“After we leave this place, how much longer till we get to where we need to go?” Tsugi pushed off the saddle to stretch his sore legs from riding.
“About another two days ‘till we reach our final destination. Once we get there, that’s where the mission ends.”
“So what will happen after we complete the mission then?”
“Enjoy life until more missions arrive, but no worries, missions usually come pretty often. There’s usually almost something requested once we get back.” A sinister smile appeared on his face. “It’s usually the more fun specialty missions that I enjoy the most.”
Tsugi started to get more intrigued and curious as to what kind of missions got Yamo so excited and worked up about. The energy radiating from Yamo was so intoxicating, that even Tsugi felt overwhelmingly excited with impatience to get there as soon as possible.
“Let’s take a break.” Yamo pulled his horse over to the side of the road and unsaddled his horse. He went into the woods and picked up two long sturdy sticks before returning. “Enron.”
“Yes?” Tsugi finished watering his horse and went to meet Yamo in the clearing.
Yamo handed him one of the sticks and took a few steps back. “You look like you know how to handle a weapon. Let’s see what you got.” He gave a prideful smirk to Tsugi and lifted his stick.
Tsugi glanced between the stick and Yamo hesitantly, unsure if he should use his full power or not. “Uh, I’m not sure…”
“Don’t worry. I know you don’t have any memories, so that’s why we are testing to see how much your body remembers. You seem to be able to move very well with the chains, I’m just testing what else you are good at.”
‘Is he suspicious of me, or is he really just curious?’ Tsugi glanced at Volgan, who was leaning against the carriage, munching on some jerky, and observing them curiously.
“We’re just sparring. Don’t worry, I won’t use my full strength, but I expect you not to hold back.” The way those last words came out sent a chill up Tsugi’s spine. It reminded him of his father, sending flashes of fear coursing through him.
‘Will he hurt me like my father if I don’t use my full strength? He doesn’t know my full strength anyways, so I can just start small first…right? Father has always said to never show your full hand upfront.’
Still not fully trusting anyone yet, he listened to his fathers words ringing in his ears. ~“Don’t fail.”
Only using half of his strength, he swung the stick spinning through the air and throwing in a few kicks and punches here and there. Yamo dodged him and swiftly smacked him on top of his head with the stick, stepping off to the side. Tsugi quickly raised his arms to the top of his head and crouched to the ground hissing in pain from the stinging sensation.
“Ow…” He rubbed the top of his head and winced, looking back at Yamo’s playful smile. Tsugi’s pride was a little hurt and he upped his strength a little more, charging at Yamo who parried his strikes as easily as breathing. Yamo smacked Tsugi’s dominant arm, causing him to drop his stick. Tsugi took a step back and rubbed the stinging sensation away.
Yamo placed his foot under Tsugi’s stick and flung it back to Tsugi, slow enough for him to be able to catch it. “I know you can do better than that.”
Once again, Tsugi upped his strength a little more, but he got smacked on his back; again on his head; and legs. Tsugi’s pride was now very hurt, he pushed to ninety percent. His father’s voice, still ringing in his ear, louder than before, preventing him from using his full strength.
His speed and ferocity picked up and brought back that malevolent look in Yamo’s eyes and sinister grin. “Much better!” Yamo blocked and dodged Tsugi’s merciless attacks. Yamo smacked Tsugi’s arm, causing him to drop the stick; tripped his foot making him go off balance; smacked his back causing him to fall to the ground; and smacked him right on the buttocks, leaving a stinging sensation that Tsugi was sure left a red line across them.
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“The energy was much better by the end there, but your swings were too erratic and not controlled enough.” He swung the stick through the air, making fast swiping sounds before tucking it behind his arm. He held out an open hand to Tsugi.
Tsugi clenched his teeth from the frustration of his injured pride, and felt his face burn up from the shameful performance. He took Yamo’s hand and stood up. Hanging his head, he shamefully walked back to the horses.
“Don’t be so disappointed.” Yamo picked up Tsugi’s stick off the ground.
‘That’s easy for you to say. You weren’t the one who got beaten horribly.’ He thought quietly to himself.
“That’s why we are doing this. So I can see where you are and know where to start your training.” Tsugi didn’t say a word and just dragged his feet as he walked away. Yamo quickly walked in front of him and knelt down to meet him at eye level, lifting Tsugi’s chin with a finger to look him in the eye. “Tell me…you were holding back weren’t you? Only when I hurt your ego enough, did you push yourself to show me anywhere near your true capabilities. I told you, I have a good eye, and the way I’ve seen you so far, I know you’ve got more surprises up your sleeve.”
Tsugi slowly pulled himself away and walked around Yamo to saddle Midnight.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Volgan leaned against the carriage with his arms crossed, slowly shaking his head as Yamo approached. “First father and son fight huh?”
“Ah…he’s still young, he’ll get over it.” Yamo wistfully smiled and strapped the saddle on his horse.
“I don’t know about that. His ego seems to have been hurt pretty badly. I think you could’ve done without that butt smack.” Volgan pushed off the carriage and climbed into the driver seat wielding the reins. “You might want to apologize, Yamo.” He jutted his chin toward Tsugi who had already mounted Midnight and started down the road already.
Yamo glanced behind him and sighed sadly before mounting his horse. He scratched his head and slowly followed behind Tsugi.
Tsugi’s mind was swimming with thoughts: ‘Am I really that weak? Or is it my father who is actually weak? I actually fought him and was able to land a kick once. There was no way father would’ve gone easy on me. Does that mean that Yamo is just that strong? How would I ever complete this mission, if I can’t even do something as easy as sparring?’ He just trudged along quietly, lost in thought and wallowing in self pity.
Yamo tried thinking of what to say, and would open his mouth but just closed it again like a fish out of water. After much hesitation he sighed loudly and rode up next to Tsugi. “Hey bud, are you okay? I’m sorry if I-”
“I’m okay.” Tsugi pressed his lips into a thin line. “I just didn’t realize how weak I was, until I fought you.”
“It’s okay. You are actually pretty strong for your age and size, you just lack the skills. You have the strength and willpower though. I needed to see where exactly you stand, so I know where to start. At least now we know we don’t have to worry too much about your strength and will power, we just need to teach you the proper skills now.”
“I thought I was pretty strong, but it seems I was wrong.” He mutters quietly.
“Hey, did you listen to anything I just said?” Yamo chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. “Strength and skill are very different. You definitely have the strength, we just need to teach you the skill. Besides, I’ve been doing this way before you were even born. If I get beaten by a child, what would that say to my abilities? Stop thinking so negatively, we will work on your skills. You still have the rest of your life to become stronger, kid.” Even with Yamo’s comforting words, Tsugi couldn’t help but feel like all these years of torture were for naught.
The rest of the trip through elven territory was long and quiet, with an awkwardly thick atmosphere. They only listened to the sound of the horses' clopping hooves and rattling carriage.
Two elven warriors stood by the exit and drew their bright silver swords when the carriage approached. Another elf appeared from behind the tree with a wagon full of the previously confiscated weapons. The elves backed away cautiously, with their swords still drawn. Tsugi, Yamo and Volgan, all dismounted and headed to retrieve their weapons from the wagon.
Thunderous sounds of fast approaching horse hooves came up the trail behind them.
“Seize them!”
Twenty elves dropped from the trees and placed their swords around each of the mens’ necks, to include little Tsugi. They flung the carriage door open and commanded all the women out, also holding them at sword point. There were still ten Elves in the trees, aiming their drawn bows at the humans.
“Take them!” The Elven Warrior sitting upon the chestnut horse glared down at them through his helmet. His eyes were full of murderous anger.
“Whoa, what’s going on?” Volgan said with his arms raised into the air.
Another elf in a green and yellow robe waved his hand in the air, and steel hard roots shot out from the ground binding their arms against their bodies, their hands behind their backs, and bound their ankles together, dropping them to the floor.
The woman shrieked in panic.
“I’ll have your head for this!” Madam Maligun cried in angst. “We did nothing wrong! Why are you treating us like this?”
Some more elves approached and threw a back cloth bag over their heads. The hilt of the sword clashed into the back of their heads and their visions went dark.