Huff-
Kai swung down her sword and watched it as the impact from the blow destroyed the straw dummy, with bits of fluff and straw falling onto the ground.
"Correct your stance, close your eyes, and control your breathing Kai." A stern voice sliced through the silence, accompanied by the sound of the tip of a metal sword being sunken into the ground.
Kai eyed the man beside her carefully, her teacher was an… unpredictable man, situations where she should be praised ended with her receiving a slap on the face or worse, but on the other hand, he didn't seem to care much when she failed a mission or acted out when sparring against the other cadets.
"Pick up your sword Kai."
She ignored him in favour of picking up the dummys' head and placing it on the torso for it to auto-regenerate. Funny how they don't have a way to make magic swords but can make auto regenerating dolls.
A kick landed solidly on her stomach, causing her to grit her teeth in pain as she was flung on her side. That motherfuck-
She glared at her teacher as she stood up, her sword still sheathed, defying his orders.
Cold grey eyes met her own, "Pick up your sword, Kai D'silva."
She flinched, before finally snapping and drew her sword, pointing the silver tip towards her teacher, a challenge. "My name is Kai Gremory, Kenshin." She spat out the last name with spite that she didn't even bother to hide.
How will you react now that I directly challenged you? Kai thought, while she hated this man with all her might, she can't deny that his lessons with her are good experience as well as rewarding.
Chuckling.
Kai could only stare in disbelief as her mentor bursted out laughing, bellowing out a chuckle that bears no warmth, How monstrous of you.
"Very well, Kai Gremory." He grinned, raising his sword to touch the tip with her own, a dangerous fire dancing in his eyes. "But in return, you will have to address me properly, after all, that is the only right way for a student to refer to their teacher."
A test?Kai smirked, I'm so gonna make you regret making me refer to you by 'correct title' Kenshin.
Giving a bow in mock sarcasm, Kai looked at her teacher straight in the eyes and spoke in a clear, confident voice.
"I challenge you to a duel, Kenshin D'silva."
His eyes narrowed, his former grin disappearing as he pressed his lips in a thin line, "I accept"
Kai had barely registered the words before he slashed down, hard,cutting the air and stopped by kais' sword mere inches before it split open her head.
Fast as always. Kai grinned. Let's see if I can finally beat you.
"You blocked the first blow, now block the second." Kenshin frowned, sheathing his sword.
What is he-
Kai stepped back the moment his fist reached the air where her torso used to be, his punch so powerful she felt the air push her backwards. Holy shit-
Her reflex took over her body, making her stepside the next attack seconds before it would have hit her. Followed by a leg sweep which she dodged by jumping high.
"Why aren't you attacking, Kai." Kenshin asked calmly. Bloody monster."Enough defence, attack me."
Kai shakily grinned, hiding the fact that my stamina is running low, I'll have to finish this fast before he hits me.
That was the thing about her teacher, his attacks were always as hard as the first attack.
A bloody nightmare to dodge and a hell to fight back against. Kai noted, though she always knew this information ever since she was taught fighting. But with such a strong opponent-
She grinned, throwing down her sword on the side, making Kenshin widen his eyes in surprise before he scowled, "Looking down on me?"
Kai dodged another attack before replying with a demonic grin, My nickname ain't 'Demon wolf' for no reason.
"Of course not, Kenshin."
Her first blow collided with her teachers' in a Boom.
Kenshin immediately stopped his advance and stepped back from Kai, his pupils dilating as he processed what he saw. "It- It can't be-"
"It can't be what, Kenshin." Kai grinned, her fist encased in a greyish blue hue of light. Aura, my trump card. Kai really hoped her teacher couldn't see through her facade, a bead of sweat sliding down her temple as she strained to keep her fist encased in aura. I can only keep this up for two minutes, max, shit.
Kenshin got over his initial bewilderment, furrowing his brows as he leaped to continue the fight, his fist now colliding with Kais' and holy shit it hurts.
Aura is a type of Qi, a strange,thin, smoke like substance that everyone has, as it is also called 'Life essence'. But for a person to achieve aura, mana, or sword qi, usually takes more than 10 years of training for even the best of warriors. So the fact that Kai has achieved this power at the young age of 15 can only be explained as-
"What a prodigy you are, Kai."
Kenshin continued to punch at Kai, his fist now starting to bleed from the impact, as Kais' aura barrier surrounding her fists slowly but surely started to crack. "But you don't have enough training and Qi to keep this up." Shit, he saw through-
"I suggest you pick up the pace if you truly want to have a chance at winning against me, Kai D'silva."
Crunch!
A nasty crunch sound echoed through the courtyard. Both of the fighters standing still as their laboured breathing huffed and puffed through the silence that followed afterward. Kenshin finally stepped back after being locked in a staring contest with Kai, rubbing his arms and waving for a cadet to come over.
"Call for a medic."
Horrified by what was standing in front of him, the cadet still stood tall and tried not to grimace. "Will calling Lady Star suffice, Sir?"
"That works too, go."
"Yes sir!" The gadget hurriedly ran away, notifying other cadets to find Star.
Kenshin finally looked at Kai with a sad look on his stone cold features, holding out his hand as-
Kai collapsed sideways, finally unlocking herself from being stuck in the punching stance. Her eyes rolled upwards as blood gushed from both her mouth and broken fist.
Kenshin collected Kai in his arms, calmly walking to the shaded area of the training courtyard as he gently placed her in a wooden bench. Then he picked up her sword and placed it back in her sheath.
Brushing his fingers over her forehead to brush away the stray strands of hair that has made their way there, Kenshin sighed.
"What a strong girl she is, you'll have to grow up fast," He smiled softly.
"My daughter."