TBATE - Brother's Once More

Here Comes The Elder

Arthur Leywin

While Jay was in his room, I was walking with Tess. 

As we continued walking in silence, except for Tess' soft sniffles, we made it outside, in the courtyard at the back of the castle. The floating orbs were giving off a dim, luminescent glow, lighting up the well-kept garden in a gentle atmosphere.

I couldn't help but imagine how differently this scene could've been played out if we were ten years older. Well, aside from the teasing I'd get from Jay. I just know he'd never let me live it down.

Before I even had the chance to finish my thought, A blatantly clear killing intent bombarded my senses. Milliseconds later a faint glimmer gave off the position of a projectile aimed at Tessia. I pushed the still crying princess out of the way and I prepared to parry the projectile with a mana infused hand.

At that instant, a figure in black was facing my back, his right arm in a stance to attack. Grabbing the projectile, I immediately spun myself to block the assassin with whatever was thrown at me. To my surprise, I was face to face with Tessia's grandfather.

I jumped back out of range from before angrily shouting, "What the hell! Why are you trying to kill us?"

"Kid. It may hurt a little but I doubt that toy you're holding could kill anyone," he chuckled.

I looked down at my hand to see a pencil sized projectile with both ends blunted and coated in a layer of something close to rubber.

I was tricked!

"Haha! Nice reaction, nice reaction! I didn't think you'd catch my little present and use it to block my next attack! Truly marvelous! However, your usage of mana was mediocre at best!"

He proceeded to throw me a wooden sword fit for my size as he took out a wooden sword of his own, just a bit bigger.

"Here I come!" Not even giving me the time to get in a stance or even the chance to accept his impromptu training, he dashed towards me.

This crazy old bat!

I lowered stance and , instead of being defensive, I launched myself at him as well, accelerating my speed to throw off the timing of his swing. Aiming for the fingers gripping his sword, I swung upward, reinforcing my entire body.

Right before my sword came into contact with his hand, I was met with only air as he disappeared from my sight.

Whipping my head back, I spotted him a couple meters apart from where I was standing.

"You're a scary little brat, aren't you? Looks like I'll have to be a bit more serious!" the grandpa smirked.

His speed increased even more. Even with my previous life being a life of only training and battles, I was only barely able to keep him in my sight. However, being able to see him and being able to respond to his attacks are two different things.

I felt like a sandbag as I could only curse at my own body.

I was able to block one move of his out of every three he landed on my body.

Screw technique, this old bat was messing with me through sheer speed. The only reason I was able to somewhat keep up was by using sword techniques and footwork to minimize my movement, along with the fact that, because of my size, I was a small target.

After about ten, long minutes of being treated like a wooden training post, I started noticing some patterns in the grandpa's attacks.

As he flashed behind me about to do a horizontal sweep to my legs, I put all of my strength into my legs and leaped back with my sword tucked into my armpit pointing at his head.

With a solid thud created from my blow landing, the old bat stumbled a little before gaining balance.

"HAHAHAHA! I guess I deserved that one!" he laughed, rubbing his swollen forehead.

Throughout all of this, Tessia was surprised at first but after realizing it was just a spar, she settled down. She used this chance, though, to jump out and stomp towards the elder.

"Grandpa! You hurt Art too much! You should've gone easier on him!" Pinching the elder's side.

"AHH! That hurts little one. Haha. I'm afraid if I went easier on Arthur, he'd be the one bullying me!" he gently answered as he picked up his granddaughter.

He flashed in front of me and suddenly places his right palm into my sternum.

"Just as I thought. Your body is in a dangerous state..."

"What'd I tell you?" Jayden made his presence known.

"Shut up. We don't even know if he can help me." I snapped, pissed off that he'd been right about my condition.

"Whatever. So, Elder Virion. How's he looking?" he got back on topic.

"Your mana manipulation is good for a beginner despite your age, and your sword techniques and fighting experience are frightening enough to make me wonder what sort of life you had led to learn all of this." His eyes narrowed. "But you failed to mention one critical thing in your story earlier."

I could feel my heartbeat beginning to rise as I started to suspect that he found out about Sylvia.

"I've decided. Arthur, become my disciple!" He nodded, throwing me entirely off guard.

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Yo!

So, Yes, I do realize I'm a bit off(I'm not a bit off, I'm like 1200 words less than normal) But do be patient, I'm working on stuff to the best of my abilities.

Later, fools!