The Witch's Relay

Chapter 32: Sparring

"Hey hey hey! Let's talk about this!" I call out in vain as a sword crashes down towards me. I try to block it with the two sai I'm holding, but like I expected, my opponent changes striking angle and instead knocks them out of my hands. "Are you crazy! And why am I even using these in the first place!? I said I use swords and knives!"

"Hahaha! C'mon! Can't ye do any better than that? Yur gettin destroyed by a girl!" Burke laughs while Heather covers her mouth.

It is true that my opponent is a girl, and none other than Bree herself, which honestly is kinda embarrassing. But really? Can you blame me!? I'm using weapons that I've never even seen before, and even less had any experience with! And on-top of that, her arms are massive! Even by guy standards! Honestly screw Heather's training, maybe I should just intern at a forge or something!

Currently it is the next day after going to the blacksmith's shop for the first time, and we are located outside of Northerton in order for Burke to decide exactly how my weapon should look like. So coincidentally, me and Bree have been pitted against each other over and over, with me using an array of strange and unique weapons.

"Next I want you to use this." Burke walks up to me and hands me a long stick before picking up the sai."

"If this is supposed to be a spear, why not make it both longer and with at least some kind of tip!?" I can just see myself getting clapped once again for the eleventh time in a row.

"It's not meant to be a spear. It's a bo staff." Heather says seriously.

"That's right! Ye can use it to shove like a spear, but this particular one is covered in a thin layer of steel, enough to allow ye to parry, while still not being too heavy to wield. Ye can be a little creative with its uses."

"Well.. I guess here goes nothing. Again." I swing it around a couple times and switch hands to get a feel for its weight.

"Ye ready Kade?" Bree asks while swinging around her own sword a bit.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess."

"Great, then let's go!"

She rushes at me while holding her sword defensively covering her body, and I take a few steps forward and prepare to use my "bo stick" as a spear, which ends up not working since she easily hits it to the side. Seeing as my first attempt doesn't work, I quickly sidestep her follow up swing and try using my own weapon like a bat, which also gets blocked, but immediately after, Bree punches me in the face.

"Was that really necessary?" I ask, dabbing my lip with the back of my hand in order to see if I am bleeding, which surprisingly I'm not.

"Yes, ye need to be motivated. So if you don't want that again, just be better." Bree answers without the slightest bit of remorse. But she does take a step back in order to let me recollect myself.

"Try holding your hands on the marks, essentially dividing the staff in thirds, that will allow you to parry and swing faster." Bree advises.

"Try using that one trick I taught you!" My attention suddenly shifts to Heather and I silently nod. Since this staff is a bit out of my comfort zone, I'm going to instead try to fight as if I'm unarmed, but with a bonus weapon.. So armed unarmed combat?..

I do listen to Bree's advice however, and get in a stance waiting for her to charge.

"Here I come!" Just like every other time, she advances, and when close enough Bree goes for a swing, which this time I block with the staff. Before Bree is able to retract her blade however, I let go of the staff and grab her wrist with both hands, and twisting my body, I throw her over my shoulder, mostly using her own momentum from when she charged at me. While the throw was successful, despite me feeling like my back is about to break, Bree just rolls it off and almost instantly stands to face me again, with her weapon raised.

For such a powerful build, she sure is nimble.

Me standing there, now truly unarmed, Burke laughs and says it's time to try the next weapon after we eat lunch.

...

"So what exactly are you looking for in these fights?" I ask, looking at Burke and Bree who are chewing on sandwiches they brought. Heather and I are just eating our normal dahlia buns.

It is true that we eat those buns way too often, but since they are so good, it will take a little while longer to get tired of them.

They glance at each other for a second before Burke answers. "I'm looking for you affinity with the various different weapons to decide what "part" of each one I should be adding to yours. More than that I won't say, just in case it will affect your performance during the test."

"Ok.." I look at Burke and Bree suspiciously, and then an idea hits me. "Do all blacksmiths do this when making custom-made gear?" I've never heard of this process.

"Oh no. Definitely not. But they should, most smiths are just second-rate and don't fully understand the complexity and purpose of all the finer details." Burke says proudly.

"And you do?" Heather asks slightly amused but hiding it.

"I try." He grins.

"He also wants me to get some experience fighting different weapon types. Although how fighting someone with yur level of experience is helping I have no idea." Bree rolls her eyes and I give Burke a dead look at which he laughs.

"Anyhow! Drink up and let's keep going!" He gestures to our water-bottles and grins again.

I grunt as I reach for it. Unfortunately for me, Heather can't heal me until we reach the confines of our rooms, after which she will still probably refuse with an amused grin.