Inaki held his sword up and began the kata.

It had been a day since Yaz visited, even Trish and Nilun hadn’t come that day, except to deliver his two cold meals—something about a punishment was the reason why they delivered him his food. Inaki stood in the garden all alone, with his sword.

The sun beat down on Inaki, and the clouds seemed to be laughing at him as he swung his sword, the repeated failure was growing monotonous, exhausting. Inaki just wanted one win. Just one small win after failing so much.

He stared at the only path he was allowed to traverse outside of the garden, to the training hall of the Gael. No, I am definitely not ready.

Inaki began the Bullstance kata, he realized that he was getting slightly better. He wasn’t slipping up as much as he was before. His movements still lacked the grace and precision needed for a swordsman, but at least now he knew that if he got into a fight he wouldn’t instantly trip and fall.

There was a solitary tree in the garden, with fruit on top. But it was too high for Inaki to reach. This gave Inaki a very good idea for training. Inaki had spent almost his entire life as a swordsman training alone, and in that time he had become very good at giving himself training challenges.

He stood in front of the tree with his sword out, just in range to where when he swung his sword the edge of his sword would hit the tree. No, cutting the tree wasn’t an option, cutting the fruit on the other hand.

Inaki rushed, he swung at the tree, the branches shook, and he looked up as an apple began to fall from the tree. Inaki jumped back and slashed at the apple, but his timing was too off. The fruit hit the ground.

Inaki picked up the apple and placed it in his little plate of food. He would wash it and eat it later. Inaki once again ran back to the tree, and this time, he kicked the tree, an apple did not fall this time, but a leaf did. Inaki leaped, and cut at the leaf, this time he was precise, but not strong enough to cut through the leaf with his wooden sword.

Inaki remembered the time when he was both strong enough, fast enough and precise enough to be able to achieve a feat like this without even having to think much.

Until the tree did not drop any more fruit, Inaki kept slashing at the tree, then turning back and trying to slash the fruit. Inaki decided that he would pay attention to just precision for this exercise—deliberate practice of only one part of swordsmanship was as important as practicing it as a whole—but even that he was failing at.

He examined all the fruit that he had collected in about two hours worth of training, and saw that none of them even had a dent, Inaki had not hit even one fruit. If there was a dent on the fruit, it was because of falling from the tree, and definitely not from Inaki’s sword.

“You’re going to die,” The man that Inaki used to be, said, “This is how my life is going to end. Trapped, forced into a duel to the death.”

Inaki washed one of the apples with some of the water from the jar that they had left him and stared into the evening sky as he bit into it.

The fruit was extremely sour. One bite and he saw that it was infested with maggots and insects from the inside.

Such bad luck. Inaki thought, as he threw the apple over the fence. He washed every apple, and bit into each one, and out of ten apples, eight were rotten with insects feasting on them before Inaki could.

At that point Inaki was happy that he had at least two apples to eat. He ate those apples with his lunch, and then went back to training.

Inaki didn’t know what he was going to do now, with his only other training exercise exhausted, he decided that he would begin doing his katas until he could do them well. But not the Bullstance kata, or the Tigerstance kata, no. He would have to swallow his ego, and train with the Fundamental Five kata.

Inaki began the first of the Fundamental five. This was focused on just moving while holding a sword. Much more focused on dexterity than anything else. There was almost no swinging the sword, just holding it, and moving.

This was the kata that Inaki ended up being the best at. The rest didn't go as well. The kata which focused on slow, strong strikes, his attacks were too weak. The one which focused on fast precise ones he ended up throwing his sword out of the gate and having to beg a Gael child to throw it back into the garden. When he was on the kata that focused on just speed, he was too slow. Each of the Fundamental Five katas he messed up in different ways except for the first one.

At least my dexterity is improving. Inaki thought, throwing his sword down onto the ground.

Inaki sat down, in the grass, laid there and looked up into the stars, wondering what the heavens had planned for him. Certainly not a very good plan. Inaki thought.

Inaki wondered for what crime was he being punished, was it all the people he had killed—no, they were all during duels, ordained duels with witnesses that he could not be punished for—was it because how he used to treat his brother—it couldn’t be that, since Inaki always wanted the best for his brother, he just did what he thought Hassai would do if he was there to help him improve.

Inaki was at a loss on why he was going through all of this.

That night when Inaki slept, he had nightmares.

Inaki found himself once again staying at his inn, just after he had been robbed by those men, his money, clothes, weapons and dignity all stolen from him. In the nightmare, he walked out of the inn, and found all of the swordsman from Yaroka standing there, waiting for him.

He began trying to run through the city, and though he put all the force from his body that he could, he could not run fast enough. One of them jumped and caught Inaki’s leg. The others then took turns stabbing Inaki.

But Inaki wouldn’t die, the dream wouldn’t end. The pain would just continue as the swordsmen cut him up, cursed him, cried and blamed him for their lives.

Do you even remember my father’s name? Inaki heard in his head as his eyes opened. His entire body was covered in a cold sweat.

Little rays of light sneaked into the room from the little crack in the garden door. Without any knocking, the door opened, letting the sunlight rush in as if it were a bustling crowd waiting for the castle to open in the morning to give their concerns to the Sage.

Trish was standing there, spear in one hand, and plate in the other.

“Does your lamp need more oil,” The woman said.

“No,” Inaki said groggily. He rubbed his eyes and got out of bed and took the plate, and placed it at his table.

“So how is training going,” Nilun said, stepping in.

“Do you two always come in pairs,” Inaki said, taking a sip of water.

“Most of the time,” Nilun said. “After all, I have to be there in case you attack her.”

All three of them laughed, all for different reasons. Inaki knew that Nilun was laughing because Inaki was too weak to attack Trish, Inaki was laughing because he knew that Trish was way stronger than Nilun, and Inaki knew that Trish was laughing for both those reasons.

“Anyways,” Nilun said. “If it seems too lonely out here you could come to the training hall, there are real metal swords there if you like.”

“I’m not allowed to use them,” Inaki said.

“No one’s gonna snitch on you,” Nilun said. “I promise.” He whispered.

“I’ll maybe come later,” Inaki said.

“Whatever suits you,” Trish said, and left.

Inaki sat back down in bed, and stared at the floor. He didn’t know for how long he just sat there, zoned out in his own thoughts, but after that he got up and quickly scarfed down his breakfast.

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He realized that he had dropped his sword outside, and he needed to go get it. When he went outside to pick up his sword, he saw that it had visible cracks, he just lightly pushed on one of the cracks, and the sword fell apart, the hilt and blade of the wooden sword separating cleanly.

Now I have to go to the training hall, Inaki thought, throwing the broken pieces of the sword into the bush.

Inaki walked out, through the little path, it seemed strange that they had a path like this to the training hall, with railings that had sharp edges and couldn’t be jumped over. The place that Inaki was given seemed a bit too luxurious to be a prison. Perhaps it was a place to meditate?

Inaki stood outside the temple, if he wanted to escape, he could’ve from here, but there were too many eyes on him, maybe in the night when there weren’t as many people he could attempt an escape through here.

Inaki walked into the training hall. The training hall was a large square building, the first room that Inaki entered had people sitting around and talking, everyone of different ranks surrounded the place. From there there were four doors. Each door had a strip of metal above it, except one, Inaki walked into that room.

As he had guessed, all the students in the room were Wooden, students who had just gotten their spears and had no metal.

Inaki walked ahead, and saw that in front of the room, the only trainer there was Trish. She was teaching the students spear katas.

Without pausing her kata she said, “The swords are outside.”

Inaki walked out of the door, and found himself standing in a large garden, there was a chalk lining a few steps away, that separated the garden meant for the Wooden to train, and for the Iron to train just beyond. Over there, Inaki saw Nilun sparring with another Iron. They were both using wooden sticks with rubber and cloth spearheads, so it was just for practice.

Trish seemed to be nearly Silver, so when the two sparred she of course had the upper hand, but watching Nilun spar someone of equal rank, Inaki realized that the boy had some actual skill, but Inaki didn’t focus on that for too long.

He stepped forward and picked up one of the many wooden swords. He packed an extra one with him since these seemed fragile, and Inaki didn’t want to keep coming to the temple.

Just as he was about to leave, Nilun called out to Inaki.

“Hey, why are you leaving,” Nilun yelled, he had won his duel, his opponent was on the ground, clutching his chest.

“I was here just to take a wooden sword,” Inaki said. “The other one broke.”

“Don’t you want to get some practice dueling spearmen,” Nilun said. “The Woodens get done with their practice in a few minutes, why don’t you then challenge some of them to a spar, it's not everyday that a swordsman at their level walks into Gael.”

“Yes, I do need some practice sparring spearman,” Inaki said, trying not to acknowledge the fact that Nilun had just said that Inaki was a swordsman at the same level as a Wooden. Inaki didn’t know whether to correct him that he was better than a Wooden or even worse than one.

Inaki sat in the grass, waiting for the Woodens to finish their training, and then they all walked out, along with Trish.

“You’re still here,” Trish said.

“Your younger brother reminded me I need some practice sparring with spearmen,” Inaki said.

“Fine,” Trish said. “I’ll spar you, but if I kill you so I don’t have to deliver food to you in the morning and afternoon, it’s not my fault.”

“I’ll spar with you,” A man said. He was a year older than Inaki, and a head taller. He had short blonde hair and a round face, and wore long spearman’s robes.

“He’s Jonar, next year he will definitely become an Iron,” Nilun said. “Maybe you shouldn’t be fighting him.”

“No, I think I’ll try,” Inaki said.

“Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you,” Nilun said.

Inaki got up from sitting on the grass and Jonar stepped in front of him. All of the students formed a circle around the two of them and Jonar swapped out his metal spear for a wooden one with a rubber and cloth spearhead.

“You wanna do points,” Jonar said.

“Sure,” Inaki said.

“Whoever gets three points first, wins,” Jonar announced.

“Okay,” Inaki said.

“I, Nilun shall serve as the witness for this spar,” Nilun said. He stepped in between the two opponents, bowed, then jumped back, saying, “Begin.” Inaki had never seen a duel officiated like that.

“That’s now how we begin duels in Gael, that’s just Nilun,” Trish said, standing with her elbows crossed, and her spear resting on her shoulder from under one of arms.

Jonar rushed at Inaki with his spear forward. He thrust his spear with full force, and Inaki dodged beside it, he slashed, but he was too slow, Jonar stepped under it, and swung the back of his spear towards Inaki’s face.

Inaki brought his sword up, and blocked it, he then slashed at Jonar. Jonar ducked under it, and stepped closer, swinging his spear like a staff. The butt of his spear nearly hit Inaki in the head, but he moved back just enough that it barely grazed his nose.

Jonar stepped forward stabbing his spear at Inaki, and Inaki did his best to keep dodging. Inaki found that his mind and instincts were returning slightly, which is why he was able to see that the man was telegraphing his thrusts slightly. But Inaki’s body was still too slow to keep up with even one percent of his earlier instincts, so he pushed his body as far as he could to keep dodging.

Inaki blocked one strike, then blocked another. It was the best he had done in a fight since the injury. He dodged a spear thrust, but it was just a faint, it put him right in the spot for Jonar to ram his spear into Inaki’s face.

Jonar’s spear hit Inaki right in the nose. Inaki fell back, he held his nose in one hand, and held his sword in only one. Jonar was gaining momentum. Inaki couldn’t allow that.

Jonar stepped forward and began stabbing his spear at Inaki’s head, Inaki kept dodging. Jonar’s strikes were too predictable, until once again he was caught by another feint. Jonar feinted a stab at Inaki’s face, Inaki dodged that but that put him in the perfect spot to get hit in the stomach. Inaki doubled over hitting the ground. Jonar stabbed his spear down onto Inaki’s back.

“Jonar wins, three to zero,” Nilun said.

Inaki stood up, he was about to walk away—bitter at his loss—but Jonar walked up to him and shook his hand. “You almost had me there a few times, that was a fun spar.”

Inaki shook his hand too, and did the closest thing he could to a smile, a not-completely-sad grin was the best he could muster.

“Anyone else,” Nilun said. “Wish to spar with a swordsman?”

Nearly everyone raised their hand, all twenty of them.

Inaki’s next opponent was the same age as him, and the same height as him, with short blonde hair and a blonde stubble, and a wide frame for his height, a boy named Taraval stepped forward.

“Get ready, once again first to three points.”

He was much faster than Jonar, which was instantly a disadvantage to Inaki. At one point, speed had been Inaki’s primary skill, but it wasn’t that time anymore. Taraval stepped forward and swung his spear at Inaki, Inaki blocked, but in what felt like an instant the man drew back his spear and stabbed at Inaki’s body, Inaki jumped back to dodge, but the onslaught continued. The man planted the butt of his spear on the ground and used it to jump forward at Inaki, then when he landed, he stabbed forward, hitting Inaki in the gut.

Inaki acted as if he was going to double over, but then rammed his sword into his opponent's side.

“That’s one point to both,” Nilun said.

Taraval rushed at Inaki, but Inaki blocked with the best of his ability. Taraval was faster but telegraphed his attacks more, which gave Inaki slightly more time for him to dodge and block.

Inaki jumped forward and slashed down at his shoulder, but holding his spear in the middle, shoved his hand’s forward, hitting Inaki in the nose, he then turned his spear, ramming it into Inaki’s ribs, then swung his spear into Inaki’s side. Inaki hit the ground.

“Three to one,” Nilun said. “Maybe now after two duels Inaki might actually win.”

Inaki fought two more duels, he lost them both equally embarrassingly. But the final scores had been three-two.

“Now,” Nilun said. “Will you accept defeat and go home, or will you fight one more opponent.”

“One more,” Inaki said, licking the blood off his lip.

“Then you will fight the youngest here, who just got his spear.”

The man was one year younger than Inaki, and had just gotten his spear. Maybe here Inaki had a chance. HIs name was Yanop

“Begin,” Nilun said, jumping out from between the two opponents.

Yanop rushed at Inaki, and Inaki quickly began dodging the man’s attacks. He was slower, and he was telegraphing his attacks, Inaki could nearly see the future with how much he was telegraphing.

“Stop taking so much wind up you’re practically telling me where you’re going to strike,” Inaki said, stepping forward and feinting a strike to the boy’s neck, then hitting him on the shoulder.

“That’s one point to Inaki,” Nilun screamed.

The boy rushed at Inaki, and he took Inaki’s advice, his attacks were much better hidden from Inaki, but Inaki could still see them well enough.

“Your stance still gives away your next attack,” Inaki said. “Is this your first duel?”

“Not my first,” Yanop said, thrusting his spear at Inaki. Inaki blocked it and stepped forward. He was about to slash for the man’s chin, but he stepped to the side and rammed his spear forward, no, towards his face. Why was Inaki giving him so much advice?

Inaki still was able to dodge the hit and get in one more attack. They were now at zero-two. “Put your legs more into your attacks, it will make you faster.”

Inaki stepped back and Yanop once again rushed at Inaki. Inaki blocked a few strikes, but once again, by implementing his advice, Yanop was doing better. His attacks were telegraphed much less and he was already much faster, but just putting Inaki’s few words of advice into action wouldn’t mean anything much.

Inaki dodged under another strike and struck the man in the side. Inaki had won his first duel in a while.

A few minutes passed, Inaki walked away from the circle of spearmen, who then began sparring amongst themselves. Inaki sat down, tired, ready to leave after a few minutes of rest.

“You should become a teacher,” Nilun laughed, as Inaki sprawled on the ground exhausted. At least he had won one duel. It was against the least experienced, but that gave him a little bit of hope. Maybe if he continued training like this he would do well.

“I couldn’t teach,” Inaki said.

“Well, look over there,” Nilun said.

Inaki looked into the circle of spearman, and saw that Yanop was in a duel, and he had implemented all of the advice that Inaki had given him. And he was winning.

He was winning against Taraval, Inaki’s second opponent.