Chapter Seventeen - Sparring Sir Quin

Once Noah reached the house he stood by the door breathing in slowly. Pushing the door open and walking in, opening the living room door and seeing Sir Quin standing there with another blue drink in his hand.

"I am ready to master." Nodding his head and clasping his sword in the scabbard.

Quin gulped a large amount of the liquid from the container and looked back at Noah, "Didn't I tell you not to call me Master or Sir. You stupid kid. Alright go outside and stand on guard. I will attack without notice you have to defend yourself against me."

Noah retreated out from the house and turned to face the main door checking at the windows but not seeing any movement he took the sword out the sheath and held it in his two hands, recalling the stance he learned from the wooden sword and preparing himself.

The wind lightly whistled in the airbrushing past Noah's face and making the grass wave and curl the other way. Noah couldn't hear anything other than the beat of his own heart. He had only fought properly against the Orcs of the forest. Which is an experience that didn't go well. His goal was to impress Sir Quin and make him see how good a student he would be.

Noah stood in a stance with his arms raised holding the sword rigidly; for a good ten minutes, his arms were starting to tire but there was no sign of his master. Just as he was away to let his sword fall closer to the ground, he heard a rush of wind from the left. Twisting his body and sword just in time to block a swipe across his chest even though he had been strongly holding onto his sword it was nearly ripped away from him in that one attack.

Cold sweat started to gather on his back as he was forced to take a few steps back. The clang from the first hit still rung out before Noah had to then block another two attacks from the person attacking. He didn't have time to glance at the face of his attacker, just enough time to raise and block the sword from the oncoming barrage of attacks.

Bracing himself, he tried to push back at the attacker; whenever their swords hit trying to move even millimetres towards them. However, the strongest force put in the attacker pushed back with just a little more. Every swing and block felt like it was a step back.

Instead of continuing to parry every hit Noah changed tactics and after driving a swing-away he took a chance; jumping backwards and taking a further few steps away. Giving himself enough time to see his master staring at him as if he was a piece of prey.

His hands were getting sweaty forcing him to grip the sword tighter. He knew that he had to make a proper plan but couldn't think properly the adrenaline was rushing around his body. He decided to use the forest around them to his advantage, falling back to behind a tree using it to stop the swings from his left.

Slowing his breathing and taking in breaths, his master slowly walked in a semi-circle around Noah pushing him around the tree to act as cover.

"Smart move, if being pushed back by someone stronger than you try to make an advantage. The issue here is that will only work with someone who hasn't been trained in magic." For the first time, Noah saw his master smirk which managed to turn Noah's gut. His master didn't look like he was just sparring now.

Holding his place Noah raised his sword to go on the attack, his master seeing this rushed in a black aura spreading over his word as he swung it to Noah's left with only one hand. Noah saw the aura around the sword and rolled backwards.

A snap was heard from the tree and when Noah looked up chips of wood flew everywhere. Noah started shaking. A few seconds later and he would have been sliced across the chest and bleeding on the ground. The sweat from his face was rushing down.

His master took a few steps forwards but the aura on the sword stopped and retreated back into the handle of the sword. He took quick small steps towards Noah before attacking his legs, trying to cut him down or make him fall. Every exchange made Noah's arms weaker.

He knew he could only last a few more minutes, instead of holding back Noah went in for the attacks, aiming to just scratch his master. If it wasn't for the adrenaline rushing through his veins he would have long dropped the sword and given in.

Starting to take steps forward and slashing his sword down; Noah wasn't taking any ground but he wasn't losing any either.

Quin was casually using one hand to block every attack without effort, what interested him was the dim glow that had started to come from Noah's blade. A white aura that looked like it was magic kept trying to expand; but as far as Quin knew Noah wasn't trained in magic nor had he had much experience with it.

To see an aura coming out like that on its own was rare, making him push maybe a little too far but he couldn't give up on this rare chance now. He kept batting Noah's swings away but could see that his strength was fading.

Noah's eyes closed and didn't realise it was happening, but he was determined to at the very least hit his teacher. Clasping his sword he could feel blisters that had already formed from earlier in the fight burst and leak down the handle.

Just as he thought Noah wouldn't be able to fight anymore, there was quite a surprise for Quin. Noah swung his sword down letting out a scream and the sword burst forth with a black and white aura that he had never seen before.

The strange thing about the aura is that it looked like it was fighting itself it curled up the sword trying to be the first to the tip. The aura would push at its counterpart and would gain ground over the sword but lose some elsewhere at the same time.

The young boy felt a surge of power and energy before it disappeared as quick as it came. His sword didn't hit anything but just hit the ground cutting deep into a tree root that Quin had been standing on.

As the sword sliced through the root-like it was dough Noah fainted on to the ground, face first.

Quin kneed over him and checked his eyes, they had the two different auras one in each eye. They seemed to be fighting at each other and trying to take over the other. "Strange.. Very strange. I might just take you in properly myself."

Sending some magic aura around the necklace allowing him to take out a prepared bottle of water from it. Many Dragon Troopers had these necklaces or wrist bands that would allow them to keep a large number of items in, normally it would be done by weight limit but some would have an area of space that they could handle.

Gently pouring the flask of water into Noah's mouth after turning him, he watched the young boy gulp it down without rest. Once it was all finished he returned the flask back to his necklace and easily lifted the 16-year-old over his shoulder, carrying him back to the house where he could rest properly.