"Before we start, how fluent are you with real swords?" Raphael asked.
"I'm fairly good. I've been using it since I was four to train." Henry replied.
"Since he was four years old that's impressive," Raphael said.
"The truth is that I don't know how to spar. It's always been a life-threatening battle for me, and since I haven't won any of them, I always end the classes out cold." Henry confessed.
'For three years, they beat him to a pulp, leaving him passed out; what is Father thinking?' Riley thought. She could hear their conversation from where she was.
"It would do you good not to get your hopes high. I'm a very slow learner, and I have only managed to master the basics." Henry said, again with a bitter smile.
"For some reason, I choose not to believe your words." Raphael swung his sword in style before pointing it at Henry.
"Then see for yourself...oh, and by the way, I won't be using magic since I can't use any." Henry pointed.
"Don't worry, I will make it a fair fight," Raphael said.
"Ok then."
"Do your best Henry. I believe in you!" Riley shouted.
"Thanks, big sis." Henry smiled before turning to face Raphael. He took in a deep breath and, using two hands, he held up his katana, which he had chosen earlier.
Henry wasn't planning on showing Raphael all his skills except, of course, when the situation called for it, although from his teacher, he is horrible at swordsmanship; he prefers not to play all his cards but, at the same time, uses enough to hold out.
"I'll be coming at you now." He warns Raphael.
"Sure" Raphael nods with a nonchalant stance. He was holding a long plain sword.
"Hmph" Henry immediately accelerated towards Raphael, planning on using tricks instead of strength to fight.
~Swish~ his sword whistles across the air as he goes in for the strike.
~Clink ~
Raphael, without moving easily blocked his strike with his sword.
"What's this? Are you intentionally fighting so weak?" Raphael asked in disgust.
"I told you not to expect much from me," Henry said as he jumped back.
"Come at me." Raphael urged putting his hand in his pocket.
"I will fight you with only one hand if you manage to push me back, I'll make sure to take you outside for a day," Raphael promised. Hearing this Henry felt tempted.
He understood that he couldn't trust his words, but even if it was a lie; it was a lie with fighting for.
"I believe you'll keep your word, brother," Henry said and immediately launched a series of faster, more stable and accurate attacks at Raphael.
~Cling~
~Clang~
~Clung~
Raphael kept deflecting Henry's attacks easily.
Riley was watching closely as Henry struggled to even make Raphael take him seriously.
~huff, huff~
Henry breathed while using the back of his hand to wipe off the sweat on his forehead. 'Just as I thought, his strength is on a whole level from mine. I'll have to use skills and tricks to make up for it, but unfortunately, he's quick-witted.' Henry thought, holding his katana in a strong grip.
'I have no choice but to keep trying and hope something happens.'
"Are you done gauging my strength? Then, get serious." Raphael said, a bit annoyed.
He was no fool, he knew that Henry gauged him. Although it was a rough estimation for Henry, he knows how to coordinate and plan his attacks and pray if it works.
'I guess it's time to get more serious, even if I'll lose. ' Henry thought.
"And make sure you don't hold back anymore," Raphael adds, Henry smiles.
"I'll make sure to do that... since I wasn't holding back earlier," Henry replied as he started walking slowly towards Raphael while muttering something.
"Sword art: Flying Swordsman"
Riley's eyes widened as she realized the skill he was about to display. Sword art was one of the most difficult low-grade skills to learn, so much so that most people declared that it should be an upper-mid-grade skill.
The skill was abandoned since it was unreasonably difficult to master, and they could easily obtain flight skills. Many modern high-ranking swordsmen don't even know how to use this particular skill. But Henry is.
Henry's only reason for using this skill was because it was one of the weakest in his arsenal; he did not expect it to give him so much attention, which he didn't notice,e, by the way.
"That's more like it," Raphael says as he smirks at Henry.
"What is this? What is Dad planning for Henry?" Riley thought as she watched her two brothers.