Unspoken

Chapter Three

Our swords clashed, and it sent a wave of impact through my hands and wrists, spiking into my forearms. I stumbled back, looking over at Adara. We were sparring, yes, but you could say our methods weren't so 'traditional'. Well, my sister wasn't really one for battle in any form... But when she did train, she used her mageia to forge weapons or objects. That was Adara's favorite of her abilities to call upon: a form of levitation combined with item manipulation, and now she utilized it to make this sparring match a further challenge for me to win. Yes, her abilities were ever impressive... How her sword was forged from translucent white aura instead of steel, which was clever because it minimized injuries for both of us.

But that means she always has the high ground.
I gave her a hasty half-smile, noticing the swift motion she made with her hand, yet again giving an order for her sword to attack. I responded by knocking her sword back with a swift and harsh hit.
Adara flinched and gave a quiet whine. "Hey, don't forget this sword isn't made of iron, it's made of me!"
"Sorry," I breathed, narrowly managing to dodge the floating sword by somersaulting.
Ah... This time her attack had been a far more unpredictable movement, and my shoulder had nearly earned a lovely cut. I had to give it to her, she really wasn't going easy on me today.

I suppose I deserve it. She's been tirelessly training me for... What? A little over two weeks now? Yes, that's about how long it's been since I started this endeavor.
"You're... Not especially holding back either... You know," I said, speaking in between sword strikes.
Manage your breathing better.
Yes, yes... There were many things to the art of sparring—no, to battle in general, which had taken much getting used to. There was a rhythm to it I had to memorize, something which felt directly like secondary heartbeat.
That rhythm had been silent within me for far too long... For too many years. Even as a child I'd felt it deep within me. I'd spent twelve years with my parents absorbing all the knowledge they'd had to pass down to me. Lessons in politics, flight school, and of course there'd been battle training, in which I was currently refreshing myself on.

To think I let myself forget...
"You would have been fine, Phoenix. It takes more than that to hurt you, and you know I know that." Adara innocently replied.
I gazed at her sword as it hovered about five feet above me. I couldn't help but smile just a little as I backed up, a plan formulating in my mind. Then, I ran forward to give myself the boost I'd need to jump into the air. I swung my blade and put a considerable amount of force into the movement. My shoulder blades ached from the stress I was putting them through, but I didn't let it slow me down. I was curious to see if Adara would be able to dodge it or not, especially since she'd seemed distracted. But it seemed as if my plan was not 'destined' to go as planned, as some may say.
"Wha—"
My sword met air, and nothing else. I thought she'd simply dodged it, but no, her aura had vanished altogether. Because of how much it had startled me I'd barely had enough time to land properly. Well, I supposed 'proper landing' wasn't really the right frame of wording. Really, I'd just somersaulted again, and roughly at that. Hardly an impressive showing.
Ah, yes, quite flattering... Hmph. I don't see her getting covered in dust, not from her comfy spot in the shade.
"Excuse me, but what was that for?" I huffed, out of breath from the workout I'd just been put through.
Adara giggled as she fiddled with a piece of her hair. "Honestly? I'm a bit bored."
I shook my head, sensing that familiar—exasperated— 'just on the verge of losing my temper' feeling my sister tended to bring out in me. Then again, I couldn't exactly complain, because she was my sibling. I'd been accustomed to this treatment my entire life.

'Bored' she says, while I'm over here trying to get back into shape. We can't all just swing a pretty little sword around whilst lounging in the sun, Adara.
Musing on that though, I moved over to a nearby quercus tree, wanting to catch my breath. But the moment I sat down, an array of muscles in my arms, back, and torso tightened. Now that I could breathe and relax, all my aches and pains had surfaced. Next, I would feel it in my thighs and calves... In every joint being pushed to its limit.
"Damn," I muttered.
She really hadn't gone easy on me with this training, but then... I had no right to complain, since I had been the one to request this arrangement.