After they have finished eating, Jairo looks to Nero, who had stood up from the table. With quite a satisfied expression. "The food was good, but its time for one small spar."
"Huh?" Jairo looked at Nero as though he were some sort of buffoon. "I just got out of a fight."
The bandages were fresh around his arms, he didn't much feel like doing anything at the moment.
Yet Nero insisted.
"Come on. It's time for the both of us to go outside. I must test your skills with the blade."
Harken sighed. "Of course, he's still angry that he had less shine than me when the weapons mattered." An ever present expression of confidence and no small amount of gloating written on his face.
Jairo grabs the blade that had been resting near him. It's blue blade was so light it almost seemed to glow. The green handle made for nice contrast.
They step outside, and Jairo grabs the blade tightly. It's green handle and blue blade looking magnificent.
Nero walked towards Ariel's fathers sword rack of all things, and picked up a blade he had not seen before. "Since I brought you this blade, I obviously want to test its mettle, against mine."
He pointed a blade that seemed rather big, longer than the average sword, it also had serrated edges, it would definitely hurt to be cut by.
Definitely an intimidating sword. "Did your puny sling have little Jairo like this?" He said, turning to harken, before walking past Jairo, to the outside balcony.
After Jairo walked out behind him, Everyone else watched closely from inside the house looking out.
Even now, Ariel seemed interested in the outcome. Nero turned to her. " do you think he'll win?"
"Don't hurt him." She replied quickly with a stern and serious expression.
He quickly began looking back at Jairo. She was beginning to creep him out. 'I get that it's your boyfriend, but could you be a little less aggressive about it?'
"Good thing for the both of us, only I can swing hard enough to cause damage to either of our blades. Do your very worst." He said, refocusing on his opponent.
The moment that was said, Jairo began sprinting at top speed, jumping up before bringing his blade down upon Nero's head.
He was tired of the banter. And one thing needed that would stop him from being a weak man, waiting to get out in someone else's history book, was to strike first. Be bolder.
"You taking notes from orange eyes or what?"
Jairo said with a hint of irritation. His heart was racing on the inside. At least he was putting up a good front.
"Hey, didn't I just get you a gift?"
Harken said from the sidelines.
Jairo almost decided to care. His focus was on more important things.
Nero began to swing. He made them seem so lazy. A slash to the left was blocked. He had thought he could take a hit this time, only to get sent tumbling back.
Yet as he rolled, Nero was still casually walking forward, his hand outstretched and readying for an overhead.
Thankfully, Jairo quickly got up and dodged backward, escaping the attack. 'He's telegraphing the attacks so blatantly, and yet I can still barely keep up.'
These supposedly easily telegraphed attacks were still sending shocks through his body as he crashed with or blocked them.
Just enough to put him on edge, not enough to actually injure.
Yet, taking another breath, he forced himself to move, swinging and baiting a block to his right, only to aim for his chest. Wait. What?
Nero went closer so that the blade met his chest.
"You pass. This will have to do." He said, putting a hand over Jairos head and rubbing it, which Jairo quickly pulled off.
"Alright man, I must go. My father is eager to train me."
"Same here. What's with the crackdown from everyone?" Harken said in surprise.
"I'm not sure. Even though I am a sneaky daughter, my father is just as mysterious if not more." Maribel shook her head.
"Something in my gut tells me that things are gonna be a lot harder now, so you have to promise us to pull through." Nero said, looking at him with expectation.
Just then, they turned to Jairo. "I know you'll miss me. And I know my memories will bring you joy when I'm not around."
Nero put a hand on top of his head.
"Be safe kiddo." Jairo shook his head. "We're almost the same age."
He laughed. "I know. That makes it even more funny."
Maribel said her humble goodbye, granting him a vial of powder. "Don't use this unless you're in a bad predicament."
"Okay." He said, nodding.
They all departed from her house, waving hands. At the door, Jairo stood as he watched their silhouettes disappear from view. 'And now it's time I disappear.'
He took a step before Ariel walked out of the door with him. "Since I can't stay at my place alone, why don't I come to your house?"
"Oh? Sure."