Age: 9
August 1st 1257
Exhausting — that's the only word that can describe the last few years for me and Cedric.
Every day we would get here earlier and yet again the bulk of a man would be here, tell us we're late, and make us run as punishment. The most he made us run was about two years into our training and the whole day we just ran around the training grounds. One hundred and thirty seven laps.
Though I hate to admit it, his training was effective. I look down at my body and it's built of pure lean muscle, all 120 pounds. After the first couple weeks Cedric and I had to start eating way more just to keep up with the training and even get healed a couple times, though we couldn't always since he wanted us to 'be men' and 'walk it off'.
But at last, we finally will be able to do something different from our usual body training. Today we pick our weapons and what we will fight with. Though secretly, I haven't even told Cedric this, I've decided to fight with my hands. It just feels natural to me and better than any weapon will be. I will still practice with weapons since I may need one sometimes in the future, but right now? I'll stick with my hands and feet.
"Hey, Cedric, do you know what weapon you'll be using?" We've met at this sidewalk that leads to the training ground every day for three years.
"Of course, but I won't tell until you see me pick it out." So we're doing this, Cedric, really. "So, what weapon are you going to use, Kade?" What do you think I'll say if you said you aren't going to tell me.
"Oh, you'll see when I beat you with it." Me and Cedric have both struggled to get an upper hand in our spars against one another. We are sitting at 365-365 in our score with neither of us able to get more than one ahead of the other.
"Yeah, yeah. We'll see about that. Just keep that same attitude when I beat you." Not going to happen when you've never used nothing other than hand to hand combat.
We walk into the training yard at 4:30 AM and see Garron looking at us smugly. We sigh and already know what's coming.
"You're late, 20 laps, go." Well at least it isn't that bad we can do that in about 5 minutes and barely break a sweat.
"Today instead of the usual body training I'll let you pick out a training weapon and we'll enter the second phase of your training." I wonder what weapon Cedric will pick.
Cedric and I walk over to the weapons rack but he goes up but notices I'm not following.
"Kade? Why aren't you coming to get a weapon?" Finally he's found out.
"I've decided I will be using my hands and body as a weapon." Cedric's face morphs into surprise then he grins.
"Well that means it will be real easy to beat you, hah." I watch and he goes and picks up a wooden spear from the rack. A spear? Interesting Cedric, but why do you think that'll stop me?
"I might be able to win at first in our spars but eventually. When I get control over this spear to even half of what my martial skill was, well, let's just say you won't be winning anymore." Did he forget I will get better? What an idiot.
"Hey, dumbass. You do know that I'll grow in skill as well, right?" Yea, that look on his face says it all.
"We'll see Kade, we'll see." I can tell he's slightly embarrassed but his determined tone speaks more than that. He really intends to best me in combat and break our tie. Well, I can't let that happen.
"Already got your weapons eh? Kade I see you're staying with the martial path and Cedric will be using a spear. Interesting." Garron notices what has happened after we walk back to where he was.
"Well, at least we won't have to start from scratch on your training Kade, just more advanced. But for you Cedric it'll take some time, so for now you won't spar until I can guarantee he won't shish-kebab you, Kade. Perhaps a year or two and then you are allowed to spar against each other." There goes the plan of getting a good lead in our score. Oh well, I guess I don't want to die in a spar by an accidental piercing.
"Kade, you go to one side of the training grounds and focus on perfecting the basics until I can teach you the advanced martial moves. And Cedric follow me to this side, I'll teach you how to use a spear like a warrior." I guess I won't see Cedric for a bit until after our training event day and then the mornings. We'll catch up eventually.
I slowly start going through the basics. My punch has now become 6 times as strong as it was when I demonstrated to Garron, my kicks have developed similarly and I haven't really gotten to any advanced moves yet. But eventually he'll teach me.
Over the course of a couple months Cedric has now learned the basics of spear work, but Garron still won't let us spar until a year has passed. I've developed even more in my perfection of the basics and have now been taught a new kick. The Question Mark Kick. A sneaky feint that leads your enemy to believe you'll kick the lower part of their body, but, mid way through the technique you quickly change the direction, causing it to go over their shoulder while landing square in their face. I love it, definitely my favorite to practice and perfect so I can use it in a real fight.
More months pass by and it is now August 1st, 1258, finally me and Cedric can spar against each other again. Over this past year Cedric has fully mastered the basics of the spear, he even shocked Garron with how fast he managed to do it. But I haven't slacked off either. I've fully mastered multiple different punches, kicks, and feints and built them into my combat style.
"Are you ready to finally spar today?" We walk down the same path as we always do and Cedric asks me the question we've been waiting for.
"Ready to spar? No. Ready to beat you easily? Always."
"Yeah, yeah, keep that up and you'll be embarrassed when I easily win."
Once again we're 'late' and run 30 laps for the warmup. Once finished and not even breathing hard he tells us to get into the ring.
"After a year of hard work you're both sufficiently skilled to not kill each other fighting with actual weapons. The score has been reset to zero and after today you will fight in different ways and on different terrains. For example, mud, rocky terrain, water, forests. You will also be fighting through tag, hide and seek, and capture the flag. The first will be to practice dodging more and evasive moves while letting the tagger focus on getting to a slippery opponent. Hide and seek will develop stealth and tracking, while capture the flag will be about secure and rescue training." When would we even use the last one? Well, the extra trading won't hurt I guess, just giving me more ways to defeat him.
"But for today it will be regular sparring the whole time. Now get ready to face your opponent."
Me and Cedric face each other at opposite ends of the circle. Slowly we begin to walk around it tracking our opposite. He's the first to attack and lunges at me with his spear. I quickly jump out of the way and get back up only to see his spear racing for my head. I deflect the spear to the side and spring back to my feet. Cedric lunges again, aiming for my chest—but this time, I catch the shaft mid-thrust remembering what that guard did in his spar from when I first met Cedric, I pull him toward me and he actually comes forward. Oh no, I see that grin on his face, it's the same one he would get every time he knew he would win our other soars.Using the momentum of my pull, he drives a brutal punch into my gut, aiming to knock the wind out of me, but thankfully I realized in time and exhaled all of the air in my lungs. It still hurt like hell but I wasn't incapacitated. Knowing he still doesn't have full control of his spear as I still hold it, I sweep his legs and bring an elbow down on his neck, barely stopping from crushing his windpipe.
"Good fight boys, didn't expect Cedric to use the momentum from that pull into a hard punch to the gut. And excellent finish Kade, exhaling all the breath from your lungs and then taking advantage of the unarmed Cedric and ending the fight there. I'd say this is a vast improvement in fighting IQ then your previous spars." It was definitely a part of my master plan. Definitely.
I see Cedric still on the ground and give him a hand to help him up. He grips it and hauls himself back up.
"You might've won this time, but I'll definitely win all the others from now on." I can tell he's very serious about his proclamation and decide to match him.
"Hah, well if you say that then I'll just win ALL of them considering I already won this one." Honestly, it'll probably be like always—us switching back and forth between wins until we're tied again. But that just means I'll have to work harder to stay ahead. Also it just makes me more determined to come out on top.