Written in Blood

IX . Clashing

"You really want to fight me? You're gonna regret it."

"Heh. Very funny." I say with an unamused scowl on my face,"You know... I'm not nearly as bad as when I got here."

"I know. But whatever you are now isn't that great either."

It was Edmund's idea to duel. Thought it'd be "fun" and help us practice against an opponent. I think he just wants to do it to make himself look good to Malon and make me an even bigger fool than usual.

The sun's as glaring as usual and I feel myself sweating under my metal shoulder guards and gauntlets, the metal doing more than just reflecting the light onto my face with the heat as well. Cute. My face is probably flushed already, and we haven't even begun our sparring match.

Edmund wanted this fight to be real, so we've both got metal swords in our hands. Just another way for me to get hurt.

Malon's standing a few feet away, watching our banter with crossed arms.

"Y'all ever gonna start? Don't make me call you cucoos."

"We'll get to it in a sec. Geez, calm down, you know... you don't have to watch if you don't want to."

"I'm watchin', hurry up!" She even claps her hands for good measure.

Ed and I exchange glances and I see a smirk widen across his face.

"Shall we... pal?" That last word sends me off the deep end. It feels like ice, that smug look only makes me become more aggressive.

"Sure, buddy."

We lock eyes and I make a smirk of my own, which turns into a determined grin.

I lower myself closer to the ground, sword and shield held out to guard my body, waiting for an attack.

Wait. Should I make the first move?

I pounce at him, swinging my sword towards his front.

He easily deflects the attempt, and my sword clashes against his shield.

I grit my teeth. Why did I agree to do this again? He's gonna turn me into a fillet if it means he shows his superior (that's questionable) skills. Sure, I'm better at swordplay now but that doesn't mean good. Just a smidge more competent.

He comes at me now, and I manage to block him as well, although it is more clumsy. So clumsy that his blade slides across my shield and slices into the lower part of my shoulder, which is unprotected.

His smirk grows more smug and I hiss in pain, backing away from him. Why am I so bad at this? I was a hero for Nayru's sake!

"Regretting anything yet?"

"Hmm... not really, just that I'm wasting my time fighting you."

"Oh really buddy boy? That cut sure doesn't look fun."

"Good observation." I retort, trying to breathe through the pain, my voice is ragged.

While I know this is all fun and games, there's a sort of tension between us, a real sense of competition. He wants to win. I don't want him to. Simple.

I survey him, he's bouncing slightly on his feet, watching me as well... and yes, the smirk is still there. It's almost as if he's taunting me to come and try to attack.

Well I'm going for the bait. I just want to get that stupid grin off his face.

I start a charge at him but just before I get close I side hop and slash at his side and get out of reach before he can try something. He seems surprised, but he quickly recovers.