Suddenly the pain stopped. He stared at his middle as he slowly lifted his hand away. There was no blood. He pulled up his shirt, there was not even a scratch on him. He looked up at Kao who had stepped back.

She met his gaze and started to pout. “What? Did you think I would hurt you? “

“I felt the sword…” Orn began searching for words before his mind caught up. Wait! “That did hurt!”

“If you can complain, you are fine.” She cut him off, shrugging. With a gesture her sword tunred turned into smoke before reforming in her hand. “It is not real, so it will not kill you.”

“It definitely hurt though.” Orn muttered slowly getting back to his feet.

She smiled evilly, “That is the point.” She poked the sword in his direction, and he quickly stepped back to keep out of reach. “See, you already are learning to keep away from it.”

“I thought you were going to show me the way to use the weapons or tell me how to train.” Orn shot back, “I did not think you were going to hurt me.”

“You have not stopped training since your mother permitted it. If you cannot pace and take care of yourself, why should I?” Kao asked idly poking the blade into a tuft of grass near him.

“So your solution is to torture me?!” Orn could feel the dread building.

“Of course not. I am just going to teach you to take care of yourself.” She scoffed dismissing his complaint.

“Also, only you can hear or see me. Probably best not to yell.” She winked at him before glancing back at the house, “Unless you want everyone to think you are crazy. “

Orn shuddered and glanced at the house. He relaxed when he realized they were alone.

She rolled her wrist twirling the short blade. “Done with your break?”

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Orn looked at the blade in her hand, and swallowed. “No?”

“Then this will be quick.” An evil grin spread across her face, and she advanced on him.

From there things became a blur of Orn franticly dodging one attack after another. Or at least that was his intent. In the end he felt he was only delaying the inevitable. Again and again, he managed to avoid death by a hair’s breadth.

That unfortunately did not mean he went unscathed. Rather than a mortal wound, he got to feel no end of less serious injuries.

He was wheezing when he heard a familiar voice. “Lunch will be ready in an hour.” Olivia gave her usual reminder from the doorway. She looked him up and down from the door. Then apparently deciding he was fine she disappeared back inside.

“I guess it is time.” Kao said stepping back.

Seeing her withdraw, Orn abandoned his attempt to keep up his defense. His hands dropped to his knees, and he struggled to catch his breath.

“Alright! Time for something different.”

Orn lifted his head slowly to see Kao, rocking on her heels with her hands behind her back.

“In the time left, I will not attack so just come at me.” then with an evil smile, “Unless you want me to continue….”

Orn tightened his grip on his sword and lunged forward. Kao side stepped him easily, not even using her sword to guard.

She continued to dance around him quickly getting behind him to correct his posture or comment on something he was doing wrong. Less than hour later Orn was lying flat on his back in the grass, exhausted.

“You probably do not realize it, but in the time we were sparing you have improved, if only slightly.” She smiled down at him her hands resting on her knees, “Rather impressive considering that only a handful of weeks ago you could barely open a door.”

Orn did not feel like he had improved. All he managed was to scramble desperately to avoid getting hit. Then when he attacked, he was casually brushed off. “You were… dancing around…” he panted back.

“I know, but you are improving. I could teach you like you originally suggested, but you would not show nearly this much improvement. You also do not know how to pace yourself, so from now on I will be taking point,” she idly tapped her finger against where she first stabbed him, “as it were of your training.”

Orn stared up at her. Some part of him knew she was right. The threats of the other goddess echoing in his head, Orn had pushed himself every day. Even he realized he was pushing too hard. “How are you going to pace me and still do this? I have never been this tired.”

She looked offended, “Are you questioning your goddess?”

Is she pretending to be offended? Her eyes bored into him as he debated his response. Finally giving in, Orn shook his head. This is going to hurt…

“Until tomorrow then.” She smiled, saluting him with her blade as she disappeared.

A lot…