Avryn had a pep in his step as he walked through the Academy courtyard. He spotted Valoche and ran up to him. He asked for his assistance. They went up to the simulation rooms.

  “So, what do you need help with?” Valoche stretched.

  The simulation room took them to the usual place for one versus one sparring. Avryn turned around and cracked his fists,

  “I’d like to trade fists,” He took a couple practice swings.

  No doubt he wanted to improve after that fight with Weylen. It was the first time in a long time he had difficulty against such a style. Valoche understood the assignment.

  “Alright, how long do you want to spar for?” He rolled his shoulders.

  Avryn pointed to the virtual clock ticking down. It was at twenty-nine minutes, and counting down. Valoche nodded. Warriors like them could work out the kinks of training in constant sparring.

  “Besides, I’ve always been interested seeing how I measure up compared to you, big V,” Avryn raised his fists.

  “Big V?” Valoche chuckled. “I quite like that for a nickname.”

  They both stopped talking. Valoche charged up and barely missed Avryn with a wild lariat. He readjusted and hit him in the back with a back elbow. He turned and charged with front kick.

  Avryn countered with a quick combo ending with a powerful hook. Valoche chanelled the power of the spirits to enhance himself. He restarted his offense. Each blow aided by magical winds. Avryn did his best to dodge but was eventually caught.

  Outside of the training room, Rinna and Tvira found them. They observed the ongoing fight quietly.

  “They sure have gotten along,” Rinna crossed her arms.

  “Such is the nature of boys with similar interests,” Tvira chuckled.

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  Thirty minutes passed by quickly. The score was on Valoche’s side, five to four. Fatigue had sunk in. They were both panting heavily, with both fists shaking. One swing later, and they both traded blows to each other. They both fell down as the simulation had finished.

  Rinna and Tvira entered the room and helped them up.

  “Had a fun bonding time, brother?” Tvira teased him.

  They went back into the comfort of their dorm. Dinner was served and they reflected on recent events. Valoche wanted to satiate his curiosity.

  “I really like to know, where’d you learn how to fight like that?” He asked.

  “Yeah, I doubt you had a lot of good sparring partners in Kuldrin,” Rinna chimed in.

  Avryn took a moment to formulate his answer. He asked Rinna if she remembered that father figure he spoke about before. She nodded. Avryn added there was another figure in his life, the more deadbeat father kind. That man was a lieutenant, a higher rank than the father figure.

  He dubbed him Douchebag, for now.

  Despite being one, his way of training Avryn was a necessary evil he had to go through. He had to earn his keep within the guards, that was their way. Every time he lost in a sparring match, he would eat no meals for that night, nor sleep in a bed.

  It was a cruel way to raise a child but Avryn proved to be extremely resilient. He learned ways on dealing with superior opponents in unarmed combat. He had his wit. Although it would not always lead him to victory, his creativity led him out of dire situations.

  “So yeah, I learned to be a pain in the ass to Lieutenant Douchebag,” He summed it up.

  “Still, what an unusual and cruel way to treat a child,” Valoche replied.

  “I wasn’t any ordinary kid, unfortunately for him,” Avryn smirked, and took a bite of his meal.

  He changed the topic and switched it on Valoche. He was curious how he trained in Veilund. Valoche replied he often sparred with his father, the chieftain. He was larger than boys of his age and often tussled with his father on the cold snow. It helped kept his body warm. He learned all his grappling knowledge from him.

  He was often paired against grown men in their tribe, and won a good amount of them. He was often defeated by more experienced fighters. When he officially became a warrior, he was already close to complete. He elected to be Tvira’s second and took to hunting.

  “How old is your old man now?” Avryn asked.

  It’s been a long time since Valoche thought of that. He began counting with his fingers.

  “He’s sixty,” Tvira answered for him.

  “And still kicking,” Valoche added.

  Valoche put over how much stronger their father was. Avryn took notes.

  “I’d love to meet him sometime,” He voiced his eagerness.

  Veilund was in his bucket list, after all. Snow beat barren lands all day.

  “Well I hope you like eating fish and berries. That is all you will be able to eat there,” Tvira chuckled.

  “Hey, I ate gruel for my entire childhood, nothing’s gonna faze me,” Avryn assured her.

  He took a look at the wall clock. It was getting late. They finished up their dinner and retired for the night.

  Another joint training session had finished between Avryn and Leifren’s squads. The former had won this bout. Leifren approached Avryn and proposed a duel.

  “What about it? My rifle versus your gunblade,” He pointed to Lerosa.

  “Just one thing: don’t cry when you lose twice,” Avryn agreed to it.

  The squads made way as the two prepared for battle. Leifren had prepared for this and kited Avryn. He kept a long distance away while whittling him down with well placed shots. A combination of well placed traps gave him the advantage.

  Unbeknownst to him, Avryn laid a trap of his own. Leifren was blasted forwards by a grenade. He tried switching to an SMG but Avryn’s gunblade was already aimed for his neck. He bowed his head down and yielded.

  Avryn helped him up and thanked him for a good fight. Their squad mates applauded them.

  “Loser buys, right?” Avryn joked.

  “Hey, you won, shouldn’t the winner grace us with free lunch?”

  They all shared a good laugh. Training had never been more fun. Avryn treated them to the cafeteria specials for the day. They all felt closer to each other now.