Andy hit the floor for the ninety-ninth time. Out of one hundred sparrings with Mr Hines, Andy has barely won one. Even though they are both three stars and Mr Hines is older and retired, it is clear that he has been keeping up with his training.
As for Sebastion, he has also done one hundred sparrings, however, he has yet to win a single one.
"Sebastion, show me your stance," Mr Hines said
Sebastion got up from where he was sitting and got into his stance. Mr Hines hummed and tapped his elbow. "Tighter."
Sebastion moved his elbow.
"Swing"
Sebastion swung, but Mr Hines stopped him midway. "There. You're still overextending."
Mr Hines stepped in front of him. "Your sword is not a spear. It has a shorter range, and sometimes your speed cannot make up for that."
Mr Hines got into position. "We will keep going until your body remembers."
**************************************************
Two days later – the city guards' crumbling guard post
"96."
"97."
"98 – don't slow down!"
Andy – who looked out of order himself – stood In front of all of the city guards in the kingdom. The city guards were lined up in front of and besides each other, doing push-ups at Andy's count. Among them was Milo, at one of the front rows in Andy's line of sight.
The city guard's arms were shaking, some barely able to keep going. The weight on their backs weighing them down.
"99."
"100. Break!"
They all collapse onto the floor. Breathing heavy and reaching for water.
"You have a few seconds until we move on."
A person groans to the side of Milo. "Ugh – what kind of training is this? 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats and a run? All weighted? What has gotten into him? " Milo shushes him. "Keep it down, we already have to spar after this!" the person on the other side rolls over. "Hey, isn't Sabi making some kind of tonic or something? Do you know much about it?"
The person besides him hums, "I don't know, but I heard it's pretty cheap."
The other person lay flatly on the ground. "This training is much more difficult, especially compared to the old training. All for the same pay too."
Milo looked over. "Well, we are city guards, we are supposed to have an image to maintain."
"Milo."
Everyone around him straightened at the sound of Andy's voice and slowly backed away.
"Yes, sir?"
"You said you were friends with that magenta-eyed girl, correct?"
"Amari? I am"
"I need you to relay a message for me then. I want her to get me a new Warhammer technique."