Chapter 49 The Promised Fight

Everywhere near the low number of buildings was a complete desert, whenever it was close to the dusk. Especially on the abandoned factories near the 40s. The soldiers were under training in the west side, the superiors who didn’t work with the soldiers were preparing to move back to the central headquarters, and even the security moved further closer to the gates, as the streets around the 40s were completely devoid of the possibility of being targeted by trespassers since they were in the middle of the complex.
At that time the whistling winds were the only visitors in the area. If somebody screamed there, he’d never be heard.
Josiah’s jacket flapped with the strong wind blowing at his body. He wasn’t wearing any armor. He just had his sword; the gift his mother gave him and his dearest weapon. He was holding it pointing the blade down.
Tonight was their promised test. They agreed on the rules. In order to prove her worth, Lenny needed to withstand a spar with him for two minutes. There was a safeword, but if she used it, he wouldn’t let her join.
“Let me make one thing clear before we start, Lenny. If you are really willing to fight by my side... If you are really willing to go against everyone here to satisfy my dumb desire for revenge… Then you need to have the ability to fend for yourself. I like you… But that’s because I like you that I don’t want to put you in danger. That’s why I’m not going to go easy on you. I’m going to do everything I can to make you give up.”
“You are so strange. When did you learn to talk like that?”
“Listen… I’m not wearing any armor and I’m only going in with my blade. But that’s not to make things easier. In fact, I think I’m better this way. I really am going to use everything I have. You may only join me if you can withstand it.”
“All right.”
Lenny was carrying her dagger. Josiah had brought it to her since she didn’t own any other bloodbound weapon.
However, the dagger on Lenny’s hands was just a regular dagger. It didn’t possess a long-ranged attack.
‘Nonsense. I practiced my overall speech beforehand and she acts like this!? She seems so confident. Did she really grow that much since I last saw her?’ Josiah thought.
“If you are ready… Let’s begin.”
The wind blew and marked the start of the duel.
Lenny’s expression which a moment ago was childish and carefree turned intense and decisive. She was the first one to strike.
Her speed was admirable, faster than how Josiah remembered her running. The form while holding the dagger was also close to perfect. Exactly how the instructors in the reserve taught the students to hold them.
In fact, a bit too close to the form.
So close it was very obvious for Josiah to predict, being a soldier himself.
As Lenny approached, Josiah just parried the attack with perfect accuracy with his blade. Her arm was swung violently to the side, causing her body to get to an awkward position. Josiah then unleashed an attack to her chest, and her body fell on the floor.
Unlike Josiah, Lenny was wearing armor so that she wouldn’t get too hurt.
“Hey, Lenny… You do have potions for after this, right?” Josiah got worried for an instant.
Lenny put herself together quickly and stepped back. The rolling motion she used to stand up reminded him of his own.
“There won’t be need for potions after this,” Lenny said.
She went for another trade, but his time she was more ferocious like she wanted to ger a hit on Josiah at any cost.
Josiah had to clash the sword with the dagger twice or thrice before he could find an opening.
‘She abandoned the form after she got hit, perhaps it got to her? Either way… Swinging that wildly won’t do you any good…’
Josiah quickly maneuvered the sword with his wrist after parrying once in order to get a hit from behind. Lenny didn’t have time to escape.
But judging by her face she was counting on getting hit. After the sword struck her back she still charged to Josiah, attempting to cut his chest with the dagger. Since Josiah’s hand was still recovering from the recoil, he could not parry that one.
‘It was on purpose…!?’
Josiah was surprised that Lenny resorted to that. But he wasn’t caught by surprise with the attack per se. He was used to people in the emerging talents using that sort of trick during his spars.
He just needed to catch her forearm with his empty hand during the motion.
“Agh!” Lenny made a noise while making a face while she strongly tried to cause Josiah’s hand to get off in order to hit him somehow.
But while she was busy with the arm which was holding her dagger arm, Josiah spun around the sword arm, attempting to use her lack of focus and blindspot to get a stab.
The attack wasn’t very strong, but since she was caught by surprise, she dropped the dagger with the pain, and once again abandoned her form in the middle of the battle.
Josiah swung at her front with the blade and this time he got a good hit on the armor around her chest. Lenny once again was pushed back and fell on the floor.
‘Sorry, Lenny…’ He pronounced in his head.
“It’s over. The dagger is gone.” Josiah said.
Lenny frowned her eyebrows and leaned a hand on the ground to get up.
“No… It’s not over.” She protested.
Josiah couldn’t believe the flame in her eyes.
‘Are you still going to try and come bare-handed? I could actually wound you, you know... That form…?’
As he witnessed it, Josiah was taken back to the days in his childhood, when The Magistrate first came to get the kids in Couche. Lenny used to walk with both arms and legs on the ground, like an animal. She moved very fast when she was like that. Nowadays she learned the form and the speed of a soldier, but deep down Lenny was really abandoning the speed which she grew with in order to meet the army standards.
Josiah realized Lenny was so serious about joining she even resorted to her own self-taught style, even though it was not accepted as an actual style.
‘So, in the end, it comes to this. This could be interesting… Come, Lenny.’