Caelus eyes were fixated on the spar in front of him. Edith moved her left arm towards Charles face, who in turn dogged and tackled her a second later.
Edith stood up and smiled.
"That will not work a second time"
Her dad laughed and got back into his battle stance. His arms up infront of him while his legs were a bit spread.
Edith than tried the same punch she did before, but after Charles dodged and tried doing his sweeping atack again she rolled forward, dodging the kick just in time. Her arm now raising towards Charles chin.
Clap
The older man had grabbed the punch just in time.
"Hey hey, you got that move from me". Charles said.
The fight continued after that. Caelus was not only looking at the battle style the two of them used, he was also comparing the colours of the soul to the moves they made.
' there is some change around the edge of her soul when she punches with her left hand, its barely noticeable though.'
The young man had no difficulty recognising the emotions in someone's soul, but recognising wich movement they were going to make took a lot more effort.
A lot more effort was an understatement though, it was almost impossible. Every soul was different and so was the colour change or movement when the person did something. Emotions only showed themselves as a colour, the more a person felt it, the more prevalent it got. An action on the otherhand could be seen as a movement of those colours in a certain place.
'Oh she is going for a left punch again'
But Caelus was wrong, Edith now made a feint atack to get her father in a certain position. But the old man knew exactly what she was planning and so he put in a punch himself.
'Ahh, why is this so difficult.'
Half an hour later Edith an Caelus continued there training toghether. The young man's body was screaming for rest, but he continued.
He was having fun, every second of it.
And those seconds became minutes, and the minutes became hours. Caelus might have been on the losing end of every fight, but with every loss he managed to improve more and more.
Charles had already left the training hall, he still had some work to do as one of the teachers of Brennen. Both Edith and Caelus had noticed his departure, nor did they notice that the sun had already set.
The last rays of sunshine were being replaced by an empty darkness, but that darknes wasnt able to take everything. Most of the houses started to slowely light up inside, the rays of light escaping through the windows.
Jonathan was sitting on a hill that oversaw the whole village, witnessing the switch between day and night.
"The view hasn't changed a lot you know, its as impressive as ever."
No one replied, only the wind and some small chatter far, far away could be heard.
Jonathan sighed and looked at a stone with a name engraved on it.
"Yeah, yeah I'll get to the point. You always give me the silent treatment when I am hiding something."
Jonathan chuckled and took a sip of the bottle of red wine He brought with him.
"Our boy is leaving us the day after tomorrow. Our little painter, forced to be a killer, to protect a doomed country. I told him that, but he still plans on going."
Jonathan looked up, the skies above him was a deep and dark blue with little specks of white in them. The first stars were showing themselves.
"He is afraid of harming me by deserting. He thinks that I wouldn't be able to hide with him."
The older man now straightened his neck. He saw the last pink and yellowish part of the horizon disappear.
"Well he could be right. I am not the strong and manly man you used to know, the only things that keep me going is Caelus and my job."
Boom
A tree that stood outside the village fell down. Jonathan three kids jumping around it.
"Oh how could I forget you. Ofcourse the thoughts of you drive me to be better. Heheheh."
Jonathan than stood up and started folding the blanket he was sitting on.
"I just hope everything will be allright. Our boy is training like crazy with Edith, hopefully all his efforts will pay off. Maybe the higher ups send him to a safe post or he becomes a commander. Hahaha can you imagine our son being a grand cross commander, his small feeble body wouldn't even be able to support the weight of all that armour."
Jonathan was now holding everything he brought had brought and was ready to leave.
" I will tell him to visit you tomorrow, his head is probably to preoccupied to think of his wonderful mother. I am almost certain it's completely filled with Edith, there is still a chance we get some grandchildren. You always said that I was a lousy dad, but I will assure you that I will be the best grampa."
The older man turned around and slowely walked away, his destination was the Fray's house.
"Well I am going to scold our kid for being late today, he might be an adult now but there are still rules to be kept while living under our roof. His punishment is to write me every week, that will keep him in line I am sure of it."
Jonathan was now slowely going down the hill. He turned around and gave a last look at his wives grave.
"You should rest now my love, I will visit you a bit more in the future so be prepared."
Moonlight started to illuminate the hill. The painter was now passing by the houses he was admiring not to long ago. The candle light inside flickering, creating light and shadows.
Knock knock
"HEY CHARLES, LESLIE. COULD I HAVE MY KID BACK".
There was no response. Jonathan than had an idea where they were. He walked alongside the wall until the first corner. There he took a sharp left towards the garden. There he saw two silhouettes standing infront of the training hall the frays had made.
"What are you guys doing outside the hall?" Jonathan asked.
Charles and Leslie turned around, both of them put a finger infront of their mouth.
"Shhhhhh."
Jonathan eyebrows moved upwards. His curiosity was struck and so he moved slowely and silently towards the open door where the couple was standing.
And what he saw inside amazed him.
Caelus and Edith were in a heated battle with wooden swords. Their movements were fast and precise. Caelus was mostly on the defence while Edith was visously attacking. Every sword strike aimed at the painters apprentice's body was swiftly taking care of by moving away or defending with the sword.
Charles moved his head close to Jonathan's ear.
"You know, I havent been able to train him that much. He learned most of these moves by watching me spar with Edith, oh and by getting his ass beat ofcourse. He improved to this level in such a small time, I can honestly say that your kid is quite talented in sword fighting." He whispered
The young man was slowely being driven in the corner by every hit he defended. He might have protected his body, but the power that Edith expelled by slashing, swinging, stabing or thrusting made him move backwards. This was until he reached one of the walls of the hall.
"I got you now" Edith yelled while preparing a slash that was aimed for Caelus neck.
But before the sword reached its destination, the young man doged forward by rolling. After the roll he did something very similar to what happend earlier that day.
"Hey that's my move" Charles yelled.
Caelus had made a similar sweeping movement that Charles used on Edith that morning. Edith lost balance and fell on the ground.
Poof
Caelus looked up towards the door, he than noticed how dark it was outside.
'Why is dad here, no wait what time is it'
But than a sword hit the top of his head before he could say anything.
"Hey a sword fighting isn't over after flooring your opponent". Edith said. There was a hint of annoyance on her face.
'Owhhh that hurt. Why is she annoyed with me, she has been hitting me all day.'
Caelus had stopped using his gift for a while now. His mana reserves were somewhat depleted so had not checked during the fight.
'Okay let's have a little look. O yeah she definitely is annoyed. Huh but there is a bit relief to. Why would she beeeee hooew'
Caelus reserves were at their limit and so he stopped using his gift again.
"How long were you guys watching us. You always taught me that spying was bad". Edith said. The annoyance portrayed in her voice made her parents shudder.
"Whe just got here dear, Jonathan came to get Caelus so we brought him here. We didn't want to ruin your sparring session so we waited a bit. Not to long though, maybe a few minutes". Leslie reacted
Jonathan looked confused towards misses Fray. He wanted to correct what the mother said towards her daughter but Charles face told him everything.
'Don't say anything' is wat the old adventurer tried to tell.
" Ahh sorry dad I lost track of time, I will get my stuff and go home with you. You must be hungry."
Caelus walked towards a table were he had put his belongings.
"You can eat with us you know". Edith said without looking at Caelus, she was still facing her parents.
"Are you sure?" Caelus and Jonathan said in unison. Both looking at Charles and Leslie.
A hint of anger slowely crept on Edith's face. "They can, right?".
Charles had some sweat dripp from his forehead. "Ofcourse honey, we have some extra food ready so they are welcome, I will prepare the table than".
The noble man than turned around and grabbed his wife's hand. Together they walked towards the house. Jonathan could still hear some whispers.
"Ofcourse i wanted to invite them both to join us, she was a bit faster than me okay. Ohh and why does she have to be like that every time she get annoyed, I don't know how to react to this."
Jonathan shook his head and looked back inside the training hall. The young pair were cleaning the hall.
'You know what, he might have a good chance after all.' The painter thought.
"Shall I help you two. You guys will be eating around midnight if you continue at this pace".
Jonathan walked inside the training hall. The candles light moved slowely with the wind, and a large shadow was created behind him.