Chapter 7: Metal Rocks!

Airelina Frembell

Slash. Hack. Sidestep. Thrust.

It’s been a week since we stayed here at the Duchess’ Manor. For the past days, nothing out of ordinary happened. The mysterious Black Phantom never showed his face again.

Thrust. Block. Slash. Thrust.

After I informed Amphy about the Dragon Knight Tournament, he has been working out in this wooden wide training hall. Every dawn, he would rise up early, jog around the garden and have a shadow swordfight all by himself. He’s been using a cranky wooden sword.

I always watch him train. I do believe that he’s already improved a lot.

After getting bored in slicing thin air, he sat on the shiny polished floor and watched his sweat dripping from his hair. I approached him and gave him a bottle of mineral water. He wordlessly took it and drank half of it. Then he splashed the rest on his face.

“Hey, that’s not good for your body. Totally!” I yelled at him. But seriously though, he looks awesome just by watching him soaked with water. He looks so cool!

He just made an innocent smile at me. My face became red and there was a hot sensation in my cheeks. Being slightly irritated, I pinched his right cheek and pulled it off.

“Owowowow-Ouch!” He screamed.

“Yeah, like that! At least you’re not that dully silent anymore! Totally!”

“Ouch! What’s the deal with you?” He removed my hand and then covered his swelling cheeks.

“Nothing!” I pressed my face towards him and gave off a blameless smile. It should be obvious that I’m red-faced right now. I don’t want to hide my feelings to him, but I don’t want to be the first either. Luckily, his cheeks became flustered too. I can feel a sense of infatuation towards me! “Say…I wanted to test your sword skills. I wanted to see how well you improved, totally!”

Amphy shifted to a smile and nodded.

The two of us stood five meters away from each other. We’re both wielding wooden swords with the very same centered stance. Our sword styles are completely identical, given that I am his sword instructor for the past two years.

“Here I come!” I shouted. I surged forward, readying a lunge targeting his left shoulder.

Amphy swayed his wooden blade, parrying my first attack. But I’m not finished yet! I twirled around having my right feet as a pivot and made a slanting slash! He managed to block it using the hilt of his sword!

He pushed his sword and dashed backwards, and then performed a side hack! I made a back step, completely evading the attack and then countered with a double thrust! Amphy moved left and right to evade my weapon, and then released simultaneous curve slashes. I avoided his bout and then countered with a continuous blinding sweep.

Our sword clashed over and over. We evaded and blocked attacks with precision. It looks like a waltz between two swordsmen trying to give everything to each other. If this goes on, it could result into a stalemate. Amphy’s sword skills are the same as mine, if not better.

Our swords collided again, this time, Amphy making a gamble. He used his right arm to hammer my hands which resulted on me dropping my weapon. I dashed back to avoid his other cheap sword blows.

“That’s totally cheating!” I held my hips as I sermon him.

“Nothing has been happening in this swordfight because we’re evenly matched.” He said with a pokerface.

I’m mad at him! What happened to his honor?! He’s a knight, and he should know that cheating is un-knight-like!

Because of this, I surged forward with a serious look on my face. My back materialized a small jetpack which gave of a rocket flame, which boosted my speed to unbelievable. In response to this, Amphy made a straight hack ready to crash to my left shoulder!

In the nick of time, my robotic tail emerged and grabbed the blade of his wooden weapon and tossed it away. Once that he’s finally disarmed, I made a roundhouse kick straight to his left jaw. His eyes widened as he witness his own impending doom.

But I didn’t continue my attack. I don’t want my precious knight to be injured because of me.

Amphy…His face is completely terrified. I withdrew my feet and then pushed my face to him, which his face began to blush again.

“That should teach you not to cheat on me again, totally!”

“Y-Yes ma’am…” He was sweating non-stop. Maybe he’s scared of me now.

I turned my back and then stretched my arms upward with a big yawn. I felt that the acids on my stomach are boiling, so I totally need to fill myself up.

“Man, I’m totally hungry! I think its breakfast time already. I’ll go ask Sebastian to brew us some tea.”

I started walking away but I noticed that Amphere is not following. When I looked at him, he was still blushing but expressionless. He looked astonished. Don’t tell me…my attack gave him a permanent shock!?

“Um…Airi…” He said.

“What is it?”

“…I think you should refrain using a high kick in battles…especially if you’re wearing a skirt…”

D-Darn! I forgot that I’m wearing a really short skirt! That should’ve exposed my…

“EEEEEEK!!!” I screamed. “Amphy, you pervert!”

I knew he liked it.

Before going to the kitchen, Amphy and I changed our clothes. I resorted wearing a white tank top and blue shorts that reveals my thighs and my legs. I think it’s better than wearing a miniskirt that would reveal my assets to my knight. Geez, totally!

When I’m finally finished changing, I went to the corridor and crossed roads with Amphy. He was wearing a black shirt with a printed screaming emoji. There was a huge text above the emoji saying “mEtAL rOCkZ tHe wOrld!!!” I was quite embarrassed when I saw him wearing one, since he always wear a plain white shirt.

“Do I look good in this shirt?” Amphere scratched his head. “I think this will add uniqueness in me.”

Is he still bothered what the duchess said?

“I never thought that an uninspiring boring bland teenager like you is a skilled Dragon Knight.”

I’m partly to blame because I often call him dull and boring. And I’m sorry for that. I should keep his confidence high and not the other way around. This might affect our relationship as a knight and dragon. Though his shirt won’t give him a unique personality, I should support everything he desires!

“It looks good on you, totally!” I gave a two thumbs up.

“Really!?” He smiled brighter than before. “Then I’ll wear this T-shirt from now on!”

We went to the dining room where the very long table is filled with luxurious meal like honey pancakes, steaks, and macaroni cheese salad. The duchess was there on the end of the table, and beside her is the butler Sebastian.

“Good morning Miss Frembell and Sir Harrison.” Then the duchess glared at Amphy without impressiveness. “What’s with that disgusting T-shirt?”

YOU SADISTIC DEMON!!!