Chapter 249: Exceptional Talent
As the chess match progressed to the middle game, both players were evenly matched. The further they played, the more astonished Ollie became by Jasper's calculation abilities and strategic vision, which far exceeded what one would expect from someone his age. This child was not only exceptionally skilled at chess but also maintained a calm composure—when faced with difficult positions, he remained unruffled and showed the bearing of a true master.
After watching for a while, Ethan turned to Emma and said, "Emma, look! Jasper's playing evenly with great-grand-uncle! But I bet Jasper's going to win!"
Emma looked up earnestly and replied, "Ethan, chess isn't about winning or losing—it's about communication and thinking. That's what Mom says."
Hearing this, Ollie felt his heart stir again. These children had been taught so well.
As the game continued, Ollie began playing more seriously, while Jasper rose to the challenge, his small face filled with intense concentration.
Growing bored, Ethan began wandering around the study. When he spotted the antique weapons on the wall, his eyes lit up. "This is so cool! Is this real? Can I touch it?"
William quickly pulled him back. "You can't just go touching those—they're dangerous! But Ollie here is actually a master swordsman. If you ask him nicely, he might be willing to teach you."
"Really?"
"Try it and see."
After William spoke, Ethan began staring at Ollie with worshipful eyes, making the older man feel so uncomfortable that he just wanted to finish the chess game quickly.
Jasper clearly felt the same way.
The game soon entered its endgame, with both sides down to just a few pieces. Finally, the position on the board resulted in a draw.
Ollie looked at the chessboard and let out a long breath. He raised his head to look at Jasper, his eyes showing clear admiration. "Excellent, truly excellent. You're the most talented child I've ever encountered."
Jasper nodded politely. "Thank you for the compliment, great-grand-uncle. Your playing style is solid and your strategic planning profound—I learned a great deal. Particularly your sacrificial tactic on move seventeen—that was quite brilliant."
Ollie was surprised. "You saw through that?"
"Yes, I've studied similar tactics before. Though I think if I had played differently on move twenty-five, it might have been even better," Jasper said thoughtfully.
Ollie reviewed the game in his mind, his eyes lighting up. "You're right! You're very clever indeed."
Ethan bounded over. "Jasper's always amazing! But if you ask me, chess isn't as exciting as fighting! Great-grand-uncle, will you teach me how to use a sword? Pretty please?"
Ollie actually smiled slightly. "That depends on whether you're truly sincere about it."
Ethan's eyes sparkled as he immediately stood at attention and, mimicking what he'd seen in movies, performed a somewhat clumsy knightly bow.
His earnest little display was so endearing that Ollie couldn't help but chuckle, and even his usually stern face broke into a smile. He stood up and walked to the wall to retrieve the decorative rapier. Though it wasn't sharpened, its weight and feel were crafted to match those of a real sword.
"Come here," Ollie beckoned.
Ethan immediately ran over excitedly, his eyes fixed longingly on the slender blade.
William watched from the side, his smile growing deeper.
Ollie had studied swordsmanship in his youth and had even won international competitions, but in recent years, busy with family affairs, he rarely touched such things anymore. He hadn't expected that today, a small child would rekindle his interest.
Ollie's voice grew serious. "A sword is not a toy. It's heavy, and it's dangerous. If you want to learn, you must learn properly and never give up halfway."
Ethan nodded vigorously. "I promise! When I was learning mixed martial arts, my instructor said I was the most persistent student!"
Ollie handed him the sword. "First, test its weight."
Ethan took the sword with both hands, and his little face immediately flushed red—the sword was much heavier than he'd imagined. But gritting his teeth, he managed to hold it steady, though his arms trembled slightly.
A flash of approval crossed Ollie's eyes. "Good, you have some strength. Now, watch my demonstration."
He took back the sword and straightened his posture. In an instant, his entire bearing transformed. The stern, rigid old man vanished, replaced by an elegant swordsman. Though advanced in years, his movements remained clean and precise.
"First position: the guard stance."
Ollie slowly assumed the proper position—right foot forward, left foot back, body slightly turned, sword point directed ahead. "Western swordsmanship emphasizes posture, distance, and timing. Your stance must be correct, your distance precise, and your timing perfect."
Ethan watched with such intensity that his mouth fell open, his face full of awe.
Ollie demonstrated three times, then had Ethan follow along. Surprisingly, though Ethan's movements were still somewhat crude, his ability to imitate was exceptional. His physical coordination was excellent, and he tried his best to execute each movement precisely. His earnest effort made even Ollie nod approvingly.
"Here, you need to engage your wrist," Ollie stepped forward to correct his form. "Yes, like that. Very good—you have real talent."
Encouraged by the praise, Ethan worked even harder, practicing the guard stance over and over. Soon, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he showed no signs of stopping.
Jasper and Emma watched from the side. Jasper nodded slightly. "Ethan does have excellent athletic ability—his coordination and learning capacity are both very strong."
Emma, however, looked concerned. "Ethan, aren't you tired? Don't you want to rest for a bit?"
Without looking back, Ethan replied, "I'm not tired! I want to practice until I'm as good as great-grand-uncle!"
Watching this stubborn little fellow, Ollie felt a long-forgotten sense of accomplishment surge within him. It had been many years since he'd taught anyone, and he hadn't expected that today a five-year-old would reignite his passion for instruction.
Over the next half hour, Ollie taught Ethan three basic movements: forward thrust, backward defense, and lateral evasion. Ethan learned with extreme diligence, practicing each movement repeatedly until Ollie nodded his approval.
Ollie glanced at his watch. "All right, that's enough for today. Swordsmanship isn't something that can be mastered overnight—it requires persistence and dedication."
Though Ethan was reluctant to stop, he obediently set down the sword and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Thank you, great-grand-uncle! Can I come back tomorrow to learn more?"
Looking at his expectant eyes, Ollie finally nodded. "If your parents approve."
Ethan jumped for joy.
William watched from the side, chuckling inwardly. He knew that Ollie had already developed a strong interest in these three children.
Just then, Emma, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly spoke up. "Great-grand-uncle, since you're teaching Ethan swordsmanship, could I learn something else?"
Ollie looked at the most reserved of the children, his voice unconsciously growing gentler. "What would you like to learn?"