Chương 13: Match with Sophie
With Leo's hand held by Sophie, he could only use his shield to attack her.
The edge hit her abdomen, protected by the leather gear. Although holding back, he still knocked out the air from her.
She went down, letting go of her sword and holding her belly. She grasped for breath, took a moment, and then looked at Leo.
"That quite hurt.", she winded. Leo squatted down in front of her.
"Sorry Ms. Sophie, but I have no qualms right now. I fulfill your fathers request, so please adapt, and also do your best. After all you should be also my rival."
He offered her a hand. She took it, and dragged him to her, past herself. He lost his balance, about to fall over. Sophie had in the meantime grasped her sword, and stroke at him from a low position. It hit him on his back, knocking him to the ground.
"Payback, Mr. Caesar.", she smiled mischievously. He grunted, spitting out some dirt that got in his mouth.
"You got me there.", he admitted. Now Sophie offered her hand to Leo.
"Wait till I get warm, then this will happen more often.", she warned.
He took her hand. Lifting him back to his feet, she smiled sweetly. He said:
"Just wait until I have more experience. I will overwhelm you."
'I have to work on myself. This training is a gift to get familiar with the arms and customs of this world.'
From a window, Mr. Sieg watched over their training. Not only to see if Leo is taking this serious or not, but also to watch how they behave. Seeing Leo's gesture and Sophie's return, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"They make a good pair. Looking forward to their development."
"Mr. Siegfried, aren't you worried that Ms. Sophie will develop some feelings if she is spending so much time in contact with Mr. Caesar?", Silvia asked worried.
"Not really. I would like a friend base relationship. A relationship with Mr. Caesar, without influential relations is one thing, but that he is a dwarf is another. As you know other races than humans is not an option for my little angel.", he said earnest.
"Then please pretend if I didn't asked anything." Silvia left, and let Mr. Siegfried Doc alone in the room.
He whispered to himself:
"Mr. Caesar, don't go over your bounds. Keep a work relation with my daughter, or I have to use some ugly means."
His eyes serious, but his hands cramped behind his back.
'Make me to like you.'
Back on the training field, Leo and Sophie began to fight more rounds, losing the hesitation with each hit and successful block. Between short breaks to drink some water Silvia brought, they discussed shortcomings in each other's form.
"You have to be careful with the momentum of the hammer. If your swing is too big, it's over.
How often did I managed to land a hit on your ribs and armpit like that?"
That advice came from Sophie, who was a bit out of breath from all the training. She sweat a bit, soaking the neck area of her shirt a bit. Some hair also got loose.
"At least 8 times. I can barely feel my right side thanks to that.", he conceded.
"But you have to stop relying on your free hand to grab onto things. If a big grab misses, I can attack you very easy. And try a shorter sword, I suggest."
"Why, this is a standard weapon used by many soldiers due to the reliability and diversity."
"Because your attacks involve a lot of close quarter action. Even you sneak attack back then was to close, you had difficulties to hit me on that distance, right?"
"I guess, so, a shorter sword? More a broad or narrow one?"
She took the advice to heart, even considering his input to the weapons characteristic.
"I cannot help in that regard. Let's experiment in the future to figure it out."
He looked to the house, noticing the smoke coming from the chimney.
"It seems like food is about to be served soon. That will mark the end of our session today."
Sophia expressed her frustration. She stomped once on the ground, and requested:
"One last round, Mr. Caesar. Then we may call it quits for today."
"Alright, Ms. Sophie, Don't hold back."
"Not against you.", came the prompt reply, in addition she got into her position.
Leo followed suit, and as if a invisible counter expired, they began to clash.
As the faster one, Sophie first send a sharp step towards Leo's side. Already knowing this move, he redirected that move with his shield.
The move carried one and instead of stopping, she went with, rolling forward ones.
This was a dangerous move, in which Leo tried to hit her with a fast swing from his hammer.
As Sophie rolled past his shield side, he moved slower in that direction. After the roll, she didn't stand up, but remained in a low position. Using the height, she stroke at his ankles.
He was surprised, but managed to lift his leg up, avoiding the dangerous move. Positioning his lifted foot in a 160° angle, he steadied himself, the shield high before his chest.
Sophie was still lowered, awaiting his next move. The free hand on the ground, her legs bent and apart, allowing explosive maneuvers.
'That girl clearly has some combat training before. Who would react like that without any prior experience. Or is she just talented?'
He was worried. Her movements, instincts and adaptations above him.
"Already losing steam? Give me your all!", taunted Sophie, clearly enjoying this last battle.
He knew she prepared something, but waiting is not his style, so he charged with his shield.
If he could hit her, great. If not, he had a follow up. As expected, she dodged. He tried to hit her with his hammer, but the dull part was just a tiny bit too short, so it only graced he shoulder, only messing up her balance a bit.
As a answer she kicked his lower leg, hoping that would make his footwork harder.
But instead she felt on impact more pain than expected.
After the failed bashing attempt, Leo knew he would receive a counter.
So in a kind of instinct, he bend his knees in a nearly 90° angle, holding a firm stance, the shielt protecting his most important parts.
As he felt the impact from her kick, he wondered:
'Why did I have not even a shred of hesitation I could take that on. If she had used more strenght, I would be lying on the floor.'
"How is your leg so damn hard? It felt like breaking my ankle from that?", she cried out.
"Don't know, really. Was a feeling I could take that. But why are you blaming me? Afraid to lose?"
The smug smile when seeing her getting hurt from her own attack made her quite pissed.
"Hmpf, just got serious.", she announced.
She ran at him, ready to stab his gut. As she was wide open, he stroke his hammer sideways, attempting to hit her.
To his shock though, she slowed down instantly and instead used her free hand to push with her palm the moving hammer downwards.
Leo's move carried on, slamming it into the ground. As he not expected a counter like that, he was a bit slow on the uptake.
Sophie used that time, evaded his shield side and pushed the edge of the dull blade against his back.
'What a dangerous woman.', he shuddered.
"My win. My pleasure for this interesting training today."
She removed the blade, sheeting it and holding it to her side.
"The pleasure is on my side, Ms. Sophie. A dangerous move, but a quite effective one.
I look forward to our next session.", Leo replied. His compliment was honest, and he admired the nimbleness and quick reflexes of that girl.
'If she would use also magic and has more experience, she would be a foe I don't wanna mess with.'
Standing across each other, they were interrupted by the maid , Silvia.
On a tablet she hold a small pouch, walking towards them.
"I saw some of the duel. Mr. Caesar seems to have a solid stance, and will make a good guardian or shield bearer. And Ms. Sophie, congratulations. The times you practiced alone weren't in vain. The movements you revealed were on par with a E-Rank Adventurer."
"Thank you for your compliments, Ms. Silvia.", thanked Leo, happy to be praised.
"Silvia is enough, Mr. Caesar. I came to announce the end of today's lesson, as well to pay your salary for the coming week."
She held the tablet to Leo, showing the small pouch.
"It contains 3 silver coins. In addition to the private tutoring of Mr. Siegfried, that amount is appropriate. Contrary to expectations?"
"Nono, that's plenty. I am immensely honored to receive lectures of Mr. Sieg."
Leo took the pouch, feeling the weight of the coins. It was beyond description. This was honest, self earned money. It will keep him alive in this world for a bit longer.
'Have to treat Thomas to a good meal next time.', he remembered.
Silvia didn't left immediately, instead turning to Sophie.
"Ms. Sophie, Mr. Siegfried asked me to remind you of the proper gesture to thank him."
Sophie thought a moment, getting the process together.
She held the sword loose to her side, the other hand behind her back. Following was a light bending of her head and upper body.
'It looks so formal, but it has something to it. Getting respect in that way.'
Leo liked that method of expressing things.
Silvia meanwhile commented:
"Good form, but the feet need to be closer, lightly angled.
Now, Mr. Caesar, repeat."
"How do I do that gesture?", he asked. Better ask again than to embarrass himself.
"About the same, but as a male your feet have to be further apart, and your shield needs to be on your chest, the hammer resting on it. As the looser of today's last battle, your bow has to deeper, but not too deep."
He understood. Per instruction, he did his best to made the gesticulation. Silvia only shaked her head a bit.
"Where to start?", was everything he could hear her murmur.
After the farewell, Leo did not meet the landlord again. He got his stuff from the study, but he was not there.
'As expected, Mr. Sieg has not the time to see me as often. Maybe only his daughter. Why even should he meet me, beside the magic training.'
He left, exhausted from the beating he took today. For every hit he landed, he received two or three.
'Her speed is nothing to scoff at.'
He was expectant to the next morning, the new surprises the Doc family will hold for him.
"I learned certainly a lot today.", he said, his body aching all over, and his stomach grumbling.
"I could eat half a pig. Time to invite Thomas. Didn't expect being able to invite him so soon."
He smiled, happy to invite this man to a meal.
The way was uneventful. Some people looked at him, as he had a lot of dust on his face. It came from repeatedly being beaten by Sophie, who loved to let him loose his balance.
He arrived once again by the small and cozy house. The smithy was apparently used, as the sound of metal hitting resounded on the street.
Leo went around, viewing the beast at his work. Not wanting to ruin his concentration, he waited patiently.
After 10 odd minutes, Thomas removed the pair of black goggles from his eyes, noticing Leo.
Before he could get out anything, Leo already said:
"As promised this morning, I came to pick you, Bron and maybe Sam up. Today's meal is on me!"
After a moment, a kind smile emerged on the old man's face.
"Alright, Leonardo. While Sam is not here, I get Bron. Before we go though, wash yourself first."
He went inside, leaving Leo alone.
'Ahh, I forgot. Where is the bucket of hecking cold water...'
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