Chapter 107 CHAPTER 107
The sword clanged against his so hard I thought my arm would fall off.
“That level of strength won't even cut through his skin,” Master Florian scoffed, advancing on me as my legs pulled me back so I could adjust.
I raised the sword, and put my mind into it.
His strikes didn't let me breathe and more than once, I screamed from fear of breaking something.
“Can't I get a less heavy sword?” I begged.
Never in my life back on earth could I imagine fighting like a medieval princess like this.
He stopped and stared down at me.
“You can't keep asking for easier when you have a job as important as you do. One mistake, one sign of weakness and he'll be the one killing you. Didn't you say that's what he said he's been sent to do?”
I nodded.
“Then put your back into this, the plan is a two way street. If you don't kill him, he'll kill you. Is that what you want?”
“No sir.”
“Then fight me Ferguson, you have less than one month to get this right.”
“You're going to back to war?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Strike me Alira.”
Mind your business, message received.
Knowing the real consequences of this, my efforts doubled.
I ignored the pain coming from my back and shoulders and kept going.
Even when I fell on my ass again and again, I jumped back up and kept fighting.
I think I even saw a sign of approval in his eyes but it might be wishful thinking.
He'd gone from happy and chatty to this brooding man and I don't know what to make of it.
When he pushed the sword out of my hand again, for the millionth time or so, he pushed his sword into his belt.
“Your dinner is over there. There are some books in the library that'll help you as well, I'll bring them tomorrow morning. Goodnight.”
“Master Florian!” I called instinctively and he turned, already down the road by the time I was done calling his name.
“What is it?”
“Did I.. did I do something to offend you?”
He speed walked back to me.
“What makes you think you did?”
“You've been upset at me and it's a bit unusual. I'm just –”
“You're pretty self absorbed, has anyone told you that?”
“Me?”
“What about me suggests you have power over me to make me so pissed for days on end?”
“I'm sorry –”
“And you're always sorry!”
“What do you want me to say!” I screamed, tears of frustration pouring out.
“Nothing, just…” he turned around and paced two steps away and then right back while I tried to calm my breathing.
“I'll go,” I whispered and began walking out.
“You forgot your food.”
“I've lost my appetite.”
“You are not going to kill your enemy on an empty stomach. Eat.”
I swirled around angrily to face him.
“You think you're the only one that can taste food for me?”
“What… Draco is doing that?”
I frowned.
“No. Don't worry about it. I'm sorry for being annoying and self absorbed, I'll find someone else to train me and the food thing, if I feel I've been poisoned, I'll get Eruwan to pull it out again. Goodbye Master Florian.”
He was in front of me before I could take the second step, stopping me.
“You want to stop training with me?”
“You clearly hate me, I know how upset you were the day you were assigned the job and I guess time hasn't done anything to change that. It's unfair to keep pulling you out of your busy schedule for somebody like me.”
“I didn't say I didn't want to train you, I was upset about something else.”
His voice was different now, not harsh, not soft, just on edge.
“It doesn't matter sir, I'm just one student and I might be late in training but that's no fault of yours and you shouldn't be forced to train me. If I die, I'm just not strong enough and it's fine.”
I tried to side step him but he pulled me back, taking a very deep breath and placed his hands on my shoulder.
I raised an eyebrow when he didn't say anything.
“Look, I don't think this is any of your business but it's making you misunderstand a lot of things so I'll just tell you.”
“Tell me wh–”
“Hush and listen.”
I nodded, cheeks reddening.
“I've been the King's test subject for years now. Everything Fae, everything dragon kin, everything in between. And recently, there's been a change in the war. Don't tell anyone what I'm telling you, alright?”
“I won't.”
He pulled me back to the field and sat me down on a boulder and sat next to me.
“They're getting past our barriers now, not in droves and we kill every one of them but it was never possible before. Now, more than ten, fifteen come in at once. They're literally suicidal which tells me they're testing for something and this means that they're planning something dangerous, something we must be prepared for. And that's where I come in. Whatever our Scribes and Mages come up with, it's tested on me. I've been given one month's break to rest from a week's tests and I still wake up every morning scared the time is up and I'll be back in that place. So sorry I'm taking it out on you. I like you, you mean way too much for me to admit. I know what it is but I'm scared of accepting it. You deserve a… proper male, not one that's a test subject for a war maddened king. I just can't keep watching while that stupid boy keeps hurting you but I can't touch him, neither can Draco. He's the Principal. So you must keep training with me, it's the only way to calm my dragon down, to assure him you're going to be fine.”
I waited for a minute to be sure he's fine speaking before I fell into his arms and hugged him tight.
He inhaled deeply, his hands hung limply by his side for a second before they wrapped around me.
“Alira,” he tapped my back after a few seconds and I pulled back, suddenly shy.
I'd been so overwhelmed by his words and I have probably overwhelmed the man.
That was my thoughts until my nose caught a familiar scent
I turned around to see Principal Draco standing beside Styx, a murderous look on his face.