It's been one hour and I am running continuously! What the heck is he thinking?!
Leahlya took her thirtieth lap. Running in circles was making her dizzy. Also, Luke was not showing any mercy. Whenever she tried to stop, he would shout and order her to continue running.
"H-h-how... m-m-much... longer?! I-I... can't... n-not a-anymore..." panted Leahlya.
My new body lacked everything that my previous body had. Ah! I don't want to admit but Father is kind of right.
"Okay. Stop!" yelled Luke.
Hearing his words, Leahlya stopped running and let herself crash on the ground. She was breathing crazily as if trying to suck all the oxygen from the planet. After some minutes, she finally got her breath back, and moved to a sitting position on the ground.
"It's over, right? For today, that is? I have to warn you that I can't run any more. My legs are crying in pain, and trust me they are cursing the living hell out of you."
Luke smiled at her. It was obvious that it was a fake smile. He said, "How grateful of your legs to curse me! Although, I don't care what your legs think. In fact, I am more than happy to see them cry when you run another round... hmmm, let's say... now."
Leahlya paled at his words. She never thought that Luke was so vengeful.
"It has been two years! Everyone must have forgotten about it already! When will you let go?!" whined Leahlya.
Luke's eyes turned cold and crouched beside her. With a voice that could even freeze a volcano, he snarled, "Do you think I will forget that?! You, of all people should know! That day, you ruined my reputation! Everyone laughed at me! My fellow knights looked at me like I am scourge on this planet! And you say that I should let it go, hmmm? No. I will not. Trust me, when I say this... Leahlya Argaentine... the only reason I haven't done anything to you is because... you are a woman."
Leahlya scoffed, "Maybe so. Thank you, for your 'mercy.' I have never been grateful to my gender. Oh almighty! Thank you so much for making me a woman! Because of you... 'Teacher Luke' is showing me 'mercy.' Here, are you happy now? Or do you want something else?"
Suddenly, Luke took out his sword from his sheath, making her eyes go as wide as saucers.
Leahlya immediately scrambled away from Luke. She yelled, "What the fuck are you doing?! It could have cut me!!"
"You were almost seven feet away from the sword. Don't be overdramatic. Here, come on and hold this sword," snorted Luke.
Shaking her head, Leahlya stood up and made some more distance between them. She refused, "No! I won't unless you tell me the reason!"
"Just hold it. You are learning to wield sword, aren't you? So, try to hold it," reasoned Luke.
Unsure, Leahlya started taking small steps towards Luke and his sword. When she reached, he gave her a look and said, "Go on."
Her hesitant arm shot up and grabbed the sword. As soon as she grabbed the sword, Luke released it, making Leahlya fell down on the ground along with the sword.
Unable to process what happened, Leahlya sat on the ground dazed for a few seconds, before a voice inside her brain nagged her to try lifting the sword or else, that bastard would make fun of her. With a renewed spirit, she tried to lift the sword. But it was in vain.
"Are you joking me?!" whispered Luke. His words were full of disbelief.
Leahlya yelled, "You are a fucking behemoth, aren't you?! How the hell is your sword so heavy?! I can't even lift it at all! I demand you to change the sword!"
Luke sighed and rubbed his face with his gloved hands. Tired, he said, "My sword is one of the lightest swords in the whole empire. If anyone here is at fault, then that's you. How can you not lift this sword. Even a boy of ten will be able to lift it up!"
"Thank you for making me feel good about myself by comparing me with a boy of ten! So grateful of you, really! You are making my day!"
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Victor laughed, "You are saying that she can't lift your sword! Hehe... hahaha... it's really funny! I wish that I was there to witness that with my very own eyes!"
Luke sweat dropped at Victor's words. Right now, he was anything but a concerned father. He was laughing madly at his daughter's expense.
"You are not worried?" asked Luke.
Victor stopped laughing and looked into Luke's eyes. He shook his head and replied, "Yes, I am worried. But at the same time, I am not. If she fails, she will just stay at home and carry on... with something else. What I have in my mind, differs from Lea's interest. I want my daughter to be safe. Nothing bad should be able to touch her. That's the only thing that I have in my mind."
Luke nodded slowly. Yet, he had a question in his mind. Not being able to contain it, he asked it. "How long do you think you can shield her? One day, she has to fight her own demons. You know that, don't you?"
His words made Victor to pause all his movements. Even his breath hitched for a moment. He could understand what Luke was saying, yet he didn't know how to answer it. All his life, he had done nothing but to protect his daughter... and suddenly, someone expected him to stop doing that. No, he couldn't stop now... or ever.
Seeing him not answering his question, Luke nodded in understanding. Victor loved his daughter dearly. Everyone in the empire knew that for a fact. But he also knew something was going to change. Leahlya, his dearest daughter, was spreading her wings to leave the 'protected' nest that her father had created for her.
"You have to stop protecting her one day. Immortality is not an option for mortals. You have to make her strong for this world, even after you die. Mull over it," advised Luke.