19
SEP/20
“You want some more?” She asked nonchalantly. She used to ask contemptuously, but he had earned some respect due to both his determination and improvement.
“As much as you can dish out,” he replied, hoping his response would provoke her, as he gathered himself from the ground which he had so recently been knocked across.
She snorted a little in laughter which slightly activated her breath weapon. He enjoyed the bit of air conditioned wind that blew across him as he smiled back at her.
She advanced quickly to strike, and just as quickly he moved and raised his shield. The scythe and shield collided and the strength of her blow drove him back, the blow reverberating through his body. She closed the gap and swung again, and again he blocked and was driven back.
They were engaged in their daily sparring session, done at the request of lady Gardiwald. Today was shield training so Sora had been instructed to attack through his shield and David was supposed to block with the shield and not dodge duck dip or dive.
“He is a bit soft and must be toughened up,” Lady Gardiwald had told Sora before the first day of training. Sora had not been pleased at first to have to spar with David. When asked to speak honestly about the idea she spoken frankly.
“Training against him will make me soft. He has no chance to hurt me with that club. And I will probably kill him accidently.”
“You will train him anyway.”
“Yes my lady.”
So she had trained him, sort of. After 6 months he could block well and combined with his natural agility he had proved difficult to strike. His offense however continued to be anything but offensive.
“You may be hard to hit little man, but you strike like a sissy.” She said.
“I’m not trying to be a great swordsmen, besides, I could never want to hurt you.”
She laughed again. “Nor could you, even if you wanted to, not with those little arms. If that club you carry had emotions it would feel shame. Shame at being carried by such a feeble fighter.”
She laughed again and then pressed the attack…