Aymee Parker B2 - The Cursed Mark

Chapter 51 : The spy

The next day, Aymee only half woke up. Strangely, everything was groggy and confused in her head. This state lasted all day. It was only once in the arena, training with Percy Jackson, that she really woke up. It was strange waking up when the sun was setting. Percy parried and Aymee feinted a right. Poseidon's son crouched down, shielding his face, and Aymee frowned and stopped her hit.

"What are you doing?"

Percy opened one eye, then the other.

"Huh... I dodged?"

He stood up and Aymee looked him straight in the eye.

"Percy, in a fight, where does the danger come from?"

"Oh, easy! The weapon!" he responded and pointed Aymee's dagger.

Aymee flicked him on the forehead.

"Wrong!"

"Ouch!" He jolted.

"This," she said pointing her head. "Your opponent's mind is the real danger."

Percy rubbed his forehead, pouting.

"I know that."

"Oh really?" Aymee put her hands on her hips.

"Well, yes," Percy replied. "I know Annabeth, you know."

Aymee raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did you say the weapon was dangerous?"

"It's a total. It's what will cut you in two."

"Yeah..." Aymee rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. "Oh, how am I going to explain this? ... OK."

Aymee huffed and settled herself more comfortably, sending her weight into her heels.

"What should you watch out for?"

Before he could answer, she threw a right punch at his eye level. Instinctively, Percy dodged to the left. Only, Aymee had already started to throw her left fist, but starting from the bottom so he wouldn't see it right away.

"Wo— Ah!" Percy jolted when the left fist stopped an inch from his face.

Aymee pulled away and made eye contact with him.

"You understand? You have to pay more attention to your enemy than to his weapon. If you focus too much or dodge the blow too quickly, I can use it against you. You really have to wait until the last moment to see what the other has in mind."

Percy nodded seriously and Aymee smiled. The others teased him by calling him Seaweed Brain or Kelp Head, but Percy was far from dumb. Aymee walked over to the nearest dummy.

"I'm going to show you one last sequence that you should practice and then we'll stop for today. Good?"

"Yeah, that's perfect!"

Aymee positioned the dummy so that her right arm was raised at a right angle, as if to block a blow coming from the left. Percy stood a little aside and watched carefully. Once ready, Aymee turned to her student.

"So, let's say your goal is to attack a monster at the throat, the easiest way is to stab it with a sharp blow by bringing the guard towards you. Like this."

Aymee demonstrated with her right arm slowly, so Percy could see. He grimaced.

"I don't know if I can hold Turbulence upside down like that. It's not a dagger."

"It is touchy, but Turbulence is not a long sword, so it's still doable. You have to train for all possible situations. I don't think this one will happen, but I'll show you just in case."