Hit Me

Training with Sir Trenton was useful because Henry learned how to be strong; with Sir Alix, he learned how to conserve energy through form; however, with Sir Maximus, he learned speed and focus.

When he first began his swordsmanship journey, he held a lot of anxiety in his body like some kind of small animal preparing to get attacked by an apex predator. It made for sharp and quick, directionless movements.

Maximus tuned into this issue quickly and decided it needed to be addressed early so it wouldn't become a bad habit.

When Henry had built up his stamina, Maximus taught him how to control his breathing. With just one deep breath in and a deep exhale out, Henry felt like he could slow down time.

However, with the commander in front of him holding one of the largest one-handed swords he had ever seen in his life, all his fear came rushing back in.

If that sword was directed at him in any way, he was certain he would be instantly cut in half.

Henry had no choice but to tilt his sword toward the larger man and touch the blades in a show of good sportsmanship.

When he had been training in the past, the knights drilled into him the importance of communication in a cordial match when stakes were much lower

Immediately after, he backed up and got into his strongest stance with his weight being distributed to the leg stepping forward.

He planned to block.

The commander laughed and said, "I'm not going to hit you. I want you to hit me."

"Yes, sir," was all Henry could mutter.

He took another deep breath and exhaled, realizing he was going to have to move eventually. It helped time slow down and he felt he could give his all even if it wasn't enough.

Henry swiped down from the commander's center to his left leg, putting strength into the blow, knowing it would be the only way he could get past the man's block.

Commander Lothian seemed to be able to see the future and he parried the attack, causing Henry's blade to fly backward.

"I could have used that as a window to attack you," the commander said. "Again."

Their swords clanked together a few more times.

If Henry tried to be fast, the commander was faster. If he tried to sneak in an attack that would surprise the average sword fighter, the commander seemed to be one step ahead. Henry's show of speed was always met with the commander's even faster speed.

He seemed to be inhuman.

Henry's luck seemed to change as he gave a downward strike when the commander's blade was already tipped down. His blade went past the larger one and when nothing was there to stop it, he immediately changed direction and swiped upwards.

The commander immediately dodged, but if he didn't, the blade would have met his arm and weakened his ability to hold such a heavy sword tremendously.

Again, their swords clinked together a few more times as Henry tried to think of a way to have the upper hand.

Unexpectedly, the commander suddenly raised his blade, only enough to show he was thinking of striking Henry, but not enough to leave himself vulnerable in a counterattack.

From the side, Trenton knew what the commander was doing. He had heard him say he only wanted Henry to try and land a blow. Pretending he was going to attack would get Henry out of his mind and test his instincts.

Trenton trusted Henry's instincts more than his ability to plan.

As the commander brought his sword down, Henry gasped but his posture changed. He immediately planted his feet into the ground and gave the appropriate angle to block a blow from above.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to rely on the strength of his shoulders alone, he braced the top of his blade with his hand so it wouldn't be knocked backward.

However, the blow never came and the commander retracted his sword. He quickly sheathed it and crossed his arms over his wide, muscular chest.

"I've seen enough," he said.

The knights in the stands shouted words of objection. They wanted to see a real fight. The sight of men with two strong blades made them all feel the adrenaline rush of battle.

"I didn't ask any of you to come here," the commander said.

Henry still hadn't let go of his block and his shoulders were starting to burn. He wasn't sure what had happened or how such a short match was enough for the commander to understand anything.

"Put your sword away," the commander ordered and Henry immediately did as he was told. "You have a long way to go. One day it will come naturally, but as of now, you're battling yourself as much as you're battling your opponent. Eventually, your instincts will kick at the moment there's a sword in your hands."

The commander did nothing else but nod at Henry and walk away. His apprentices immediately scrambled to follow after him.

Henry could only stand there and watch the receding form of the commander in confusion.

"You didn't make a fool of yourself," Trenton said. "You were nervous enough I thought you might have."

Henry blinked a few times in disbelief. He didn't know when Trenton had walked forward and he was doubting everything around him.

"I don't know how he was able to tell anything from that," the younger man said. "I didn't hit him as he asked."

"You can tell plenty," Trenton said. "He knows of the remarks people have said about him and his lack of care for his own life. He makes sure that isn't a trait the knights underneath him have. Your instinct to survive is sharp."

"He wants to die?" Henry asked, feeling upset over the remark about peasantry from the Earl they met with before. He missed Trenton's compliment.

Trenton shook his head.

"Not at all, but that's how those of higher class justify his strength," Trenton explained. "He doesn't have a death wish. He knows how to trust instincts ingrained in him from fighting for his life since the day he was born and made an orphan. He simply relies on himself the most."

Someone with a more pitiful existence than himself felt unbelievable in Henry's eyes. He tried to picture the commander as a young man, even skinnier than he is.

To be an orphan in the peasant class was a death wish. Adults would try to help but there wasn't ever enough to go around.

The commander disappeared into the fortress where his quarters were, but Henry kept his eyes cast in that direction for a long time.

Trenton remembered just how it felt the first time he met the commander. He frustrated him to no end and he couldn't wrap his head around anything to do with him.

It wasn't until he faced monsters with the commander that he fully understood him. Trenton hoped that Henry would have the privilege to face hardship with the commander.

"Don't worry about him," Trenton assured Henry and put a hand on his shoulder. "He's not someone you're going to understand in a day."

Henry nodded and his posture relaxed somewhat.

"What do you think you're doing?" Trenton said with a twinkle in his eyes. "You think you're getting out of training this afternoon?"

His smile was evil, knowing the younger man's shoulders were probably fatigued.

"We've got to build up your muscle somehow."