Claude returned her weapon and saw through her self-doubt.
"As for the reloading technique, I used a little trick. If you keep practicing diligently, you'll be able to reach my speed too."
"All right, Ivona. Charge at me with everything you have."
Claude held a shield made of transparent engineering plastic. It was lightweight while still strong enough, and he carried no other weapon.
"Understood, Lord Claude!! Please be careful!"
The girl lowered her body, her powerful Kuranta legs bracing against the ground. Then she burst forward with all her strength, shooting out like an arrow with the lance firmly tucked beneath her arm.
The thick lance stabbed straight at Claude. The attack came with ferocious force, but Claude frowned. As an expert with the lance, he spotted the problem at a glance. With a slight deflection of his shield, the Kuranta girl immediately lost her balance. Her feet slipped, and she fell to the ground. Fortunately, Claude caught her by the clothes in time and kept her from falling too badly.
"At the moment of attack, you relaxed your body. That throws off your center of gravity. A lance is at its strongest when you put your entire body into the charge. Don't let your force scatter at the most critical moment."
Ivona scratched her head sheepishly, then energetically retreated several dozen meters. She readied her lance once more.
"I understand, sir. Let's try again."
"Very good!... Watch the path of your charge."
Before Claude had even finished speaking, Ivona stepped into a small pothole in the road and immediately lost her footing again. She staggered twice, but somehow managed not to fall.
"A knight must always watch where they step. Once you have enough experience, you'll be able to avoid every obstacle in your path purely by