When I reached 5, I asked for a sword for my birthday, though I knew my adoptive mother did not have the money to get a real one for me. I expected a wooden sword, but I recieved a hand carved sword from her which made me tear up a bit. The blisters on her hand finally made sense after seeing the cherry wood wooden sword that was as long as a Japanese katana (a mythical and rare sword in the Earl Kingdom) but slightly thicker. The whole length was sanded down and glossed over smooth, and the handle was carved cherry blossoms. It was perhaps the nicest gesture I've ever recieved even in my previous life, and swore to my adoptive mother that I would work hard with the sword to improve my swordsmanship.
Even though the royal palace takes swordsmanship highly, the princesses were never taught swordsmanship, that was something boys could only do— according to the King, but now that I'm one, who's to stop me? Swinging around the sword wasn't going to be enough. I trained my body since I started walking, my mother would often worry after I came back from training covered in bruises and scratches but what's training if it doesn't hurt? Ample muscles are needed for swordsmanship.
Uncle Brandharht is my neighbour. He works for the national guards which were mainly in charge of security at the town gates and the royal gates. The national guards were definitely paid lesser, but their skills were ample enough for guarding any external threats. Uncle Brandharht was a commander in the national guards, and luckily, he saw me training one day and offered to teach me swordsmanship. Who am I to say no? He was my best chance at learning the ways of the sword.
Whenever we would train at the backyard, a small girl with pink hair would stand at the side watching. She looked younger than me and had features similar to Uncle Brandharht, which I assumed to be his daughter.
"Hey, why not join us?" I beckoned the young shy girl to come closer. I was probably 7 then, she 4. Uncle Brandharht and I were taking a break, having ice cold lemonade which Auntie brought out.
"Eep!" I thought it was a mouse at first and my whole body tensed up only to realise it was her. I am— was a girl afterall!
"Ah, don't worry. She'll take a while to get used to you." Uncle Brandharht said, setting down his glass, he grasped his wooden sword again. This was of course his training sword, since his real sword was a little too dangerous against my wooden sword whenever it came to sparring. In terms of my power against his, and height difference, I would say I was lacking but I could feel myself improving, muscles that I didn't know I had to use started getting sore from a hard day at practice, meaning I was getting some meaningful work done.
"Hm? What's her name?"
"Eleanora, one day she'll become a great swordstress!" He beamed.
"Swordstress? She practices swordsmanship too?"
"Definitely. Though her training is easier than yours. She takes after me! She's good, but you're probably better... you crazy tough child." Uncle Brandharht ruffled my hair and beckoned me to continue the practice.
Needless to say, Eleanora "got used to me", alright.
It was a completely 180 degrees change!
"Oi, Alex! Get up, you stink ass!" Eleanora, who I call "crazy witch" pulled the pillow our under my head one morning. She was a great sparring and training partner especially since Uncle Brandharht had a promotion and couldn't train me much anymore. He did say he had "nothing more to teach me", but I loved sparring with him. It was definitely more challenging and I could put my entire weight and body into defeating him.
Eleanora had reached 10 last week, and recieved a new sword for her birthday. It was a simple sword from the sword smith in town a little similar to mine (in quality wise) which I saved up to get a better custom made one. She was excited to use the sword in sparring but she didn't need to wake me up in the middle of the night!
"Shut up, you crazy witch! Go back to sleep, the sun hasn't even risen!" I growled and pulled the pillow back.
"Get up! We should go to the Mysty Woods to train! We can hike there to get some warm up." She got onto the foot of my bed, jumping up and down excitedly. Eleanora was definitely still a child even though I was 3 years older than her, my maturity level is 18 years older than her! I would have been 28 if not for that damned fever.
"Stop it!" I groaned covering the pillow over my head.
"Get up, get up, before I do my... ELEANORA SMAAAASH!" She yelled and launched her upper body down to me, landing on my legs— but unfortunately hitting my manhood.
I swore my soul left my body that day.
I never knew getting hit in your balls or in this case getting your balls squashed was this painful. The pain was indescribable, rendering me unable to move and almost passing out.
One thing, I HATE BEING A GUY!