Chapter 31

At the training ground, both Alan and Ruddy were sparring there. Using the wooden sword as their weapons for the spar, both of them show how many skills they have for each other so they can share and learn some new skills. They also track down their weakness so they can do some improvements. Ruddy and Alan were a few meters their distance away. Both of them were showered by their own sweat after a couple of clashes and attacks that they had charged to each other but look at the situation, Alan was the most exhausted than Ruddy.

At this state, Alan can't go on this spar. He was already out of his breath as he doesn't have any stamina left. At that moment, Alan giving his sharp glance towards Ruddy. "I love those eyes, you couraging yourself not to give up. That's will makes your opponent more aware of your situations." Ruddy was amazed when he saw Alan's eyes. "You can go again?" Ruddy offers his hand to Alan want to help Alan to stand again.

"Yeah, I still can do it again." Alan takes that Ruddy's offer by grabbing Ruddy's hand. "Good…" Ruddy smiles while pulling Alan's hand to make Alan stands again. Ruddy was so happy after hearing those words from Alan. "I told you I won't go easy on you," Ruddy told him he will be serious in fighting even in a sparring mode. "I would love you to do that because I will know where is my weak point." Alan appreciates Ruddy's seriousness so he can learn something new.

At the same time, Tiara had arrived at the training ground. Eliza and Will, also follow Tiara from behind. The three of them were watching both Alan and Ruddy doing their sparring. Alan and Ruddy make a distance from each other a few steps backward for their next spar. "Are you sure you want to keep going? We can take a few minutes rest." Ruddy seems worried to Alan after seeing Alan making unevenly breathe.

"I'm okay, just keep going this spar." Alan didn't care about Ruddy worried and didn't care about his condition, the most important thing for him is he needs to improve his swordsman skills until he is satisfied. "Bring it to me." Alan calling Ruddy to attack him first while preparing his defensive attack. "Alright." Without any hesitation, Ruddy launch his attack towards Alan. Alan read Ruddy's attack and he quickly defense where the point of Ruddy's attack by using his sword.

Alan was surprised because Ruddy's attack was unpredictable. What Alan expecting where Ruddy was pointing his attack was wrong. Alan saw that Ruddy's attack was on the left side but he suddenly changes his moves to the right side. Alan didn't see it's coming like that and he also doesn't know whether he can make it the time for him to make a defense that attacks but he tries his best to moves his swords to the other side.

A strong clanking sounds echoing the training ground after both Alan and Ruddy's swords clashing with each other. Alan was very struggle holding his defense. Ruddy's attack was too heavy forcing Alan to fly a few meters backward. Alan's body can feel the pain even the damage coming from his sword. Alan looks at his left hand, shaking like hell may be the aftereffect of that attack. Alan doesn't know what to do, he has a little bit of strength left inside his body. If he receives another attack from Ruddy, he probably loses his sparring.

Ruddy saw Alan lose his focus. Ruddy quickly takes the chance to launch another attack towards Alan. In this time, Ruddy attacks Alan straight away. Alan was shocked by a sudden attack that coming from Ruddy. Alan hesitated which moves he should make to avoid that attack. There is so much decision he must choose but unfortunately, he must act now before he loses this sparring.

The swords were clashing, maybe Alan successfully parring Ruddy's attack at kneeling positioning. Yes, of course, Alan success parring it. Unluckily, Ruddy's sword was already pointing in front of Alan's neck. Alan also had already lost the sword that flies away and fell behind him. Alan's head facing the ground, he was very frustrated. Just less than a minute, he loses this spar round and same as before. He gripped his fist because too disappointed he can't be improved his skills. At the same time, Tiara just keeps watching both of them from upstairs.

Alan stands and taking his wooden sword that fell on the ground. Ruddy saw Alan's expressions but he doesn't know what to do only just watching Alan taking his sword. "It's not done yet." Even though Alan's voice was lower but Ruddy still can hear clearly. "Maybe we should rest first." Ruddy seems worried towards Alan. "Not yet!" Alan shouted. He seems a bit angry but he is not meant to Ruddy but actually to himself.

Suddenly someone clapping very loudly that coming from upstairs makes both Alan and Ruddy look puzzled. Alan and Ruddy look where the clapping sound coming from. It was Tiara who was clapping her hands. Tiara's attention for clapping her hands was trying to attract both. After succeeding in attracting, Tiara slowly takes the stairs going down to them.

"I think that's will be enough." Tiara stopping Alan from continuing the spars. "But mother…" Alan still wanted to continues his training. "Listen to me, I want you to save up some energy for some important business." Alan feels baffled after her mother says had something to do and he had to join her. "Your mother was right, I didn't come here in empty hands." Ruddy interrupts both Tiara and Alan's conversations. "Business?" Alan hated to be missed something that he doesn't know.

"We will explain it later, right now you must take a shower and need some changes, we will be going to the town in an hour." Tiara orders Alan to prepare himself for joining them. Alan nodded his head, he keeps back the wooden sword that he uses to the right place. After that, he leaves the training ground.

When Alan at the half of his walk, Alan was stopped by her mother. "Your skills are good but you need an instructor to guide you." Tiara trying to encourage Alan about his swords skills. "Thank you mother, I will refer back to Leo." Alan appreciates her mother's praise. "No, you need a new instructor. About Leo, he already left our house." Tiara can't express anything about Leo but Alan was the most effective after hearing that, he looks disappointed.

"But why?" Alan wants the explanation because he was confused. "He had changed his mind and there is something else that still unsettled." Tiara is telling about Leo's situation. Alan feels sad, Leo was the most closer to him and see him as a friend to him suddenly disappear without saying goodbye. "I'm very sorry son, I promise you I will find you a good instructor." Tiara persuades him by giving him a promise. Alan walks slowly leaving the training ground with heartbreak.

After that, Tiara looks at Ruddy. "What are you doing?" Tiara looks dumbfound after seeing Ruddy show his confidence posing with the wooden sword. "When I was nine, I was awarded as a genius swordsmen." Ruddy is proud of himself by telling his achievement. "Nah, you are not on my list." Tiara flatly rejected Ruddy as her son's instructor. Ruddy was shocked and become speechless, with no words for Ruddy about the instructor's topic. Both of them leaving the training ground.

Not half of their walks, Tiara stops her walks make Ruddy that follow her behind was also stops. Tiara stares at Ruddy disgustingly. "What?" Ruddy doesn't understand why Tiara makes a disgusting way. "Why are you following me?" Tiara questions Ruddy about his action follow her. "I am a guest and you are the owner of the house. It was unrespect for a guest hovering to inside your house." Ruddy was right, a guest must keep their manner.

"You have misunderstood something." Tiara sighing and telling him that's not what she meant. "What I mean is you also should go take a shower, you are full of sweats and very stinks." Tiara put out her fan and quickly close her nose by using that hand fan. After that, she leaves Ruddy behind while Ruddy trying to smells his body odor. "Hey, I do not smell that bad." Ruddy was confident about his body odor.

Alan is at the bath still heartbroken after he lost his instructor. "You said I shouldn't give up but you lied to me and you left me." Alan talking to himself about the memory with Leo. "I thought we were friends." Alan cannot hold his sadness and clearly can be seen at the bathwater that mirroring himself. He looks at himself and suddenly his thought was thinking about her mother's advice. 'If you let your regret trapping you, you will not gonna improves anything.' That's advice makes him to becoming a strong will to change himself to be stronger.