The Forger Family walked together as a unit towards the place they wanted to surprise Eric with.
"So, where are we going?" Eric asked curiously as he held his little sister's hand.
Anya smirked up at Eric, "It's a surprise."
Eric frowned, "You know I don't like surprises."
"You'll like this one." Yor assured her son as she held Anya's other hand.
After walking for ten more minutes, they arrived at their destination. "Here we are." Loid announced as he held the door open to the building for his family to enter first then followed after.
Eric and Anya looked around at the interior they haven't seen before. It was large and wide with high ceilings. But what caught their attention were the activities going on in the wide-open space that can put a gymnasium. On one side of the room was a wall dedicated to rock climbing as children, teens and adults scaled the fake rocks. On another side there's an area of balance beams, padded floors, and gymnastic bars. The last one was mainly made up of rows of rough matted floors each with a pair of white clad and metal mesh masks covering their entire head and faces. In their hands were fencing swords, deflecting and parrying each other as the sound thin steel clashing together echoed in the massive room among the cacophony of noise.
Eric's eyes widened as he watched the sparring matches. "This is..."
Loid laid a hand on his son's shoulder and smiled, "Your sister told me what sport you wanted to try."
Eric turned to his sister who gave him a smug smile and said, "You're welcome."
Eric let out a disbelieving laugh then looked up at his father, "Is this really okay? I mean, lessons aren't free."
Yor answered for Loid, "They offer a free trial lesson for those who are interested in the sport. If this doesn't work for you, we can try something else."
One of the instructors, a man in his forties with a lined face and gray hair approached the Forgers. He wore the standard fencing gear and looked quite fit for his age.
"How may I help you?" He greeted with a friendly smile.
Loid removed his white hat and answered, "Hello, my name is Loid Forger, we spoke on the phone a few days ago about a free trial lesson for my son."
"Ah, yes, Eric if I'm not mistaken." The instructor said as he glanced down at the boy who stood at attention. "My name is Gustav Wellers, I'm the senior fencing instructor."
Eric bowed his head in respect, "It's nice to meet you sir. I look forward to our lesson. I'll try not to disappoint you."
Gustav chuckled under his breath at the boy's greeting. "Quite a polite one you have there. Let's see your arms."
Eric raised his head and held his arms out before the older gentlemen knelt to his height and got a good look at his limbs, squeezing the muscles and humming. "You're a bit on the skinny side, but I can tell you've used these muscles to throw a few punches." Gustav noted when he felt the tiny muscles flex under his hands.
"My sister and I also take a bit of self-defense training. You never know when you'll need it." Eric explained as he glanced at Yor who beamed with pride in her children.
"Hahaha! Already a fighter. That's good. Only we won't use our fists here." Gustav states as he stands up and points his thumb behind him, "As you can see, fencing requires three things, accuracy, speed, and brains. You are quick on your feet, right?"
"Considering how fast my sister is, I pretty much pushed myself to keep up with her." Eric deadpanned and nodded.
Anya grinned with pride.
"Well, let's get you some gear." Gustav nodded and led the boy to the rack where all the fencing gears are hung up. After a while, Eric was equipped in fencing attire as he held a fencing sword with one hand and tucked the mask under his arm.
Anya's eyes sparkled, "Big brother looks like a knight!"
Gustav laughed, "He looks like one, but can he fight like one?"
Eric had a look of determination on his face as he stood before his teacher, "I am ready Mr. Wellers. Teach me the way of the sword."
Gustav grinned, he liked the boy's spirit, he looked like a fresh young squire. "Alright, first lesson is stance and footwork."
The Forgers sat on one of the benches and watched as Eric followed Gustav's instructions. Though he was clumsy at first, minor adjustments to his stance and arm techniques helped him. Soon, he began to feel more confident as he repeated the maneuvers.
Anya watched with rapt fascination then glanced at her parents. The look of pride on their faces as they watched their prodigy son learn the art of fencing. Anya wants her parents to see her in the same light too, not just as the younger sister. She wants to take up sword lessons as well, but she wants to stand out with her own skills without copying her brother.
The sound of feet hitting the mat made the youngest Forger turn to the gymnastics area, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched humans literally fly, flip, and twirl through the air. It reminded her of how her Mama and Papa move when they are in action, but this was done with more elegance than violence.
Without her parents noticing, she snuck off to one part of gymnastics floor and saw girls her age doing handstands against these mats built at angles to rest their back against while on their hands. She watched as one girl, with the help of her instructor, vaulted forward, planting her hands onto the handprints and swinging her legs into the air until her back met the padded wall. The instructor gently held her feet as the little girl practiced her balance, holding the position for ten seconds before she tilted back onto her feet.
Anya watched many of them repeat this move, instilling it in her mind before a look of determination steeled over her face. Kicking off her socks and shoes, she marched to one of the vertical mats and stared at the handprints on the floor. Thankfully she wore shorts today. Remembering the bodily movements of the smaller gymnasts, she pushed her hands forwards, planting them onto the marks and vaulted her body towards the mat with all the energy within her tiny body. She grunted as she threw her feet up into the air as she held her weight with just her hands. She felt successful when the back of her heels touched the vertical mat. However, that victory was short-lived when she felt herself tilting sideways.
Hands caught her ankle and held it in its proper place.
"Don't just rely on your hands, you need strength in your center to maintain your balance." Yor instructed from above Anya as she smiled.
"Hi, Mama." Anya greeted before she was gently guided back onto her feet.
Anya flexed her fingers before she repeated the move with a resounding 'hup'.
Yor stood by as she helped her daughter achieve her balance at beginner's level. Her hands ready to catch her should she fall.
"Mama, I'm doing it!" Anya excitedly said with a bright smile.
Yor felt a hint of pride at how Anya has taken to performing a handstand.
After a few more seconds, Anya returned to her feet, shakingly putting on a pose she saw the other gymnasts doing.
"Nicely executed." One of the instructors said as they approached the mother and daughter. She was silently watching the newcomer trying to do that handstand and was dually impressed by the small accomplishment.
Yor turned to the young woman who carried a friendly and warm presence around her. "Oh, sorry for coming here uninvited. My daughter wandered away from us by the fencing mat." Yor apologized sheepishly as she glanced over at Eric who was practicing his maneuvers with Loid keeping a watchful eye on him.
"That's quite alright." The woman smiled at Anya who looked up at her, "You're quite the little ball of energy, aren't you?"
Anya nodded fiercely, "Yes ma'am!"
"My name is Olivia, I teach the beginners for our gymnastics program." She glanced at her proteges who were performing floor moves, twists and twirls on the balance beams. "It's a bit difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it and commit to the sport, you're flying all around the room."
Anya's eye sparkled as she watched everyone do their routines then turned to Yor, "I wanna fly too Mama! Please!" She begged, practically hopping on her feet.
Yor glanced around the room, she herself can easily flip and run up the walls with lethal grace. And the idea of Anya wanting to do the same thing sounds quite appealing. Plus, it will give her something to do.
"We'll talk to Loid and see what he thinks. Though I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see his daughter take on a sport like this." Yor said, not wanting to get her daughter's hopes up in case he says no.
Throughout the afternoon, Eric and Anya stayed within their respective domains at the center under the tutelage of their instructors. Both children gave it their all despite only starting out. By the time they left, the kids were sore and tired.
"So, how did you like the sport?" Loid asked as he sat on the couch massaging his son's arm, feeling the tightness within the developing muscles.
Eric grunted at the soreness in his limb, but smiled nonetheless, "I love it. I'm sore, but I enjoy it. Gustav's an interesting man. I don't mind that he's strict."
Loid nodded, "That's good." With this new activity, his son now has an outlet for his stress. Fencing is also a competitive sport Eden participates in, but it is only for 3rd year students. Hopefully by the time Eric reaches his third year, he'll have already acquired the skills needed to win competitions. Which will also add more Stellas to Eric's record. A good investment he should say.
"Papa."
Loid turned to his daughter who stood before him while he massaged his son's muscles.
"Me and Mama were on the mat today, and the teachers said I was good at beginners' level when I stood on my hands." Anya fidgeted as she shifted on her feet, "They said I can apply for their classes if I'm interested. Can I join them, please?" She asked as she held her hands together in prayer while giving her father a pleading look.
Loid knew this would come when he saw how his daughter easily took to the gymnastic floor. He can't deny how well she did despite only starting out, and she seemed to enjoy it.
"Are your arms hurting?" Loid asked as he dropped his son's arm.
Anya nodded before Loid picked her up and sat her on his lap. His thumbs gently massaged her small wrists for their excessive use today.
"Are you sure you want to take gymnastics there? It's a very rigorous sport." Loid warned his daughter as he held her.
"I can do it. I don't care if it's rigor mortis." Anya confidently said as she smiled up at her father.
Loid and Eric fought the urge to laugh at her miswording.
"Anya, 'rigorous' means exhaustive and demanding. 'Rigor mortis'...is something else." Loid hesitated, not sure if he should explain the real meaning behind that word since it involves the fourth stage of death defined by the stiffening of the limbs of the corpse caused by chemical changes in the muscles postmortem.
Anya deadpanned at him as she listened to his thoughts explain the meaning of that word, but still could not understand it. If it involves death, then it's bad.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea, it'll give Anya something to do while I'm fencing." Eric stated as he flexed his hands and fingers.
Loid hummed to himself, 'Yor is also on board with this. It will keep her occupied, and it can also help her expel all of that excessive energy.'
"Papa, can I?" Anya enquired as she listened to his thoughts.
After a moment of silence, Loid shrugged, "I don't see why not."
"Yay!" Anya cheered happily as she hugged her father.
Thus, the Forger siblings found their sports that will help them in future missions.