AFK - Away From Keyboard

Chapter 28:

Emica's POV:

   "It's so hot." Rey moaned for what was probably the fiftieth time.

"Quit your whining," Len panted in reply. "You're not the only one sweating."

   After we had left Dranfall, the scenery had gradually changed from lush and green to dead and sandy. The only signs of life were the cacti, and the occasional sand shark.

Every time Len looked at me the fluttery feeling knotted in my stomach. It isn't normal to still feel the kiss on my cheek, right?

   All of us were more than grateful when we finally stopped for the day. You can't travel for very long in the desert.

"Okay, Yue and I will be right back." I heard Len say.

"No way. I'm coming too." Kit declared, scrambling to his feet.

Len stood beside me and took out a teleportation token. He glanced at me and gestured to his sword.

"Ooohh...sorry Kit! Maybe next time?" I couldn't help but smile excitedly.

"But where are you going?!" Kit demanded and glared at Len. "Why can't I come?"

"Sorry Kit, sometimes people just need to get away for a bit." Len smirked and took my hand, throwing his token into the air.

   In the next minute I was standing in a pretty little clearing in the woods. Little flowers were actually glowing in the trees, giving off enough light to see clearly at night. 
The full moon was just peaking over the pink treetops and its reflection sone in a tiny, crystal blue pond.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" I cried.

"I thought you would like it." Len grinned and squeezed my hand. "Are you ready to train, or do you want a break from all that walking?"

"I'm ready to train." I announced eagerly. "What are we doing first?"

"I don't think I can do anything to improve your amazing archery abilities. However, I am very skilled with my sword and it'd be good for you to learn some techniques. Especially if we ever run into...those situations again." He glanced at the still healing cut on my right cheek.

I nodded.

"Alright, here you go." Len opened his menu and selected another sword, which he then handed to me.

It was light, sharp, and perfectly balanced with a comfortable strip of leather for my hands to grip.

"First let's see how you hold against me." Len decided, drawing his sword.

I let out a nervous breath. "O...okay."

"Em, you don't have to be scared. We're going to take things really slow, alright? I'm not going to try to stab you or anything."

I smiled weakly. "Okay I'm ready."

Len swung his sword extremely slowly towards mine. I easily blocked that along with all the other slow strokes. Gradually he got faster and harder to defend against.

"Don't just defend all the time, Em. You have to attack too. Unless your master plan is to wear me out." Len grinned and swung his sword so fast that I had to duck it.
I thrust my blade forward, which Len blocked, and then brought it around, which he also blocked.

"Stop looking where you're trying to hit. It makes it too obvious." Len instructed.

I complied and found he had a slightly harder time determining my next attack.
When Len thrust his sword forward, the tip stopping just in front of my neck, the match was ended.

"That was spectacular." Len praised. "There are a few things you need to work on, but you definitely think on your feet well."

"Thanks." I panted.

He tossed me a canteen which I gratefully accepted.

"We've been here an hour. Next we can work on some special combos and moves, or if you want I can teach you martial arts."

I cheered. "Martial arts!"

"Okay. I'll teach you wrist grab, a choke, and a rear bearhug."

Wrist grab was easy. All I had to do was adjust my feet (right foot forward, left foot back), twist my hands so the palms were facing up, and then throw a kick with my left leg.

Len had my practice on the air a few times and then grabbed my wrists tightly. I used the move, and surprisingly it worked! Of course he backed away before I threw the kick.

Choke was easy too. It would be helpful it I was ever being strangled again.

The rear bearhug was harder. I had to turn myself ninety degrees to the right, hammer the invisible person's thigh, throw a right punch to the left, use my right hand again to back fist invisible person's face, and then throw a sidekick. Explaining it is even more confusing than doing it, as it was pretty easy to do to the air; but when Len grabbed me over my arms it was very difficult to turn. Not to mention move my arms enough to hammer my fist into his thigh.

   My first attempt was an absolute fail since I couldn't stop laughing. When Len had grabbed me he had started shaking me around playfully while saying: "Gimme your cat, lady! I want the cat!"

I smiled and tried to turn, but turning let me see his ridiculous face and I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight.

"Pretty good." He nodded after my second attempt. "You're a little stiff and you aren't punching very hard."

"It's hard not to be stiff when you're trapped," I protested. "And I don't want to punch you!"

"Sure you do! If you can slap me after I almost died, you can punch me hard while I'm perfectly fine. Now try again." He positioned himself behind me again and then grabbed me in a tight bear hug.

I went through the motions of the move and ended it perfectly.

"MUCH better." Len praised. "I think that's enough for one night."

I cheered.

"Aw come on, I thought you liked working with me." Len pouted. He looked a lot like Kit when he did that, and I think that was his intent.

"I do. I'm just tired now." I laughed.

"Oh you are, are you?" Len smiled evilly and grabbed my wrists, automatically I used the wrist grab on him.

"YEAH!" He exclaimed. "So, what do you want to do now?"

"I don't know...although everyone else will be mad. I think we've been here for over two hours."

"Yeah we have. It was fun though." Len grinned.

I laughed again. "Yes, it was."