Sparring

"O-Okay," said Liam, backing up slowly before putting the book away and going to the back room with Aniya following him.

Liam grabbed two wooden swords that were hanging on the wall next to a lot of weapons that are rusty and waiting to be fixed or upgraded.

He handed the wooden sword to her as they went to the backyard. Liam slowly walk to the other side and gulped before facing her until he felt a heavyweight on his shoulders and chills running all over his body.

He gulped again, staring at his childhood friend on the other side...or maybe she was the person he knew before getting into a long-point guard.

Aniya Annabella. She is one of the greatest knights in the Navalon Kingdom. The strongest swordswoman they ever knew, earning her the name "Swiftstride."

She was in a keyguard stance with the shadow covering her face, and Liam flinched when he looked into her flaming eyes. That guard stance is very useful, and it's worse when she's doing it. She looks so imitating. There's no guarantee that it would lower the enemy's morals and flee from her.

The purpose of the keyguard is to use for quick thrusts and stabs, creating distance between her and the opponent. It can be changed the guard really quickly if the opponent is going for the legs, making look like it's highly advanced and can be used by the best of the best.

The only weakness of that stance is the attacks are so linear. Any opponent can slip in and closed the distance, but they can't underestimate the user.

Liam slowly scooted forward to see her reaction before charging at her at full speed. Thrusting the sword is the best way to set up a combo. He can bait her out for using the key guard's purpose and close in the distance.

Liam went for a stab in the head, using it to block her view. However, she reacted very quickly. Parrying it to the left and went for a thrust to his head. Liam widened his eyes and couldn't believe how fast it was coming.

His first reaction is to slip to his left, almost losing his balance, and went for her lower stomach. Aniya spin around very quickly, and Liam gasped before putting his hand on his blade in a vertical position to embrace the impact.

Aniya hit his sword lightly and gracefully spin again, facing towards his back with her sword by his throat. Liam gasped and immediately raised both of his arms. She was too quick for him like she just teleport right behind him. Aniya sighed and lowered her sword.

"Sorry for not going easy on you, Liam."

"No, no, it's okay," he said, facing her. "It helps me to improve my reflexes or improve what I'm lacking. Who knows what will happen to me after I keep sparring with you, so let's do it again."

Aniya smiled when she saw his smile as he walked back to the other side. This is the Liam Castor she knew back in the days. She got in the keyguard stance again and waited for Liam to charge.

Liam got into his long-point guard again and ran towards her. Aniya stood still and waited for him to strike first. Liam did the same thing again last time and so did Aniya, parrying it to the side until Liam disappear from her sight.

He slipped and sweep her feet, sending her to the ground. Aniya quickly recovers by rolling to the other side and quickly facing him. Liam was already up in her face with an incoming slash from his right.

Aniya ducked and went for his chest. Liam widened his eyes and quickly slipped his blade close to his chest to block her attack. Then, she began sliding her sword across from the side, setting her up for an angle to slice his stomach.

Liam tried to back up, but she latched onto him and still going with the plan she had in her mind. The first attack he had in mind was to throw an overhand left. Aniya widened her eyes as she stared at his fist. She didn't expect him to throw a punch in a sword fight, and it caught her off guard. It's abnormal for a soldier to throw a punch because it's not that uncommon on a battlefield, and he's the first one that ever done that.

Aniya barely dodge his overhand and rolled underneath his punch until Liam throw a left roundhouse kick. Aniya enlarged her eyes again and jumped back. A punch, then a kick?

Liam set his left foot down and use it to launch himself flying towards his shocked friend. He wasn't talented or gifted. He wasn't any of that. He's a...genius. A game-changer. She had to get serious because she doesn't know what would happen if she face an opponent like him.

Aniya tightened her grip on the sword as Liam went for a strike from his right to her left side. She parries, and then pushed his sword down to the ground with hers.

"Ah!" Liam lost his footing and his grip on the sword. He grunted when he landed on his chest before rolling over. Liam opened his eyes to see Aniya already had her sword up against his chest, and he surrenders again.

She widened her smile and was impressed by his actions. She can see his potential to become the trickiest knight in the kingdom. It's gonna be hard to face up against him because he can be so unpredictable.

"Liam, you did amazing!" She shouted, forcing him to stand up and hugging him with a bright smile. She stood there with Liam while rubbing her cheek against his chest before she realized what she had just did.

Aniya slowly gazed up to see his blushing face, making her blush harder than him. She quickly pushed him away before turning around, holding her cheeks.

'What was I thinking? What was I thinking?!'

Liam smiled sheepishly and began scratching the back of his head while looking away. Aniya felt like she's going to pass out. It's common for her to hug him, but not in that way. That's the hug what couples do, and they are not a couple.

She slowly looked at him from behind, and he was still scratching his head, but was looking away. She smiled, knowing that she wasn't the only one embarrassed.

Then, there was an explosion, and the ground started to rumble right after that. Liam lost his balance and fell over. On the other hand, Aniya regained her balance and began looking around.

She dropped the training sword and rushed to the front of the armory store. Her eyes gazed towards the kingdom's walls and gasped.

Whatever it was that explode busted the front gatehouse with debris flying everywhere. Some of the soldiers rushed down the path towards the gate house.

Aniya can hear the whirling sounds of the defensive siege weapons on the walls and archers releasing arrows from their bows. She glared into the distance and saw a red magic circle fading away. Revealing the user behind the attack.

The magician had dark skin with four horns protruding from its forehead, holding a staff with a bull's skull on top of it. It had wicked canine needle glass-like teeth as it began to drool at the sight it was staring at. Glowing bright red eyes that can be seen from miles away, and behind the magician was an army with horns and wicked appearance.

Aniya widened her eyes as Liam approached her from behind.

"What's going on?" Liam asked. Then, Aniya started pushing Liam towards the castle.

"Liam! You need to get to safety, quick!" Liam averted his attention to where Aniya was staring at and gasped.

There's no mistaken at what he just saw. Everybody can recognized their appearances and would run away from them.

The army with the magician that destroyed the front gatehouse was none other than the demons.