Kenzo also was an excellent warrior, but I already had a favorite Keeper.
With the final strike, Viggo turned himself around and hit the face of the sword on Kenzo’s leg, throwing him to the ground right way. He ended with the sword pointed to the face of his opponent.
“Are you inspired today, huh? It’s been a while since you’ve won over me,” an out-of-breath Kenzo said under a smile, surprised by his friend.
I couldn’t hide my rosy cheeks. When I noticed, I was showing my teeth. Dakota and Zyba hinted at me. I was so excited, but my balloon withered when I heard an unnecessary squeal.
“Uhull! Good job, honey!”
Honey? So, they were… Before I could finish my thought, Dakota confirmed it with a nod of her head what my disappointed expression deducted. Viggo and Gyda were a couple. I looked like a flat tire. It came down on the same time.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Lola?” Zyba poked me whispering.
“No, I only have disappointments…”
***
We trained the ‘target on the enemy’ using our own weapons. Dakota and Zyba showed more and more rapport with the bow and the shield. After the tenth try, I could hit my ax at the head of the target.
Class continued with theories and techniques of body fighting and self-defense. Professor Cyperus asked Kenzo to help him in a fight demonstration, starting a combat between them. He warned us about Elof’s army, something we might fight against, even if no one has never stepped into Leike’s Land. The professor was there, when a small troop attacked Lumen on the day of my mother’s death.
Everything was assumptions. If there were worse or more terrible creatures there, no one knew. This thought produced even more gastric juice in my stomach. I was a poor mortal, who until yesterday barely could handle math at school. Now I had to learn techniques of war to face an army.
All of this seemed impossible to succeed. Many times it crossed my mind to give up, I wouldn’t gain anyway. My father’s life was fated to end in that horrible place, and mine was having to live with the guilt of this for the rest of my life, which could be really short ending just some days from now. My thoughts hammered in my head, one after the other, affecting my not-so-good performance in the class.
When the professor told us it was time to practice ‘in couples,’ I felt a hook in my heart. He paired a newbie with an older student, no weapons this time, to practice the theories he just told us. His choice for pairs was Kenzo with Dakota, Viggo would face Zyba. My first combat was going to be with Gyda, who gave me a grim ‘this is going to be easy’ expression before the fight started. It was a relief to start by being beat up by a girl. Just in think about fighting Viggo, having to face him, I wanted to cry. No way! But it would be good…
At the first minute of the strike, Gyda turned on herself, doing a sweep kick that made me tumble like ripe fruit falling from a tree. I got up, and in a few seconds was on the floor again, and again, and again.
Professor noticed I looked like a punching bag and had the decency to interrupt the scene.
“Time for you two! Gyda, go get some water.” (She left wearing the face of satisfaction.)
“Lola, you aren’t concentrating.”
“I’m not going to be able to. Look at me, I can’t even stand up right! I’m not good at anything. I think we should finish this humiliation right here.’
“Gunnar’s beards! Don’t say that, your grandfather would be devastated! We learn by making mistakes, this is called experience.”
“I’m sorry professor, but this is called failure to me.”
“Do you think everyone started out knowing it all? Do you think Nefarious started knowing how to be the Master Wizard of all Lumen? Of course not! At the beginning this happens to everyone. We must be persistent and remember why you are here. Think about your goal, you need to save your father. Think that his life is on your hands. As the dry soil that searches for water, you should seek your development. Believe you can do it. Being defeated is momentous, giving up is forever. Don’t give up, try again and again, until you get it right. Now, focus!”
Professor Cyperus was right, I had to really try. I was doing all of this for my father and for myself too. Nefarious, the professors, those students, everyone supporting me on the journey. I had the chance to win, even if it was a bit remote. I admitted that until that moment I hadn’t taken on the challenge completely. I was trying to find excuses for a defeat. I put all my worrying thoughts aside and decided that I was going to give it my best. If I was scared, I would go scared anyway. I cleaned the dirt from my clothes, took a deep breath inhaling all the courage I could.
“Professor, let’s try one more time!”
He smiled and made a signal for Gyda, who came back slowly and tediously like a clock.
“On place, ladies. Fight!”
She (too predictable) made the same sweep kick again as in her first strike, but this time she didn’t drop me. I jumped. Yes! When I tried to punch her, she swerved and threw me to the floor. I got up, I would fall as many times as I needed to reverse this situation, until I stood smiling and her eating the field grass. We attacked each other. One kicked and the other veered. I kept being beat, but now a little less. I fell for the sixth time, seventh, eight, and got up. Each time, I learned her fight style and the next time she tried, I could handle her. My whole body ached, my bangs were parted to each side of my head because of the sweat, which was dropping, but we kept going. The other two pairs stopped their practice and came to watch our performance. I lost my concentration when I saw Viggo and the others looking at us. This was worse than winning and having no one to show. Gyda took advantage of the moment mixed with some jealousy and kicked me right in my stomach, throwing me to the grass. I held the pain in. As soon as I fell, she gave me the shoulder and blew kisses to the audience. Gyda wanted to humiliate me. I couldn’t let it go. My blood boiled just like a kettle on the fire. I got up, catching my breath and jumped on her. Professor Cyperus almost interrupted us when saw how the fight intensity was raising, but he let us finish. Now it was her turn to be unprepared. I reached for her knees and threw her to the ground. I did! Sweat ran from my parted bangs. Zyba and Dakota applauded as if I had just made a goal. Viggo smiled, but kept his arms crossed. Now, this is a real kick! When Gyda stood up running to kill me, professor ended the combat.
“Very good, girls! We are done for today. My sincere thanks to our veterans. You are all dismissed.”
Gyda shot at me with her eyes. I just had made myself a rival.
I was dirty, sweaty, but for the first time in my life I had a warm feeling in my heart, I was feeling capable! I struck my chest, I even got taller. This must be the famous self-confidence I heard about. What a good feeling! I think I got someone’s attention with it. Zyba, Dakota, and I commented enthusiastically about the rematch kick when we were leaving the field. Viggo came to us.
“Guys, tonight the veterans will be with the band rehearsal here at the field training, right after the second sunset. They will rehearse for tomorrow night’s luau. You are all welcome, if you want,” Viggo said, spreading his sunny smile.
His voice was like a pain medicine that healed my body aches. I barely could face him. He would see the little hearts coming out of my eyes. I must be smelling sweaty, but who cares?