Revenge of the Son of the Nobles

Chapter 27: Restless

One month since Brian McGray's release.

The soldiers returned from the training ground after a morning training session together, they practiced fighting techniques using a wide variety of weapons, how to operate cannons and even hand-to-hand combat.

Certainly with a mandatory performance after training, which is a duel between the wandering power of light.

This time it was a duel between Anford and Brenda, a duel won by Brenda after painstakingly dispelling the onslaught from Anford. The silhouette of Brenda's golden armour became even clearer than when she first dueled in the academy.

Anford also became stronger, especially after he found out that Desmond's strength could synergize with him, the weapon formed by Desmond apparently can conduct heat from Anford's body, and the weapons that Desmond formed can apparently deliver heat from Anford's body, making Anford's attacks many times more effective.

But because of the lack of experience using weapons, he still lost to Brenda even though he had managed to corner her.

After all the soldiers disbanded, apparently there were still two people on the training ground, they were Alex and Thomas.

"You're really not going to use your power of light, are you?" Thomas who had mounted the horses with a longsword clasped in both hands asked somewhat anxiously.

"No, take it easy" Alex, who uses swordstaff, put up a position ready to fight, "Even if I'm desperate, I won't use my strength."

Thomas sighed, "Alright."

The two of them faced each other, their gazes focused on finding a gap as well as reading the movements of the opponent. Alex stepped slowly around the arena in the form of a stone circle while changing his swordstaff position to close the gap, the same thing Thomas did.

Finally Thomas took the initiative to attack first, with one big step he closed the distance between him and Alex and instantly slashed his longsword from above.

Alex curled to the side, deflecting Thomas's slash using his swordstaff hilt then with his right foot, he launched a single kick towards Thomas' stomach.

But Thomas is more experienced in gun fights, with a simple step back, he avoids Alex's kicks.

Instead of pulling back his legs after kicking, Alex immediately set his right foot on the ground and made use of his swordstaff handle to hit Thomas.

There was a stifled cry from Thomas's mouth, he did not expect Alex to attack him immediately after Alex's failed kick hit him,

Thomas stepped back some distance while fending off one stab attack from Alex.

"What the fuck ... It turns out that you've been better than before" Thomas said with a grin on his face, "It looks like Alfonso taught you right huh?"

Alex was again put on standby, Thomas was one of the students who was quite shining in the Silver Class when he was in the Academy first, Thomas, even he was in the same ranks as the other great fighters of the Silver Class.

One big step from Thomas again closed their distance, Thomas' longsword raised upward, Alex prepared to step aside to avoid Thomas's slash.

But with a very fast movement, Thomas twisted his body 360 degrees and performed a side slash utilizing the momentum of his body's spin.

Alex who did not expect that immediately held back the slash that targeted his ribs with the swordstaff's handle.

The clashing sound of the training equipment rang out, Alex groaning from the pain in his wrist, Alex's body staggered due to the force of Thomas's slash. Before Alex restores his balance, Thomas launches a straight kick that slams into Alex's stomach, sending him tumbling backwards.

Thomas lunged towards the sprawled Alex, he raised his longsword, intending to end this duel.

But his steps came to a halt when Alex's swordstaff blade touched his neck. Alex laughed a little and then coughed.

Thomas laughed and lowered his longsword, then extended his hand to Alex who was sitting down. "Fuck you, Alex. Could've sent a counterattack under such circumstances."

Alex received Thomas's helping hand and stood up straight away, "Your gap is wide open, how could I have missed the opportunity."

"But still, you also got me battered this time. Even my wrist sprained from fending off your attack earlier."

Thomas shrugged, "It's just that I lost in the end."

The two of them walked off the training ground, now entering breakfast time, they hurriedly took a shower and rushed towards the cafeteria afterwards.

Luckily they were not too late, instead there were some soldiers who came after them.

After taking the breakfast rations, Alex and Thomas sit at a long dining table typical of military barracks. Other than himself and Thomas, there were several other senior soldiers sitting there.

"When are you going to duel like Brenda against Anford, Alex?" One of the senior soldiers named Trevor asked the question as soon as Alex sat in his chair.

"It looks like you and Alicia aren't fighting yet, right? I became curious about your strength, "the other soldier went along, he was named Samuel.

"That Brenda, even after losing against Desmond still challenges others." Either Trevor said that as a compliment or something.

"By the way, you guys used to be one Academy with Brenda right? She has a boyfriend?" Samuel whispered half.

Thomas grinned wide, "Well, if that's what Desmond asked." Alex, who was drinking, choked on Thomas, "Damn, you made me laugh."

"Eventually they got along anyway" Thomas said, chewing his bread. Alex raised one eyebrow, "You said something like that got along?"

"It's usually the end of the family" Trevor commented, "But take it easy Samuel, if you're persistent, maybe you can be his girlfriend" he continued, pushing Samuel's shoulder.

Samuel flinched, between Trevor's words and his encouragement. "When did I say I liked him?"

"He looked away" whispered Thomas in a ignorant tone.

"Eh ... It turns out, isn't it, Sam?" Trevor followed her.

"M-m-indeed when did I say s-su-like him? You're like a girl character in novels." Alex imitates the typical tsundere style of talking, making Thomas and Trevor laugh.

Samuel was silent, not responding to them, but his timid face seemed to say all his heart.

Trevor patted Samuel on the shoulder, "Well, even though your opponent is Desmond, I support you." Samuel shriveled, "You can be quiet, can't you?" Trevor raised his hand, and he stood up with his iron plate and left.

"Then I go first, senior." Thomas and Alex also resigned, the other soldiers also began to leave the canteen, remaining some people who schedule cleaning the canteen including Samuel.

...****************...

After his day patrol schedule was completed, Alex immediately poured his body into a thin mattress, supported by a level bed made of iron with many parts of the paint already peeled off.

Today he got a letter from his family back home, it was written by his sister, he said, she said she continued to worry about Alex after hearing that one of the soldiers who died on the way to the defense post was Alex's partner.

In the letter his sister said that lately the mother has trouble sleeping and no appetite because she keeps thinking about Alex, at the end of the letter her sister wrote. "Can't you go home to see mom even if it's just a minute?"

During her time at the Academy, she always wrote her own letters, but this time her sister wrote either because she told her to or she herself took the initiative to write.

Alex breathed heavily, due to the assault incident on the train, the entire defensive outpost increased alertness and for an unspecified time, the soldiers had not been allowed to take time off.

He wrote a reply, in his letter, writing that there was nothing to worry about. Although he has not been able to go home for a while, but he promised to take care of himself until the situation improves and will take a day off at that time.

"You look moody," Anford who just entered the room saw Alex's expression that was like a crowd of minds, he sat on his bed opposite Alex's bed, removed his military attributes and immediately collapsed.

"What's the matter anyway?" Anford asked when he heard Alex breathing heavily for the umpteenth time. Honestly, he was a little disturbed.

Alex was silent for a moment, after which he explained everything about the letter from his family that made him think a lot, "Where might I be able to calm down if my mother so does not like to eat and has trouble sleeping so?"

Anford listened to him carefully, he thought of the best answer to the solution of Alex's problem. After a while of thinking ... He still doesn't know the solution.

"Yes ... In a situation like this, shouldn't you trust each other? Your mother should be able to believe you're going home safe later, and you should also believe that your mother will take good care of herself."

Anford's words have a point, there's nothing Alex can do but trust his family, and vice versa.

"I think you have a point" said Alex.

Anford smiled and turned back. But not even his back touched the mattress, emergency sirens rang loudly, causing an instant commotion.

Everyone in the room gasped, Alex and Anford looked at each other. When the siren sounds, there is only one possibility.

"Devil!"

...****************...

Illustration of Brenda Derrantes' character, illustration made using AI