I went to the training hall after breakfast, the next day. It was no use to sneaked outside the palace for me to practice archery, since I guessed my parents knew about it all this time. So, I confidently sauntered in the palace carrying my bow and arrows.
I didn't anticipate to find someone else using the training hall. He was practicing his martial arts and trying to mix his sword-fighting skills. But, I could perceive that he's not used to it. There was something different about him, I could detect anger from his actions.
"Jihan?" I called out to him but he didn't seem to hear me, "Jihaaan?"
He turned his head to my direction, "Laurana?" We walked towards each other and he was dripping with sweat. He brushed back his messy medium-length dark blue hair and wiped his sweat with his towel, "What brings you here?"
"I'm here to practice archery, why are you here so early?" I got a not-so-fast response from him, "Practice. I went here to practice also."
"Are you sure? It seems like you have something on your mind.. Same as you told me before, I'm also willing to listen or just be here for you, whenever you need someone," I comforted him by patting his shoulders.
"I will. I appreciate it, Laurana. So, archery?"
I respected Prince Jihan for not opening up to me, yet, so I nodded at him, "Yes, but I'm also interested with martial arts. Will you teach me some, just for self-defense?"
"I would love to," he grasped both of my wrists unexpectedly, pulled me to him, spun me and hugged me from the back.
I was taken aback with what he did, "Uhm.. Jihan, what is this?"
"Training starts now. Free yourself," I slightly shivered because he leaned down and talked beside my left ear.
I tried to free myself but he was hugging me tightly including my arms. Then, I attempted to stomp his foot but he evaded it. I also tried to increase my weight by dragging myself down but it didn't affect him even a little.
He released me after I tried multiple times; I subsequently dashed a little forward, turned around and kicked him on his thigh. But--
"Waaah let go," he caught my foot and I was losing my balance.
It was evident that he was holding back his smile, "Nice try. I'll teach you some basic self-defense before we moved to martial arts."
This time, he let me dropped my things at a long wooden seat. I removed my white winter cashmere coat; which revealed my cross collar long-sleeved navy blue untucked top with a small slit on the right side and my double-layered long wide white skirt, all embroidered with white flowers that had thin petals and dark green thin leaves.
"What would you do if someone grab your wrist?" He grabbed my left wrist as I pondered on what to do.
"Kick him in the middle..?" I tilted my head as I asked him. He shook his head and said, "Make him let go of you, first. Then kick him on the lower front part of his leg closest to his foot, a hard blow to it may lead to their inability to step using that leg. To make sure, you can also kick him in the middle or just run."
He let go of my wrist and stretched out his left arm, "Grab my wrist as tight as you can." I did what he told me and he freed himself only in a few seconds, "Easy, right?"
I nodded whilst thinking, 'Yeah, for you'. He grabbed my left wrist again, "Try it, focus on my thumb here, pull your arm to the direction of where my thumb is, as quick and as strong as you can."
I tugged at my arm a few times, before a final strong yank released my wrist from his hold, then I backed away to increase the distance between us and pretend to kick where he told me to, "Is that right?"
"Yes, you did great," a slight smile formed on his lips and it was gone in an instant.
I did a hold fist salute-- wherein my left palm was touching my right fist with my left hand close to my index finger, "Thank you, master."
He faintly blushed at what I said, after that, I punched him in the arm, "Why are you serious? You're not 2nd Prince Egon. Loosen up." His expression darken at the mere mention of the prince.
"My apologies, I didn't intend to worsen your mood," I had my head down remorsefully as I apologized to him.
He stepped forward and lightly touched my arms, "It's not your fault. 2nd Prince Egon and I are not in good terms, that's it."
"Since when and why? I understand if you're not comfortable to share it, it's no problem. If you must know, I don't know anything about you or any of the princes, even rumors and as in anything."
"Except for Prince Theo?" I involuntarily looked away, realizing what I've said, then smiled at him, "Yes, except for Theo. Shall we get back to training, master?"
He let out a light chuckle and continued to teach me some other vital pressure points, for instance-- the eyes, the jaw and the area between two fingers. Then, out of the blue, he hugged me from behind so I teased him, "You're loving this training, huh?"
I didn't receive any response from him, thus leading me to focus on the training. This time, he wasn't able to include my arms so I pretended to hit him in the face with my elbow. Pretended because I couldn't possibly hurt him, for real. I stomped on his feet, quickly turned sidewards from the hug and hit his jaw with the lowest part of my palm. Afterwards, I held his shoulders and pretended that I hit him in the middle with my knee.
"What's happening here? Laurana? Laurana!! Wait for me!" After I backed away from Prince Jihan, I caught sight of a prince who darted across the training ground, then tackled Jihan to the ground.