"Hold your sword higher, and move your left foot more to the side, or you won't be able to react quick enough!", shouted Morell whilst covering Bao in relentless attacks with his wooden sword.

Bao could barely block the first three strikes before his movements slowed down and he received several bruises as a reminder of his training.

"What's up with you? Recently you don't seem present during our sparring time; is something bothering you?"

"Maybe he's just exhausted, after all, you've been hammering him with that stick every day since we've departed a week ago," shouted one of Elincia's guards who sat on a small flat rock as a spectator.

"No that's not it. I'm just... just." He shook his head. Aika's and Ning's sad faces had been printed deep into his memory, which is why he tried to escape his thoughts inside Nelenia, but apparently without much success. "Never mind, maybe it's just the stress of travelling." He picked up the wooden sword which he let go after being struck on his hand. "One more time if you would be so kind Morell."

"As you wish, but don't come crying to me afterwards."

Both of them got ready in their stances, the tips of their swords pointed toward each other.

"Your posture has improved a lot! Simple and yet efficient with not too many gaps in the defence. Now, let's take it to practical use." A wide grin took over Morell's face as he dashed forward, his sword dragged alongside him.

Bao jumped to the side as the sword chipped off a strand of hair. He didn't even come to counterattack as Morell already swung the sword in his direction again. It took him both hands to block it and even with that, it had enough force to push him to the side, leaving a mark on the earth. With a kick, he tried to win some distance but Morell simply caught the leg with his free arm making Bao lose his balance but before falling down he let go of his sword, jumped up and grabbed onto Morell's neck, taking him down to the ground altogether. They rolled around in the dirt while Bao tried to wrap his legs around the adventurer's massive body to take back the overhand but without any signs of effort or struggle Morell could break free from his grip, pin him down to the ground and lay a dagger on his throat.

"That was a good reaction, but you should keep an eye on the characteristics of your opponent. For example, it's obvious for everyone here, that I have a much greater physical power than you and yet you decided to drag me into a fight of strength without swords; not a very wise choice." Morell reached out his arm to pull Bao back on his feet.

"You're right, but at the time I didn't have any other choice after you grabbed my leg," pouted Bao.

"There are always other choices or possibilities to take, you just didn't notice them. You see, many think that fighting is all about brute force and maybe about technique but it's also about wits. Use your brain to survive every challenge in your path to victory."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I shouldn't use excuses, right? Okay, one more time."

"No," Morell shook his head. "We should go and help the others set up the camp, after all the sun is going down soon."

Bao was so caught up in his sparring, that he didn't even notice that the sky had become orange as it darkened further.

"Good that you mention it, we still need someone who helps us with putting up the last tent and someone who goes to collect firewood." One of the guards who watched the fight came running towards them.

"Then I'll go colle..."

"I and David will go and collect some firewood for you." Elincia interrupted Morell.

"Miss, that's dangerous we can't let you go into the woods by yourself without any guards!" The young man panicked and looked around in hoping to find some support.

"Who said I wouldn't bring a guard with me, I have David on my side after all." She put her hand on his shoulder and a fragrant scent of herbs reached his nose.

"But he is..." Elincias eyebrows sank down, pointing to her nose. Just her stare was enough to interrupt his sentence. "I beg for pardon miss, I'll go and help the others with the tent now if you would excuse me." With the head down the guard rushed to the others.

"You were too harsh on him Elincia, besides he was right, what if we get attacked, then it would be up to me to protect you."

"Does that mean that you won't protect me?"

"No, that's not it," he shook his head. "If necessary I would protect you with my life but I don't have the strength to do so."

"Then everything will work out fine." She had already stepped into the thick forest.

"How can you say that?" Bao hurried to not lose sight of her.

"With enough training, strength can be acquired by everyone, however, your heart, your character, from those comes your real power and that can't be changed as easily as strength. Your will is what gives the sword its sharpness, not your muscles. In short, I trust your powerful will and your good-natured heart, not the size of your arms or the quickness of your blade." She picked up some sticks and stacked them in her arms.

"Trust huh." Mumbled Bao, which Elincia didn't even seem to have noticed.

"Even though this wasn't the reason why I wanted to be alone with you." The chirping of the birds filled a short pause. "You know that Morell was right. Something is burdening you, it rests heavily on your shoulders and even though it might not be visible everyone can clearly see it... If you want, I can lend you an ear for your worries."

Bao healed his march and stared into the deep forest in her eyes as seconds passed without an answer from his side.

"Do you have someone that you spent your whole life with since the day you've been born?", asked Bao, interrupting the awkward silence.

"Yes... yes, I have someone like that."

"Good. What would you do if that person betrayed you and the trust you have given to them? You start wondering if it was all a lie, the time spent together, the adventures lived and if it will ever happen again someday. And on top of that, he even refused to tell me the whole truth after I found out about his betrayal! How could I call someone like that my childhood friend?"

"I would ask myself if that person is really cable to do something like that, or if the intention lying behind those actions may be good. Can you with a clean conscience claim that you never did such a thing?" She waited for a brief moment and Bao turned his eyes to the ground. "Elves, Humans, Dwarves and all the other races, we all make mistakes there is no exception in the world, you should learn to forgive those faults because one day the one who is at fault will be you, and you'll wish that the other person might forgive you, especi..."

They both hid behind a big tree as soon as they heard the cracking of a stick in the undergrowth.