Chapter 3: The Spark of Memory and the Dance of Blades
The sunlight shone through the window and onto his face. He slowly opened his eyes and managed to lift his weakened body from the bed. He walked to the door, which stood at the opposite end of the room, and opened it.
As he stepped out, the old man, Elias, and his daughter, Lira, were sitting at the dining table, which was directly across from his room.
"You're awake. Come join us for breakfast," Elias said, his back still turned to him as he spoke without looking.
He walked to the dining table and sat down. Shortly after, Lira served him, and everyone began eating.
"Um, after sleeping, are you able to recall anything now?" Lira hesitated but finally mustered the courage to ask.
The question was met with a few moments of silence.
*I don't know why, but I couldn't remember anything. No matter how hard I tried, it was all in vain.*
My lips parted as I prepared to answer her, but Elias spoke first.
"Lira, you can't expect him to remember everything after just one night's sleep."
I wondered why I still couldn't recall anything. After finishing my meal, I stood up and headed back to my room.
"Lira, let's go outside for our usual sparring session," Elias said.
*Huh? What did they mean by sparring?*
"Sparring?" Lost in thought, I unintentionally muttered aloud.
"Oh, you're interested? You can come and watch," Elias said as he and Lira stood up.
After leaving the house, we walked deep into the forest for about thirty minutes.
"We've arrived," Elias announced.
I looked around and noticed that most of the trees in this area had been cleared. The ground was marked with large craters and holes, evidence of countless battles that had taken place here.
"Let's begin," Lira said, getting into a battle stance.
[This battle scene is too fast for his eyes to keep up with, so this scene will be written by someone who can.]
Lira moved so quickly that it seemed as though she had vanished. She struck at Elias, but he easily blocked her punch with his palm. The ground beneath them caved in from the force of the impact.
Lira didn't let up. She spun on her heel, her movements a blur, and launched a series of rapid kicks aimed at Elias's torso. Each strike was met with a precise block or dodge, Elias's calm demeanor never wavering.
The air around them crackled with energy as Lira's attacks grew more intense. She feinted left, then lunged forward with a powerful punch aimed at his chest. Elias sidestepped effortlessly, his hand catching her wrist mid-motion. With a gentle twist, he redirected her momentum, sending her stumbling a few steps back.
"Focus, Lira," Elias said, his voice steady. "Speed is nothing without control."
Lira gritted her teeth, her breathing slightly labored. She dashed forward again, this time aiming low with a sweeping kick. Elias leaped over it gracefully, landing with barely a sound.
The fight continued, a dance of strength and precision. Lira's strikes were relentless, but Elias's defense was impenetrable. Minutes turned into what felt like hours as the two exchanged blows, the forest clearing bearing the scars of their intense sparring.
Lira's fists flew like lightning, each punch and kick a testament to her training. She feigned a high kick, then dropped low, sweeping her leg toward Elias's ankles. He anticipated the move, jumping just in time to avoid it. As he landed, he countered with a swift palm strike aimed at her shoulder. Lira barely managed to twist out of the way, the force of his strike grazing her arm and sending a shockwave through the air.
"You're improving," Elias acknowledged, a hint of pride in his voice. "But you're still predictable."
Lira's eyes narrowed. She clenched her fists and charged again, this time with a flurry of punches aimed at his midsection. Elias blocked each one with ease, his movements fluid and unhurried.
"Predictable," he repeated, his tone calm but firm.
Frustration flashed across Lira's face. She stepped back, creating distance between them, and took a deep breath. Her stance shifted, her body lowering slightly as she prepared for her next move.
Elias raised an eyebrow. "What's this? A new technique?"
Without answering, Lira surged forward, her speed even greater than before. She closed the gap between them in an instant, her fist aimed directly at Elias's chest. At the last moment, she twisted her body, using the momentum to spin into a roundhouse kick.
Elias blocked the kick with his forearm, but the force of the impact pushed him back a step. He smiled faintly. "Better."
Lira didn't stop. She pressed her advantage, her movements becoming more fluid and unpredictable. She alternated between punches, kicks, and grapples, forcing Elias to stay on the defensive.
The observer watched in awe, his eyes struggling to keep up with the blur of motion. He had never seen anything like this before. Every movement was precise, every strike calculated. It was as if the two were engaged in a deadly dance, each anticipating the other's moves with uncanny accuracy.
But despite Lira's efforts, Elias remained unshaken. He deflected her attacks with ease, his movements almost lazy in comparison to her ferocity.
"You're relying too much on brute force," Elias said as he blocked another punch. "You need to think, Lira. Use your head, not just your body."
Lira growled in frustration. She stepped back, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her arms felt heavy, and her legs were beginning to ache. But she refused to give up.
With a determined yell, she charged again, this time aiming a high kick at Elias's head. He ducked under it, but Lira anticipated the dodge. She dropped to the ground, sweeping her leg in a wide arc.
Elias jumped over the sweep, but Lira was already moving. She pushed herself off the ground, launching a punch aimed at his stomach. Elias caught her fist in his palm, the impact sending a shockwave through the clearing.
For a moment, they stood frozen, locked in a battle of strength. Then, with a gentle push, Elias sent Lira stumbling back.
"That's enough," he said, his voice firm but not unkind.
Lira straightened, though her exhaustion was evident. "I can keep going," she insisted, though her voice betrayed her fatigue.
Elias shook his head. "Rest, Lira. Pushing yourself too hard will only lead to mistakes. You've done well today."
Reluctantly, Lira nodded. She walked over to a nearby tree and leaned against it, closing her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing.
Elias turned to the observer, who had been watching the entire exchange in awe. "Sparring isn't just about strength or speed," he said. "It's about understanding your limits and knowing when to rest. Remember that."
The observer nodded, his mind racing with everything he had just witnessed.