CHAPTER 6

The next day had already arrived. With the rising of a new day came excitement for Harmony. This excitement stemmed from the fact that Maya and Steven were coming over. It was going to be their first day of training.

However, it wasn’t the fact that they were going to be training that excited Harmony. All she wanted to do was hang out with Maya and Steven. Training was just going to be some extra fun.

Their house had changed so much over the past year. Changes could be seen in their garden, which was now flourishing. It could also be seen that some of the kitchen appliances were new. So much had changed that it was actually hard to point all of them out.

Setting down the knife that she had used to make some sandwiches, Harmony looked out the kitchen window. On the other side of the window was their backyard.

In their backyard sat Michael, who was currently sharpening his sword with a whetstone. That sword was kept cleaner than his own room. In fact, it was cleaner than almost anything else that Michael owned.

Harmony never understood what Michael’s work ethic was. He always studied harder than anyone else, but when it came to doing something mundane he just found it tedious and annoying. Others would view it the opposite way.

Grabbing the tray of sandwiches Harmony put them into the fridge. That way they would be fresh for when they wanted to eat them.

Walking over to the sliding glass door, she opened it.

“Are you going to sit out there all day?” Harmony called, leaning her head out from the door.

Putting down the whetstone, Michael looked up, “I’m going to sit here until Maya and Steven arrive.”

Shaking her head, Harmony closed the door. He was bound to get heat stroke if they stayed outside for the whole training session without drinking water. Something that he was more than likely going to do.

Harmony walked over to the front of the house. Now all she had to do was wait for Maya and Steven to arrive. Before she made it to the front room the sound of the doorbell rang through the house.

Rushing over to the front door Harmony moved to pull it open. Unless it was Caleb stopping by for another unplanned visit it should be Maya and Steven. The chances of Caleb coming by again so soon were very low though.

Pulling open the door Maya looked through to see two people standing on the porch. One was wearing a wide grin on their face, and the other had a slight smirk. Of course the one with the grin was Steven, and the one with the smirk was Maya.

“Hello,” Harmony exclaimed joyfully.

“Greetings!” Steven exclaimed, nearly dropping the sheath that he was carrying on his shoulder.

Instead of saying anything Maya hugged Harmony. Harmony was one of the few people that Maya would actually hug. Then again, Harmony knew that she was considered one of the nicest people that Maya had met.

“Thanks for inviting us to train with you,” Maya said, pulling back from the hug.

Peering around Harmony, Steven asked, “where’s Michael?”

Harmony sighed. That was always asked whenever anyone came over to their house. At this point it was standard for people to ask, and for Harmony to respond with something along the lines of Michael being too busy. It was always the same.

“He’s in the backyard waiting for you to arrive,” Harmony explained.

A small smile appeared on Steven’s face. The face of someone that was going to get into some mischief.

“I need to ask Michael about what his plan is for taking some time off,” Steven said, with the same look of mischief, “he promised me that he would, and I’m going to make sure that it happens.”

“Then it sounds like we should head to the backyard now. That’s where Michael is after all,” Harmony said, guiding them into the house.

Steven was the first one to step foot into the house, followed by Maya. Once they were inside Harmony closed the door and locked it before following them. Better safe than sorry. Who knows what could end up happening to them when they weren’t paying attention.

On their way through the house Harmony glanced down the hallway. The lights were out and all the doors were closed. Their parents' bedroom stood at the end of the hallway. The only room that they never entered.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Too many painful memories were held within the room. As soon as Harmony started to think about it she shoved it to the back of her mind. Thinking about it wouldn’t help her right now. Especially with some guests over.

Turning her gaze over to Steven she saw him fling the sliding door open and run outside. Immediately he ran over to Michael and started talking to him in a “stern” voice. A joking undertone could be heard through the sternness.

Maya ran after him and also started to give an earful to Michael. Except her tone was far more serious than Steven’s, and had no hint of humor. It was the classic dynamic duo of Maya and Steven. One was overly serious, and the other was almost incapable of being serious.

Bickering between he siblings and Michael lasted for a time, but eventually they managed to come to a compromise. A compromise that heavily favored Michael. He was the master negotiator in these situations.

Strapping the sword onto his side, Michael stood up.

“Let’s get started,” Michael announced.

Harmony walked over to their porch and grabbed the sheath that was leaning against the wall. It was far more curved than Michael’s, yet then again it served a different purpose.

“So who’s going first?” Maya asked, slamming the staff of the glaive onto the ground.

“I was thinking that we would split into teams, it would help us understand how you work alone, as well as how you might be able to work together,” Michael said.

“Siblings versus siblings then?” Maya asked.

A quick glance that Harmony shot at Michael was all the confirmation that he needed. The decision had already been made.

“Correct,” Michael affirmed, “you and Steven are going to be against Harmony and I.”

“Then let’s get started!” exclaimed Steven, clapping his hands together.

***

Wind rustled the leaves in the trees, and the birds within sang their song. Meanwhile Maya and Steven had already assumed their position across the yard from Harmony and Michael, who had also taken their positions.

Steven had drawn his blade and now held it out in front of him. Maya held her glaive and in a more defensive position, but it still looked pretty offensive. On the other hand Michael had only had his blade out. As of the moment the shield was in its collapsed form.

In Harmony’s case she had yet to draw her weapon. There wasn’t really any need for her to do so. It wasn’t really part of her style or technique.

All four of them had a device on their waist that generated a small shield. This device was fundamental for their duel. The first one to break another person's energy shield would be the winner.

“When you’re ready to start this you may,” Michael said, “it’s up to you for when you want to begin.”

A slight pause was meant with a “start!” from Maya.

Within moments Steven rushed forward and swung at Harmony. Luckily she was prepared for this.

Activating her aura, Harmony started to manipulate the gravity around her blade, pulling it off of her side. Harmony then grabbed the blade and used her aura to counteract the strike that Steven threw at her.

A loud pang ran through their yard with the contact Steven’s longsword against her blade. Off to the right Michael and Maya were locked in their own dance.

As much as Harmony would like to watch Michael and Maya go at it Harmony had her own match to handle. Handling everything that Steven would throw at her was going to be a challenge, and hopefully a manageable one.

Strikes and thrusts were traded between both Harmony and Steven, but neither every single one was parried and blocked to the side. No one was making any progress on breaking the other person's shield.

Sometimes one of them would change up the strategy that they were using. On occasion Harmony would extend the blade she was wielding into its scythe form and use her aura to manipulate it. Sometimes Steven would use his aura to make his sword hover. Just another way that he was trying to copy her.

“Too slow Steven,” Harmony commented.

Using her aura Harmony started to spin her scythe around and launched it towards Steven. Instead of blocking the strike Steven used his aura to slide under the scythe at an unnatural speed. He must have been using his own aura.

“Good try,” Steven rebutted.

Steven took a swing of his own. It was time for Harmony to copy a move. Creating a well of gravity behind her she pulled herself backward, just out of range from the swing.

When the swing missed her Steven stumbled forward, having put all of his weight into the swing. A perfect opportunity to end her match with Steven and aid Michael.

Using the last of her remaining energy for her aura Harmony surged forward grabbing her scythe from the air and converting it back into a blade. When the blade had fully transformed she riposted at Steven, this time landing the blow solidly.

Blue light flared around Steven’s body. Red light started to take over the blue when the blade struck it, eventually shattering into what seemed like a thousand pieces.

“You're out Steven,” Harmony started to turn away from him, “thanks for the fight.”

Transforming her blade into a scythe, Harmony realized that Michael had also finished his fight with Maya. Now he was sitting down on the same log that he was before. Maya was also sitting next to him with a sour expression on her face.

“Wonderful match Steven, but we need to go over that last move you made, it was sloppy,” Michael complimented Steven, then said, “it’s your turn now Harmony. Prepare yourself, this is going to be a tough fight, both for you and me.”

Looks like the event wasn’t over. It was time for something far more challenging.