Dead from inside

I let go of the sword as his shoulder was looking badly injured.

"I lost once again." he said with gritted teeth and I smirked.

"You are still not prepared, let's double the time of your training and add the practice with me too." he bowed his head and turned to leave when i looked back at the boy who was looking at me with jaw touching the floor.

"You injured him." he accused unconsciously and then covered his mouth with both of his hands and staggered a few steps back.

"This is how a fight was supposed to be. Getting injured is part of learning and being strong.

with "So are you ready now?" he looked at me and gulped burn nodded. At least, he was not a coward and knew how to face your fears.

"Alright, you attack first." he shook his head. He was looking unsure and I sighed.

"If you do not attack, you will never learn the skills related to it." Finally, getting assurance from my words or realizing that he did not have any choice, he moved and held his sword in a death grip.

"Good, then let's start" he nodded and we walked towards the centre.

He was looking at me, hesitating to start, but in war, there was no hesitation and he would need to fight one, soon

I aimed straight at his chest and he was surprised, but I did not stop. I then, aimed at his hands, finally, his hesitation went away as he realized that I would not stop even if he did not attack. He secured himself once again and this time he was the one who attacked my eyes but it was a weak attempt, his hands were shaky and his movements were slow.

I smiled brightly as I bent and aimed at his legs. But he just staggered backward like a lost kid who had no idea what to do next!

"Flip and take steps back." I shouted and like a puppet he followed.

He flipped in the air, turning two steps back and then ran to attack straight at my stomach.

I bent at the side as I crashed my sword with his. The sound of swords clinking and slashing could be heard as the practice intensified. He was slowly gaining strength. Though he was still not able to attack, he was doing his best to defend. The force he was using to stop my sword before it could touch him was also a tremendous progress.

I smirked and moved to attack his other hand this time, but he defended at the right time.

"Well done. I am impressed." that dumb Liam had not progressed this much in so many days. Yet here he was! He learnt to defend in a single day.

He smiled brightly like a kid who had gotten praised by his parents, it made me wonder how innocent he was!

"Never leave your focus, and pay attention to the words of your enemy!" I reminded him as I tore his shirt from his chest, scratching it in the process.

He looked at me horrified then at his clothes.

"But you were the one who started!" I shrugged as he looked at me with astonished eyes as if he wanted to call me a cheater or more.

"Pay attention!" I reminded him and he finally nodded and tried to attack me, but then again it was easy to parry as he did not have any fixed aim.

"Again!" I shouted and he continued. If it continued he would be ready to defend in a month or so.

His whole body was covered with sweat and he was taking shallow and fast breathes. His chest was heaving as if he had run a whole empire.

"You need to run from tomorrow. How could the man who is serving me be this week!" his lips turned into a thin line as he nodded.

Then with determination he stood in the stance to defend and I smiled and moved my sword to attack his other arm this time. His left arm and chest already have the mark of a sword and some scratches.

But there was more than one reason to injure him this way. My eyes narrowed at his chest and his hands. So, I was right! My hands gripped the sword tightly as I took the grave decision.

This time when I moved I aimed at his hand and the injury was more than just scratch. A gush of blood spread on the grass and he winced as he let go of the sword and covered his hand with another hand. There were three deep lines formed on his forehead and his face was looking contorted. But he was still standing on his feet. That should ot have happened.

"The match is not over yet!" I reminded him and he looked at me with pure hatred, an expression I was most familiar with! But I never cared about it.

"If you do not attack me, I will still attack you." I reminded him and he gritted his teeth. Through slow steps as he moved towards the swords and took it once again in his hands.

I moved to attack him again but this time he moved before me and tried to attack my stomach with more hatred and precision.

"That is much better. If you have emotions, use them to your benefit, water that hatred and use the power it provides you!" I reminded him but his steps halted listening to me.

He shook his head and stopped the sword before it could touch me.

"My father has taught me that hatred will not only burn the enemy but the one who was watering it would be burnt more than anyone else. I am better with my peace and calm mind." for a second even my steps halted as I listened to him.

'Has my hatred burnt me long ago too. Was that the reason I felt dead from inside?'