'The breeze is so nice,' the cold wind brushes my face gently, and the fresh air climbing into my nose.
"Kroven, come on, we have to begin, or Ms Lena will be upset at us too," Aston said, trying to be quiet.
"Yes, sorry, I was just preparing," I replied, taking one last deep breath
'Ya, since I'm the only one who ends up suffering if I mess up,'
My legs fall into an offensive stance, the jian in my hand feeling just right, my hands hot and sweaty from the leather fabric of the hilt. In front of me, my opponent sat in a more petite frame, her brown hair in double buns, her katana in a defensive position. To my right, three familiar faces sat, and one stood over them after the whole fight between nesto and Norm.
Ms Lena decided the best punishment was for neither of them to be allowed to use or participate in any lathium activities for a few days. Selina was only with them, so they wouldn't fight while Ms. Lena observed the rest of the students, though she herself saw it more as punishment than anything.
"BEGIN," Ms Lena yelled.
I shot forward with my jian, intending to stab right through her jugular. I was mere inches away, then she disappeared. Appearing from above, I immediately twisted my body to block her katana in a downwards slash, barely blocking in time. I jumped back, her hazel eyes glaring at me.
She planted her foot firmly on the ground, flames appeared below her feet, the ground shot up with fire as if a wild animal was running towards me, 'dammit, I can't let her use her affinity.' I looked for an opening,
"perfect,"
Then threw my jian at her. Her affinity stopped, and she caught the sword, but it was too late; my dagger was only inches away from Aston's throat.
"You bastard," she muttered.
"Enough," Ms Lena yelled.
My hand lowered, and I put the dagger back in my belt strap. And Aston handed me my jian. We shook hands and walked back to the rest of the group. "Between Kroven and Astons' sparring match, Kroven is the winner. Does anyone know why" Selina raised her hand
"Selina," Ms Lena pointed at her.
Aston got too cocky, and that's what Kroven was waiting for. Then he crushed her." Selina looked at me with astonishment
'That isn't exactly what I was doing, but close enough.' A smirk on my face, "psh." Aston's eyes piercing through me. "Yeah, whatever, you got lucky, all you did was pull a dirty trick." She stomped away
"Jeez, sore loser," Nesto said with a smile on his face.
"Quiet, nesto," Ms Lena snapped.
"Sorry," he said.
I sighed. "So, who am I up against next, Ms Lena?"
"Daleon, you're up next." A tall, light-skinned man ran over.
'Daleon, I wasn't hoping to fight someone with wind affinity this early in shit. Oh yeah, he's the only other person here since they had to get into trouble. looking over at the other three on the ground
"Pick your weapon of choice," Ms Lena said, pointing at all the weapons sitting on the weapons rack.
I took a gander, looked, and picked the beautiful cutlass, but I chose this cutlass for more than just its appearance. The short sword will make it easier to make faster movements, allow me to get in closer if needed, and buy me time, too.
Daleon, on the other hand, picked a long glaive,
'interesting.'
"Are you both ready?" Ms Lena asked,
"Yes," we both said in sync, "
"Alright, get in position and ready your stances," Ms Lena replied.
Daleon and I walked to the open field of grass, the church in the distance, and the sweltering sun beating down.
I looked up and took a deep breath. 'I'll destroy him,'
I look back down and entered into a defensive position.
Daleon fell into an offensive position. "I WON'T GO EASY, KROVEN," Daleon yelled across the field.
"I'LL GIVE THE SAME COURTESY," I yelled back.
My hands gripped the cutlass, feeling perfect yet again.
"BEGIN," Ms Lena yelled.
Norm sighed, "He's gonna be destroyed."
"Why's that?" Selina said curiously,
"Although I hate to admit it, Daleon is faster than I am."
"No way," Selina said in shock.
'Why hasn't he moved?' Sweat drips down my face from the heat, 'damn, it's so hot.' A sweat bead dripped down my forehead and landed on my eyelash, making me blink.
My eyelids flicked back up. Daleon was no longer standing there, my heart starting to pound, '
'shit, where did he go, where WHERE'
"I'm here, Kroven," Daleon said, his voice making my blood rush,
My cutlass sliced through the air behind me, "I SAID I WASN'T GONNA HOLD BACK"
Daleon was now a few dozen feet away. 'SHIT, his speed is incredible'
He appeared in front of me, "It's over." his hand slammed into my throat. I couldn't breathe. I fell to the ground, coughing
"Enough," Ms Lena yelled, rushing towards Kroven
"See, I told you," Norm said, still shocked himself. "
He's so fast there was no way he could beat him, especially with no lathium." Selina said,
"I don't think he could even with it." Nesto, countering, also shocked and worried.
Finally being able to breathe again, Ms Lena decided that I would sit out for the rest of practice, my eyes glancing to Daleon, 'Screw that bastard.'
"Do you think he could beat you, Norm?" Nesto said provocatively,
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Norm replied
"Alright, everyone, we're gonna head back to the church, Daleon and Aston as the first out, and the winner, you guys will bring back the weapons and the weapon rack."
Ms Lena calm and stern
"Yes Ms Lena" Both replied in sync.
After returning to the church, I decided to wash up, as I was definitely the most exhausted by far.
After I was done, I decided to go up to the belfry. As I reached the top of the ladder, I could hear the light breathing of someone who sounded like they were sleeping as I peered my head over the floor
'Great, she's here'
lying against the wall of the belfry. Vira her long black hair covering her entire face. Already here, I decided to continue into the belfry. As my feet touched the floor, she stirred awake, her black hair split apart, revealing her dark green eyes and white porcelain skin. "
Who's there?" her voice soft and elegant,
"Kroven," I reply, continuing my path to the open shutters.
"Oh, I forgot you come up here yourself as well," She said, tilting her head and bringing her knees up to her chest.
"Only when I can be alone," I replied, staring out at the wheat field, the sun slowly vanishing in the distance, the orange and blue sky almost remaining by itself.
She chuckled lightly and smiled, "I see so you've lost at practice again."
I looked at her, flustered, and then back at the field. "How would you know it's not like you come to practice anymore, Vira?"
"Well, you somehow always appear here after a bad loss, and you know I don't participate because it's against my morals."She said while standing up,
"So your morals are you sitting up here sleeping?" I chuckled,
Vira's face turning bright red, "N-NO I was only up here sleeping because I was trying to meditate and then I got too comfortable." She pleaded,
"Sure, I mean I wouldn't know much about it since I can't use lathium," I said, my eyes closed, enjoying the gentle climbing breeze on my face,
"O-oh, yes, I forgot. Well, ima ahead down now, Kroven. Don't forget that Ms Lena wants us to go into the village to pick up some items with Sister Allison," she said, looking away
"Yes, I know. See you at dinner ,Vira."
"You too, Kroven," she replied, heading down the ladder
'Was there any way I could have beaten Daleon? His speed is unlike anything I have ever seen Dammit, he just appeared in front of me, he was looking down on me, I was nothing but a mere ant in his eyes, why can't I produce lathium, I would be able to destory people like him and norm without even trying if I just had one of the four affintys this is such bullshit'
My face contorted with frustration, then sadness, as tears fell; I was truly useless, a failure.