The town had grown unnaturally quiet that night. Even the wind seemed to hesitate as Frank and Leo moved through the alleyways, checking the paths they had planned for quick escapes and ambush points.
"This is it," Frank whispered. "Stay close, and remember everything we practiced."
They reached the marketplace, which had been emptied for the night. The crates and barrels they had studied earlier were now ready to be used as obstacles or cover. Leo clutched his stick tightly, his knuckles white.
Then the shadows moved.
Three figures emerged, hooded and silent, circling the square with the precision of predators. Frank's heart pounded—not from fear, but from anticipation. This was their first real test.
"Remember," Frank murmured, "calm, precise, together. One mistake, and it could be dangerous."
The first figure lunged at Leo. Leo reacted immediately, sidestepping and using the crates as cover, while Frank took the second figure head-on, sweeping his stick with careful aim. Each movement was synchronized; each strike planned.
But the hooded figures were clever. They tried to separate Frank and Leo, hoping to overwhelm the boy who had started standing alone. Frank countered quickly, pushing Leo back into position and trapping one attacker between barrels.
Leo swung his stick with newfound skill, knocking the second figure back into Frank's path. Together, they forced the remaining attacker to retreat into the shadows.
Breathing heavily, Frank lowered his stick. "Not bad for a first ambush. But we can't let this go unnoticed. Whoever is behind this… they are testing us. They're learning our patterns."
Leo nodded. "I felt it. They were watching us, trying to figure out what we'd do next."
Frank's eyes scanned the rooftops, where the shadows lingered. "Exactly. We've won the fight, but the war isn't over. The town is still in danger, and we've just made ourselves a target."
As they walked back toward the center of town, Frank realized something vital: this was more than training. It was experience. Each encounter sharpened their skills, built their confidence, and strengthened the bond between them.
And somewhere, in the darkness, the figure from the rooftops smiled—silent, patient, and certain that the next encounter would be far more dangerous.
"There he stands… but now, he moves."