The training room's atmosphere was thick with anticipation, the wooden floorboards echoing the students' restless shuffling. Sir Arnold's voice cut through the murmurs, "Control, precision, honor!" he bellowed. "These are the tenets of a true swordsman!"
I stood across from Lydia, each poised with a wooden sword in hand. Lydia's eyes gleamed with a predatory light, her lips curled into a sneer. "Prepare to be humbled," she taunted, her voice a venomous hiss.
My response was a serene smile, my stance unwavering. "We shall see," I replied, my calmness a stark contrast to Lydia's malice. I've been training for two year I kno that I sould be better than her.
"Begin!" Sir Arnold's command unleashed the tension like a bowstring snapping.
Lydia lunged forward, her sword a blur of motion aimed at my head. With a graceful sidestep, I deflected the strike, the clack of wood resonating through the room. "You'll have to do better than that," I chided, my voice light.
Lydia's scowl deepened, and she attacked with renewed ferocity. Her strikes were precise, each one a testament to her skill, but I matched her blow for blow. We were a whirlwind of motion, our swords singing a sharp symphony.
"You think you're so clever," Lydia spat, her strikes growing more aggressive. "But I've trained with the best!"
"And how come you are not winning" I retorted, my riposte forcing Lydia to stumble back.
The students circled around us, their cheers and jeers a cacophony that fueled the duel's intensity. Lydia's attacks were relentless, a series of feints and thrusts that pushed me to my limits. She is suprisely strong.
My defense was a dance, my movements fluid and assured. I parried a particularly vicious strike, my counter-attack drawing a thin line along Lydia's arm. "Are you tired," I declared, though the fight was far from over.
Lydia's eyes flashed with fury, and she charged, her sword aimed at my heart. But I was ready, my blade meeting Lydia's with a force that sent shockwaves up our arms.
The duel was no longer just a lesson; it was a battle of wills, a clash to know who was the srtongest. We fought with a passion that left no room for error, our swords an extension of our determination.
As the duel wore on, neither of us yielded ground. Lydia's technique was impeccable, her form honed by I think years of practice. My style was intuitive, my instincts guiding me through Lydia's onslaught.
The room fell silent, the students holding their breath as the duel reached its crescendo. Lydia's sword whistled through the air, aimed at my side. With a twist of my wrist, I deflected the blow, my counter leaving my sword's tip at Lydia's throat.
But before I could claim victory, Sir Arnold's voice thundered, "Enough!" He stepped between us, his presence commanding. "This duel is over. There will be no winner today."
Lydia lowered her sword, her chest heaving with exertion. I did the same, my eyes never leaving Lydia's. It was the first time I had fought with such intensity, and it felt exhilarating. Despite the exhaustion coursing through my limbs, I found myself wanting to continue, to test my limits against Lydia once more.
Sir Arnold looked at us both, pride evident in his gaze. "You have both shown great skill and determination," he said. "Remember this day, for it is not the victory that defines you, but the courage to face your equals."
Approaching Lydia with a friendly gesture, I extended my hand in a gesture of sportsmanship. "That was a good match. I hope I can play against you more often," I said with a genuine smile, hoping to diffuse any lingering tension between us.
But Lydia's response was far from friendly. With an angry glare, she slapped my hand away, her words cutting like a blade. "Don't think that you and I are equal," she spat before turning on her heel and striding away.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I couldn't help but sigh in frustration. It seemed that Lydia's disdain for me ran deeper than I had anticipated.
With a heavy heart, I made my way to the sword storage box, depositing my wooden sword alongside the others. The clang of wood against wood echoed through the room, a somber reminder of the day's events.
Joining Lise, who wore a smirk on her face, I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. "I think it's the first time I've seen Lydia so angry," Lise remarked, her tone filled with concern. "You'd better be careful. I think she's going to try to get her revenge later."
But for me, Lydia's threats held little weight. After all, how much worse could it get than what happened yesterday?
"Let's go and eat now," I suggested, eager to put the tension of the day behind us. With a nod from Lise, we made our way out of the training room, leaving behind the echoes of our duel and the lingering animosity between Lydia and me.