Sparring (3)
'Master.'
'Why do you call?'
Luna recalled the master who had taught her swordsmanship. He always wore a mask shaped like a smiling face. His voice and build were so ambiguous that she couldn't tell his gender, and she knew next to nothing about his name, age, or hometown. So she simply called him Master.
He never minded.
'Why did you choose to teach me swordsmanship, Master?'
'Because you have talent. And those mysterious eyes of yours.'
'Is that so? I wouldn't know.'
Luna, who had grown up in a rural village far from any city, reacted indifferently to his words. Without anything to compare them to, they didn't resonate with her. Her hometown focused on farming, after all. It was a wonder the master had come all the way there.
At least she had long known about her 'eyes.' It was a ability she'd been born with, so she paid it no mind.
'Keep honing your skills without end, then. With your gifts, you'll surely become a light to illuminate the world.'
'I don't understand.'
'Have you ever read the fairy tale where the hero slays the demon lord?'
Luna nodded. The tale was so famous that everyone knew it. And it wasn't just a fairy tale—it was based on true events. One piece of evidence was the United Academy itself.
The academy's prestige had spread across the world, becoming the dream of countless people. Luna was one of them.
In that context, when the master appeared before her and offered to teach her martial arts, it felt like a step closer to her dream.
'You could be the protagonist of that story.'
'Me?'
'Of course.'
The master replied with utter conviction. Even behind the smiling mask, it seemed like he was grinning.
'Trials will come, but with your unbreakable perseverance, you'll overcome them.'
Luna took those words to heart and threw herself into sword training. And indeed, she had talent—she entered the United Academy as top student.
Even Marlboro Redka, the professor in charge at the time, couldn't hide his admiration.
Of course, the moment she let her guard down, she got smacked and knocked out. That taught her she still had a long way to go.
"Hoo..."
Luna grimaced at the sharp pain in her abdomen and slowly rose to her feet. Using her sword as a crutch, she barely stood, and Kara's beaming face came into view.
I can't let her get close.
She'd realized it from that last hit. She couldn't afford to fight Kara up close.
As Kara had emphasized before, hand-to-hand combat was only useful at close range. In other words, if she kept her distance, there'd be no opening for punches or kicks.
That's why I need to learn it.
The reason Luna hadn't learned hand-to-hand from Kara was simple: pride.
If there'd been a big age gap, maybe, but Kara was only a year or two older. She'd rather hone her swordsmanship than learn from a peer.
Above all, time was the issue. With less than a week left, she doubted she could master it fully, so she'd refused.
I wonder if Sivar learned it all.
She suddenly thought of Sivar, who had trained with Kara. From what she recalled, every time they practiced boxing, the sandbags ended up destroyed.
Those bags were filled with sand, yet he'd burst them barehanded, without a scratch.
Growing up wild, his physical abilities were inhuman. Even three professors had struggled to subdue him before.
Anyway, I'll use my strengths.
Luna gripped the hilt with both hands. Her top admission wasn't just due to swordsmanship.
She'd realized hand-to-hand was for close range? Then she'd just prevent it from happening.
Kara would notice and charge in anyway. She just had to watch for that.
"You look like you're thinking hard."
Reading her expression, Kara grinned and spoke. It was obvious provocation.
But Luna didn't bite. She assumed her stance. Trading words would only hurt her.
Here she comes.
Kara's feet left the ground. Luna narrowed her eyes.
As expected, Kara closed the distance in a flash and slashed down with her curved sword, just like before.
Bang!
Luna didn't block—instead, she stepped back, dodging easily. Without pause, she counterattacked with an upward slash from below.
Clang!
The harsh clash of steel rang out. Her quick counter, but Kara had raised her sword in that split second.
Thanks to clever distance management, Kara had no room to slip in.
Ching! Chang! Cha-clang!
Straight sword and curved sword traded blows in rapid succession. When one attack ended, the other's began.
Even when she had the offensive, Luna didn't press in recklessly. A kick was sure to come.
She even retreated instead of clashing blades when Kara tried to overpower her.
Ignoring hand-to-hand meant close range was disadvantageous. So avoid it entirely.
Fighting while measuring distance forced her legs into constant motion.
"Isn't this too predictable? Looks like that kick woke you up."
Kara smirked at Luna's obvious strategy.
But Luna didn't respond. As she'd thought earlier, engaging would cost her.
Focus on the fight.
Kara shrugged at the silence, as if it didn't matter.
"Fine, if that's how you want it. Your footwork's a bit annoying, though..."
She glanced at Luna's legs. That footwork was impressive, at least. Footwork—or stance—was the foundation of all martial arts.
Reason for top admission.
"Try handling this."
Kara closed in again, much faster than before.
Luna stayed calm, predicting her next move. She knew Kara was holding back.
Shing!
A sharp curved-sword slash came diagonally from above. No blocking that—she stepped back slightly, dodging.
Normally she'd counter immediately, but Kara's assault continued.
'How long is this going to go on?'
Kara swung relentlessly, the wind whistling impressively. Luna focused on evasion, occasionally checking behind her.
To avoid being cornered against the wall. Thankfully, plenty of space remained.
Kang!
Just as she wondered at the endless barrage, a blockable attack came. Kara had read her footwork and adjusted.
This would lead back to trading blows.
No helping it if her movements were predicted.
"What now?"
"......"
So chatty.
Luna furrowed her brow at Kara's nonstop chatter. If read, go straight in.
Obvious answer.
Whoosh!
Luna slashed diagonally from above. Kara would block easily.
But Kara exceeded expectations—she released her grip on the sword.
Thud.
She'd discarded her weapon. Luna's eyes widened in shock.
But the sword was already descending.
Whoosh!
It sliced empty air. The diagonal slash left an opening, and Kara exploited it.
Opening meant close range—exactly what Luna wanted to avoid.
She tried to retreat urgently, but Kara was faster.
Thump!
"Guh!"
Kara seized Luna's slender neck. The shock of the weapon drop had delayed her reaction just a fraction.
Thud!
Kara didn't stop—she slammed her to the ground. Hard floor plus gravity equaled devastating force.
Luna's eyes flew wide as she took the full impact. Her mouth gaped, but no air came.
Yet her gaze stayed on Kara. She clearly saw the one-handed axe now in her hand—drawn from who knows where.
"Arm first!"
Kara smiled brightly as she swung the axe down. Chilling words despite the grin. Probably a joke, but given her background, it felt real.
Bang!
Luna rolled aside, dodging by a hair. She scrambled up, breathing ragged but functional. Much better than before.
Circulating mana eased the pain quickly.
"You're quick, I'll give you that. Must be 'cause you're so frail?"
Kara assessed Luna's agility, axe in hand. She'd aimed to make dodging impossible, yet she did.
Distance control and basics were solid. Just lacked technique, experience, and quick thinking.
That would come with time.
"Hup!"
Luna accelerated her mana and charged. Not a long-reach curved sword, but a short one-handed axe. Chance now or never.
Her sword slashed diagonally; Kara dodged back, attack foiled.
But it didn't end there. To block approach, Luna followed with an upward slash.
Kang!
Another deafening clash echoed.
Normally no damage, but this time different—Kara countered by slamming her axe down on the sword instead of evading.
"Ugh!"
Luna cried out in pain. Her hand went numb.
But she didn't drop the sword. One of her master's key teachings, repeated endlessly.
Kara looked surprised, clearly unexpected. But her attack continued.
Smack!
Kara's left fist smashed into Luna's face—a clean hit, like the first kick.
Luna shook off the daze and swung horizontally to keep her at bay.
Shwick!
It worked; Kara stepped back slightly. A brief lull followed.
"Won't drop the sword, huh?"
Kara grinned. She liked Luna's tenacity.
Time to break it, then.
She advanced. Luna tensed as she approached, tasting blood in her mouth.
Whoosh!
Sword swung to warn her off; Kara halted.
With the axe, initiative was Luna's—or so she thought.
"Here!"
Clang!
Kara leaped back suddenly, hurled the axe, and snatched her curved sword from the floor.
"Back to square one!"
All strategy meaningless. She wielded weapons and techniques perfectly, like she enjoyed the fight itself.
Fundamentals, skill, application—worlds apart.
But Luna didn't give up. Her stubborn perseverance held her.
Thud!
"Eugh!"
Yet limits were clear. Luna's options limited; Kara's endless.
Close? Punches or kicks. Distance? She charged, forcing it.
Squeeze!
Kara dropped the sword again, grabbing Luna's sword-wielding wrist hard.
Luna struggled to free it—no use.
If she'd learned hand-to-hand, maybe a punch. Too late for regrets.
"Switch to your left hand in a pinch. Stubborn in the dumbest ways."
"Shut... up...!"
She was toying with her. Still, Luna clung to the sword. Desperate for a solid hit.
A few more blows? Fine.
Thud!
"...What was that?"
Luna stomped Kara's shin to unbalance her. Like stepping on steel—her foot hurt instead.
"Like this."
Crack!
Kara was clean. Not a strike—a perfect sweep that toppled Luna's balance.
In that instant, the sword slipped from her grip. Attention divided.
Kara yanked it away and stepped back. The fight's outcome was clear.
"Hah... hah..."
Luna couldn't react even without her sword. Stamina nearly gone.
Circulating mana drained it fast, especially after solid hits.
Bloody taste in mouth, hands throbbing, kick spot agony.
"What now? No sword. No stamina. All your strengths gone."
"...No."
Defying the taunt, Luna pushed up on one knee and raised shaky fists, staring Kara down.
Body spent, but her eyes burned with fight. Eyes of someone cornered?
"I'll go till the end."
As Kara inwardly admired the gaze, Luna declared.
"So..."
Her next words:
"Come at me, barbarian."
"......"
Enough to wipe Kara's smile for a moment.
Of course.
"...Gotta love that masochistic streak?"
It was pointless. Kara knew it wasn't sincere and kept grinning.
Unlike others, Luna wasn't rude—just typical fight talk.
If real, she'd beat the notion out.
"You'll apologize later?"
"...Yes. Not serious."
"Good. Then..."
Kara tossed the sword aside and approached slowly.
"I'll teach you hand-to-hand."
With that, Luna's vision filled with Kara's fist.
She watched it till the end.
Crack!
Soon, darkness swallowed her sight. Her body flying was just bonus.
'Ah...'
As her body hit the ground, one thought crossed her mind.
'I wanna go home.'
Thud!