The Mercenary Veteran IV

The next morning, I arrived at our usual training clearing just as the sun began to rise.

Kael was already there.

He stood in the center of the clearing, arms crossed, his silhouette outlined against the dawn. 

His eyes flicked toward me as I approached.

"You're late," he said flatly.

I squinted at the sky. "The sun's barely up."

"And in a real fight, your enemy would've snuck into your tent, slit your throat, and be going back to sleep."

I sighed. This was going to be a long morning.

Kael tilted his head slightly, his gaze dropping to my wooden sword. His expression was unreadable, but I caught the faintest glimmer of disapproval.

"You've been training alone for a long time, haven't you?"

I nodded. "Since I was four."

He exhaled through his nose, nodding slightly. "Your form isn't bad. But training alone can only get you so far."

I braced myself. "So, what's first?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Drop your sword."

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me."

I hesitated but obeyed, setting my hand-carven wooden sword down on the grass.

The second I did, Kael moved.

Before I could react, his leg swept out, catching mine.

I hit the ground hard, my breath knocked from my lungs.

I gasped, struggling to sit up as the world spun around me.

Kael stood over me, arms still crossed. "Lesson one," he said, his voice calm, almost lazy. "If you think a sword is the only thing that'll keep you alive, you're already dead."

I choked out a breath. "What the hell?!"

He smirked. "Get up."

I pushed myself upright, glaring at him, my ribs still aching from the fall.

Off to the side, Lily sat perched on a nearby rock, watching with wide, entertained eyes. She cackled. "Oh, this is great."

I ignored her.

Kael rolled his shoulders, his expression unreadable once again. "Your strength, your speed, your stamina... they mean nothing if you don't know how to use them. So, first, I'm going to teach you how to move."

I frowned. "I already know how to move."

Kael snorted. "Oh? Do you?"

Before I could react, his hand shot out.

I barely managed to dodge, stumbling backward as his fingers brushed my cheek. My heart pounded, the phantom sensation sending a shiver down my spine.

Kael grinned. "Not bad."

I clenched my fists. "What was that?!"

"That," he said, flexing his fingers, "was me going easy on you."

I bristled.

Kael smirked, unbothered. "First rule of fighting: You don't just react. Anticipate."

I narrowed my eyes. "And how do I do that?"

He gestured for me to come at him. "Try to hit me."

I hesitated.

Then, I lunged.

I swung a punch at his ribs, fast, sharp, precise.

Kael flowed out of the way, sidestepping effortlessly. He then caught my wrist mid-motion and twisted it. Before I knew it, my back was against his chest, my arm pinned.

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Owwwwwww!"

He leaned down. "Too slow."

I struggled, trying to break free, but his grip was like iron.

"Lesson two," he murmured, his voice low and calm. "Your enemy isn't going to wait for you."

Then, just as suddenly, he shoved me away.

I stumbled forward, catching myself before I hit the ground.

I whipped around to glare at him, my breath heavy. 

Kael just smiled. "Again."

I exhaled, shaking out my arms.

Alright.

If he wanted me to learn, I'd learn.

And this time?

I wouldn't let him win so easily.

.....

By the time we were done for the day, my entire body ached. Every muscle burned and I could hardly move. I could hardly believe I was alive. This was almost worse then the time I had been attacked by the wolf in the forest.

The man was relentless. The man was crazy.

Still, I couldn't deny it; I was learning. And that was worth the pain. At least that was what I was telling myself.

The sun had dipped beyond the horizon by the time I found myself sitting next to Kael by the fire. The village had long since gone quiet, the only sounds left being the occasional chirp of crickets and the distant rustling of the wind through the trees. Even Lily had left; she had long since gotten bored and left to build beds or something.

Kael sat across from me, legs stretched out, leaning back on his elbows. His usual guarded expression had softened a little.

"You did good today," he said suddenly.

I blinked. "Huh?"

Kael exhaled, staring into the fire. "I mean it. You're a fast learner."

I frowned. "You sure? I spent half the time on the ground."

Kael smirked. "Better now than when it matters."

I stared at him for a moment, then looked back into the fire.

The silence stretched between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was a kind of quiet understanding.

After a while, I asked, "Why do you know so much about fighting without a sword?"

Kael didn't answer immediately.

For a long moment, he just watched the flames.

Then, finally, he said, "Because you learn quickly in war that a sword won't always be in your hand."

His voice was quieter now.

"Sometimes, you lose your weapon. Sometimes, it breaks. Sometimes…" His fingers twitched. "Sometimes you have to use whatever's left. Your hands. Your surroundings. Your teeth, if you have to."

A shadow passed over his face.

I hesitated. "...Did that happen to you?"

Kael huffed a laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Too many times."

Another silence settled between us.

The fire crackled between us.

I didn't know what to say to that.

I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers. "I think you're a good teacher."

Kael scoffed. "Flattery won't get you out of training tomorrow."

I smirked slightly. "Was worth a shot."

He shook his head, amused.

For the first time, I saw something in him that wasn't exhaustion, wasn't bitterness, wasn't something broken.

I saw Kael, the person.

Not Kael, the mercenary.

Not Kael, the soldier.

Just a man.