They all looked fierce, with one thing in mind the delicious smell coming from the Lady basket.
Those trainees eyes were gleaming with fiery resolve, they held their wooden swords tightly while Rahul held his wooden cane as his defense prop. They attacked him one by one and were sent flying to the ground, the bonking sound of his cane precision against their wooden swords filled the air. As he gracefully moved into 'battle' formation, whispers of the his moves in spite of being a cripple with one hand spread to the arriving crowd.
The trainees lunged forward again, again, again, their tiredness could be seen, but their resolve remained, launching a series of attacks, seeking to overwhelm their lone adversary. Rahul easily evaded their blows with swift and effortless movements, his instincts honed through countless battles.
The trainees were visibly getting more and more tired, suddenly Lock cried for all of them to fall back and fight together instead of one by one.
Rahul grinned.
They were in two opposing sides Rahul in one side, and the trainees on the other.
Lock stepped forward limping. " We can't beat him just fighting alone, one by one, we need to make a
Strategy. Even with a missing hand and his leg injuries we are still no matching for him. He is after all one of our master best Warrior.
So I have an ideia, who's with me?" they all looked at eachother and yelled in agreement.
They circled around Lock as he shared the plan. Everyone was amazed with the youngesters resolve.
After a moment they all turned to face their training master, their eyes fiery with desire to win, they all charged forward from the same direction.
Rahul grinned as he could easily take them in that formation. As the front group was almost getting closer to Rahul, they were the biggest ones in the group so they blocked his vision, as soon they were closed enough they changed their direction to the sides, two to the left, two to the right and two to the front were coming, his grin grew even wider as he was about to jump, from behind the big guys, that sorrounded him, the little ones that were hiding behind their backs jumped out flying into him as ,they all sorrounded him from all flanks they all lifted their wooden swords at same time touched him with the point of their sword. They didn't strike him they only touched him as agreed. He fell on the ground looking at trainees who were realising they had finally managed to win.
They all burst into a victory cheer as well as the expectating crowed. Rahul fell back and started laughing out loud.
He was indeed proud.
They all ran over to the Lady and Malaica made them stand in a line as she unveiled the potato bread that was still giving a delicious fragance. She handed one by one a piece of well deserved bread.
Rahul come forward as well to collect a piece of bread he smiled to Malaica, the girl trembling gave him his bread while blushing and looking away.
Alana saw Malaica turn red and thought 'oh she must be cold, she is very red' she got up went to Malaica and asked with a serious face if Malaica wanted her covers since she looked like she was cold. As soon she touched her, Alana felt that Malaica cheeks were burning hot. She got worried and asked again if Malaica had a fever. Malaica bright red face got darker, as she blushed even more now that everyone was looking.
" No I am fine my lady" she said in a timid voice as she run off. Alana couldn't figure out what was upsetting Malaica and why she was hot in this cold weather.
"My lady, let me ask for you help, could you step forward. " Rahul whispered something to the lady and as he nodded he head, 3 targets appeared in a distance in 3 different sides. The moment the targets popped up the Lady shot arrows hitting the 3 targets with an amazing speed.
"My lady please take this sword." Rahul handed the sword to the lady but as soon as she grabbed, she almost fell over.
"See not because someone isn't good with the sword doesn't mean the person can't use any other weapons, yesterday you all chose to fight with swords, but maybe there's something more suitable for you"
Alana was annoyed she tried to lift the sword but still couldn't. She reached her boots and pulled two knifes and put under Rahul chin, he reacted quickly and blocked with his arm one of the knifes and the other he just didn't blocked because he forgot he didn't have hand in the other arm.
"My lady ..." Said Rahul almost in a whisper "...What are y-..?"
" If you wanted to tell them to choose another weapon why didn't you say that from the beginning" she said annoyed, Rahul was caught by surprise by her annoyence.
" My lady, I didn't want to make you angry, is just this kids they look up to you, and they needed to see that it's okay if they are not swords experts, they just need to find something they can be experts at. "
In spite of her annoyence Alana couldn't help but to agree that the kids needed to be shown a different perspective, she just didn't like that she was the exemplary model for it. She retrieved the knifes back. The trainees were amazed by the Lady's quickness and their 'master' reaction.
" Anyways I need to get to the doctor."
" Are you hurt my lady? " Asked Rahul worried turning is attention to her. " Come I will help you find the doctor. " Before she could answer he yelled . " You are dismissed, bring me your weapons of choice tomorrow." And quickly turned to attend the Lady.
" No ... No I am not hurt, or sick. However I think Malaica is... " At that moment Rahul got a little flustered. " .. I am glad you will help me find the doctor." She said smiling.
Rahul wanted to run away but the lady grabbed him by the arm, and asked him to lead the way.
They quickly found the doctor in his house, he was studying herbs with his apprentice, she told him her worries and they went to look for Malaica.
Rahul was silent the entire time.
The town was poor but everyone did their best to take care of it, without the Master to do the campaigns, they didn't have coins to get new materials, the ones they had was either from the last purchase, or the one they picked up themselves, so the quality was not the best.
As they arrived to Malaica's house, Alana promptly knocked on her door. It was her first time visiting someone, but she had heard Luria say when someone visits another friend they should always bring gifts. She didn't have anything with her at the moment but she vowed to herself, next time she did visit someone she would definitely bring something to gift with her.
Malaica opened the door, flustered to see the Lady, the doctor and Rahul.
"M-my La-lady whaaaaa....? " She stummered.
" See ..you still look so red." Turned to the doctor. "Could she have fever? Can you please examine her?" Malaica turned even more red of embarrassement.
She couldn't dare to tell the Lady off, and she knew the Lady was just worried but still she just wanted to make a huge hole, and get buried herself in it.
"I am fine my Lady, really, doctor."
The Doctor smiled understanding the circumstances. He turned to the Lady. " The illness that Malaica has I can't cure it." He said winking to the Lady.
The lady was shocked, was Malaica dying and the doctor couldn't do anything to help her. They all saw by her face that she didn't understand at all what was going on.
The doctor sighted. " Take this and this everyday to nourish your health."
Alana sighted in relief. Looking at Rahul she noticed she was red as tomato. "Oh my ...do you have some medicine for Rahul too, I think he also caught what Malaica has."
The doctor bit his lip to not let out loud laugh, but his eyes were tearing. "Mostly likely indeed, he does have the same desiease, they should be quarantined together." He said pushing both inside the house and closing the door. "We should get going my lady, it might be better to left them heal by themselves."
Alana nodded, herself had to heal many times form illnesses alone that she thought she would die from it.