"Sister, you have to pass this test. Don't think that you are fighting against your husband." Ahil said to Ira, to motivate her fight against her husband without any hesitation.
Raksheet, who was standing at the other side, cleaning his sword, was listening his brother blabbering in the name of motivation.
"Today, he is just your opponent and you have to beat him so hard that he will never dare to-"
Cough! Cough!
Raksheet fake coughed to stop his brother from talking nonsense and getting beaten by him. He passed a death glare to Ahil that made Ahil zip his mouth immediately.
"I-I mean, you have to win." He said to Ira, fixing his mistake and avoiding his brother's sharp glare.
Ira nod while controlling her laugh. Ahil is motivating her to fight against Raksheet without any fear but he himself is afraid of him.
"I will give my best."
Ira's words made Raksheet chuckle. He stopped cleaning his sword and turned towards her.
"So, shall we start? Or....you two need more time to discuss your 'strategy'?" He mocked.
Ira and Ahil looked at him with narrow eyes, feeling insulted by his words. They looked at each other and nod, showing that they are ready for the match.
Ira turned towards Raksheet and said confidently "let's start."
Raksheet tilted his head in wonder to see confidence on his wife's face but her tight grip on her sword and the sweat forming on her forehead was clearly showing her nervousness.
Raksheet bited his lower lip to control his smile and nod "Ok, let's start."
They both then stepped forward, taking their positions. Pointing swords at each other.
Ira was waiting for Raksheet to say something. she thought he will ask her to attack or defend herself as he asked her on the first day of their training but she was wrong.
Without informing Ira or telling her to defend herself, Raksheet attacked on her.
Ira's eyes widened when she saw Raksheet running towards her with his sword ready to show it's sharpness.
Her heart skipped a beat and her mind was blank for a second but when she realised the situation, she quickly dodge Raksheet's sword and moved away from him.
"That was good." Raksheet said, turning towards Ira to face her.
"Why didn't you informed me that you are going to attack? Huh?" Ira asked with a unpleasant look, breathing heavily.
Raksheet frowned and glanced at Ahil who was standing at a corner, covering his mouth with his hand after witnessing the first attack and defence.
He then turned his gaze to Ira "Your opponent will not inform you when he will attack. So you should be ready for every attack, anytime, anywhere. You should be alert. I think.....your teacher didn't gave you this simple knowledge." He looked at Ahil with his narrow sharp eyes. Showing his disappointment on him.
Ahil quickly turned his head on other side, avoiding Raksheet's sharp eye ready to tear him up just with his glare.
"H-He did." Ira replied, not wanting her teacher to get scolded after giving his hundred percent to teach her. "I forgot. I am sorry."
Ahil looked at Ira and sighed in relief that she saved him from his super strict brother.
Raksheet clicked his tongue in annoyance that Ira is again protecting her dear brother-in-law "You shouldn't forget it. These are the basics. Without basics, you will not be able to get advance training."
Ira nod, wiping the sweat off from her forehead. "I understood."
"Ok, let's continue."
They again took their positions and Ira attacked.
Clang!
Her sharp sword landed on Raksheet's. Raksheet was trying to stop her attack and trying to push her back. Ira was putting her all force and energy to make Raksheet drop his sword but she can't match his strength.
Raksheet felt like his wife has become strong and gained more power than last time when he fought with her. It was good but not enough.
She has improved her skills and power but that's not enough to beat a powerful person like Raksheet. She need more strength and force to make him drop his sword. Which is not possible for Ira yet.
Raksheet smirked to see his wife's improved attack but he have to show her that this improvement is not enough for her to win a battle.
He pushed Ira's sword aside, making her loose her balance for a second.
He then attacked on her from behind.
Ira regained her balance and sensed someone coming towards her from behind. She knew it's Raksheet who is already in the character of a warrior wanting to beat his opponent without giving her any chance to escape.
She quickly turned around, stopping Raksheet's attack by her sword and trying to push him away.
"Ah!!..." Ira groaned, holding her sword with both hands. Raksheet was pushing Ira's sword with all strength to show her how it feels to fight with a actual warrior who have no mercy. She should know how others will treat her when she step in a battle field full of mighty and hideous enemies.
Raksheet was applying his full force to push her down.
Ira's legs were trembling and her knees were bending slowly. She can feel the pain in her legs as well as in her arms. She was gritting her teeths in pain but didn't wanted to surrender. She can't let Ahil's hardwork on her go in vain. She is ready to bear the pain but will not surrender at any cost.
Gathering the remaining strength in her body, Ira dodge Raksheet's sword *clang!* and pushed him aside.
Raksheet almost fell on the ground but tried to stand up again. but before he can understand the situation arround him, Ira hit his sword with hers, making him loose his grip on his sword and making it fall aside.
She was standing on her same position when she hit Raksheet's sword, expecting him to attack again as he is not one of them accepting their loss.
Raksheet was dumbfounded. He was frozen on his place for a while, calculating what just happened. He looked at his empty hand then at his sword and then at Ira, who was pointing her sword at him to defend herself from his next attack while panting heavily. He then looked at Ahil, he was having the same expressions as Raksheet. Shocked, confused and happy.
Raksheet then turned his head towards Ira. She was covered in sweat and gulped hard. He chuckled to see her look like a scaredy cat but ready to face his next attack.
Ahil jumped happily and clapped his hands in excitement "Sister! That was amazing!"
Ira glanced at Ahil and smiled but she again turned her eyes to her husband. Afraid to give him any chance to attack on her as she know her husband is very cunning.
Raksheet turned towards Ira and clapped his hands with a big smile on his face.
She was confused at first but later she realised that she lived up to Raksheet's expectations and didn't disappointed him. She smiled happily but didn't left her position, her sword still pointing towards him.
"That was good!" Raksheet stopped clapping and stepped towards Ira "You can put down the sword. You have already won!"
Ira gulped and looked at Ahil. He was signalling her not to trust Raksheet. Ahil have already informed Ira about Raksheet's tactics. He will act all sweet and tell her to put her sword down. And when she will do as he said, he will attack on her. Ahil know about it because he has experienced it when his brother used to train him.
Raksheet followed Ira's gaze and found Ahil signalling her somthing. Ahil quickly became normal and looked away.
He understood what they are thinking and laughed. He then turned to Ira who was still pointing her sword at him "Don't worry, i will not do anything. The match is over. You won, i lose."
Ira wasn't sure whether the match is over or not. It started when Raksheet attacked on her without informing her then how it can end like this? Simply?
"R-Really?" She asked, hoping Raksheet to end the match for real.
"Yes!" Raksheet replied, showing Ira his empty hand to ensure that he will not harm her.
She looked at his both hands and slowly put down the sword but she didn't put it away. She didn't wanted to give Raksheet any opportunity to show that how dumb she is to trust him, Her current opponent.
He sighed softly to see his wife still grabbing her sword tightly.
Ahil must have provoked her against Raksheet that she don't want to trust her own husband.
Raksheet looked at Ahil with a smile and spoke "You trained her very well. I am impressed!"
Ahil smiled widely after hearing his brother praising him. It's rare for Ahil to get praised by Raksheet. But whenever Raksheet praise him, Ahil feels that he is worth it. He is worth to do more challenging things and hear more praises from his brother.
"Thank you brother!" Ahil held his own hands tightly, he tried to control his smile while looking down but he can't hide his happiness. Finally, his hardwork on Ira payed off. She won the match and proved that Ahil is indeed a good teacher and warrior which means he can be a good commander for Jwalana's army.