Bab 27: Catastrophe: Flame Part 1

I block his sword with the blade of my wooden sword with one hand. I am stepping back, as he attacked and I block it. He wasn't that fast. He was more careful at first and slowly by slowly he's becoming aggressive. My whole body heated up as sweat keep coming out from my skin. His next movement was unpredictable. He disarmed me and the blade of the wooden sword touches the skin on my neck.

"Dead." He announced. I catch my breath as I stare into his emotionless eyes. "You look so tensed." He put down his sword and he picks mine. He turned back from me as he took a few steps away from me and he tossed the wooden sword in my direction in a very swift movement. I can't step forward to catch it instead I use my left foot to toss it up before it falls on the ground and I catch the hand using my left hand while I swing it forward.

I sigh and positioned in attack and defense. He watched me for a moment and he pointed the sword to me. He stepped little by little while we circled each other. I stare back into his eyes to make a contact. He announced an attack and I attack him as he defended himself with his sword. I twist my heels, as I make a very swift movement to finally kill him. Unluckily, he had duck down and…

"Dead." He announced again. I look down at the sword pointing on my chest. "Next time," he stood. "If you do that move make sure to have an extra sword or a dagger." He advised. "What do you think of the use of the dagger?"

"As a backup defense," I answer.

"Correct." He pulls a special dagger from his belt and showed me how to hold it. He held it with a clenched fist where the sharp point of the dagger is facing down. "Use this." I took it and he attacks in a very swift movement. I automatically had blocked the dagger and the blade of his wooden sword is against my dagger. "Good."

I still don't understand why he wanted me to be something… a female knight or just a sword woman. For whom this training will be? He spanked my butt cheek with the sword. I hissed at him and put down my weapons.

"Don't overthink. Focus, Catastrophe. You wouldn't be a disaster if you don't focus."

"I am focusing here." I insisted. I positioned my sword and pointed it to him.

He put down his wooden sword and sigh. He gazed at me and simply study my position. Is he checking me out? I suddenly feel uneasy and bold in his eyes. Should I smack off his face down the ground?

"Do 20 pushups, 20 squats, 20 curls up every day."

"What?" I furrowed on him.

"You have good stamina but it wasn't enough. You should be fit and flexible. I want you to be like that so you could survive in this cruel world. Still, it wasn't enough for you to survive. But, I am sure that you could survive in this training." I put down my sword and sigh as I rolled my eyes.

"Why do you want me to do this? Why training me to be some kind of warrior?"

He stepped forward and stepped forward again as he looked down at me. I chin up to meet his gaze. I don't want to back off right now.

"There are things you should learn first before knowing what's behind on another side of the wall. Those things are for survival."

"Survival?" I got his hint. He wanted me to be strong and to learn to defend myself. He became my mentor, trainer, and now an adviser. Should I trust this man who breaks Adhiti's heart? Or should I include the heart-breaking and their romance on this survival to find justice?

"Yes. You are naturally curious around you. Curiosity leads you to death. It is the same as a reporter who wanted to get the truth behind the politics for her to reveal it. Sometimes you didn't notice that you are already jeopardizing yourself. Do you agree with me?"

"How did you even know about me jeopardizing myself? You barely know me and we just met days ago, weeks or weeks ago?"

"Trust me," he scooped my chin and he moved his face closer to mine. "I know everything, Catastrophe. I am not just your mentor or an employee in this school. I know more a lot than you do."

"Alright then," I smirked at him. "Tell me everything." I step a little closer to him and our nose is nearly touching. "Tell me everything you know."

"I will tell you. But now isn't the right time. First, you must learn the rules of swords. Second, you need to study your opponents; third, know your defenses and attacks. Lastly, don't get yourself killed by your opponents."

"That's the only rules you say?" I asked him. He cock his head as a response. He stared into my eyes and I stare back at him. I have this urge on wanted to stare at him all the time. "Why do you keep staring at me?" I asked him just to break the hot tense between us and the deafening silence.

"I just realize that you are pretty."

I look away and scoffs on what he just said. Is he trying to be funny or what?

"People don't think of me as pretty," I told him. I push the sword on his chest and he held my hand. "They think of me as a cool-gorgeous girl." I slipped my hand from him and I gave his dagger. He took it and tuck it on the belt.

"Really?" he asked as if he was surprised by what I said. He's mocking me. I rolled my eyes. "Alright, that's it for now. Tomorrow, meet me here at four am and pm. I had shuffled your schedule and remove a few subjects for you."

"So, what's the next lesson for tomorrow?"

"It is a surprise for tomorrow."

"Okay, I am guessing that it will be very hard training tomorrow."

"Not that very hard." He signed me to go. I turn back and walk towards the dormitory building. I decided to jog to the corridor to our quarter. But a figure on the corner of the corridor leaning on the wall makes me stopped.

"Why did you come back?" he asked me.

"Who are you?"

"Oh, I forget that you don't know who I am." He speaks behind the darkness. I move a little closer and snapped my fingers and a little fire is dancing on my forefinger to see his face. He was the guy from a while ago who keep on staring at me. "You don't know whom you are dealing with." He smiled lopsidedly. He touches my fire and his fingers are on fire. That thing makes me stepped back.