Slytherin Roar: Through the Maze || Tom Riddle's Era

Chapter 8 || Training for Preparation

Saturdays were always the lazy days of the week. People usually avoided unnecessary interaction with people and preferred to remain in one place to do whatever they do; this means that there is no chance—and I mean none—for people to even remotely go close to the Black Lake. Lucky for us, that was what we exactly needed.

The day was clearer than yesterday in the quidditch tryouts and the weather was much more pleasant. Nevertheless, the air was still bitter and frosty, yet Tom and Abraxas seemed to not learn their lessons on wearing suitable coats in the winter. I merely rolled my eyes when their ridiculously thin and expensive coats flapped fruitlessly against the cold.

"I have a question," Abraxas started.

"Yes?"

"How in Merlin do you not get uncomfortable wearing that?" He pointed to the dagger sheathe I wore on my thigh.

"You get used to it," I said, shrugging. "Just feel lucky that you don't have to carry around constantly."

"Noted."

"Anyways, let's start with the basics."

I brought out two swords from my bag and handed them. I fought against a smile when they avoided the metal as if it was an alive fire that continued to feed off from the oxygen around us.

"Aren't you supposed to teach us how to use a smaller weapon first?" Tom raised a brow as he levelled the sword in front of him. "You know, just for practicalness?"

"Well, fighting with a knife against a three-metre tall monster doesn't seem that efficient for a beginner, so yes, we're going to start with swords."

"Do you even know how to use a sword?" Abraxas challenged.

I deadpanned him, rather dumbfounded. "Of course I do," I managed to say. "How else am I going to live even a second if I lose my dagger during a fight."

A small tint of colour crept on his cheeks and he said no more.

I watched their hands on the hilt of the sword and I walked around to adjust their hold on the leather. Abraxas had the tip of the blade rested on the ground to prevent all the weight concentrated on him and I made sure to remind myself to train him and Tom with a few rounds of push-ups. When I inspected Tom's form, I observed that his hands were too close to each other. I touched the hand that was below the other and tugged it so that he would lower his hold.

"It's better to hold your sword apart at the very top and bottom of the hilt is longer."

I looked up to meet his eyes and stopped completely. His black eyes were penetrative than ever, but I was more surprised that his face didn't have the usual frown when someone corrected him with something. I waited slowly, expecting for his face to frown but it never came.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes." Tom cleared his throat and his knuckles turned slightly white when he gripped the sword tighter.

I glanced at his hands before nodding slowly. "Okay."

Backing away, I gestured for Abraxas to stand next to Tom. When they were all lined up in front of me, I brought my fingers on their chest. They looked at me weirdly and I merely smiled at them before jabbing their chest, pushing them off balance.

Their eyes widened and they dropped their swords immediately before hitting their backs to the ground. Ignoring their dirty looks, I laughed and helped them get up.

"What was that for!" Abraxas tried to pat the ruffled pieces of platinum hair back into place.

"It's a reminder to have your form perfected so that you don't get knocked off from the ground."