Star vs. The Forces of Evil don't belong to me, it is the original owner's work.
Chapter 4- Training with a hangover gives an idea
"Uhh, calm down, Samantha, my head is killing me!" Marco snapped, parrying another attack from the black spear. Samantha was fiercer in their training after he came back from the inn yesterday.
"No excuses, Marco. You can't expect the enemy to give you a minute of rest!" Samantha barked, her voice sharp as she struck at him again with her spear.
Marco blocked the powerful thrust, feeling a jolt of pain as Khaine collided with Samantha's spear. It felt like a shock of electricity coursing through his body. Grunting, he stepped a few feet back, anticipating another barrage of attacks.
If the headache wasn't enough, today was even hotter than yesterday.
"Are you still angry that I didn't say where I was going?" Marco panted. While he struggled to catch his breath, Samantha, clad in full body armor, was merely breathing deeply. The difference in their stamina was enormous.
"Yes, I am. I had to explain to the General where Marco Diaz disappeared. Now ready yourself!" Samantha grunted and lunged at Marco again, the spear aimed directly at his chest.
Marco had no choice but to dodge to the side. Just as the sharp point of the spear missed him, he saw Samantha dig her heels into the ground and swing her spear sideways.
He yelped in pain as the spear's hard shaft struck his leather armor, making him stumble back a few steps. But it didn't stop Samantha.
She quickly adjusted her grip and thrust her spear forward again. Marco blocked the tip with Khaine's handle, pushing the spear aside. He used that moment to step closer, his sword grinding against the black spear, creating a shower of sparks.
Samantha frowned, realizing her spear couldn't distract Marco. Letting go of her weapon, she threw herself at the now wide-eyed teen.
"If you can't use your weapon, use your body!" Samantha loudly proclaimed as she tackled him to the ground. His headache intensified as his head smashed against the hard earth, but he refused to give her the satisfaction of an easy win.
Marco grunted as they grappled for dominance. He had the advantage of his leather armor, which forced Samantha to exert more effort.
"You're still…a kid," Samantha groaned, rolling Marco onto his back and forcing his hands behind him. She wrapped one arm around his neck and applied pressure.
"You're too young to fight me like this," she chuckled, watching him struggle to move under her weight.
"Okay, okay, I surrender!" Marco yelled just as his vision began to blur. Samantha released her grip and stood up, her silver armor gleaming in the hot sun.
Marco panted and grunted, feeling blood rush back into his head, making the headache even worse.
"Gods…give a guy a break after he gets drunk," Marco muttered as Samantha helped him to his feet. His remark earned him a slap on the back of his head.
"Be quiet. You should be thankful I went easy on you after you returned drunk. Next time you leave the camp, inform someone you're leaving," Samantha said, her hands on her hips. Marco sighed and rubbed the spot where she slapped him.
"Alright, alright, it's my fault. Can I rest now?" Marco asked, his head pounding.
"Yes, you can. Drink some water from the infirmary; it should clear your head in about an hour. Join me on the walls then," Samantha nodded before picking up her spear and walking toward the gate.
"Yeah…see you," Marco muttered, picking up Khaine and slinging it over his back. He trudged towards the infirmary tent, hoping they had something for his headache.
"They really did," Marco said to himself as he sat on a log in front of the raging campfire. Despite the scorching day, the bastards had started a fire.
"An hour, huh?" Marco muttered. Taking Khaine from his back, he placed it on his lap, running his fingers along the red line that brightened under his touch.
"I wonder what secrets you hide, buddy. I don't believe the Necromancer only made you to steal blood from others," Marco said to Khaine. The blade vibrated for a second, seemingly understanding his question. Marco knew the blade was somewhat aware of its surroundings.
"How do I unlock them…what would the Necromancer do?" Marco pondered, resting his chin on his hands as he continued to gaze at his companion. The water he drank in the infirmary was slowly easing his headache and the pain from his scuffle with Samantha.
"Anger, confidence, imagination… What do I have to do to unlock your potential?" Marco continued to muse. The sun glared down on the tense garrison, ready for whatever the monsters in the forest might do.
"Next time we spar, I'll experiment," Marco sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead. Looking at the cloudless sky through his fingers, he resigned himself to the heat.
Sighing, Marco sheathed his sword and moved towards the entrance to the wall. He was curious about what Samantha had in mind.
"God, why is it hotter here," Marco groaned as he walked alongside the wooden wall. He spotted Samantha's silver armor in the distance. She was staring into the forest.
"Marco, finally. I thought you chickened out," Samantha said with a teasing smirk.
"And bring your wrath down on my head? No, thank you," Marco huffed, crossing his arms over his leather-armored chest.
"Wise choice. Now, I think you're wondering why I wanted to meet you here, right?" Samantha turned her gaze back to the forest.
"Yeah, I understand you want to train more, but on the walls?" Marco asked, confused. What was the difference between fighting on the ground and on the walls, except for the height?
"In the coming days, we might fight on these very walls, with monsters climbing the ladders and their artillery hammering our defenses. You need to know how to maneuver if that happens," Samantha explained, her hair waving slightly in the wind as she stared at the forest.
Marco hadn't thought of that. In Neverzone, walls were pointless; they would just burn.
"I see your point. In Neverzone, walls were useless…fire was everywhere, they'd just burn down in a day," Marco shrugged, unsheathing Khaine.
"This training will be more of a demonstration of what could happen. As we fight, I'll describe the events that might occur during a siege," Samantha said, preparing her spear.
"Now, Marco, imagine monsters climbing the ladders they hooked onto the wall. You're standing between two ladders, an opponent in front of you. You hear monsters climbing. What do you do?" Samantha asked, thrusting her spear at his knee. He sidestepped the attack and approached the ledge of the wall.
"I keep my enemy in sight and try to destroy the ladder hooks before pushing them away from the wall," Marco said, approaching the ledge. His eyes quickly scanned the wooden edge. Samantha took that moment to strike, pressing her spear against his neck.
"Never take your eyes off the opponent, especially if it's a monster," Samantha chided, removing the spear from Marco's neck. He rubbed the spot where the tip had grazed him.
"Another scenario. The wall is under attack. A few monsters have already climbed the walls and are fighting our soldiers. The enemy catapults are firing at the gates. You can either stay here and secure the walls or help the men defend the gates. What do you do?" Samantha asked, thrusting her spear at his leather-armored chest. Marco used Khaine to deflect the spear into the wooden wall, where it struck with a thunk.
"I go down to secure the gates. It's only a matter of time before the monsters break through. We need to prevent them from entering the city," Marco said, swinging his sword at Samantha, who bent her upper body to let the blade pass by.
Samantha yanked the spear from the wall and swatted at Marco, who quickly stepped back.
"Good. The first priority is to ensure no monster gets past the gates. If they do, they'll corner us on the wall and kill us like bugs," Samantha said, gripping her spear tightly. With a swift motion, she thrust it sideways at Marco. Anticipating the strike, Marco dropped to one knee, narrowly avoiding the weapon's sharp edge.
Marco grabbed the spear with his free hand and yanked it with all his strength. Samantha, caught off guard, stumbled forward. She grunted in surprise as Marco, swiftly rising from his crouched position, drove his bent knee into her shoulder.
"Good one," Samantha admitted. It was the first hit Marco had managed to land on her in weeks.
"Thanks, I'm learning fast," Marco smiled, twirling Khaine in his hand. He extended his left arm towards Samantha, fingers pointing directly at her face. His body twisted back, his right arm bent with Khaine poised behind his shoulder, the blade parallel to his outstretched arm.
Samantha narrowed her eyes at his cocky attitude but got into position, her spear in one hand, the handle pressed tightly against her back with the tip near her other hand.
Both Marco and Samantha remained still, waiting for the other to strike. The hot sun seemed to ignore them as they stared each other down.
Finally, after a minute of tense silence, they rushed at each other. Marco's bent arm stretched forward to stab Samantha with Khaine, but she blocked his strike with the end of her spear, causing both weapons to bounce apart.
Samantha stepped back as Marco's sword came crashing down from above. She felt a gust of wind as the sharp edge passed her face by millimeters.
She didn't expect the sudden barrage of strikes from Marco. Her spear, instead of attacking, was blocking his rapid blows. The attacks weren't difficult to parry, but they didn't reveal any weakness for her to exploit. Each time his weapon bounced off her spear, Marco twisted his wrist and attacked from a different angle.
The fight continued for several minutes, with Samantha purely on the defensive. She saw Marco getting exhausted, sweat pouring down his forehead and his breath coming in sharp gasps.
Samantha prepared herself for the final counter. Marco yelled and swung his blade diagonally at her. Samantha bent her upper body back, allowing the blade to miss, but the sharp gust of wind that followed made her hair move slightly. Following the blade with her eyes, she saw it cut through the thick log that the wall was made from. It wasn't just any type of wood; it was oak, one of the hardest types of wood they had.
"I-I think I'm dying," Marco said, his breath erratic and fast, his entire face red and wet with sweat. He sat down on the ground and leaned against the small wall, the shade helping to calm him a little.
"What was that, Marco? You've never been so aggressive before," Samantha asked, kneeling beside him with furrowed brows.
"Remember a week ago when I talked about Khaine and its ability to drink blood?" Marco asked, tilting his head towards Samantha, who nodded.
"After I visited the infirmary to get rid of my headache, I thought Khaine must have other abilities besides mending wounds. It was made by a fucking Necromancer, after all," Marco said, taking a deep breath. His body was now much better than a few minutes ago. Samantha sat by his side, pondering his words.
"So I thought about emotions—anger, pride, and things like that. I thought about beating you here, finally chalking up a victory on my side. And I think it worked...the wood is evidence of that," Marco said, looking at the clean cut he had made with Khaine.
"Hmm, maybe it's one of the sword's capabilities. Like giving you a short burst of power, making you stronger, faster, and capable of defeating your enemy," Samantha mused, rubbing her chin in thought. They would have to test it.
"Alright, kid, we're done for today. But starting tomorrow, we need to test this," Samantha said, standing up. She paused when she felt Marco grab her forearm. Looking down, she saw him scowling.
"We test it now. We don't know if we'll be attacked tomorrow, and I want every advantage I can get, even if it's only for a minute or so," Marco said, standing up and looking at Samantha, who frowned at him.
"Please, Samantha. I want to be useful. You saw it yourself; I couldn't defeat an opponent who wasn't distracted. I have to get stronger," Marco pleaded, his desperation clear.
"Alright, we'll give it a shot. Let's have another spar," Samantha said with resignation. She took her spear and positioned herself a few feet away from Marco, who gripped Khaine in both hands.
The fight started with Samantha only parrying his blows. They were extremely slow compared to before, even slower than the strikes Marco made that morning when he had a headache from drinking.
"Are you even trying, Marco? These blows are slow and pointless," Samantha said, furrowing her eyebrows as she continued to stand in place, pushing his sword away with the handle of her spear.
Marco was getting agitated. The inability to even make Samantha take a step back infuriated him. His grip on Khaine tightened to the point where his hands were shaking. He ignored the extreme heat from the sun, focusing solely on the fight.
"Maybe we should stop for the day. You're clearly too tired to continue," Samantha said, finding the sparring session laughable. Marco was too exhausted to fight her effectively.
Marco kept silent, but the anger within him grew. He felt Khaine vibrate in response to his rage, as if the blade was feeding off his emotions.
"Come on, Marco, let's end this and get you to see a doctor," Samantha insisted. From the beginning of their sparring, she hadn't even taken a single step back. Marco had insisted on continuing the fight, but now it seemed like he was being driven by his sword rather than his own will.
She needed to stop this before he hurt himself. This kind of strain was harmful to his body, and who knew how much damage he was doing to his muscles and psyche.
"Marco, stop already. You're unstable and—" Samantha didn't finish. The next blow that came at her spear made her hands shake.
"Just shut up already and fight!" Marco yelled, continuing to strike. He was gasping for air, his hands trembling, but he refused to stop.
Samantha was forced to take a step back as Marco's strikes gained new power. Each time she deflected a blow, her hands shook. If her spear hadn't been reinforced, it would have broken by now.
She continued to retreat along the wall, blocking each blow. Occasionally, they traded places, with Marco somehow managing to block all of her strikes with ease.
Marco gripped Khaine with one hand, giving him more room to maneuver. But exhaustion was setting in. Sweat poured from his forehead and chin, and his body protested. It was strange; one moment he felt great, and now he felt like he'd fought a week-long war.
Feeling himself on the brink of collapse, Marco swung his blade in a wide arc at Samantha. She used her spear to block the attack. Khaine ground against the handle, creating sparks and the harsh sound of grinding metal.
Marco let go of Khaine and fell to his knees. Rolling onto his back, he closed his eyes against the blinding sun. His heart was beating like crazy. He saw a shadow above him and squinted up at Samantha's amused face.
"It seems you were right. Your sword is enjoying the anger," Samantha chuckled, walking around him. She stuck out her hand and helped him stand.
"I'm dying… I'm seriously dying," Marco said. He was extremely hot, his arms were shaking. He felt like he'd run laps around the entire kingdom.
"Come on, Marco. Let's get you to a doctor," Samantha chuckled. She got under his arm, wrapping his shaking arm around her shoulder. They both slowly walked towards the stairs that led down from the wall.
On their way back, they both picked up their weapons and stored them on their backs. It would be a shame to leave them behind.
"It's the third time you've visited me in two weeks, Marco," said the middle-aged man as he bandaged Marco's shoulder after applying healing oils. He had brown hair with a bald spot on top and brown eyes.
"I'm sorry, but it's the only time I came here on my own," Marco chuckled. He felt very warm in those bandages, the oils working miracles—he didn't feel any pain anymore.
"Strained muscles and slight heat stroke. What was Samantha thinking when she took you to train on the walls?" The man huffed as he finished applying the last bandage and turned towards the scowling woman near the entrance of the tent.
"You have protected armor that insulates most of the heat. What was the idea behind bringing someone who doesn't have protection from this damn sun onto the walls?" The man crossed his arms and glared at Samantha, who rolled her eyes.
"Calm down, Arthur. It's just training. All recruits have to go through the same. Battling in the heat is only the beginning of their hard training to serve properly in the Queen's army," Samantha scoffed. She didn't mention that Marco had been influenced by his sword and nearly killed himself; the tantrum Arthur would throw could shake the entire garrison. The man was known for his protective nature.
"Wait, you have protected armor from heat?" Marco asked with a bewildered look. He thought she was just that good.
"Of course it's protected. Can you imagine how hot it must be in this damn thing otherwise?" Samantha looked at Marco as if he were stupid, at which he looked away.
"But what about Orion? Yesterday he returned from patrol as if he didn't have protection," Marco said, looking back at Samantha, who sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Marco, he has protection from the heat, but as you may have seen, he's not the most fit and athletic person in the garrison," Samantha said in exasperation.
Now that Marco thought about it, it all made sense. Orion might have the protected armor, but he wouldn't be protected from his body's natural behavior.
"Forget I asked, please," Marco mumbled, rubbing his face with his left hand, which wasn't bandaged. He heard Samantha snort and Arthur chuckle, further increasing his embarrassment.
"You're good to go, Marco. Just don't do anything impulsive with your arms today, and by tomorrow morning you should be fine," Arthur said, patting his shoulder. Marco stood up from the bed and thanked the man.
"I'll speak to Orion about your training. We need to make sure you won't die from exhaustion every time," Samantha said as soon as they were out of Arthur's hearing range.
"Alright, I'll try to... I don't know, talk to Khaine?" Marco said with an unsure voice. Samantha turned around to face him.
"You can try that, see where it leads us," Samantha nodded and left. Marco watched her briefly as she walked towards the section of the garrison reserved for higher-ranking soldiers.
"Alright, buddy, let's talk," Marco muttered, feeling weird saying this. How could one talk to a blade like a sane person?
Marco entered the tent his group was assigned and was glad it was empty. It was the middle of the day, so everyone had things to do.
"Alright…how do you talk to a sentient sword without making it weird?" Marco sat on his bed and took Khaine out of its scabbard. Laying it on his lap, he rested his hands under his chin.
"Hmm. Do you have more abilities?" Marco asked, not expecting any solid answer. Khaine just vibrated for a second, and he had no idea whether to take that as a 'yes' or 'no.'
"Alright... I'll take that as a yes," Marco nodded uncertainly. Silence fell over the tent as Marco stared at the sword. He never thought he'd talk to Khaine. He took for granted that his companion was special, but he never imagined the blade would have greater capabilities.
"Do I have what it takes to use them?" Marco asked, raising a single eyebrow. When Khaine vibrated once again, he was still confused if the sword was saying 'yes' or 'no.'
"You're difficult, you know that?" Marco huffed. The sword's response was the same: a vibration.
"How can I understand you better? You can't talk, you can't write, not even a sign of what I can do with you," Marco huffed and fell back on the bed. Khaine remained on his lap, unresponsive as usual.
Marco hummed to himself, his eyes tracing the outlines of the tent, watching as the occasional breeze sent ripples through the white fabric.
Marco's mind wandered to the changes he experienced upon arriving in Mewni. Before, he was merciless; he killed, kidnapped, and even tortured on a few occasions.
Neverzone was an unforgiving hell he cut his way through to Hekapoo's clones. Life in Neverzone was like a dark fantasy—there was no happiness, and if there was, it was fleeting.
Marco briefly tried to remember what he was doing before he accepted Hekapoo's challenge, but he drew a blank. He saw people in his mind, faces, and voices he couldn't understand, but he knew for sure he was happy there: no problems, no worries, parents who took care of his needs. Life there was perfect.
"So why did I accept?" Marco furrowed his eyebrows in thought. He didn't remember any events that would have forced him to accept Hekapoo's challenge. If he had a good life before, what made him risk his life and sanity just to gain some stupid scissors?
But what surprised him the most was how accepting he was of the changes. Now that he looked at it, he felt at peace here: good sleep, people to talk to, training, and good food.
Instead of distrust and apprehension, like he thought he would receive upon entering the garrison, he was welcomed as one of them. Clothes, food, and work were provided for him like any other.
It was strange how readily he accepted it. Maybe the reason was his age reversal; maybe his brain and mentality also reverted to the time he barely started the quest for the scissors. But if that were true, then why did he remember what he did in Neverzone?
"God dammit, it's all so confusing," Marco moaned, rubbing his face with his hands. The tent was a nice place to rest—it wasn't hot at all. He glared at the white roof, realizing he should have guessed much earlier that it was protected against heat.
"I guess you don't know the answer either as to why this is all happening, huh?" Marco took Khaine from his lap and raised it above his head, his eyes unfocused as he pondered. Khaine only slightly vibrated in response.
"Thought so… Maybe if Solaria sees us, she may have an idea what's going on," Marco sighed to himself. Placing the sword on his leather-armored chest, he put his hands behind his head and brooded.
"What if Orion was right?" he said aloud. He certainly looked strange, talking to a sword on his chest.
"What if I really can start a new life? Forget about Neverzone or what was before that," Marco said. The sword on his chest only vibrated, the only indication that Marco had someone who was listening right now.
Maybe starting a new life here wouldn't be so bad—forgetting about the past horrors and atrocities he committed. Maybe that is the right thing to do.
"Now that's interesting. Maybe rage or very stressful situations are what make the blade influence him," Orion said from his chair. Samantha approached as he filled out the report on the latest scout mission.
"That's what I thought. Marco got angry after I suggested ending the spar. His blows were random, true, but they were powerful—almost as strong as yours," Samantha said, sitting in front of Orion's desk with her arms crossed and a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I'll talk to him when I see him. Maybe together we can investigate further," Orion mused, his giant frame making the chair he sat in creak under his weight. Marco is a smart lad; he'll figure it out sooner or later.
"What I'm more worried about is what will happen if he uses it in a real fight. Today he nearly fainted twice," Samantha said, biting her lower lip in thought. They needed to strengthen Marco's endurance and energy conservation.
"That could pose some problems. Let's hope nothing happens for a few days—that should be enough time to build up his energy reserves and teach him how to use his body more efficiently," Orion said, stroking his mustache.
"I agree. Let's just not make him angry or irritated. If he uses his sword's ability like that again, he'll end up in the hospital for longer than a week," Samantha huffed. Orion hummed to himself. He had heard about Marco's incident, and it was a miracle the teen didn't tear a muscle in his body from all that sword swinging.
"So that's the plan. We'll train his stamina and endurance, and hopefully, when the monsters attack, he'll have better control over this thing," Orion concluded, sighing as he took a sip of wine from his giant mug.
"Remember, Orion, he may become one of us if led correctly," Samantha said, her arms still crossed as she stared at Orion's smile.
"Yeah, one of us," Orion repeated with a fond smile. If Marco had enough raw talent and wit, he might join the prestigious group of Queen Solaria. But that was a distant goal on a road filled with hard work.
"So, Marco, Samantha and I talked a while ago about you and the incident on the walls," Orion said, grunting as he sat on the same log as Marco. He noticed the young man was bothered by something.
"But before that, I want to know what's bothering you," Orion said, his eyes locked on the smaller male. He saw the usual signs of nervousness: twitchy hands, a dancing gaze, and unfocused eyes.
"I've been thinking for a while now," Marco responded, his thoughts heavy. It was nearly evening, and the sun was slipping behind the tall brown wall.
"What if I do what you suggested a week ago in the infirmary? Starting a new life, letting the past be the past...you know, a fresh start," Marco leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he stared at the slowly disappearing sun.
"You don't have to forget about your time in Neverzone. Learn from it, let the mistakes and brutal life you lived fuel you to become a better person," Orion said. Despite his giant frame and brash personality, he was known for being a good listener.
"People here don't know what you did in Neverzone. Samantha doesn't know, and I only know what you told me in the infirmary. But I know for certain, Marco, you're a good kid. You know what is right and what isn't. Don't let the past hold you down," Orion added, placing his giant hand on Marco's shoulder.
"You have me, Samantha, and Marcus here. You're not alone. You can talk to any of us about your problems, and we'll understand. Maybe not Marcus, because he's young, but you get the idea. Samantha and I have seen many things while fighting monsters. Neverzone and this war aren't so different, Marco," Orion smiled at the young man, who slowly started to smile back.
"I hate that you're right," Marco chuckled, making the bald giant laugh loudly, which earned them some odd looks from nearby soldiers.
"You're a smart kid, Marco. You'll get this all in order in your own time," Orion clapped Marco on the shoulder with his oversized hand and looked back at the wall. The sun had now completely set.
"Samantha and I decided to give you new training. It will focus solely on your stamina and strength. Swordsmanship will be secondary," Orion said, bringing them back to the original topic of the conversation. Marco turned his head slightly to look at the towering man.
"We hope to make use of this sword of yours in case the monsters attack, which I believe will happen soon," Orion said, his happy smile replaced by a professional demeanor.
"If anger is really what triggers your sword, then we have to help you use it at will and control it as best as you can," Orion continued. The campfire crackled in front of them, burning wood. Above it was a cauldron with food that everyone could take and eat, one of the best things here.
"But remember, Marco, use it only when there is someone experienced present. I'm not talking about Marcus or other recruits. I mean someone who knows how to fight. Samantha told me your strikes are slightly weaker than mine," Orion said, taking one of the bowls near the fire and filling it with food. He glanced briefly at Marco.
"I know she struggled with my attacks for a while, but isn't comparing me to you a bit farfetched?" Marco asked, furrowing his brows. He felt that his strikes were stronger than before, but to that extent?
"Don't sell yourself short, Marco. You're the most promising recruit we've had in a while. Maybe it's natural talent or the things you did in Neverzone," Orion said, starting to eat his food while Marco pondered his words. If what he said was true, then he really shouldn't be surprised at the pain he felt earlier.
And when he thought about the damage done to his body, he now realized why a Necromancer would create such a thing. Since a Necromancer is affiliated with death and pain, then he might have grown adjusted to feeling constant pain.
"Alright, I'll just follow your instructions because I have no idea what to do," Marco sighed but agreed to the plan, or whatever they had planned.
"That's the spirit, Marco. Now go get some sleep. You'll feel much better in the morning!" Orion laughed again after swallowing his food. Marco chuckled at the man and did as he suggested, leaving Orion alone with his meal.
"Alright Marco, as you know, we are going to train your body and stamina. If we are right, this should help you wield your sword better," Samantha said. She and Marco were standing on the training ground.
Marco blinked at her and the surrounding equipment: a few stones, a whip, and a few knives.
"The training is simple: pushups, running, squats, and for the final part, reflexes," Samantha said, picking up a whip and playing with it in her hands. Marco took a step back.
"You will not use that on me, ri—" Marco didn't finish. Instead, he yelped and took another step back when the whip cracked right in front of his feet. His eyes found Samantha, who was looking amused as she readied the whip again.
"You better try your hardest not to get hit, Marco. It will hurt," Samantha said sweetly, swinging the whip at him again. This time, he was more prepared to dodge, but he was still concerned about what would happen if it hit him.
This continued for a few minutes. Marco only dodged the whip, and Samantha only smiled.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?!" Marco shouted as the weapon cracked the ground millimeters from his feet.
"I am," the woman simply said as she continued to make him dodge the strikes. Just what does this have to do with getting his body stronger?
"What's the point of this? I don't see why dodging attacks is going to help me with using my sword!" Marco shouted again, constantly moving to reduce the chances of getting hit.
"You could encounter an enemy that is simply better than you. You can't always rely on hitting things blindly. You have to know how to anticipate certain moves!" Samantha yelled back, concentrating harder to make the whip faster.
Marco's eyes widened as he saw the speed of the strikes intensify. Previously, he had a few seconds to get into position, but now the attacks came one after another, and not just at his feet, but his arms and chest too. It was getting ridiculous.
But Marco accepted the training. It was a nice change from their usual sparring—a bit dangerous and probably painful, but different.
Marco and Samantha continued for a few more minutes until the whip connected with Marco's leg. The teen gave out a manly squeal of pain, his eyes wide and tearful as he gazed at the red mark around his knee where the leather hit.
"Ah, ah, ah, fuck, fuck, fuck me," Marco said, sitting on the ground. The pain was more intense than he had ever imagined. Cradling his injured leg, he looked at Samantha, who was openly laughing at him.
"Yes, it's very funny, isn't it?" Marco huffed, the pain slowly fading, but it would leave a mark for some time.
"Marco…that yell was so good," Samantha continued to laugh. Glancing around, Marco saw a few soldiers who had free time looking at them in confusion and some annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, let's continue," Marco stood up, moving his stinging leg and sighing in relief that it still worked properly.
"Are you ready for more? Because it won't get easier," Samantha said after calming down, wiping a tear from her eye. She occasionally chuckled at Marco, who was now scowling and glaring at her.
"Yeah, yeah, bring it on," Marco said with a huff, dusting his pants. He narrowly dodged the whip he saw from the corner of his eye.
Looking with wide eyes as the tip of the weapon passed his face, he looked at Samantha, who was grinning like mad.
"Don't take your eyes off the opponent!" Samantha scolded, her whip attempting to strike every part of his body that would make it extremely painful, only avoiding places like his face or neck.
Marco had a hard time predicting where her whip would strike. When she aimed for his legs, it was easier to avoid, but now he had to bend his body into ridiculous angles.
The two of them continued this for nearly an hour until Samantha called for a break.
"Alright, drink something and wipe that disgusting sweat from your face. Then we'll start another part," Samantha said, tossing the whip onto the pile of equipment she had prepared.
Marco sighed in happiness at the small break. He knew that from this point on, it would only get harder.
Both Marco and Samantha approached the tent where water and various supplies for training were stored.
"Marco, this training is purely to increase your stamina and hand-eye coordination," she said after drinking a mug of fresh water. On hot days like these, proper hydration was essential.
"And Orion will train my body physically?" Marco asked to clarify. It made sense for both of them to teach different things. Samantha was more skilled in footwork than muscle strength.
"Yes, he will. Now let's go, balance training," Samantha said and exited the tent, followed by Marco, who looked one last time at the tent with a sad expression.
"Alright, now stand here," Samantha instructed, crossing her arms over her chest. She and Marco were standing on the log that served as a sitting place for soldiers.
Marco did as he was told. Standing on two feet was manageable, though he occasionally swayed.
"Now stand on one leg," Samantha instructed. She herself did just that, showing no signs of shaking or swaying like Marco, who had to use his whole body to balance.
"You will train this with me every day from now on. After you master it, we will place a few logs in a circle and fight," Samantha said. She took her spear from her back and pointed it at Marco, still balanced on one leg.
"You have to learn balance. You may face an opponent who will use the environment to their advantage, like, for example, this wall," Samantha pointed with her spear to the wall. Marco had to admit she made it look easier than it actually was.
"When monsters attack, the walls may shake from the siege weapons, throwing you off balance. You have to learn to maintain it at all costs," she commented and struck the log they were standing on from the side, making it shake.
Marco tried to maintain his balance, but the shaking was unexpected. A second later, he opened his eyes to find himself on the cold ground beneath him.
"This will be a long day," Samantha sighed, and Marco couldn't agree more.
Ultimately, Samantha pushed Marco through nearly four hours of training before she stopped, only because she had other recruits to take care of and train. Marco nearly breathed a sigh of relief when Orion arrived to take him for another part of the training.
"Well, Marco, as I'm sure Samantha explained, I will train you physically," Orion said with a smile. They both stood in front of what Marco could only describe as a wood storage area. Why would they store so much wood in the middle of the summer?
Seeing Marco's confused gaze, Orion chuckled.
"This wood is cut here for all parts of the kingdom to use. You know, dungeons need some light, kitchens, campfires, and the rest is transported to the main storage for winter," Orion elaborated. Marco sighed at his own stupidity. He had forgotten that Mewni wasn't constantly warm.
"And your task to increase stamina and build more muscle is simple: chop as much wood as you can," Orion said with a friendly smile and left Marco alone.
"What?" Marco said to the empty building. He felt Khaine vibrate on his back and realized he wasn't as alone as he always thought.
"Well, my friend…it seems I will do all the work while you wait," Marco sighed, placing Khaine and its scabbard against the wall. He saw an axe in the corner and picked it up, choosing one of the smallest pieces of wood labeled 'to chop.' Marco placed it on the biggest block of wood he was provided.
For the next hour or so, Marco chopped wood. It was hard work, mainly because the axe he was using was nearly dull, forcing him to hit the same block of wood numerous times to cut it properly.
"I see you're doing a good job!" Marco turned around and saw Orion. Wiping his forehead of sweat, he glared at the tall man.
"I thought you would train me in a different manner...but chopping wood?" Marco grunted as he sat on one of the giant wood blocks he was using to chop. The axe rested on the ground.
"Marco, Marco, Marco, getting fit physically isn't easy. You can't build muscles solely by swinging your sword. Besides, my lessons will help you in life!" Orion exclaimed happily, stepping closer to Marco and observing the pile of wood that had been added to the rest.
"If you want to start a new life, Marco, you have to know things everyone learns. One day you might find a woman you want to spend your life with, and then what? What will you do when she says, 'I want a house for our family'?" Orion said. His face retained a smile, but his tone was serious, reminiscent of their earlier conversation.
"Buy it," Marco said, as if it were the most obvious thing. Raising an eyebrow at Orion, he saw him shake his head.
"Marco, buying a house in this kingdom is so expensive that you'd need to sell an entire castle to get it. Besides, every house is already occupied. Listen, Marco, you have to know basic skills: how to chop wood, how to start a construction, how to farm. It's not easy, but you will learn. You're still young," Orion said, placing his large hand on Marco's shoulder. Marco only blinked at the man's words.
"In Neverzone, things might work differently. To get a house, you could...I don't know, kill the residents and take it, steal it, or whatever. But here, you can build a house of your own choosing, buy land, hire some lumberjacks, and build a house," Orion said. He picked an even bigger block of wood for his seat, the wood not even creaking under his weight.
"My training will not only strengthen your body but give you a wealth of information about how Mewni works. Now come on, the second part awaits," Orion said, still smiling. Standing up, he walked out of the storage, followed closely by Marco.
"We have to walk all the way to the end of the wall. The builders there lack manpower, and you will help them for the rest of the day," Orion said. Marco sighed, realizing that chopping wood was probably more enjoyable than the task ahead.
Marco and Orion traveled through the entire garrison until they reached its far end. The walk was silent between the two.
"Albert, I brought the help I promised. This one needs to get stronger!" Orion called out. Marco looked ahead and saw a tall man, probably as tall as Orion, but instead of being round, he was muscular, with a log on his shoulder that was part of the wall.
"Orion, my friend, don't worry. We'll take care of the little guy. By the end of the day, he'll be throwing those logs like sticks!" The man, now identified as Albert, said with a laugh. He walked towards them with the log still on his shoulder.
"Marco, if I remember correctly?" The man smiled at Marco. Despite his towering height, he had a gentle face, his green eyes sparkling with a light and something Marco couldn't describe.
"Yes, sir. Marco Diaz. Orion said you needed help," Marco bowed his head slightly with a smile. It would be best to be polite and optimistic; who knows, maybe this job would be nice.
"None of this 'sir' stuff. Call me by my name, Marco. We're all friends here," Albert said, finally discarding the log, which fell to the bare ground with a loud thud, scattering dust.
"Alright, Albert, I'm leaving the kid. I have soldiers to train," Orion said with a final chuckle before leaving the two to their work.
"Alright, Marco, I'll quickly brief you," Albert said, walking alongside the wall. Marco quietly followed.
"Since the news about the monster camp in the woods, Queen Solaria and her advisors ordered the wall to be reinforced. That's why we're adding additional logs to the wall," Albert said, gesturing to the thicker part of the wall.
"Besides that, we're laying a few traps behind the wall in case the monsters use ladders. You'll be helping me reinforce the wall with additional logs," Albert explained to the still-silent Marco, who gulped and looked worriedly at the pile of logs they stopped at.
"Today we have to place around a hundred of these logs. A few others will help us. Come on, buddy, we don't have much time," Albert said with a cheerful tone, completely opposite to what Marco was feeling.
Even though Marco was filled with dread at the sight of the giant logs, the work wasn't as bad as he thought. The people Albert introduced him to were as kind and friendly as the giant himself.
"I tell you, Marco, invite Samantha to dinner. She's clearly into you," laughed one member of the group. Marco frowned, and the rest followed with laughter.
"Why does everyone keep suggesting that Samantha and I are a pair?" Marco huffed, not understanding why everyone kept insinuating such things.
"Marco, I like you, but you're as clueless as any man," chuckled Adam, who was slightly taller and much more muscular than Marco.
"When you say things like 'Samantha and I are training together,' 'She's angry when I come back from town,' or 'She used the whip today for our training,' it gives people a lot to think about," Adam laughed again, and the group joined in, much to the annoyance of the youngest member.
"You're a young lad, Marco. The worst she can say is 'no.' Remember, she's a Captain. If she rejects you, you can find another woman you like," another member shrugged. It was their break, and they were relaxing for a while.
Marco gazed at the disappearing sun, his thoughts lingering on their words. Does he really fancy Samantha? He had met her less than a month ago. It would be ridiculous to fall in love with a woman more than ten years older than him. Even if he hadn't regressed in age, he would still be younger than her.
He didn't know many women in his life. There was Samantha, a little girl he met at the inn, Hekapoo, and someone he couldn't quite remember. She was a blonde girl, and there was also a girl who wore a hat and another who used something to move around.
"Ridiculous. She's much older than me. There's no chance of this happening," Marco grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. The laughter grew louder until it subsided when Albert walked up to them.
"Alright, ladies, break time's over. Get back to work. We still have to put up another forty logs before the sun disappears completely!" Albert ordered with a smile. The group immediately stood up as if they were about to be killed if they didn't.
Marco followed the group of six across the wall, while a smaller group of four men walked down. He helped the three men lift a large log and bring it to the edge of the wall. They told him they weren't placing the log into a hole in the ground but were using force to dig it in. It was weird, but he wouldn't argue with their logic.
"Throwing!" shouted one of the men. Marco and the others held the lines at the end of the giant log, ensuring it would fall against the wall and not further. The smell of burning rope and a bit of smoke filled the area as the log quickly flew to the ground and embedded itself with a thud.
Letting go of the rope, Marco looked at his hands. They were red from the stress, but it wasn't painful at all for some reason.
Marco and the group continued to throw heavy logs one after another alongside the wall, while the men on the ground dug up the earth to make the logs more stable.
Log after log, and the group was nearly finished with the day's work. Marco was completely exhausted; not even a week of constant sparring and fights with both Orion and Samantha had made him this tired.
"Alright, lads, we're finished for the day," Albert shouted from downstairs. Marco, upon hearing those words, collapsed on the wooden floor. Luckily, the sun wasn't scorching anymore; it was getting comfortably warm.
"Come on, Marco, let's go down. I'll tell you about tomorrow's assignment," Marco heard Albert's voice, wondering how the man had gotten onto the wall so quickly. He sat up and glared at the smiling man.
"If I die in my sleep… I blame it on you," Marco grunted, standing up. His body was sore to the point he felt like his muscles were tearing each other apart.
"Marco, that's just the beautiful experience of growing. Your body is adjusting to the hard work. In a few days, you'll be throwing those logs yourself without anyone's help!" Albert laughed as they descended the stairs to the garrison.
"Tomorrow's job is much easier. We'll nail down long boards to the logs we added to keep them stable," Albert said as he and Marco stepped onto the solid brown ground of the garrison. Despite his tiredness and soreness, Marco couldn't help but smile at the man.
"Alright, after finishing sparring with Samantha, I'll join you guys here," Marco said, starting to walk towards his tent when he heard one last remark from the tall man.
"And remember our advice about the Captain!" Albert laughed, and Marco quickened his pace, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Fuck you, Albert!" Marco suddenly turned around and gave a middle finger to the laughing man, who only roared with more laughter after Marco's display.
The walk to his tent was short. They had placed so many logs that they traveled near the gates. Still, they had to throw over four hundred logs to complete this part of the wall. Marco didn't know how those people kept going for so long and still had the energy to fight this war.
Arriving at the tent, Marco quietly stripped off most of his gear. When he reached for his back to take off Khaine, his eyes widened when he realized the sword wasn't there. Abruptly, Marco stood up from the bed, only to see Khaine on the nightstand next to it.
Reaching with a confused expression, Marco took the blade into his hand, feeling it vibrate, which made his hand shake.
"Did you appear here by yourself, or did someone bring you in?" Marco asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the others in the tent. The sword's only reply was a second-long vibration.
Shrugging, Marco leaned Khaine against the frame of his bed and laid down himself. It was warm, so bedsheets were unnecessary.
AN: This chapter took me three days to write, since my uncle decided to chop some wood, so for the past few days I spent outside in the garden, helping him with the task. But now I have more time, so new chapters will be released faster. But I made this one much longer, 8367 words.