48 Learning Curve (1/2)

”You're dragging your arms! Raise them. How do you expect to cut anyone down with that sloppy handling of your weapon?” The sharp and cutting voice of Clemente sounds as he flicks his sword.

Some blood splatters off of the sword and hits the tan tiled floor.

Sweat pours down my forehead as I watch him. The back of my shirt was completely drenched in sweat as well. My hair clings to the back of my neck from sweat. My arms felt like they are hanging on by threads

Every single muscle in my arms was begging for sweet reprieve from the heavyweight of the scissors in my hands.

My face was covered in bruises, that are heavily focused around the right half of my face. My right eye was half closed due to a bruise. It wasn't much different for my arms; they are dotted with bruises and cuts that are oozing blood.

”Huff… Huff,” I couldn't even speak, my lungs are burning. It was like someone had set them on fire.

”Those damned scissors are too heavy for you to use,” he grumbles. He looked pissed as he began to roughly shove a hand through his hair. It ripples and glitters a golden brown as the low levels of sunlight hit it.

A grimace was set firmly on his face as he casually twists his sword in his hands.

Not paying attention to him, I look down at the scissors that I was trying to get a handle on. Heavy, extremely heavy was the only way to describe them. It was as if I was trying to drag a boulder around.

I'd come out early in the morning to start practicing with them. I couldn't find any information about them in our vast library. Thinking that I'd be able to practice alone and get used to them, I'd come out to one of the many courtyards.

It seemed, however, that I wasn't going to catch the easy end of the stick. Because not even twenty minutes being outside, but my Brother had found me. I'd caught the attention of a battle maniac!

Not that I was much better when it came to fighting. Which shortly had resulted in the beating that I'd take from him.

”If you can't lift your weapon, then you should use a different one, Sis,” he grumbles kicking at the ground with his right foot. It was obvious that he was annoyed, I didn't blame him. I was also annoyed at myself for being unable to block or defend against any of his attacks.

Although, it was kind of hard when I was barely able to lift the scissors. I completely agreed with him and even shared his sentiments. Yet, I felt a strange feeling of comfort and familiarity with these scissors.

All I cared about was being able to wield them, and I would wield them. It didn't matter if I took a beating in the process either. He was only slowly chipping away at my HP.

”Again,” I gasp. Removing a hand, I swipe at my forehead, trying to keep the sweat from running into my good eye.

Gritting his teeth, he shifts into a simple stance. Even though it looks simply I knew that he was prepared to attack me at any moment.

A soft breeze blew past us and lightly lifts some of my sweaty hair off my neck. It sent a small shiver down my back.

”I'm going to turn you into a bloody mess at this rate,” he sighs.

That was all the warning that he gave as he darted forward towards me. His body was like a loosed arrow, it shot through the breeze and headed directly towards me.

He doesn't directly attack me but, instead, tries a feint from the front and then appears behind me. It was like a phantom it was soundless, but I was prepared for him to try this tactic. The wind throws my hair up as he swings his blade down towards my back.

Willing myself to grip my scissors, I pivot on my right foot and throw the scissors up to intercept the incoming blow.

SHRIKKKK~

The piercing sound of metal on metal makes my ears ring. The force of the blow causes my knees to buckle from the impact. My arms bend and start to give out under the pressure of the blow.

Sucking in a deep breath, I press upwards with all the strength that I could muster in my legs. With the added strength, I'm able to redirect the blow that would have cut into my shoulder into the tiled floor.

”CRAC.” The floor splinters and the tiles are blown apart from his sword strike. It kicks up dirt and dust as it's smashed into nothingness without any resistance.

My legs felt like liquid. Before, I can collect myself. A heavy blow lands on my stomach.

Looking downwards, I find that his foot driven directly in my stomach right underneath my chest and directly into my gut. The impact felt like I was being hit by a train!

”Kof,” blood bubbles up out of my mouth as I'm rocketed backward from the blow. Floating through the air, I felt the world spin in a dizzying amount of colors.

Slamming into the ground, I grit my teeth to prevent myself from accidentally biting my tongue. My stomach was lighting up in pain, and I barely managed to keep my grip on the scissors.

After rolling to a stop, I feel more blood seep out from between my lips.

[-100HP]

Shit.