Eastar rose on the forefinger of each hand and had lost count of the push-ups when, looking upside down the courtyard, saw a man approaching. He gave a slight boost of his fingers and stood up. As he was about to open his mouth to speak, the man interrupted.
— Well, well. So my newest pupil has arrived? I hope it didn't make you wait too long, I think I overslept.
The Sirion's hair was white and straight, completely messed up, a lock falling over one of his red eyes. He turned to the others spearmen nearby and raised his arms.
— Hi, guys! How is your morning going? — He saw his sublieutenant and smiled. — Allyn, my dear. You look beautiful today!
The short-haired woman rolled her eyes and walked over to him.
— Edwin, you left the boy waiting for an hour! — She crossed her arms and frowned.
The man scratched his neck with his left hand and gave one clumsy smile, then reached out and squeezed lightly to Allyn's cheek.
— My dear, I bet he has learned so much just from watching you in all your beauty and splendor.
— You know that doesn't work on me, do you?
— I know, but I love your look of contempt. — The man blinked and turned to the young star. — Very well then. I'm sorry, boy.... Eastar, isn't it? I'm Edwin, but I think you already know that. Ready to show me what you can do?
— You don't look too good to fight.
In fact, it seemed that the man had just woken up after a binge, or not had slept the yet. His face was wrinkled and his beard marked his face as if it had not been done for a few days. It was a head shorter than Eastar, wore a green tunic with embroidered golden eagle like all other soldiers, but was barefoot and the robe was open, showing a part of the muscles of your body.
— Don't worry about me, worry about you. Allyn, can you get my spear, please?
The woman whistled, facing the rest of the soldiers. Pointed to the spears and one of them hurried to pick up a yellow one and throw it at his wife.
Eastar was startled, the spear came fast, ready to cross the sublieutenant, but she took a quiet step to the side, getting out of the trajectory, and Edwin held the spear, making a slight movement with the wrist and supporting it in the ground. The boy sighed, impressed and relieved.
— Let's start? — The Lieutenant stared at his opponent with a smile on his face, his eyes starting to glow brighter.
The young stellar went to his spear and picked it up, turned and stood. Legs apart, body on side, spear diagonally.
— Your position is good, boy, look like you have observed Allyn for a while.
— Edwin. — The sublieutenant, who was still on his side, seemed to have an air of fun on his face. — I think by the end of the afternoon you won't have to take it easy on him.
— Truth? — The man looked surprised.
The woman just walked away. Edwin bowed his head slightly as he watched her go. It was hard to tell if he was thinking about what she said or just looking at her ass. Suddenly, he smiled and turned his attention to the young stellar before him.
— If she said that you must be good. Nice!
Without warning, he stepped forward, faster than anyone Eastar had fought on Earth. Before he could think, the spear was pointed at his chest. The young stellar jumped sideways and frowned, forcing himself to concentrate. Apparently the man was not as sloppy as his appearance said.
The lieutenant smiled at the boy's expression and spun as he rolled the spear at waist level. The stellar stopped the blow with his spear locked vertically, lowered its tip over the head of the sirion, which reversed the direction in which was spinning and went to the left, deflecting.
The two stepped back and faced each other.
Eastar advanced first this time, coming with his weapon to the right and slashing horizontally toward Edwin's arm, Edwin placed his spear propped on the floor while holding the top with his left hand.
The rods clashed. The lieutenant kicked the base of his weapon causing it to be against the chin of his opponent
At that moment, the boy saw the dance flash, the sync appeared before his eyes, was like if he knew what would happen and, in a fast move, leaned backward, drew his spear back and turned to attack the legs on the left side of the lieutenant.
The sync is gone.
Edwin jumped sideways, swung, trowing his legs upward, stood upside down, and finally fell to his feet again. The boy's spear was still moving as the man pointed the base of his to the young stellar's chest and lashed out, he was pushed back with enormous force and fell flat on his back.
— Yeah! — Edwin raised the weapon over his head and laughed. — What a fantastic fight! You were amazing for the first time, boy. I almost thought I would need to get serious!
— Wait ... Were you kidding? — He sat up and looked surprised at the man.
— Well, not kidding. Edwin propped his spear on the floor. — Not after your last attack .... I'd say it was warming me. — His face had a wild expression. — Want to try again?
— Absolutely. — The apprentice returned the smile, picked up the spear and stood up.
***
Eastar was panting, lying on the floor. He had a bruise that began to swell on the side of his right eye, a cut in his cheek dripping bright blue blood. He was beaten so much that was dizzy.
About five steps from him, Edwin was sitting. Laugh with a skin of beer in hand.
— It's been a long time since I've worked so hard. You learn fast, boy.
— And, even so, I couldn't beat you even one time.
— But you fought well. The only spearman who can push me harder than you is Allyn.
— That's true? — Eastar leaned on one elbow to look at him.
— Oh yes, she's amazing. But spend her time training others and rarely have a little time to play with me. — He winked at the young stellar.
They both turned to see the spearmen fighting each other. Allyn supervised, followed, and complained when they were doing something wrong.
— She knows how to tease — completed the lieutenant, taking another sip of the drink.
The boy looked up at the sky and noticed that the sun was fading in the west. He startled, realizing it was late afternoon and did not even remember to go to lunch. Regreted the lost meal.
— Well, I've already missed lunch, can we continue?
Edwin raised an eyebrow at him and began to laugh and shake his head.
— Calm down, star boy, that's not how it works. You made me use almost all of my reserve. — He stood, leaning on the spear. — My next task is to get enough rest and replenish my stocks. As for you, I suggest you do the same. Not that you need to stock up on energy, but resting is amazing, I say from experience.
Seeing the impatience on the star's face, he smiled again and continued:
— Take your time, I intend to continue training you for a few days. It was fun.
With a smile, he turned and walked over to where Allyn was. He must have said something funny, because the soldiers began to laugh. Eastar watched how they liked him, but declined to join the conversation, fell back and looked up to the clouds. In fact, despite his bravado about continuing training, he could barely think of getting up.