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Ch 5 - The party turns into a surprise

As the king asked us to go as we were, I resumed my combat training.

Julius, James, Dan, Armon, Duke, Friedrich, Galiene, Azer, Theresa, Anais among other kids were sitting watching the training, some cheering me and some cheering the knight.

It was a beautiful dance of swords believe me, this man knows his stuff and by all means is stronger than me, well it’s to be expected, I’m ten years old and he must be no less than twenty seven.

*swoosh* swing to the right

*clank* parry with my right sword

*womp* kick towards my chest

*wirl* dodge by twisting my body after kicking the floor lightly

“Hahaha Gat has gotten stronger this past years I wonder if I can really win”

The Knight’s name is Aaron Rourat, Knight commander of the pegasus knights, and is on the third level on the chain of command, reporting directly to the lions(uncle Clay for example).

“You Tease me lord Aaron, I’m but a kid, every day I learn more and more thanks to you taking it easy on me hehe”

I compliment the knight as indeed there is no hope for me in this fight, if he were to fight seriously I’ll drop unconscious with a single swing. 

Even if I were to use energy(‘qi’), my body is too small, too light and I dont have the strength to battle this kind of opponent -yet.

“Hahaha lets see, come Gat, I’ll take you on”

The man baits me and I decided to take the bait. I will attempt one of my old moves, not sure if I’ll manage.

*swish swish swish stumble* 

Attempted a three swing hit with my two swords while rotating on my right leg and lost my balance at the end.

*clang clang clang thump* 

The attacks were parried and a light kick landed on my side which threw me away half a meter.

“See, there you have it, and you weren't even half serious there! I’ve seen you fight my esteemed lord father, and this doesn't even come close to you even joking”

My eyes were dead serious, I looked at the man while saying my words with a sharp gaze, he rose his brow a little and let escape a small wry smile.

“Kid! what was that move right now”

An unfamiliar voice called from the crowd, the somewhat commanding tone irritated me a lot.

“Who do you think you are calling a kid ah”

Turning around violently as I shouted my line looking for whomever interrupted my very important training and then my eyes met with a circled eyed, agape mouthed first prince!

That shocked me a little, as I was so immersed in my training that I didn't sense him approaching.

“I’m sorry Lord first prince Higg, I didn’t knew you were watching”

I excused myself while bowing my head, I didn’t kneel down tho, he’s not the king, just a prince. Everyone in the place was stunned, the only thing that could be heard was the laugh of the king, that was right in front of me, a little bit behind the prince to his left.

“Don’t worry Lady Gatriel Decebal, daughter of The Pegasus, it was my son’s foolish manners in his surprise, he probably forgot your name after seeing such an outlandish and weird maneuver”

When the king spoke the prince immediately regained his bearings, and bowed his head slightly, his right hand closed into a light punch in front of his heart and his left arm bent behind his back.

“It is as my lord father the king said, I’m sorry for my bad manners, the surprise I received from your movements left me simply astounded, that move anyone would think it impossible to land, yet the gracefulness of your movement and your balance were splendid. Does it have a name? What was it that you attempted to do?”

The prince showed true surprise, I think I got a bit too serious there and showed something a bit too early, oh well that's how it is.

“Hahahaha Gat surprised me too with that move, I’ve never seen it in this past 7 years that I’ve been teaching her the sword, hahahahaha didn’t I said it, she’s going to beat me soon enough”

My training partner, lord knight Aaron praised my move, trying to lighten the air in the place, and I noticed everyone here in the training area were showing relieved expressions. 

But not everywhere, back on the tea table, where the Queen, princesses, and other women were, I could see some displeased stares pointing my way. 

Roxana’s face was red and the veins on her temples were about to explode, it seems she didn’t take kindly my words to her elder brother. 

The Queen, at first threw me a displeased look, but as the king spoke she quickly changed back to her normal smile.

“Lord first prince Higg, the move does not have a name yet, as you can see it’s still incomplete, as I lack both the strength and nimbleness to execute what I had envisioned in my mind”

“What’s that style you use to fight?, it’s entirely different to our country’s military fighting style. So it seems it’s true that an unorthodox fighter entered the academy in the past years. I was out on a campaign so I didn’t had the time to check, but I was wondering what the all rumors were about”

The prince shoot me a difficult question, it’s not like I can say that it’s a style I developed myself thousands of years ago, neither can I just say that their fighting style is just bad, because it’s not, it just doesn’t fit me.

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“Lord prince, I’m just freestyling, it has no name nor it’s a style per-se, playing around with my swords trying to find a form that fits me perfectly, a style that suites what I like and how I like to move”

“Gat, what are you saying eh! Why are yo...--”

Ali stands up and shoots me a strong stare, aaaaa, ali read the mood yes?, I’m certain you can do it... wait a minute, what’s with that smirl? that was on purpose. That cute little vixen! I decided to interrupt her right there.

“Lady Aliyah, would you be so kind as to not intrude in a conversation between your elders?” *smirk*

I throw a smirk back at her! Yes, I’m older now, so pay attention hehehehe, this feels amazing, and she’s hating it, probably right? Yeah she is, right?. 

She looks at me with a vexed expression and lowers her head, the king, the prince, knights and kids are watching her as she just got reprimanded by me. Hahaha this is so much fun.

“*sob* so *sniff* *sob* sorry *sob*, sorry Gat *sob* dont *sob* get mad *sob* at*sob**sniff* me *sob* please, Gat, don't *sob* get mad *sob* at me”

Then her act started. Staring at me with those eyes, then covering her face with her hands, she’s playing the victim eh, I can’t win against her, she’s way too cunning and I’m too weak against her.

“Lady Gatriel, wasn’t it a bit too much how you reprimanded this young lady?” 

The first prince fell for her trap, and turned towards her offering her a handkerchief 

“Please young lady don't take it to heart, I’m sure Lady Gatriel did not meant to hurt you” 

Ali Ali, you vixen! Well whatever happens happens, I won’t bully her much. In a couple of years if she sneaks in my room when I’m sleeping and stabs me to get back at me that would be no joke.

“Lady Gatriel, would you accept a practice match against me, I’m very interested in seeing your style up close first hand”

Eh? What’s this man saying, I tilt my head and peeled my eyes wide, looking straight at the prince with a dumbfounded expression on my face that’s for sure. Ali is laughing quietly while covering her face with the handkerchief.

“Don’t be so impressed I promise I’ll take it easy as your current training partner, would you allow me the chance to fight an unknown style?”

I dont really want to but I can’t say no, I mean the only real movement from my own style was this botched whirlwind attack, the rest of my movements are little variations of his own style, so what’s with ‘unknown style’ it doesn’t take a genius to notice that it’s just variation... 

I intentionally slowly move my head and gaze at my father, asking him with my raising and lowering brows what should I do.

“Why not Gat, I trained his highness prince Higg myself for a year when he was finishing his academy years, promise me something though, don’t beat him too quick nor too bad ok? Hahaha”

‘Don’t beat him to quick’? What’s this old fart saying, he is the first prince you know, and I’m a 10 years old runt, what the hell is wrong with this happy people, indeed peace dulls the senses? Is that it?

While thinking that I look at the prince, and he is smiling at me, I can’t grasp what’s on his mind, those eyes are not smiling, they are not.

“So then lord prince Higg, as long as you do not forget to take it easy on me, I’ll do my best to entertain you”

Taking my stance, which for now is just a variation of the sword and shield stance of this country’s style I accept the Prince’s proposal.

“I thank you lady Gatriel Decebal, daughter of The Pegasus for accepting my humble request to spar in a bout of training, now then, what should be the stakes?”

He said with a smile, what the hell with this dude, stakes? He wants to bet? I’m a kid you know, be more mature you! Aren’t you a prince? A first prince at that. Future king of this lands, how can you just throw that line so nonchalantly like that?

“Hahahaha, that sounds fun”

“Stakes, what stakes”

“Isn’t Gat just a little lady?, what could be the stakes here?”

Voices around the arena are raised here and there, mostly about the same thing I was thinking, I’m a kid, you are a man, what are you going ask? For my dad to train you more? Or for my father to accept you in his squad? Hmmm that could be, maybe he wants to join as a Lion from the get go? Don’t joke around.

I don’t know how strong you are, but there is no way father will just accept you as a lion just by beating me... 

Don’t tell me, he plans to beat me bloody and hold me hostage for a position? To get the pegasus title for himself? 

Urg, I have a bad feeling about this. 

Whats going on...

I look at Ali, I’m very nervous what should I do? To my surprise she’s dead serious, looking straight at me she just sent the signal to beat him up, her right fist was upside down and the thumb was out, pointing to the ground.

“How about your hand in marriage once you come of age and graduate from the academy?”

Eh?

I beg your pardon?

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Thanks for reading my fiction! I hope to get your comments and help from now and in future issues.

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