" Okay! The way to win is to make your opponent incapacitated or admit his loss! Other than that, the basic rules apply! No magic for the duration of the match! No eye gouging or groin strikes! Let's have a clean match! Hahahaha!"
King Alan was happy to work as the referee for this sparring match, he was almost as happy as Prince Adam. They both looked very similar as they wore deep smiles that almost seemed to cover half of their faces. But neither of them was as happy as Queen Andrea. She tried her best to hide it, but her demeanor had gotten " softer" compared to earlier. But with that, everyone else seemed to be in a not-so-great mood. It was somewhat strange. Almost like they all decided to pray for Prince Adam's defeat... Even Alice and Cynthia, who apparently know Prince Adam, either as a brother or as a cousin. Sarah was currently discussing something with Aqua, but I couldn't hear them since they were keeping it quite quiet.
" Hey! You should be focusing on me!"
" Hm? Oh, right... Well... Good luck?"
" You're taking this quite casually..."
" It's just a sparring match, Prince Adam."
" Maybe for one of us."
Prince Adam seemed to think this was an actual duel or something, maybe he plans on beating me quick and then asking for something like that? I can only wonder why, I mean, I just helped his father, free of charge... Well, I shouldn't say that, Alice said that I needed to be reimbursed for it. I still have no idea what it will be though? Maybe if it's gold I'll be able to enact a program to improve something in Paradise? Maybe I should see about buying more livestock? Or bring in a few scholars in a few different subjects and have them teach in the Acadamy? I'm sure the students would benefit from that?
" Hey! Matthew! Focus up! The match is about to begin! On my mark!"
King Alan called to me. He was right, I was getting lost in thought. I guess I should just treat this as a training session. I want to see if I can nail that move I wanted to try against King Alan, something tells me that I'm at the precipice of something with it... There's only one way to find out if it'll work out or not. I got into my stance and waited for King Alan's voice to announce the beginning of the match.
" Okay! On your mark! Get set! Begin!"
/ Thump! Thump! CLANG!/
"Powerful"... That was the first thought I had as we clashed our blades. King Alan's voice worked as the opening salvo that made Prince Adam and I launch ourselves at each other.
" You're.... Pretty... Sturdy..."
Prince Adam squeezed those words out of his mouth as we began to shift our blades trying to get an advantage over the other. So far, it's just a stalemate. I shift the blade a bit and start to let Angel's Swordsmanship take over. I feel it guide my hands to gain an advantage. It's starting to get to the point where I can almost turn it on and off. It's starting to get to the point where it only truly activates and moves me without my permission when I recognize that I'm in true danger. But still, there's a gnawing feeling that the skill isn't fully integrated in yet, instead it feels more like 2 pieces of metal grinding when it comes to the skill fully integrating into my body. Something tells me that I'm just missing a small thing before it fits into place. I just wish I knew what it was.
/ CLANG! CLANG!/
" Don't think it'll be that easy!"
Our blades struck against each other. It looks like neither of us is making much progress. I guess this is mostly a slight warm up for the both of us. King Alan didn't really give me any time to get into a groove, I really just acted more like a moving target that King Alan attempted to swat with his sword. Eventually he got me. Though I noticed after our 2nd exchange that he was attempting to teach me something, it took the 3rd exchange to see that he wanted me to put my foot down and attempt an attack. Once I knew what he wanted, I could see why he so badly wanted me to spar him. Admittedly, he had a good point, either because of Angel's Swordsmanship, the opponents I've had to fight in life-or-death battles, my own personality or a combination of all 3, I've had it in my head that I need to observe then attack. Only having one way of fighting is a bad idea, so I decided to do what was being asked of me. Turns out that's a good way to get smacked into a wall, but the point still stands. But I did notice something important, the second before he sent me flying, I felt something inside me, it was an instinct that told me I was doing something right. And if I had to guess, it meant that I was close to learning a new Skill. And if that's the case, I should learn it now that I have the chance. I mean, I could learn it later with Sarah and Anna's help, but since I'm already here, I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
YOU ARE READING
The Demon King's Paladin Part 2. All Out War.
FantasíaJohn Ericsson has created a life for himself in the new world that he was dragged into by Warrick, the Demon King of Diablos. Now, after marrying the loves of his life and making a place for himself in this new world, the worst thing that could come...
