Chapter 2: Believe Me
Lei let out a fierce roar as he struck at the straw-filled opponent,
knocking an arm from its position at the shoulder. Venom clapped a few times as
he nodded, pool stick tucked neatly underneath the arm in the process. The young
trainee was getting better and better. Good. This meant that he was ready for
the next level of training. With a bit of a sigh, Venom spoke softly for once,
his tone true with every word.
"Lei, you are becoming greater and greater. I think you are ready for another session of combat with me. Do you also believe that you are ready?" he asked. Lei rolled his shoulders a bit.
"Truthfully, sir, I can't say. You are far more skilled than I am."
"That is not a factor in training…to a degree," Venom continued. "But you still should attempt, regardless of your level of skill."
Lei thought on that a moment, and then sighed, bringing his wooden blade upward a bit with both hands.
"Okay, then," he said slowly, more or less to himself. Venom let the pool stick slip through a few fingers before gripping near the end, and the stood at his full height, silently. Lei knew that Venom naturally wouldn't make the first move…he would analyze his opponent first, determine how much stamina, speed, and power they had behind each movement of offense or defense, and then strike with deadly counteraction. There was no point in the young trainer's even attempting to duel the master…but he had to try.
"Fearful?" Venom asked finally, never lowering his guard. Lei chose not to respond. Only watch.
"…I see…" Venom said slowly before he began to lower his guard, but quickly brought it back up with a rise of the pool stick as Lei struck at his with extreme speed.
Damn…so close…Lei cursed himself as he bounced off of Venom's defensive stance, and then resumed his own offensive stance quickly. His teacher was brilliant in this art. Quick and deadly at that. So why was it that he was to be done away with at one time?
"Your mind wanders," Venom interrupted the youth's train of thought with a swing of the white length; a cracking sound echoing through the air as the young man issued a yelp and fell to one side, holding his ribcage.
"Ah!" he hissed. Venom shook his head as he approached the boy.
"Let that be a lesson to you. Daydreams are for the dead, Lei. If you cannot even pose a reasonable threat to me, then you will never be able to face Master Zato," he warned, turning his back on the trainee.
"And you will never prove worthy of being within this guild."
That struck a nerve within the boy as he watched his teacher leave him, heading deeper into the forest. Never prove worthy?! How dare he?! Lei was worthy! He simply spent too much time analyzing and figuring his opponent's movements and he never really thought about speed and precision. But then…what was that part at the end about facing Zato..? If he proved himself worthy, could he actually end up facing Zato? Part of him seemed full of joy at the realization, but then the other part cowered in fear. When he would see Zato, it wouldn't be out of affection. He would have to most likely give his all and fight the master as though he were his mortal enemy. That was something he did not want to do. Sighing, the young man pushed himself to his feet, and let his aching side go. The mere thought of having to face the master in an aggressive way such as that hurt him more than the bruise Venom had probably given him.
-
Yu and Terra were opposite each other, breathing heavily as they held their weapons at their sides. They'd been sparring one another for hours now, under the surveillance of one of the higher-ranking members. So far, Yu had proved to be a worthy adversary, but with extremely well done parries and strong offensive blows to Terra.
"Are you prepared to face master Venom now, Yu?" the supervising member asked. Yu blinked a few times before swallowing hard. If he declined, it would make him seem unworthy of the guild…if he accepted…oye…
"Yes…I am ready." He sighed, standing at his full height now. The older member pointed outside of the circular training ground, towards a thick forest a few tens of feet away.
"Master Venom is there and waiting. You may proceed when you are ready."
Yu sighed some. How long could he wait until proceeding? And how did he know that the master wouldn't surprise him from above or behind? Who knew how merciful master Venom would be!? Well…he should have declined instead. And Terra seemed to agree with him, despite her weary eyes.
"How much time will you need to prepare?" the older one asked. Yu wanted to say a week or so, but that wasn't allowed.
"..An hour.." he sighed. The older member nodded gently and motioned for the second set of sparring partners to come forth.
-
Terra clung to Lei nearly in an embrace as he yipped happily.
"Yu gets to fight master Venom!" she cheered. Lei noticed however that Yu wasn't as ecstatic as Terra was.
"Afraid?" Lei teased. Yu frowned some.
"No. Tired." He murmured. Terra looked at Yu oddly.
"I thought that that was what you wanted, Lei—to eventually spar master Venom? You've always wanted to.." she said. Yu seemed a little uncomfortable now.
"I know I said that. It's just that I'm having second thoughts on it now…"
"Why?" she asked. Yu shrugged.
"I don't know. All that energy and will to fight is gone now. I don't know why. It's not fear…it's just that I don't want to win…or lose."
"But it's just a test, Yu," Terra went on. Yu shook his head some, as if he were disagreeing.
"I know, I know, but…inside, I don't want to.."
-
Zato sighed as he walked down one of the many halls within the manor. Today had gone by seamlessly…but slowly. He'd finished giving reviews…speeches…all of the mandatory leadership work. But now he had nothing to do. Venom was nowhere to be found, due to the fact that he was busy teaching students outside within the forest. And none of the students had yet beaten him. Zato was kind of relieved and kind of disappointed though. He was beginning to miss Venom…or maybe he was beginning to miss the hot-blooded ferocity that came with sparring? Maybe it was both. Surely, Venom wouldn't mind committing his time to something so dismal as that though, would he? Zato sighed again, folding his arms now as he continued to slowly meander down the hall. Maybe….just….maybe…
-
Another empty swing. A fourth. Fifth! Venom dodged them all with slight effort, but the sixth was true power. A jab of the wooden "blade" that Yu possessed unbalanced the teacher, and the last strike—the seventh, knocked him harshly onto his side with great speed and power, leaving the wooden weapon at the assassin's throat. In return, Venom smiled, and even laughed gently, causing Yu to retract his weapon and swallow hard as the man stood.
"Very good, Yu. Excellent. You did not falter, and you used me flaw to an advantage. You may now test your skill against master Zato…but at a later time. Now you must learn to spar with actual weapons….and again with me, but only for a small time, until I see that you are prepared. Master Zato is far less forgiving in training combat than I am, so I suggest that you train well."
Yu sighed and bowed.
"Yes, sir," he said before turning around, where all the other trainees were talking amongst themselves and smiling extravagantly at his victory.
"You did really good, Yu!" Terra said with a smile. Yu sighed.
"Yeah..thanks, Terr."
Everyone but Yu and Lei seemed happy with Yu's victory. Lei was silent, an odd expression etched upon his face while he refused to speak to Yu at the moment. Yu noticed this and brought it to his attention.
"Lei…are you alright?" he asked. Lei said nothing and turned his back on his friend.
"Lei…?" Yu again said. No response.
"You betrayed me…" was all that Lei whispered. Yu looked a little confused.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Lei finally turned around.
"You knew you would win. You knew what would happen if you beat Venom. And you knew—" Lei stopped at that. He bit his lower lip as if to stop the next few words, and then shook his head.
"I knew what?" Yu asked. Lei shook his head, realizing that he was going to say too much, and perhaps ruin himself.
"N…nothing. Forget it. Good luck." Was all that Lei had to say. Yu blinked a few more times, even more confused now.
"Huh?" he asked. "Lei…are you okay?" he asked. Lei sighed, and waved Yu off.
"Yeah…just…some stuff I gotta deal with. You go ahead and train for Master Zato. You got my support."
Yu looked even more confused now. What was wrong with Lei? He always acted odd before but….now he was beginning to make no sense whatsoever! And now that he was facing Zato, Yu was growing even heavier with burdens—that off his expected performance…and that of what harm he could have possibly dealt his friend, Lei. And already it was becoming too much too bear in so little time.
-End Ch 2-
