Chapter 69

In terms of swordsmanship, Aegor was nowhere near the level of Syrio Forel, Arya’s original teacher, but teaching a complete beginner wasn’t the same as dueling an expert. Skill alone didn’t guarantee superiority in instruction.

Aegor vividly remembered his middle school days, where his physics teacher was actually the PE coach—a real-life anecdote that sounded like a bad joke but was entirely true. His parents were busy starting their business, so Aegor attended a small, rundown school in his hometown. The only well-staffed subjects were Chinese and math; everything else relied on whoever was available. His homeroom teacher, a young graduate from a sports institute, taught both physical education and physics.

Her physics knowledge was laughably poor—she often corrected mistakes from her previous lessons. But despite her limited expertise, their class consistently outperformed two others taught by formally trained teachers. Aegor came to realize that for foundational education, mastery wasn’t the most important factor. What mattered was whether the lessons were engaging, the material accessible, and the teacher dedicated to guiding their students.

Even though she could never teach high school physics, Aegor regarded her as the best teacher he had ever had. Her earnestness and patience were etched in his memory, inspiring him through his own studies all the way to university.
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Now it was Aegor’s turn to play the role of a beginner’s teacher for Arya’s swordsmanship. He didn’t need to be a master; he just needed to be patient, diligent, and approachable. His aim was straightforward: build a bond with a member of House Stark and keep Eddard “The Hand of the King” Stark within reach for future schemes. With clear goals, Aegor avoided the stern, exacting methods of Syrio Forel. There were no dramatic tests, like tossing a sword to see if Arya could catch it. Instead, he handed her a light training sword and carefully showed her the proper grips and stances. The lesson had begun.

Arya was left-handed, which intrigued Aegor. He recalled a theory from his previous life that left-handed individuals might have faster reflexes. Perhaps she was naturally suited to becoming a great swordswoman.

“There’s no such thing as ‘ultimate’ swordsmanship,” Aegor explained. “There are only techniques—movements for attacking, defending, and countering. Thrusting, slashing, parrying, dodging, blocking—all these actions are tools. A swordsman’s goal is to master these techniques and know how to use them effectively in combinations.”

He started Arya with the simplest movements, focusing on building a solid foundation. While countless swordsmen could demonstrate these moves better than Aegor, not all of them could teach as effectively. Aegor’s own struggles during his initial training became an advantage—he could anticipate the difficulties Arya might face and address them.

To his surprise, Arya picked things up quickly, even eagerly asking to learn more advanced techniques.

“How long do I have to keep practicing these basics?” she grumbled.

“As long as it takes. These are your foundation. You can’t run before you learn to walk,” Aegor said. “If you think you’ve got it, try attacking me.”

The courtyard rang with the clatter of their wooden swords as Arya lunged and swung. Despite her enthusiasm, she didn’t land a single hit.

“This skirt’s in the way!” she complained. “Can I take it off?”

“No,” Aegor said firmly. “Overcome the obstacle. You’re a girl, a lady of House Stark. There will be plenty of occasions where you’ll have to wear a skirt. Do you think your enemies will give you time to change into pants?”

“Why do girls have to wear skirts anyway? Pants are so much easier and more comfortable!”

“Don’t blame the skirt. Keep practicing.”

“It’s not fair. This sword is heavier than Needle.”

“It’s lighter than a real sword! And what, you plan to use Needle forever?”
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Amid Arya’s grumbling about skirts and training swords, they practiced until lunch. After eating, Aegor suggested they rest. There was no need to rush progress—pushing Arya too hard might drain her enthusiasm, and Aegor didn’t want to run out of material to teach within a month.

Back in the office, they relaxed and chatted. As teacher and student, they still knew little about each other. Aegor saw this as an opportunity to strengthen his bond with Arya, much like he had intrigued Tyrion with fabricated stories back in Winterfell.
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Predictably, Arya was captivated by Aegor’s tales. He didn’t regale her with the technological or political aspects of “Caina,” but with ideals this world sorely lacked: gender equality, freedom, and independence. In that distant land beyond the Sunset Sea, Aegor claimed, girls could openly learn swordsmanship, join the military, and even become government officials. Most enticingly, they could choose their own husbands—or demand a divorce if unhappy.

If that were all, Arya would have merely been intrigued. But when Aegor added that he was a wandering adventurer from this mythical land, stranded in Westeros by an accident, her excitement was palpable.

“You’re an adventurer!” Arya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with youthful wonder. “Take me with you next time!”

“Who knows when I’ll return?” Aegor shrugged. “Westeros doesn’t even have ships capable of crossing the Sunset Sea.”

“Oh... well, tell me more about your adventures!”

“No more sword training?”

“That can wait!”

Arya’s rapid shift in focus left Aegor momentarily stunned. Spinning tales about Caina was easy—after all, it was loosely inspired by his own world—but inventing grand adventures? That was trickier. Still, Aegor had read enough fantasy and adventure novels to cobble something together.

As he crafted his stories, a voice interrupted them from outside.

“Aegor! Get out here—your first bondholder has arrived!”

It was Tyrion, shouting excitedly.
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And just like that, Arya’s lesson came to an end, replaced by the next chapter in Aegor’s grand scheme.