-CHAPTER 17-

“That’s it!” Adir shouted, “When the time comes that the enemy’s guard is down, you have to fully commit!”

I steadied my stance, and took another swing at the training dummy. “You’re using your wrists and elbows too much.” Adir said, approaching me. “If you want any power in your slashes, then put your shoulders in the mix.” Adir moved my shoulders as to demonstrate his point.

“I understand.” Adir took a step back, and I took another, heavier swing.

I felt the blade cut through the rough skin of the dummy, and reach the tough core. It was satisfying, and I felt as though I was making progress.

“Good!” Adir shouted. “Soon you’ll have that thing torn to shreds! But for now, let’s take a break.”

I relaxed my heavy breathing, and retreated back to the inside of Adir’s shop. Keshet and Naomi followed, since they had been watching me next to Adir.

Once in the shop, we sat at the small table and bench, situated next to a window. I gazed out at the training area.

The long green grass was cut short in a rectangular shape, evoking a, “hedge maze,” like feeling. Inside the short grass area was training equipment, and a deck chair for Adir to shout at me from. The area invoked a very homely feeling, since everything in it was made from scratch on short notice.

In the center was where I stood and swung at the training dummy. He was constructed with an assortment of meats on the inside, wrapped in a layer of pig’s skin. This simulated the feeling of a real cut fairly well, and it didn’t fall apart after only a few swings. The poor dummy stood with only a wooden stake, making him susceptible to falling down.

Keshet and Naomi sat down on the other side of the table, while Adir sat next to me. As he sat down, he said,

“Well, ye’re making progress. Whether that means much, I dunno. But, ye’re definitely goin’ ter need every second of practice at the end of this week.”

“Huh? What’s happening at the end of this week?” I asked, feeling confused.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Adir said, skimming over what seemed to be a slip of the tongue. “Anyways, when the break is over, I’d like you to do some more drills for an hour or so, and then you can go home.”

The word home only reminded me more of my newfound position. Now, I was nothing but a nomad, one without a home to return to.

I may have escaped my cage, but I had to leave my nest behind.

“Coolio.” I said casually, lacking the motivation or energy to remember formalities.

I closed my eyes, and let my cheeks absorb the sunlight.

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The Next Morning

“Faster!!” Adir shouted. “Move those legs!”

I drove my feet into the hard bricks, praying I wouldn’t hit the wrong spot and slip.

“Right here!” Keshet stood at the other side of the road, as a finish line. I rushed past him, struggling to slow down.

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“Not bad kid…” Adir mumbled, once he had walked over to Keshet and I. “8.25 seconds.” I was astonished, Adir had told me that he’d only ever seen people run a 9, or a 9.5 at this distance. Adir patted me on the back. “Well done. On the next one, I want you to drive at the start, and coast to the end.”

“Will do.” I answered, gasping for breath.

Adir had measured out about 75 meters in front of his shop, and was forcing me to sprint this distance repeatedly. He mentioned it was for explosive training, but I wasn’t really sure what that meant.

There was one thing I was sure of though, sprinting at top speed repeatedly sucked!

Having walked to the start line, I glared at Keshet.

“I just need to get myself there…” I thought to myself.

I took one more look up to Adir, and confirmed his stance. He held his stopwatch at the ready. I looked down, and formed myself into the right position.

Hunched over, I began to think of one thing. Speed.

Run. Run. Run fast.

“3, 2, 1, go!” Adir bellowed from the halfway point between the start and end.

Drive, drive, DRIVE!

I was a little over halfway done, and still looking down. When sprinting ultra short distances, one is supposed to stay hunched over for most of the race.

I shouted at my body,

“DRIVE! Move your legs, just run FASTER!”

Now, believe me when I say this was a genuine accident.

As I looked up, I saw a figure. I didn't have time to examine it, because it was arm’s length from me! I tried to put all my weight backwards, in an attempt to stop, and yet…

Clash.

I had run headfirst into the person. Now on top of the person, I lept to my feet, beginning to profusely apologize.

The adrenaline began to settle, and I saw my poor victim. (Maybe victim isn’t the right word… I didn’t do it on purpose, okay?)

A shaken up Naomi now clutched her head.

“Owww…” She ached. I felt horrible, and returned to apologizing.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m really, truly, sorry!”

“No, I should have been watching where I was walking…”

“No, really, it was my fault. I’m so sorry!”

Suddenly, Naomi recoiled with a face of shock.

“The– The– The food!”

“The food?” I asked, looking to the ground. Now spilt across the red brick, was various mixes of meals.

“The food I took so long to get… Now it’s ruined, and it’s my fault…”

At this point, it was clear that Naomi had made up her mind about who’s fault it was, so I gave up on apologizing and moved to stage two: comforting.

Without thinking, I reached out my bruised yet healing hand. I tapped Naomi’s head. She jumped a little. It took all of my courage, but I patted her head.

With rose colored cheeks, Naomi looked up to me. Her face irresistibly cute, I could feel her remorse melt away.

“What are you doing over there?” Adir called.

“Nothing!” The two of us responded in unison.

“I’ll– I’ll go get some more food…” Naomi said, standing up. “Good luck with your training!”

I smiled, and turned back to walk to Adir.