I'll Love You Regardless

Chapter 5. Respect is Earned.

(Gui)
Today is the day with my fight with the first of the brigade. Honestly I'm thrilled to have to battle with him due to the fact that I believe in my own strengths now. After me defeating Han he hasn't been quite as hard on me. Yes he's still being rude but at least I took a step up.

Captain Lia takes her place sitting on the side as both Lerit and I take our positions for the spar.

"Are you ready little man?" Lerit calls out to me as he unsheathes his sword.

"I'm more than ready... big man!" I call back to him as I do the same.

Lerit actually chuckled in amusement as he moved straight towards me. He didn't charge like Han did so instantly I could tell this would be a completely different fight.

Lerit made the first attack. Swiftly he swung his sword at me and I dodged effortlessly. With the fight against Han a few days ago I definitely have gotten faster. Again he swung his sword at me and I dodged once again. I was beginning to get his movements down. A third time he swung and I decided now was the time to strike. I dodged effortlessly and went behind him to attack. However I wasn't able to land a blow as he struck me from his behind with his foot making me land on the ground a few feet away.

I spurred in a coughing fit as he turned and spoke. "I'm not as simple-minded as Han. I won't fall for your simple maneuvers."

He gave me no time to regather myself as he found now as a good time to attack since I was winded. Even after losing all my breath and just getting up I was barely able to dodge his attack in time to make myself jump away from him. To my surprise he was a lot more bright than the other so I'm definitely going to have to fight smarter. Swiftly I regain my composure and dash towards him in a futile attempt to catch him off guard. Of course it didn't work as he side-stepped and swung for me. I was hoping for this as I hit myself to the ground hard as he swung in to air. As I laid there momentarily I got to a knee as fast as I could and swung for his legs. My steel was met with his as he dug his sword in to the ground between us to block my attack from landing.

Lerit dislodged his sword rather fast and swung it down at me. I definitely couldn't block an attack from him so I rolled to the side with his blade nicking my armor. As he regained control of his sword I was already back on to my feet. Once again he swung but instead lower towards my feet. I didn't have time to deflect his hit or move out of the way. Therefore I did the only sensible thing that may work.

I jumped as high as I could.

Thankfully I cleared his blade and was able to strike from in the air. This he didn't expect so my blade lodged itself in to his left arm as I jabbed my steel to him enough to puncture his armor and himself a little.

We both stopped in place like that and he ended up laughing aloud. "I got to hand it to you little guy, you're incredibly skilled. I never thought of you to play frog and completely jump over my blade like that."

Did he seriously just compliment me?

"I'm fine with this match. You win."

"Woah woah woah, wait. You're giving up?" I responded even more surprised now.

"You're the first one who has ever landed a hit on me. For that it takes someone stronger than me. Knowing that I'm no match for you in the run of things so there's no sense in us proceeding in our fight any longer."

"O-oh." Was all I was able to speak as I saw him gently grab my blade handle and pull the sword out from his arm.

"Gui." He said to me. Now he's using my name too!? What's going on!? "You've earned my respect. You can call me Lerit anytime and I would be glad to be in your brigade as a knight."

I stood there shocked as Captain Lia came over with a smile. "I'm glad everything ended this way. At least there isn't as much bloodshed as with the spar with Han." Lerit sheathed his sword and handed me mine as we both listened. "I'm glad to say you are both incredibly amazing in your own ways. I'm also thrilled to be able to give Gui the ranking to be able to command the 5th brigade at will!"

I couldn't help but stand there and smile at her. Finally I can be alongside her as a higher rank and help the kingdom even moreso.

"Now..." she said as she walked to me and wrapped her arms around mine. "I suggest we all get rest for the ceremony for Gui tomorrow."

"Wait what!?" Lerit said with an immensely surprised voice as he looked between myself and Captain Lia. "Since when have you two been that close!?"

I scratch the back of my head and laugh lightly. "Since three days ago."

Lerit laughed and put a hand on my shoulder. "Jeez, and I thought I was going to get to be with the lady! You've bested me in two areas now. Be proud!"

With that he and I laughed as Lia got embarrassed. Lerit went back to town to his own house as Lia and I went to her room in the kingdom to spend the rest of the day for my accomplishment.