Seed Of Speed

Sweat slowly dripped into the sand as two figures stood panting on either end of the sparring ring. Although both were wielding wooden weapons that could not slice the skin, both were sporting an array of purple bruises as neither wasted their energy on defensive skills. As if there had been a silent agreement, both figures dashed out at the same time and struck, wooden glaive against wooden spear.

The pair were Diego and Tovao, who had been sparring for the past hour. After a month of sparring against each other every day, they had formed a natural rhythm between them. They could read the subtle hints in their body language, allowing them to know how the other was about to strike.

Tovao slashed down at Diego's spear, but he had long grown used to that move. Diego let his spear be knocked away as he rolled his body along the backside of the glaive to deliver an elbow to Tovao's face. Also familiar with Diego's moves, and unusual obsession with aiming for his face, met the elbow with a fist, blocking the attack. Diego spun his spear through his fingers, but before he could strike with his spear, Tovao delivered a swift kick to his side and knocked him away.

Despite the pain, Diego laughed as he held his side for a moment. Over time, he learned that channeling his Solar Energy could speed up his regeneration which helped him continue sparring after taking a big hit. Katalina assured him that once he found the correct way to channel the energy, he would develop a true skill, so he often took a moment to experiment which Tovao and Peyni had grown used to. He had to find a way to make his Solar Energy vibration and pulse at the right frequency, which was easier said than done, but he was slowly narrowing it down.

"Does the 'young lord' need a break?" Tovao mocked with a laugh.

"Ha, bastard," Diego laughed as he jumped forward, thrusting his spear with two hands this time.

"No more than you!"

Tovao swung to knock the spear away once again, but this time, Diego's spear was only knocked slightly off course, but he twisted his spear as he activated his [Serpent's Strike] and the spearhead curved back on course. Countering, Tovao twisted his glaive, so that it almost seemed to wrap itself around the spear which was a recently created skill he developed after constantly sparring against Diego, [Coiling Viper].

Diego silently cursed as he still had not been able to come up with a counter to this tricky skill, so he did what he done for the past week and a half when confronted by it, cheat. Diego raised the heel of his back foot as he summoned his mana and casted his [Quaking Stomp], slamming the heel back down. Just before the tip of the glaive reach Diego's hand, the ground under Tovao lurched and Tovao stumbled to the side. He managed not to fall this time, but Diego used the moment to free his spear and spin it back around then shoot for his throat. Diego stopped just shy from striking as Tovao sighed.

"You cheated again," Tovao complained as he brushed aside Diego's spear.

"You must seize very advantage when facing a skilled opponent," Diego replied with a shameless grin.

Tovao rolled his eyes and chuckled as he shouldered his glaive. He walked out of the ring to a small tent where Tue and one of Tovao's maids, Una, waited. Tovao dropped his glaive into the rack against the cloth wall then stretched out on a woven rug while Una hurriedly brought him a cup. Diego followed, stowing his spear next to the glaive and sitting on a fine hide that had been one of the gifts from Oro. Tue offered him an earth mug as well that was filled with a violet liquid.

"It is Sunbak Ale! Parush only makes a hundred kegs a year and I managed to snag eleven!" Tovao said as he propped himself up on an elbow.

Diego took a sip and instantly smiled. The flavor was a cross between an apple and a pomegranate with a smooth burn from the alcohol. Tovao laughed as he raised his cup in Diego's direction then took a drink.

"So, tell me more about your plan," Tovao said.

"I want to explore the Wulim Sands. With the magic Firesand has taught me, I should be able to scout out the area, eliminating the threat raised by the quicksand. Of course, there will still be direbeasts, but that's part of the fun," Diego said with a chuckle.

"And you just expect me to put my life on the line because of something you 'should' be able to do?"

"Technically, your life is mine, brother. After all, I did spare you."

"Spare me?!? You cracked all of my front teeth and shattered my nose! If Moonwater's healing ability wasn't so great, the world would have lost my beautiful face," Tovao said as he touched his face.

Diego raise a foot to kick him in the face, but Tovao blocked it easily with his hand and laughed. Before their banter could continue, they hear a pair of heavy feet running up behind them.

Diego quickly covered his eyes and guessed with a laugh, "Peyni!"

"Of course, it is. Who else sounds like a camel running in the sand?" Tovao laughed, confirming Diego's guess.

"Peyni, we just finished sparing. I'll need an hour to rest if you want to as well," Diego said as he lowered his hand and turned around.

"Shove it, Tovao. No, I'm here because father is calling for you. There is a messenger from the Quko Clan in the Bastion!" Peyni exclaimed.

"What? Why would the Quko be here?" Diego asked.

"Maybe it's the Happa and Wejun Clans again. It's been about a year since our last exchange and I bet their hands are itching to fight once again, bloodthirsty bastards," Tovao grumbled, having lost his eldest uncle on his mother's side in one of the battles against them.

"I dunno, I didn't ask. Father just told me to find you," Peyni said.

"Welp, I guess this is over; Tue, take my spear back to the house while I head to the Bastion. Save some of this ale to share with me again, Tovao," Diego said as he stood.

"Fine, but as the future Patriarch, you should be getting far finer delicacies than I," Tovao teased.

"But why waste my own when I can waste yours?" Diego mocked as he ran off.

"Bastard!" Tovao shouted after him with a laugh.

Diego laughed as he left training field then made his way through the city. Those that he passed would give him a slight bow while other would greet him with, "Young lord." Everyone in the Oasis had watched his duels with his elder brothers, or at least heard about them for the unlucky few to be on guard duty that day, and so he had earned their respect and admiration. The Scarlet-Gold Skin was something of legend and the way he spoke of bringing the clan to new heights had put a fire of hope in their hearts.