Romulus : The Rise Of The Demon

Chapter 16 : The Trial

"Why are we doing this again?" I ask, annoyed as I circle around Axel, trying to find an opening to hit him.

"So that you get some experience first-hand", he replies smugly. It's been fifteen days since the day I got cured of my fever and since then, my training regime began to increase its pace. These days not only included my daily routines of exercises, meditation, combat training and spell creation sessions, but also, at the end of the day, Axel and I have a spar to see how much I had learnt. In the coming two days, my training will be completed and the very next day, we will return to Asaria. Currently, Axel and I are about to do the last spar of my training in the fighting ring near the cabin.

"What is the use? You always wipe the floor with me", I complain.

"I am holding back as much as I can Sandra", Axel replies.

I change my posture a bit and ask, "Rules of engagement?"

"No magic, no weapons, obviously no maiming and killing. Pure hand to hand combat". I nod and continue circling him like a leopard which is trying to find an opening on the rearing bull. After a moment, I am tired and decide to charge right in. I run towards Axel with the maximum speed I can manage and try to punch him. Remember, keyword 'try'. Axel not only dodges it but quickly goes behind my back and grabs my neck, thus immobilizing me.

"Rule No 1: Never charge at your opponent first. Observe their movements and wait for them to attack", he says and releases my neck. I quickly jump back to gain some breathing space but Axel does the unthinkable. He charges at me as soon as I stop and I don't have enough time to react. He quickly goes low and flips me off the ground. In panic I quickly close my eyes and brace for the impact, but the impact never comes. I feel as if I am hanging upside down. I open my eyes and see Axel is holding me up by my leg.

"Rule No 2: Rule No 1 does not work every time. If your opponent charges at you as soon as they see you, then it means that they are confident enough to take you down. And Rule No 3: Never let your guard down".

"Seriously? You are an X-class mage and a half demon. This match is not fair to begin with", I say snarling at him.

"Nothing is fair in this world, Sandra", he says and releases me. I fall on the ground with a thud. At least he could have let me down gently. But this time, instead of running away, I quickly attacked him. He seems shocked at first but somehow manages to block it. I follow through with the flurry of punches and kicks but he either dodges it or blocks it. Suddenly he cocks his hand backwards, his palm folded into a fist, as if getting ready to punch me. I quickly cross my arms to block the incoming attack. But as soon as the punch comes in contact with my arms, to my surprise, my legs buckle with the force of his punch. Surely Axel was holding back, but his punch still had power in them.

"Rule No 4: Never block the attacks of the opponents who are physically stronger than you. Try to dodge them as much as possible. And Rule No 5: When dealing with stronger or bigger opponents, attack their joints. It is a common weak point". I grit my teeth with frustration. So he says that nothing is fair in this world, huh? Guess I have to play dirty then. I quickly kick some loose soil in his eyes, which blinds him, and as he suggested, I start punching at his joints. I go on hit him until I am overwhelmed by fatigue. I quickly jump back and get ready to attack. Axel straightens himself up as if the damage I gave him was nothing. He rubs his eyes and says, "Last rule: If you are going for a surprise attack, ask yourself. Do you have three times the strength to overcome your target? If you do, go ahead or else wait until their guard is down".

He looks at his watch and says, "Well the sun is about to set in an hour. Why don't we call it a day?" I huff in response and start to walk towards the cabin. Axel looks confused. He runs up to me and asks with genuine concern, "Are you angry, Cassie?"