The Knight Cadet vs The Bandit Boss

“Wait, Cadet Ferris, return at once. Now’s not the time to rush in!”

I looked towards the front to spot Matilda rushing in alone, I never thought my skin could turn paler than it already was. I tried to rush in after her, but I ended up falling over and sliding down the hill we were running on. Sneed and Victor got me back on my feet, I wiped the blood from my nose and made my way down the rest of the way. By the time I made it to the battle field, Matilda was inside calling out to any hostages. I see she was worried about the missing girls, but that’s when something clicked. As I stared at Matilda I noticed something before she did, there was no one else in there. At least I thought that until I watched a boulder being pushed towards the entrance. I rushed in an attempt to warn her.

“Matilda, run! It’s a trap!”

I was too late, the entrance was blocked, and Matilda was trapped inside. Soon commotion from a battle could be heard on the inside, I ran towards the barricaded entrance and pounded my fist against it. Blood slowly seeped through the cracks of my gauntlet, Sneed stopped me before my wrist broke. He pointed towards some barrels and said they were explosive, we could blast our way in. Hold on Matilda, I’m coming.

****

“Who are you?”

“My name’s of no importance, just know I’m the leader of the group you’ve been messing with. That, and you’re about to die.”

Dammit, I was a fool for rushing in alone. It’s hard to see due to the lack of light and the man standing before me isn't weak. The bandit leader rushed toward me, his sword raised overhead, I leaped out of the way before my body was cleaved in two. As I get back on my feet, I hear pounding and a voice from the outside. It was Kesandra’s, she must be worried about me. I’m so sorry Kesandra, I swear I’m not gonna die here. I need to live long enough to apologize.

“Quit staring into space!”

The bandit leader struck again, I slid under his legs before he could land a hit. While his back was turned I tried to attack him from behind, only for him to return his greatsword to the sheath on his back.

“Heh, don’t you know scars on the back are a swordsman’s shame.”

“You sure talk brave for a coward!”

You don’t deserve to say such things, you scoundrels tear families apart and steal from those in need. Don’t you dare act like you have honor!

“This is more fun than I thought, allow me to demonstrate my speciality to you. The sleeping dog style.”

Sleeping dog style? Is he gonna take a nap? That’s what I hoped, but that smirking scoundrel stepped back into the shadows and became one with the darkness. I couldn’t see him at all, I looked around frantically, but couldn’t find him. That’s when I heard it, it was the sound of a howling beast. I turned my body with barely enough time to react to his surprise attack.

“Oh, so you were able to parry my Night Strike. You really are a good one.”

He kicked me in the chest and ran his sword against the ground, soon pebbles flew at me and pelted my body. I tried to block the hits, but I couldn’t parry everything. The damage was small, but if repeated my life would be in danger. The scoundrel was in the shadows again, where the hell did he-

I heard it again, that whistling sound like a dog howling in the distance. I jumped to the side and narrowly escaped getting bisected again. The scoundrel smirked at me and walked back into the darkness. He repeated the same tactics over and over again, soon I was tired and caked in sweat. This isn’t good, what the hell do I do!?! Papa, if you were here, what would you do?

****

My memory returned to a time my dad was training me.

“Ye-owch! Papa what was that for!?! I’m a girl so you have to hold back!”

“Nonsense, in the world there are women that could cut mountains in half. You may very well become a woman like that one day.”

My father gave a hearty laugh, and I nursed my bump with a whimper. I decided to mess with him.

“*Sniff* You’re so mean, I’m gonna tell mom you bullied me again!”

“Huh!?! Wait, please not your mother!”

Papa got on his knees and begged me for mercy, it was decided that it was break time. Papa passed me an apple, and I smiled enjoying my freedom. Papa sighed and spoke to me about our session.

“Sweetie, I wouldn’t use force you couldn’t handle. You took those hits because you were doing something wrong.”

“H-huh, are you excusing your abuse? You old man!”

Papa slugged me and stuck up one finger, time for one of his lectures.

“You’re too dependent on your eyes, use all your senses. See beyond sight, hear the entire world, smell the air itself, taste the air itself, and feel everything. That is the Ferris way, learn that and you’ll become a true warrior!”

Papa struck a guts pose, but I decided to mess with him.

“You taste air papa, does it taste sweet.”

“You little rascal, don’t mock me!”

Papa and I played after that, although he gave me the same lecture during our next training session. Looking back at it now I think I finally understand what he met. I’ve been trying to use my eyes to perceive what’s in the dark, but let’s try a different approach.

****

Heh, this lass is actually pretty good. I didn’t think I’d work up so much of a sweat. It’s a real shame I got to end this, it’s been a while since I felt like a swordsman. I’ll end it with this next strike, I raised my sword to a vertical angle. I prepared to unleash the deadliest and fastest of the Sleeping Dog techniques, the Night Fang. I closed the distance between us and reached the lass’ back, on the bright side you won’t live long enough to be ashamed. I cleaved her straight through, it was like I was cutting air.

“Sorry, but the winner was decided from the-”

Strange, what’s this burning sensation I feel on my chest? I looked down, only to find a slash on my chest. I screamed from the shock more than the pain, when the hell did I get cut? That’s when I saw her, the lass was still alive and unharmed. On her face was a fearless smile, with a mocking tone she addressed me.

“Looks like I figured out your attack patterns. This fight is mine!”