I'll Love You Regardless

Chapter 2. At Least I'm Not Hot-Headded

(First Person)
It's been three days since I've been appointed to train with the Captain and the muscle-bound savages. That's the easiest way I could put how they act when training. When they're not at eachother's throats out of training for who would get to 'score' with the Captain first or completely just pummeling me they're usually beating themselves like crazy during the actual training. Thank the heavens I was paired to train with the Captain. At least she isn't as savage... however she is brutal.

"Now, come at me." Captain Lia said to me.

"Right." I nod as I charge at her with the steel in my hand. Swiftly she side-stepped and banged me on the back of my head with the butt end of her sword. It dazed me a little but I quickly regained myself and charged once more. Again, I was never the best out of the knights. Most likely the worst out of them all so you could just imagine seeing me flailing my sword at the Captain. Again the Captain repeated her maneuver and spoke in a harsh tone.

"If you charge blindly like that then you'll die the first seconds of battle." That gave me an idea... once again I charged at her with my steel in hand. "You won't learn, will you?" With that she side-stepped once again. However this time I swung my blade to the direction she stepped. Instantly she blocked the attack and I drove my foot in to her stomach making her step back. Of course I'm not powerful but I can think of the basic strategic advatages I may have or not have.

I turned to her with a smile. "I'm not one much for learning. I just come up with different ways to defeat my foes."

She arose with a slightly raised eyebrow. "I've heard of your ability to easily judge a situation and know what to do. I thought it was false but now I get to see it firsthand. Let's see how you do against one of my attacks."

Almost instantly she darted straight for me. I wasn't prepared for how fast she was moving so I moved my blade in front of my vital spots. Of course I felt seering pain as I felt her blade slash my side as she flew by me. However the Captain wasn't quite done yet. I turned with the blade still in the same position and she was already on her way for me again. This time as she drew near I hit my body to the ground as fast as I could and grabbed her ankle. Not only had I landed on the ground on purpose but I also made the Captain plummet to the ground in a thud.

I arose faster than her and pointed the tip of my weapon to the back of her neck. "I believe I've won."

She laughed. That's all she did, just laugh. It was the first time I heard and obviously there was a sense of humor in her voice. "Not once has anyone thought of doing that to me. You're a lot smarter than I thought. To think you actually caught me off guard." I tilted my head at her reaction as she stood and turned. "I've seen all that I need to. Your next opponent will be one of them." She points to the second strongest of the whole brigade. "I don't think blocking will stop his blade though so I'd think a different strategy with him."

She motioned for the first to sit next to her as myself and the second strongest took position in front of them.

"Alright little fry," the man said in a mocking tone, "you'd best just give up now."

I shook my head in amusement. "No matter who my foe may be I will never back down." With that I prepared my weapon.

He shouted angrily and swung his sword at me with immense strength. I dodged by a split second and felt the force of the wind as it barely passed my head. This guy was out to kill. I had to think fast or else he would get it. Again he swung in frustration and I dodged once more. He may be strong but he's definitely not the smartest.

"Stop dodging!" He roared in annoyance. Once more the same happened but he got faster and faster with his swings. I was getting slower and slower dodging with time so I had to act soon. The next time he swung I went straight behind him and slashed my blade across his back. I left a good gash across it but it only seemed to anger my opponent. Instantly he swung his sword around and I dodged once more, however the tip of his blade made contact with my cheek and left it open and bleeding. Blood poured from my open wound down my face and in my mouth as well. I had to end this quick or else I'd be a gonner for sure. The next time he swung I barely dodged it and once more I got behind him. This time I used my hand and jabbed his arm he used the blade with. Instantly it went limp and dropped the weapon. I did the same to his other arm and both were like paper at his sides.

"Why you little!" Again he roared and charged regardless of his inability to attack. I readied my sword straight for him. I dodged his charge and slashed the back of his legs to make him fall down.

"Never underestimate your opponent regardless of size." With that that I sheathed my blade to my side.

Captain Lia stood up and applauded. "Very well done Gui." She kneeled next to the immobile man I took down. "Han." She said the man's name, "you're not fit to become a leader if you can't stand a chance in combat like that. It's best you leave here and train. You're not needed here anymore."

The first man stood up and went straight to me with a smirk. "Little Gui. Good work on taking down Han but you will not have an easy time with me."

I just smiled innocently towards him. "Oh I know. I'll just have to find a way anyways Lerit."

He spat at my feet. "Don't say my name little Gui. You haven't earned enough of my respect for that." With that he left.

I waved him off with a pleased smile of victory. At least as much as I could smile with the gouge in my cheek. The Captain came to me and checked my face injury and simply said, "later you'll come to my room. I'll patch that up for you."

My whole face turned red. Not from the blood but the fact I was invited to her room. She was already gone as training was done but I just stayed there with my embarrassed look and dumb smile.

"Okay." Was all I said after she was long gone. I quickly realized this and made my way for her room in the kingdom to get myself patched up.