The cigarette sizzled between my fingers as I closed the door behind me. My eyes wandered to the makeshift training field.
The cool breeze carried the scent of wet earth, and the sun, partially obscured by clouds, painted the sky with soft shades of gold. Just another typical autumn day.
I looked down at my boots, which was covered in mud and blood, but now were clean and polished on the shoe rack. I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Fuck, Gineviv... why do you have to make this so difficult?" I whispered.
My mind traced the image of her delicate hands, rubbing away every trace of blood and mud, polishing until the leather shone like new again. A level of care that I certainly didn't deserve.
I sat on the doorstep and put on my boots. Then I got up and headed for the field, smoking and holding the smoke in for too long, just to feel my chest burning... and the sweet taste blending with the pain.
"...you won't be happy, ever..."
When I reached the training field fence, I turned and leaned my back against it so I could look at the inn. I exhaled the smoke, watching it dissipate into the air. And Gineviv's voice was a distant echo in my mind.
"...they respect you very much..."
But I can't have that.
"...our family is happy..."
Not because of me. No one is happy around me.
At that moment, the presence of the three figures coming in my direction snapped me out of my daze. I just stubbed out my cigarette and walked toward them.
Lina was smiling, carrying a tray with four mugs and dodging as Zannen tried to steal the beer jug. Gineviv followed alongside them, her gentle smile intact, as if nothing had happened... as always.
"...you can't have that..."
I smiled back and took a mug when they arrived.
"Straight from the Garvnance Inn cellar? What an honor."
Zannen laughed sincerely. Lina rolled her eyes as she poured the beer.
I raised my mug, and the three followed suit.
"A toast, then. To sub-lieutenant Zannen. May the Great One grant you the strength to become a great warrior, just like your father... and your father's father."
Then everyone raised their mugs. The first sip was cold and bitter. Lina coughed a little.
Before she served us more, Zannen stepped forward, excited:
"Uncle, let's go! I want to train with you right away."
I smiled, finishing my beer in one gulp. I walked toward a covered area of the field, where there was a variety of training weapons: swords, broadswords, flails, maces, spears, clubs, and guan daos. Then I picked up a short sword, about the size of my gladius, and felt its weight to get used to it.
Then I wielded it and pointed it at Zannen.
"All right, kid. Let's see what kind of shit they are teaching in the army."
He drew his sword. The blue steel glinted in the sunlight. It was a gift from me when he joined the army.
He hesitated for a moment, but then raised his sword at me and pointed it at my waist:
"Why don't you use your other hand, Uncle? I think I'm strong enough to face you for real now."
I laughed out loud, swinging the sword in my hand.
"If you can hit me, I promise I'll use my right arm. Hahahaha!"
We took our positions. Gineviv and Lina sat under the shade of a tree near the entrance, watching.
Zannen's eyes sparkled with excitement. But beyond that, he wanted to prove something, to prove himself. But he was hesitating too much.
So just to provoke him a little, I pointed the sword at him and swung it.
"Are you going to wait for the sunset or are you going to attack?"
Then he gripped the hilt of his sword and advanced. He came fast, it was one of his most striking characteristics.
The first blow was a crosscut. Precise. Good.
But predictable.
I twisted my body at the last second, and the blade passed inches from my chest. Zannen quickly retreated and launched another side attack.
I took a step back, letting his sword cut only air.
"Your speed has improved," I commented, dodging another blow.
He advanced again, with more aggressive movements and much more determined blows. But I continued to retreat and dodge with minimal effort.
Zannen gritted his teeth. Each blow was loaded with an insatiable thirst to prove himself, because whenever a blow missed its target or was parried, he looked at me as if waiting for something.
I could only smile.
The boy was sharp, but he still had a lot to learn.
Then, in a lunge that I once again dodged, came an arc-shaped blow from top to bottom, which I blocked with my sword raised with one hand. The impact reverberated across the field like muffled thunder. We stood face to face.
"What about my strength?" Zannen retorted, gritting his teeth as he forced my sword down.
He was very strong for a 23-year-old brat.
With a slight upward thrust, he was thrown back, losing his balance slightly and almost falling to the ground, but he managed to recover.
His eyes twisted in frustration. Hesitation dripped from his next strike before he even delivered it.
"See? You think too much before you attack." I spun my sword and ran toward him, striking at his flank, which was blocked at the last minute with the tip of his sword. "On the battlefield, that split second kills you."
He gritted his teeth and tried to land a kick, which I parried with my hand and pushed him back. However, he managed to brace his sword on the ground and regain his balance, charging back, trying to pick up the pace. Stabs, quick cuts, feints. The boy was trying everything.
And I kept dodging.
"You're doing great, kid!" I teased, a lazy smile on my face. "But is that all you've got?"
His expression changed, then I saw his eyes flash, and his body glowed slightly. He was filling his body with magic.
Then his speed increased even more, moving so fast that he looked like a blur. He slid to the side, feigned a low attack, and at the last moment, twisted his wrist to strike from the side.
Very clever.
I raised my arm and blocked the blow with the side of my sword.
He took advantage of the impact and kicked me in the side, which I quickly blocked with my arm, but the impact caused me to retreat a few meters.
Some applause was heard.
Apparently Lina and Gineviv were enjoying the training session.
However, before he could react, I ran towards him and landed a precise kick to his chest.
The boy was thrown back, falling to his knees.
"Damn..." He gasped, holding his sword.
Behind him, Gineviv sighed. Lina covered her mouth to hold back her laughter.
"You're quick, great use of strengthening magic," I commented, walking up to him.
Zannen raised his head, still panting.
"So... are you going to use your other hand now?"
I tossed the sword from one hand to the other, pretending to think about it.
"Nah... you still have a long way to go, kid. And you could start by focusing on the fight, not the things around you."