Farnell swung his sword through the air, making a satisfying “swoosh” sound. Dorian looked on and nodded.
“Again.”
Farnell swung the sword even harder, maintaining his form and footwork.
Dorian grinned. “Your form has definitely improved since we were first taught this. It’s starting to become second nature to you from what it looks like, but not quite muscle memory.”
Farnell nodded and grinned, “Thanks, but I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am now if it weren’t for you. Your training sessions with me have definitely helped a lot.” I wouldn’t have even dreamed that it took that many swings for my muscles to get used just a simple strike. The form, footwork, mental concentration…I knew coming into this that combat practice was going to be tough…but not this tough.
“Heh…you’re welcome. I just wish I had more time to help you out.”
As Farnell began to drink some water, he lifted his hand as if to say something. “Oh, I forgot to ask this earlier, but since I remember it now, I figured I’d ask: where did you learn your skills from?”
Dorian was silent as Farnell continued. “During training, while most of us are struggling with what they call the ‘most basic of attacks you should know,’ it feels like it’s muscle memory to you. It looks like you’re bored during those sessions. During the first day of class, it turned out only you and Amira were given recommendations to attend. Amira stated she received her recommendation from her previous academy, but you never said who recommended you.”
Farnell stopped speaking to give Dorian a chance to respond. Dorian took a deep breath and turned around and gathered the few belongings he brought with him to the training grounds. “While I can’t tell you where I learned my skills, I am able to tell you who recommended me…though keep this to yourself. Only the principal and our homeroom teacher know this, so I’d know who said something if it gets out.”
Farnell nodded. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
Dorian remained silent for a few seconds before turning around and looking at Farnell. “The intelligence agency. They recommended me.”
“The…intelligence agency?! Aren’t they the best of the best?! The most elite fighters handpicked by the council themselves?!”
“Yep…they are.”
“How did you…how were you able to be recommended by them?!”
Dorian chuckled and started to walk away. “I’m sorry…but I can’t tell you that. Anyways, best wrap it up for tonight. The mock fight is tomorrow. Better get plenty of sleep. A tired body won’t help you pass.”
As Dorian closed the door to the training grounds behind him, he saw a familiar person leaning against the building.
Sighing, Dorian walked up to her. “And what are you doing here?”
The woman chuckled. “Oh just seeing how you’re getting along here. Everyone back at the agency was worried about how you’d be once you were left to your own devices. I’m sure they’ll be relieved to see you making friends only a couple weeks in.”
“I’m doing quite well thank you very much! But you haven’t answered my question. There’s no way someone like you would travel that long of a distance just to see how I’m doing.”
“Heh…still got a sharp tongue I see. Well you are correct so I’ll let it slide this time.” She looked around her surroundings. “Come. Let’s go for a little walk. Too many ears around that could try to eavesdrop.”
She motioned for Dorian to follow her. After around ten minutes, they were outside of the academy and near the outskirts of the city. “So…why are you really here?”
The woman gave Dorian a serious look. “I’m on my way to the east. The agency has been given what they believe to be credible information about some ‘activity’ there. I’ve been assigned to investigate it.”
“…and by ‘activity’ you mean…”
“Yeah…they could be moving in the background. But that’s not why I came to talk to you. I managed to convince the chief to tell me the location you and some of your classmates are being sent to this weekend…it’s the place where I was originally stationed.”
Dorian was silent for a few seconds as he processed everything. “So in other words…from what you’re saying…you don’t believe the report the agency was given about this ‘activity’ and believe it’s only a way to move you away from where they plan to strike?”
“Yep.”
“And you’re expecting me and my classmates to thwart whatever they’re planning?”
“Sharp as always.”
Dorian shook his head, his hands balling up into fists. “Screw that! Most of them are not ready to fight even a simple foot soldier in combat, much less an enemy of that caliber!”
“I know…but sadly the chief believes the source of the information, and the decision was already made. That’s why I decided to make a quick stop before going to my destination. You may need to be truly ready to fight for your life…and for the lives of your classmates.”
Dorian scowled at the woman. “You know that I can’t do that. I can’t fight—”
“Oh spare me the excuses. You’ve proven not only to me but to the agency that when you need to protect someone, no matter who it is, you’ll fight to the death, and from what I heard from your conversation from that one classmate of yours, you regard him as a friend. Would you really let your friend die when you’re there to stop him?”
Dorian remained silent and looked at the ground. The woman shook her head. “Anyways, I’ve spent enough time here. I need to continue my trip and prove that I’m being sent on a wild goose chase. I know you’ll make the correct choice again Dorian.”
The woman walked away from Dorian and disappeared into the night. Dorian began to softly laugh. “’I know you’ll make the correct choice again’…heh…that was the only time I had made the right choice.” He muttered under his breath as he looked at where the woman was just seconds earlier. “Though…if what she says is indeed true…I may need to mentally prepare myself for the worst.” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYFhStyXKt
