"Let's not waste our energy before training Dong Hyun." Joon Wo said not sparing the other boy a glance as he kept walking to the middle of the arena.
The other boys just stood by watching, their whispers of mock didn't fall on deaf ears. Joon Wo just chose to ignore it.
"Hey!" Dong Hyun rushed to Joon Wo grabbing him by the shoulder and spinning him to look at him. "I was taking to you!"
"And I said I don't want to talk." Joon Wo brushed off his hand and rolled his eyes in annoyance.
This boy has never seized to get on his nerve. It hasn't been a month yet and Joon Wo was already losing his temper.
"How dare a slave touch me!?" Dong Hyun snapped.
Joon Wo turned to look at the boy raising the corner of his mouth in disgust, not believing what fell on his ears. "Huh?"
"What?" Dong Hyun scoffed, "Don't you know what you are called here? You are called a slave."
"Watch your mouth as you talk to the 2nd prince of Korea." Joon Wo said his voice almost a hiss, his dignity as a prince hurt as he was degraded by someone he couldn't see as anything other than trash.
"Prince or peasant they are all the same when they are sold. They all become slaves." Dong Hyun said turning to laugh with the bunch of brats standing all around him supporting him.
Joon Wo clenched his teeth hard that he sent pain shooting through his nerves, his fists dying to send that brat falling in the dirt face first.
He took deep breaths telling himself that he can't let himself be provoked by such groundless talk that was no different from girl's gossips.
"At least I'm being of some use to the people and the country. What good do you bring anyone, Dong Hyun?" Joon Wo said giving him a taste of his own poison.
He couldn't lay a finger on him unless it's a duel but, nothing wrong with feeding him the same crap he gave him for a week already.
"Y-you!" Dong Hyung clenched his teeth in resent.
"Assemble!"
The shout that General Wang gave brought silence upon everyone in the arena, causing the teenagers to scatter across the ground each one in their assigned place with their backs straight and heads up.
"What is all this noise so early in the morning?" General Wang said to know one in particular and everyone knew that so no one even flinched. "If you are so full of energy why not start by warming up? We will start with a one on one match. Joon Wo, Dong Hyun prepare yourselves you will go first."
They turned their heads just enough to look at each other. What a coincident that fire and ice are assigned to stand right next to each other!
What a strange world indeed, bringing together the ones who suit each other the least.
And so, they followed General Wang's command. General Wang wasn't actually from the main branch of the family. Since distant relatives always thought that naming someone after a great person (as if the wangs where great, what a joke.) he/she would eventually have the same successful, prospers life. And to the General's luck, he indeed had a successful life. But it was by no means thanks to his name.
He exceled in Martial arts since youth, grew up in the ranks in the army till he was now a General and the Leader of the clan Wang, bestowed him with the honor of training the future generations of the Wang's.
"You better watch your back pretty boy." Dong Hyun said without looking but his words fell on the ears of the target.
Joon Wo had no idea why they called him that all the time here, the words were pretty but they were wrapped with poison when he was the one saying them.
Honestly, Joon Wo was clueless about his cute figure that will develop into one hell of a handsome prince in time. His raven black hair fell a few inch's bellow his shoulder but he was holding it up with a metal clip in a pony tail so that it stays out of his face while training, that perfect dragon eye with a double eyelid and a fluff perfectly curved lip.
Simply put, he was a hot shot.
"Let's see who goes crying to his mother after this one." Joon Wo said as he was taking a deep breath, growing sick and tired of the small-minded boy in front of him.
"All right!" General Wang clapped his hands together gaining the attention of the children. "The two duelers' step into the ring"
He pointed to the ring in the middle of the arena, the two boys went to stand on either side of it.
"Spears in hand."
Two other boys stepped forward handing each of the duelers' a wooden spear that was at least a quarter taller than them.
Joon Wo adjusted his grip on the spear making sure that he is holding it just like how he was thought, to hold it just hard enough so that it's stable in his hands and not hard enough to hurt his wrist.
He remembered the General's words 'A spear is like an extension to your arm. It should be flexible just like a feather.' He took deep breaths repeating those words over and over again in his head.
Spreading his legs apart on the dirt balancing himself with the spear in his right grip, watching the opponent as he did the same thing. Clearly noticing how Dong Hyun's knuckles were turning white from how hard he was holding the spear.
Joon Wo smirked. Already finding his opponents weak point, he was making this too easy for him.
"Duel!"
At the signal from their General, Dong Hyun dashed over to take the first attack while Joon Wo holding himself steady ready to take the blow.
The strike came head on as the spear came crashing down on Joon Wo. In on swift movement he dodged to the side making sure he doesn't step out of the ring. He held up his spear bringing it down on his opponent whose back was wide open for him.
"S-shit!" Dong Hyun cursed as he was barely able to turn in time to raise his spear to block the strike that pushed him to the back inch's away from the ring.
The crowd of young men was quiet as they studied the duelers' every move, the General standing a step ahead of them all nodding his head as he enjoyed the dance that was taking place in the dirt and smell of sweat already spreading through the air.
Dong Hyun tightened his grip on the spear and dashed in for another attack, but this time aiming for the side. Joon Wo saw his movement clearly, he swung his spear clashing it with the other one, twisting his spear causing Dong Hyun to cry out in pain as his spear twisted as well in an uncomfortable position.
Joon Wo took the opportunity and disarmed the other boy from his spear and landed his final blow, sending the boy to meet the dirt outside the ring.
"That was exquisite!" General Wang Exclaimed with a satisfied grin on his face. "Joon Wo, you were perfect with your stance and noticing your opponent's weakness! Dong Hyun, you should loosen your grip on the spear!"
Claps were heard as they acknowledged Joon Wo's abilities but silenced a second later when Dong Hyun glared at them as he was still struggling to get off the ground from the soreness that was spreading all over his muscles.
Joon Wo just stood tall, head held high as he looked down on the brat that was degrading him a moment ago, he was now on his knees, covered in dirt and sweat.
Joon Wo's ego was finally satisfied. He smirked down on him and turned on his heals to walk out of the ring to allow the others to take their turn.
"You bastard!" Dong Hyun yelled, "You think this will change anything about who you are? You will only be a slave!"
Joon Wo stopped in his tracks, wishing that spear in his hand was a real one made of steal and silver not wood so that he could place it in that brat's heart once and for all.
"If it's as you say," Joon Wo said raising his voice in a firm pitch. "Shouldn't that be more of a disgrace to you then? To be sitting in dirt because of a so-called slave."
His words fell on Dong Hyun's ears like thunder roaring in the sky, along with the faint chuckles that came from the crowed.
Dong Hyun trembled as anger took hold of every inch of his body. With his spear still in hand he dashed towards Jong Wo who was already walking away.
A firm grip took hold of the spear as it was cutting through the air.
"I think you know that striking outside the ring is prohibited, Dong Hyun." General Wang said as he disarmed him of his spear. "5 laps across the arena, Dong Hyun."
The boy looked up at his instructor in disbelief knowing that there was no way to make him change his mind.
"You will pay for this!" he hissed at Jong Wo who was looking at him from over his shoulder and continued back in his way.
"I'll make you pay!"