Fence

The room was dimly lit, as Lily and 935 prepared for a duel. Anticipation filled the air as the masked fencers took their positions, blades gleaming under the flickering lights.

Lily faced Kai, the match began with a ceremonious salute, the metallic clang of blades echoed through the hallowed space. Lily's initial advance was met with Kai's effortless parries.

Their movements were a symphony of grace and power, the clash of blades rang out like a rhythmic melody. Lily lunged forward, her foil aiming for 935's torso with lightning speed, only to be deftly sidestepped. Kai retaliated with a series of quick thrusts, each one expertly aimed, forcing Lily to retreat.

Lily smiled behind her mask as she faced him.

The intensity heightened as the two fencers engaged in a flurry of attacks and counters, the ebb and flow of the match echoed their mastery of the art. Lily's footwork was agile, like a controlled dance, while 935's responses were a testament to years of honing a unique style.

Shen watched their bout intently, hushed in the gallery. Lily's eyes fierce with determination behind the mask, locked onto 935's every move.

As the match progressed, the tempo quickened. Lily's attacks became more daring, aiming to break through 935's defense, but the latter responded with a calmly, turning aside each assault with a flourish. The clashing of blades echoed through the hall, punctuated by the occasional gasp from the Shen.

Lily executed a daring feint, luring 935 into a vulnerable position. In a swift and calculated move, she delivered a decisive thrust that landed squarely on target. Shen clapped loudly hailing Lily.

As Lily and 935 each of their strikes matched by the other, their blades met with a precision that mirrored their equal prowess. The score was showing Lily ahead in their relentless dance, each fencer gaining points only to be swiftly countered by the other. The hall echoed with the metallic rhythm of their blades.

With the clock ticking down, Lily, fueled by determination, lunged forward with a rapid series of attacks. Her foil cut through the air, aiming for 935's torso, each movement meticulously calculated to secure a win. Yet, 935, not one to yield easily, deftly parried and riposted, equalizing the score with an almost supernatural finesse.

In the dwindling seconds, Lily summoned her reserves of energy for one final assault. With a sudden burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, aiming for a swift coup de grâce. Shen held his breath as Lily's foil sliced through the air with precision, closing in on 935's defenses.

However, in an astonishing display of agility, 935 sidestepped Lily's advance with a breathtaking maneuver. With a fluidity that seemed almost unreal, he executed a perfectly timed and controlled retreat, turning Lily's momentum against her. As her foil sailed past him, 935 pivoted on his heel, gracefully evading the impending strike.

In that fleeting moment, as time seemed to stand still, 935 seized the opportunity. With a lightning-fast counter-attack, he executed a reverse fleche, a move that required an impeccable combination of agility and timing. His foil found its mark, landing a precise touch on Lily's shoulder, scoring the crucial point that edged him into the lead.

Shen erupted into gasps and cheers as the final seconds ticked away. Lily, caught off guard by 935's marvelously executed maneuver, acknowledged the his move with a nod of respect.

The lights in fencing hall came on as the buzzer sounded landing, indicating the end of the match. 935 and Lily took off their fencing mask, before Lily could say anything Shen rushed over to 935 and lifted him up in the air.

Lily stunned by the sudden outburst was delighted when she saw 935 smiling and chuckling as Shen celebrated with him. She quickly hurried and took a picture of the moment.

935 still had a smile on his face when Shen placed him on the floor, Lily hugged him tightly, "I am so proud of you warrior" she praised "If i had know you'd be this happy, i'd have done this sooner. Without the promise of the shed of course" she teased.

And just as 935 wanted a small shed was built by the house for him, he requested it to be turned into a lab so he could practice science experiments that the tutor thought and that's what Lily had it turned into.

Since he had gotten so good Lily listed 935 in a couple of tournaments, and each and everyone he entered, he'd bring back gold. 935 learned a lot of things while he was home, other than training he learned cooking in the kitchen with Shen or Lily and crafting in his shed.

He learned other languages too and go as far as teaching some to Shen.

After much request Shen only came when he was called, or when his tutors were around, 935 didn't bother familiarizing with them and only spoke when needed, he'd finish the assignments tasked to him and submit when due.

He didn't get rid of Tobi, but used him to get some things he needed when Shen or Lily where not watching him. He found a way to jam the camera's and let Tobi in without Lily noticing he fiddled with the camera.

Years passed and it was finally time for 935 to enter high school, with his record on sport and international quizzes he got requests from a lot of schools. Lily picked one that was the best out of all of them, according to the report she got, they raised only the cream of the crop, from politician to senators, foreigners and the likes all their children went to this school.

But there was one thing all these children had in common, they were all considered geniuses. For his grade there was going to be an exam, even those that started out in the school, from elementary to junior high had to write that exam to make it the their required grade. No amount of money, or social status was going to change that.

The prestige of the school extended far and wide, and to have them request to teach 935 really brought a smile to Lily's face. 935 was going to study with the best. As Shen explained it to him 935 let out a long bored yawn.

Lily had gone on one of her trips again, so 935 was stuck babysitting Shen. They were both playing video games, Lily had promised 935 that she was going to take him on one of her trips if he passed the schools exams.

On the day of the exam Lily had returned from her trip to take 935 there, to the surprise of everyone 935 came out of the exam hall earlier than usual, behind him was another boy. While other parent had their interviews and returned only a handful of students had finished.

When the exam was called to an end lots of children came out crying, out of the three hundred students that sat for the test only fifty had made it to the next interview, which was odd to most of the students because it was normally fifty one.

It was believed that no one could ever score a hundred in the schools exam, so the numbering to ensure fifty students were selected started from number two to number fifty one. What was more surprising was when everyone saw who number was.