Samuel looked at the boy before him with an amused gaze: What’s gotten into him and what score to settle? Did he eat something bad? Or maybe hit his head?

He tilted his head as he approached the boy while asking, “Zack, you okay?”

Zack got up as he said, “Just come with me already.”

This time, for sure, I will defeat you! A passionate fire burned in Zack’s eyes as he gave Samuel a fierce glare.

Samuel furrowed his brows at Zack’s expression, asking, “To where?”

Zack’s eyes narrowed: Is he playing dumb?

He pointed to the ground while throwing a ‘Stop playing dumb already!’ gaze at the other boy.

Samuel, oblivious to his friend’s intentions, had his brow twitch as he thought, Does he want to drag me to roll in mud as well? Is that a new hobby, or did he go crazy? Come to think of it, when I asked, Amelia did say something along the lines of — ‘Zack was acting a little bothersome. You should take good care of him. He needs it whether or not he says it.’

Returning Zack’s gaze with a worried one of his own, he said, “It… it’s okay. Don’t think too much about it. Everyone has their own… hobbies. Unique hobbies.”

The heck is he saying? Zack furrowed his brows. In the next, his brows relaxed again as he said, “Well… okay. In any case, just come and help me out first.”

My help? How? Scatter the dirt around? Or to roll before and warm it up?

Flustered, Samuel pointed to the spot Zack pointed to, moving his eyes to get a confirmation.

Zack nodded before walking forward and bending down.

In his hand, he held a stick. Using it, he began drawing a long arc on the ground.

Samuel’s brows jumped as he calmly thought, Oh. So that’s what he meant. Fair enough, I wasn’t here in the morning either. My mistake, I made a hasty judgement. But it’s okay. Good thing he doesn’t know about it.

However, contrary to his calm thoughts on the surface, the shade of red spreading over his face betrayed his true feelings.

Jogging toward the cottage, picking up a broken branch mid way. Placing the basket in his hands down on a stair leading to the entrance, he ran back to where he came from. After returning to where Zack was drawing the ring, he too joined in, helping out to finish the work faster.

“Alright,” Zack nodded in satisfaction as he wiped the sweat off his brow.

“Now then, ready?” Samuel asked.

Zack narrowed his eyes before asking, “No rush. Where’s the dinner?”

“Over there.” Samuel pointed to the cottage.

Zack nodded.

Few minutes later, while eating, his hand ceased all movement as he swallowed. Looking down, he saw the remaining half-portion of his sandwiches in the basket. Covering it back up, he got up before finishing all the water in his cup.

At the other boy’s actions, Samuel furrowed his brow as he asked, “What happened? Taste’s off? Or are you not feeling well?”

Zack returned a bemused stare as he answered with a question, “Do you know why people in the army, especially the soldiers who fight wars, go around with half-filled stomachs?”

“No…? Why ask?”

Samuel’s brows furrowed as he gave Zack a look, demanding an answer.

Zack scrutinised a little before deeming Samuel unaware and giving the same explanation he had received earlier in the day.

“Now you mention, that is… you’re not wrong.” Samuel said while he rubbed his chin, pondering over the subject.

Maybe he also didn’t know after all. Zack became convinced after seeing Samuel’s unusually thoughtful look, letting go of the matter inwardly.

However, his train of thought was short-lived.

“Alright, get up. Let’s get going. I’ll beat you today, just you see.”

Samuel smirked before retorting, “Dreaming is a good thing, but only if you’re sleeping, you know.”

“Yeah, I’ll knock you out. Don’t you worry.”

“Oh? We’ll see who’s sleeping on the ground after the match. Do you need some blankets while we’re at it?”

“For?”

“Ground would be chilly, of course. Unless you’re going to roll around and warm it up first. Hahahaha!” In the end, Samuel laughed to himself, remembering his previous misunderstanding.

Zack, unaware of Samuel’s sudden outbreak, grew curious as to why. But in the end, he didn’t ask, giving the matter at hand priority.

Gesturing to Samuel to take a stance, he walked to the other side of the ring to take a stance himself.

Both looked each other in the eye.

A short wind blew, carrying the sounds of rustling leaves.

Samuel’s expression dissolved into a leisurely smile, whereas Zack’s brows creased. As if having decided beforehand, both moved at the same time, closing in on each other.

Samuel began with a roundhouse kick. In response, Zack stepped back, evading the attack entirely.

Samuel, who predicted something similar, used the momentum generated by the kick to twist his body while pushing against the ground with his other leg, turning his attack into a drop kick.

Leaving his body to the instinct, Zack side-stepped, leaving the kick to graze past his shoulder.

Surprised, Samuel’s brows jumped. But without waiting for the shock to sink in, he pushed against the ground, launching himself towards Zack as he performed a third kick.

“What the heck?!” Zack breathed out from between his teeth.

With a lack of time to dodge, all he could do was take the kick head on. Crossing his arms in front of his chest, he braced for impact.

“Ouch!” Zack groaned, landing on the ground, back first.

His arm felt numb near the location of the impact, while a chill ran down his spine, rendering him unable to move.

On the other side, Samuel used the force of the impact to lift himself higher. While approaching the ground head first in an arc, he used his arms to kill the momentum, albeit not completely. Next, he used his arms to push against the ground, jumping back into the air. Using the remaining momentum from earlier, he twisted his body enough to land back on the ground, standing straight on his two feet in one fluid motion.

After dusting his arms, he closed his eyes, taking a gallant pose. Tilting his head to the side, he flicked his wrist, giving off a solemn yet heroic air.

Inwardly, Samuel thought, That was refreshing. After a whole day of firing spells over and over and over, this was a good way of loosening my joints. I want one more.

The moment after, his posture crumbled as he stretched before walking towards Zack, extending a hand.