(Yeah, I'm too drunk and lazy to do a setup for the sparring matches. I just came home from a graduation chapter XD. Quick note to y'all. If you like my writing, check out my writing notebook. Go into my profile and it should be there under original works. I've wrote some really cool and introspective pieces in there. I hope you check it out and enjoy!)
I was standing across from Yanni in a rectangular, dirt arena. This was one of the sparring courts set up by the academy. Friendly combat between students is a crucial way for the academy to ensure that their students are combat ready for when they graduate. After all, mages that belong to the kingdom can be drafted at any time if war were to break out.
As I stared down Yanni, I could only sigh. After hearing that Prince Jacob would be participating in sparring matches with the top ranked freshman, a few hundred students came through and were now gathered around our sparring court.
Yanni shook his head as he noticed this as well. "So, hand to hand only, right?"
I nodded. "That's what my trainer told me at least. Did yours say the same?"
Yanni nodded in confirmation. "It's kinda boring but I understand why. Let's get to it shall we?"
I smirked. "Let's do this."
On the outside, I seemed calm and cool. However, I was actually super nervous. With my virtually zero experience with combat, I was bound to lose without abusing my affinities or using weapons. Hand to hand combat is definitely one of the most difficult things to fake knowing how to do. Every movement counts down to the millimeter even if you have overwhelming strength. Only in the face of absolute power will technique fail.
Anna was going to be the judge for our sparring matches since she wouldn't be participating. After all, she just needed to have the ability to use spells in combat at this point. An agent from the beastly dragon usually does the dirty work for the constables from the royal dragon.
She raised her arm, fingers extended straight up as if she was making a blade with her hand. "And…" She swung her hand down. "START!"
Neither me nor Yanni rushed in. We both reacted the same way, circling each other and observing. Despite him knowing that he definitely had a much larger amount of training than I have, he didn't rush in recklessly.
For about twenty seconds, we continued circling each other. I decided this was getting boring. I was here to learn, not to win. Thus, I charged in, making sure to maintain my athletic stance.
In turn, Yanni also ran towards me at a slightly slower pace. It would appear that he was trying to dictate the flow of the battle. This was a luxury that he had since he had much more experience than me.
I kept my forearms in a defensive position as I approached him, ensuring that I didn't leave any openings on my face.
Thus, Yanni went with an opening that I left, aiming a right hook for my rib cage. I threw my left hand down to deflect the punch but he slightly adjusted the speed of his fist, completely dodging my parry.
Yanni's fist crashed into my ribs. I felt like I was just hit by a rock as my ribs cracked under the force. The kid was much stronger than I was. I was lifted into the air a few inches by the punch and flew backwards for a few feet.
Yanni cringed at the sound of my ribs cracking. "Are you alright?"
I nodded while masking the pain. "Yeah, I'll get you this time."
Yanni chuckled. "Let's see it then big boy."
I rolled my eyes as I approached him again. As I walked up to him, he threw out a jab with his left hand. I timed it better this time, as I deflected the punch perfectly. However, he immediately followed it up with a right hook.
Luckily, I was ready this time. I dodged it by sliding to the left. As I slid, I twisted my upper body, making my midsection into a spring. Using that built up torsion, I swung my right leg towards his torso, aiming for his ribs. As I kicked, I swung my torso back in the other direction to increase the torsion force pulling my leg towards my target.
Yanni wasn't prepared for this kick whatsoever. My foot collided with his ribs. His body contorted with the force, his legs and upper body folding sideways under the mercy of my powerful kick.
He was knocked to the ground, rolling for about ten feet before coming to a stop. The entire time he was rolling, everyone was silent. As soon as he came to a stop, the reactions came in.
"THAT WAS CRAZY!"
"Such a brutal kick."
"I've never seen someone move their body like that."
"Are you sure he is a beginner? It seems like he is a master of some martial arts we've never seen before!"
I could only shake my head at statements like this. I truly had no idea what I was doing. All I had was an abnormally strong body for someone who hasn't done any strength training. I was still physically weaker than Yanni. If it came to Jacob, I wasn't even a comparison. He was a royal prince after all!
Yanni quickly got up, holding his side. "Damn, that fuckin' hurt."
I shrugged. "I told you I'd get you that time."
Yanni sighed. "I guess you weren't kidding. Let's continue." He immediately ran forward, launching a punch with his right hand as he jumped into the air.
Not wanting to allow him to have a height advantage, I dodged by rolling to my right, getting behind him since he landed past my previous position. I used my legs as springs, launching myself towards his landing position.
I held my right arm cocked behind my head, ready to strike out at him. As I was about to throw my punch, he ducked underneath where I was aiming, not even turning around to look at me.
Before I could even react, he was starting to spin with his left leg stuck out. Yanni was planning to sweep out my feet from underneath me.
Fortunately, I was close to the ground so I could respond accordingly. I quickly jumped, dodging his leg sweep. As I was in the air, I threw my foot forwards out to hit him with a light kick to the face.
Seeing that his leg sweep missed, he dropped to the floor on his back. I was not unsure what he was planning so I sprung backwards to avoid any type of counterattack.
Yanni nodded as he took his time getting up. "Good instinct."
I smiled wryly as this was a backhanded compliment. While I did react correctly, my fighting instinct was nearly nonexistent.
Yanni began to rush forward. He feigned left before dashing to the right. It completely threw me off balance as I'd never encountered anything like this. He then jumped upwards, spinning mid air to launch a kick at my face.
I was somehow able to react in time and raised my forearms to block the kick. Sadly, I was still sent flying, sliding across the ground for about fifteen feet.
As I moved to get up, I saw Yanni holding his fist in front of my face. "Yield."
I put my hands over my head. "I yield."
Yanni smiled and reached out his hand, offering it to help me up.
As I clutched it, the students watching us applauded the friendly spar. As budding mages, it was extremely beneficial to not only watch experts fight, but to also watch others at a similar skill level. It allows them to see the flaws of a beginner and small ways in which they could improve. The techniques that Yanni and I displayed were without a doubt towards the upper end of beginner fighters.
I sighed. "Only if I could use magic."
Yanni chuckled. "I think you still would have lost. My dad has been training me for years."
I shrugged. "Only time will tell, my friend."