Chapter. 55
It was the day of the fencing tournament against a rival school. Vincent parked his bike in the school lot, removing his helmet as Rebecca climbed off. "This is it V. Are you nerves? I'm nerves."
"You're nerves? I'm the one doing the fighting."
The two walked to the school gates to find Levi waiting. "There you are!" Levi waved to the couple. "How you feeling Vincent?"
"As well as I can."
Levi looked over Vincent's shoulder. "You know where the other couple is?"
"Hopefully they'll be here later. Right now I can't be later."
"Lead on then fencer."
The three walked into the school, seeing other students cheering as someone on the fencing team walked by. When they reached the gym they saw people setting up a long mat in the middle. "What's going on?" Asked Rebecca.
They're setting up the piste, it's the mat that the matches happen on. See the middle line? Past that is the on guard line, where each fencer starts at. Past that is the warning line, that means your running out of room. Past that is the end of piste line. Pass that and your out of bound."
"How do the fights work?" Asked Levi.
"It's basically about rushing in and stabbing. First to land a hit gets a point, first to fifteen points wins. You got three minutes to do it."
Levi nods. "So where can you stab?"
"Fencing has three forms, disciplines if you will. First is foil, it has the lightest rapier and you can only stab in the torso. The second is sabre, it's fast and its rapier has a hand guard. You can hit the torso, arms, and head. It's also the only one that can slash. Last is epee, it's the slowest and has the biggest blade. You can only stab but you can stab anywhere. We practice sabre." Vincent checked the time. "I need to go get changed, wish me luck."
"You don't need luck, you have skill." Said Rebecca.
Vincent walked away to the locker room, a few minutes later Lyle and Corina entered the gym. "Reby, Levi!" Corina ran to her friends and hugged them, Lyle chased after her. "Where's Vincent?"
"Getting ready."
"Hello friends!" the group turned to see Peter approaching them. "Glad to see you're here for me Coco." Lyle stood between Peter and Corina. "How's my grandson doing?" Lyle continued to glare at Peter.
"Don't you have somewhere to be right now?" Asked Levi, standing beside Lyle.
Peter snapped his fingers. "Right. I have a game to win. Good to see you all here anyway. Coco! When I'm done how about you and I catch up?" Lyle took a step close, to loom over Peter. "Careful Lyle, don't want to make a scene." Peter waved to the group as he walked away.
Vincent stepped out of the locker room just as Peter entered, smirking at Vincent as he walked past. Vincent jogged to his friends. "What happened?"
"Peter threatened Corina." Answered Lyle.
"You need me to rough him up a bit?"
Lyle shook his head. "No. You and your team need him. If he trys anything he will regret it." Lyle cracked his knuckles.
"Vince!"
Vincent was tackled from behind, almost knocking him down. He turned to see his sister. "Elizabeth?! What are you doing here?"
"Came to see you! You'd think I'd miss seeing you poking people!"
"There's more to fencing then poking sis, but I'm happy you're here."
...
The stands were filled with people who've come to watch. On both ends near the bottom of the and were the benches, one for the school's team and the other for the opposing team. Vincent stood up to take part in the first match.
"Kill'em Vince!" Shouted Elizabeth.
Vincent put on his headgear and stepped onto the mat. Vincent took a breath as his opponent stepped onto the other end of the mat. "Ready!" Shouted the judge. "Go!" The match began. Vincent lunged with his blade but hos opponent parried it away and stabbed Vincent's chest to score a point. Vincent returned to his side for the next round and tried again but his opponent parried again and struck his chest again for another point. "Damn it, not working." the next round started and Vincent rushed to swat away the other fencers rapier. The fencer spun his sword along Vincent's to drive it away and cut along his arm, getting his third point.
"Fuck!" Vincent grew flustered as match continued, The opposing fencer reached twelve points while Vincent only got to eight. Vincent stepped off then took a seat on the bench.
"You alright Vincent?" Asked the coach.
"I'm fine, I'll come back next match."
"Peter you're up!"
"On it!" Peter jumped up from the bench and ran to the mat. The match began and Peter dived at his opponent, cutting them in the arm. The next started and Peter rushed his opponent again, parrying their blade and cutting them in the arm again.
Vincent clinched his fists as he watched. Peter struke his opponent with deadly precision, scoring point after point until he easily won the match with fifteen to none. "Does it make you angry? Upset? Knowing he's better?"
"He's not better then me."
"You know why and how he's stronger."
"Physical burst."
"If you know what it is then why deny its help?"
Vincent's next match was up as he returned to the mat. Vincent passed Peter who stopped to take off his headgear. "If you need me to take your place just say so, let a real fencer win this." Peter snickered as he walked to the bench. As so as the round began Vincent rushed towards his opponent who sidestepped Vincent's rapier and struck him in the arm. "FUCK!" Vincent clinched his fists as he went back to his side of the mat.
"Come on Vincent!" Shouted Lyle and Corina.
"Focus!" Shouted Levi.
"It's just one round, you can come back!" Cheered Rebecca.
"Kill'em Vince!" Elizabeth stood up to be seen by her brother.
Vincent tightened his fists. "Get angry." Vincent shook his head. "Look to your friends." Vincent turned his them, all of his friend were trying to cheer him on but the concern on their faces was easy to see. "Do you want to let them down?"
Vincent took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Your rage is your strength, use it!" The round began and Vincent threw himself at his opponent. He knocked away their blade and cut along their arm.
"Yeah!" Vincent's friends stood up and cheered.
The next round started and Vincent lunged at his opponent again striking down their blade and swinging his own across their face guard. As soon as the next round started Vincent charged, he blocked the opponent blade with his rapier's guard and stabbed them in the chest, then went back to his side of the mat. "Crushed them!"
"I'll fucking end you." Vincent muttered. The round began and Vincent charged, his opponent backed away but Vincent didn't stop and stabbed them in the arm. The next round started and Vincent rushed into a stab but the opponent dodged and slashed Vincent in the upper arm.
Vincent's anger boiled over as he returned to his side of the mat. As soon as the clock started Vincent swung his sword hard. He deflected his opponent's blade with his hilt and cut along their chest.
...
Vincent won the match ten to four. As he returned to the bench the coach patted Vincent on the shoulder, Vincent shrugged him off and too his seat. "You okay Vincent?" Asked Rebecca.
"I'm fine." Vincent snapped. He rubbed his eyes and turned to his friends. "Sorry Reby. Nerves getting to me."
"It'll be okay Vincent. You're doing your best, that's all anyone can ask?"
"Thank you Reby." Vincent felt his body start to relax.
"It looks like it's come down to you Vincent, no pressure right?" Asked Levi.
Lyle nods. "Just go at them with the same ferocity as the last one."
"I'll try." Vincent took a breath and turned back to the matches.
"Hurt them. Kill them. Win by any means!"
"Yes." The final match was about to begin, Vincent rose up and walked to the piste. He glanced back to his friends, seeing Rebecca smiling as she waved to him.
"Get angry! Thrash them!"
"No! I snapped at my friends out of that anger. I need to be calm, focused." Vincent stepped onto the piste and was ready to start. The math began and Vincent lunged at his opponent who was waiting and parried Vincent's blade away to get a hit on his chest.
Vincent walked back to his side of the piste. "You won with your anger, you lost without it. The choice is easy to see." The next round began and Vincent rushed in, this time to swat away the opponent's rapier first. The opponent spun their blade around Vincent's and cut along his arm. "You'll just lose again if you choice to be weak."
"Shut up." The third round started and Vincent once again rushed in but stopped halfway. His opponent rushed to meet him but had to stop as soon as Vincent did to not lose balance, giving Vincent an opening to stab them in their face guard.
"Yes! Vince go!" Shouted Elizabeth as she stood up.
"V!" Rebecca stood up as well, clapping her hands.
Vincent glanced to see his friends once more. "I'll on my own power."
...
The score was eight to eight, with six seconds left everyone knew with would be the final round. Vincent raised his rapier as his opponent did the same and took a long breath. "Breath in, focus. Let's put an end to this."
"V..." Rebecca held her hands together in silent prayer.
The round began, the opponent charged in but Vincent held his ground. Once they were closer Vincent struke their rapier away as he spun out of their way and stood behind them. Vincent swung his rapier down, cutting down his opponent's back. Vincent's friends, teammates, and everyone from the school rose up in roars of cheering. The team lifted Vincent up into the air as everyone chanted his name.
Vincent took off his headgear and held up his rapier. Looking around he saw the faces of everyone excited for his victory, but the one he locked eyes with was Rebecca who smiled the brightest.
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