're just being delusional."

"I think I might pursue a career in martial arts."

"You've completely lost your way of life. What about searching for your mother?" Van Helsing sighs and begins walking.

"Are we done for today?"

"Yes. The rules are that we are to return back to the mansion at sundown."

As I follow Van Helsing, I begin to realise something. "Hey, Miss Van Helsing? Why are you walking slower than when we headed out earlier?"

"I figured you were tired. What? Don't stare at me in silence."

"I'm just surprised. When I first saw you, I thought you were a scary person."

"Hmph. I said before, I know how to act around a gentleman."

"That's right. But you don't have to worry about me. I'm not tired at all. We can keep going."

"After all the training. Unbelievable." Van Helsing picks up her pace a little, and I continue to follow her. She still doesn't say much, but I feel as if the distance between us has closed a bit.