PREVIOUSLY-
The king burst from the study, his laughter cold as he stopped beside Donald, resting a hand on his shoulder. His gaze settled on Edward.
Edward's laughter slowed to a sly chuckle.
"King Ardellia… has your palace opened a farm recently?" he tilted his head toward Donald.
"Because I could've sworn, I heard a pig squeal."
"You bastard!" Donald snarled, his nostrils flaring.
WHAM!
Donald lunged. His blade howled through the air.
VSHOOM!
But Edward was gone—vanishing just before the steel could taste blood, wind whipping in his wake.
—X—
LOCATION - Liodar Fortress, Leonhart Duchy-
Leon came back to the training grounds, wearing the same uniform as the other trainees.
"Young Master," Lancelot bowed, guiding him to the patch where children of similar age trained.
"Trainee Leonatus." The instructor turned to Leon, giving one measured nod.
"Go stand in the third row."
Leon followed, glancing at the children who shared similar characteristics as him – brown hair. Some differed in hair colour yet many held those golden eyes similar to his father.
A batch of kids at the back bore chestnut hair with hazel eyes. Leon could feel their gaze aiming for his head.
"Is he the Young Master?"
"The Young Duke?"
"Now that I look at him," a boy at the front snorted, "He doesn't look so special."
The instructor slightly narrowed his eyes, a faint smile curving his lips.
"Here," he threw a wooden sword at Leon, the latter catching it with a surprised expression.
"Trainee Leonatus, to know your level, how about an introductory spar?"
Leon's smile widened to the point that his canine flashed like a predator given a chance.
"I accept. So, who will I be fighting?"
The instructor leaned closer, "This is a chance for you, Young Master. Show your capability."
Leon only chuckled, "As you say, instructor…um…may I ask for your name, sir?"
"The name is Galahad Leonhart. I am a close cousin of His Grace."
Galahad replied with a smile.
Then, as if forcing the two from the conversation, a voice rang out,
"I! Trainee Apollo Leonatus would like to challenge Trainee Leonatus to a spar."
It was the same boy who commented earlier, his hand rose in flashy confidence of his skills.
"Very well, I accept."
CLAP!
Galahad clapped his hands, his eyes drifting between Leon and Apollo,
"Very well. Remember, this is not a duel. You have to fight like you would in war."
"Huh?" Leon's brows furrowed, "Is it okay? What if we use some lethal moves?"
"Hahaha!" Galahad broke down in a cackle,
"Trainee Leon, in this land where we stop the monsters descending from the mountains, slaying everything that breaches our territory. Do you think we can waste time on having lofty duels?"
"No," Leon rested the sword on his shoulders, "In such a situation, duels are a waste of time."
He took his stance, "I apologize for my oversight."
"Now," Galahad waved his hand, "begin."
LUNGE!
Without wasting a moment, Apollo lunged towards Leon, his sword aiming for a thrust to Leon's chest.
The latter stepped closer, sliding his sword across Apollo's before a sudden twist of his hips sliced at Apollo's neck.
SWISH!
GRAZE!
A line of red blossomed on Apollo's neck.
"What?" Leon raised his chin, "Scared?"
"Y-You!" Apollo charged once more, this time waving the sword in a horizontal arc.
Leon swung his sword to the left, blocking the swing, then, using that momentum to perform a slash to left of Apollo's torso.
The jacket tore as a proof of a successful attack yet Apollo only became redder in frustration.
At a distance Galahad rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "What a genius…"
FWISH!
In a moment, Leon closed the distance again, aiming for a diagonal slash. Apollo raised his sword in defence.
Suddenly, the swing missed Apollo by inches as Leon's foot followed soon after, shaking his balance.
"Try to remain calm, what are you, an angry bull?" Leon tapped the boy's head lightly with the hilt.
He turned to Galahad, "Is this spar over now?"
"Tch-tch," Galahad shook his head, "Who said its over? Your opponent does not think so."
Leon's eyes widened as he ducked just in time to avoid Apollo's swing.
"You win either when the opponent surrenders or is unable to fight or… when the instructor is forced to stop you."
"Johan!" Apollo shrieked as another boy from the crowd, with chestnut hair and hazel eyes stepped into the platform.
"Hey!" Leon pointed to the boy, "Isn't this cheating?"
"Cheating?" Apollo smirked, "Each Leonhart has a herald, a supporter. Using their help in battle is not forbidden."
"Well, I don't have one," Leon shrugged, "And seeing how the instructor is not saying anything…lets continue."
Apollo and Johan moved simultaneously, cornering Leon in a pincer attack.
"Second Stance: Errant Path."
As two flanks closed in on Leon, he moved forward. His sword and body fused as one, moving in an erratic, zig-zag path.
In a moment, he was before Apollo, hitting the latter with the flat of his blade before moving to Johan.
WHAM!
Johan managed to successfully block the first swing but as Leon's assault continued. The swings became more unpredictable and cruder.
CRACK!
Until, Johan's sword split in two from the continued impact.
"Just get hit already!" Apollo came from above, sword moving in a vertical arc.
In a split second, Leon kicked Johan, using him to propel himself away from the incoming strike.
Apollo pushed forward, "Johan!"
Johan threw the broken sword towards Apollo the latter catching it before taking a coiled stance.
"Young Master, take a close look. This is the dual sword technique of Leonhart's special forces. La Alta Destreza."
The special forces of Leonhart for espionage – Eyes of Lion – were famous for using a beautiful yet calculative and frustrating style of swordplay.
An art made on the foundation of – mathematics, philosophy and discipline.
Its users treat combat as a mix of geometry, physics, proportion, measure and time. It used an Espada: a one-handed sword with a Daga: a long wide-bladed dagger with cross guards.
"That's it! Show me what you have!" Leon rushed, a stab weaving through air.
[Atajo – Line Theft]
Apollo's sword calmly slid over Leon's blade, pressing it off its line.
[Movimiento de Compás — The Circular Step]
Leon turned, kick aiming for Apollo's liver. However, Apollo simply, wasn't there. The boy lunged again, weaving the sword in a diagonal arc.
[Conclusión — The Controlled End]
Apollo's sword once again controlled Leon's line to his left while his dagger pinned itself against the sword's cross-guard.
THUD!
With a jerk, Apollo's dagger successfully freed the hilt from Leon's grip.
WHAM!
Johan's knee came from behind as Leon's back arced in pain before the attack forced him to his knees.
"Haa…haa…" Pants escaped his lips as Leon processed what he went through.
'This martial art…though it has some weaknesses, they are not fit for me. Maybe for someone like Ralph.'
He glanced at a broken shard a few meters away,
'However, it won't hurt to try this.'
With a desperate lunge, Leon rolled to the broken shard, grabbing it with his left hand.
"Okay, let's try this."
He calmed himself, until all he could hear was his own beating.
"I stand at the center of the circle. My opponent stands on the circumference. I move along the arc, not straight in."
"Torso nearly upright, hips relaxed, lead foot slightly outward, rear foot making a subtle open angle for circular stepping."
He extended his sword hand, the tip aiming lightly at Apollo's torso. The dagger held forward, between the sword-hand and torso, point slightly outward.
'W-What?!' Apollo's grip tightened, 'How does he know that stance.'
Even Galahad bore a stupefied look, 'Did he copy it after experiencing it once?!'
'This bastard,' Galahad leaned against the wall,
'Is a genius through and through,' Adrenaline rushed through Apollo and Johan's veins.
"Don't kid me!" Apollo moved in his usual circular arc, sword in a diagonal arc,
"Do you think seeing it once is enough? Something I practiced for months?"
As the sword drew closer, Leon blew a slow exhale,
'How would Ralph fight in this situation?'
His sword met Apollo's sliding it outwards before Apollo could redirect his.
'Steal the line.'
With a singular step, Leon moved in an arc, appearing before Apollo's exposed side,
'Measure the distance.'
Apollo attempted to swing his dagger but a press of Leon's heel on his toes made him miss his timing, hesitating for a moment.
'Interrupt the opponent's timing.'
Yet the stab came for Leon's side, the latter moved in a circular arc once again,
'Reposition myself with the circle.'
Leon's hips turned, his left hand going over Apollo's shoulder as the dagger stopped inches before the opponent's nape.
WHAM!
Johan punched Leon's exposed liver at the last moment, making him stumble backwards in pain.
"STOP." Galahad's voice came crashing like a guillotine, "Trainee Leonatus has won the spar."
"What?!" Apollo shrieked, "But none of us has yet surrendered!"
Galahad mused at the reaction, "Johan, tell him why."
Eyes fell on Johan who only gulped nervously,
"W-well, when Trainee Leonatus swung his dagger at Trainee Apollo, he stopped his dagger near Trainee Apollo's nape. Had he followed, it would have been a lethal attack."
"Satisfied?" Galahad crossed his arms.
Apollo only bowed before turning to Leon,
"It was an amazing spar Trainee Leon."
Leon extended his hand, "The feeling is mutual. I thank both of you for the spar."
With a faint smile, both Apollo and Johan shook hands with Leon before returning to their positions.
"Okay that wraps up the introductions."
"Sir," A voice interrupted Galahad, Leon.
"Trainee Apollo mentioned some herald or supporter, what is that?"
"Hmm… Each Leonhart with a territory is given a subordinate from the Ferros family as a herald or supporter. The master and herald are paired at a young age and forge a relationship built on mutual trust and respect."
"Is that so?" Leon looked at a figure in the crowd, "Can choose my herald?"
"Yes," Galahad replied, "But the herald in question must also approve of its master. That means, you also need the herald to agree."
"Hmm," Leon mused, "I want that guy!"
He pointed to a tall boy standing amidst the crowd. He had curly chestnut hair that fell over his hazel eyes. The boy had been watching the entire spar with a nonchalant expression on his face.
Even Leon's selection from him only invited a tired sigh from his mouth.
"Hey! Sigmund!" Leon walked to the boy, "Remember me?"
Sigmund turned to Leon, the corners of his lips curling upwards, "Of course, young master Leon."
"So," Leon rested his hand on Sigmund's shoulder, "How do I get your approval?"
Sigmund in response, gave another tired sigh, "I don't know. Just give me few hours to come with a test for you."
Leon enthusiastically slapped his shoulder, "Sure, sure. Think carefully."
A FEW HOURS LATER-
As the training finally ended, trainees exited the training grounds in a systemic order. Many were engaged in conversations, while some ran towards the water tumblers.
"Hey Sig," Leon walked towards Sigmund who was lazily leaning on a tree, calmly watching Leon from the branch he was sitting.
"Young Master," Sigmund dropped to the ground, "The test for you is…."
A/N-
Hello! Dear readers, it seems I forgot this was a spar between children. Anyways, for those wondering-
The martial art "La Alta Destreza" was inspired, yes, I say INSPIRED from the Spanish art "La Verdadera Destreza".
Developed during Spain's Golden Age, it blends fencing with geometry, philosophy, and precise footwork, emphasizing circles, angles, and measured distance over brute strength.
Practitioners often pair a long sword with a dagger that acts as both a shield and…. A guide? Though this was used mainly by -nobility, scholars and royal guards and more.
This martial art in reality is SAID to be weak against multiple opponents, heavy shields, polearms etc. But this makes it actually better for a fantasy story.
The intention of this note was to tell the readers that though I am inspired by this the moves of this martial art, the moves in the webnovel ARE NOT A CORRECT REPRESENTATION of the actual martial art.
THANKS FOR READING!