Binding Ties ***ON HOLD***

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Lesson #32- Know your comrades, for they are your strength

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. I got this. Cly closed her eyes, gripping hard on the handle of her sword. Concentrate on breathing and flowing. Concentrate…

In the background of the fuzzy darkness behind her closed eyes, she heard Professor Raphael’s voice, “Are you two ready? Remember, keep it clean.” For a moment, all she could hear was her own steady breathing and the drum of her heartbeat. Let the game begin.

At the sound of the gong, Cly’s eyes flipped open, and she lunged toward Thomas. He ran toward her, aiming his sword at her stomach. She blocked him with her own sword and pushed him away with all her strength.

He staggered back, losing his footing just enough for her to leap toward him and kick under his feet. Catching onto her plan, he jumped over her kick and tried to aim for the opening she created at her head. As she struggled to collect herself enough to block, he raised his sword in the air with both hands, creating momentum to strike her skull.

She grinned. He fell for her trap. In a swift movement, Cly took a step back while sticking out her sword next to his stomach in a slicing position with one arm and holding her gun (which she always kept in her belt) to his face, as he stood frozen in his position. One move and he would’ve been dead.

For a moment, there was complete silence. Then she smiled playfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and said, “Boom.”

Slowly they withdrew from their final positions, careful not to slice each other with their swords. She fastened her gun and sword to her utility belt, as did Thomas. She then turned to him and they shook hands. “Nice match.” She said, using her other hand to tuck a loose strand of sandy blonde hair behind her ear.

He laughed and said, “Man, you are good. And I thought I had you there, too.”

They both turned to the side to face Professor Raphael. He was trying not to smile. “Excellent, Cly. Good use of other available weapons, although this was supposed to be solely a sword battle. However, I digress.” He looked around at their fellow classmates. “What did Thomas do wrong?”

Cly’s sister, Ace the know-it-all, raised her hand and spoke loudly but firmly, “He went for a finishing blow to her head while she was still armed, leaving his entire body vulnerable.”

Professor nodded. “Correct.” He turned his attention to Thomas. “You should never follow through with a final strike to the head while your opponent is armed. It doesn’t matter how unprepared they seem. The move is sloppy and should only be used when you’re finishing someone off. Understand, Class?” A wave of nodding heads shook in reply. Professor turned to Cly and gave her the tiniest, microscopic smile that only she could see. “Excellent job, Cly. You may both take your seats.”

She smiled again and sat next to Ace. While Professor dismissed them, they quietly whispered to each other, sometimes interrupted with a “Great job” or “Nice one” or even a “Nothing less from his star pupil” by the colony of classmates around them.