The sun broke in through the linen over Laylan"s door. A quiet, soft breeze moved through her room to her bed. A soft, masculine voice traveled with the breeze to Laylan"s ears, "Wake up, my daughter. It is time."Laylan opened her eyes and felt her father"s presence in the room. "Good morning, Father," she tenderly replied as she crossed her room to her staff. It was sparring day with Luca.s.sius. She had been training hard and she was determined to beat a much older and experienced opponent. Luca.s.sius had survived many years in the mortal world before coming to Cion. His training and skills were far beyond her own experience.
She reached out and grabbed her staff from its corner spot in her room. She examined it quickly; its braided threads of different colors wrapped the top, with a small vibrant red ribbon chain with a brilliant blue feather, given to her by a Ribon. The Ribons were beautiful birds of vibrant reds, blues and greens. Their songs were of even tones and lovely tunes to the ears. Laylan had spent many days in the forest listening and watching the Ribons. She took her staff, and then turned out of her room.
The day was clear and the sun"s light was bright in her eyes. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. The air was cool, crisp and she could feel it deep in her chest. Laylan focused on centering herself before opening her eyes and seeing Luca.s.sius across the field, doing the very same thing.
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He was standing bare chested with beautiful form to his muscles and his long golden blond hair lay straight down around his shoulders. His perfect, light complexion of even tone, stretched across his concentrated face. His small nose and thin pink lips finished his perfect appearance. His arms were strong, muscular and lean. Laylan looked at him and realized that she had never really noticed how shaped Luca.s.sius" chest and stomach had always been, until that moment and she felt a flutter in her chest.
Just then his fair blue eyes opened and focused on Laylan. She felt a knot in her stomach and a tightening in her throat. She was used to feeling emotions that no one in Cion really felt or at least spoke of but she hadn"t felt this one before.
"Stretch first, Laylan. Before sparring always stretch your muscles and clear your mind," Greagan said in his usual lecturing tone. Laylan smiled and looked at Luca.s.sius, who smiled and shrugged his shoulders saying, "That"s Father for you."
Laylan and Luca.s.sius always could read each other"s looks. Over the years of knowing each other, Laylan could give Luca.s.sius a look meaning anything and he would know exactly what she was thinking. It was the other way around as well with Luca.s.sius.
As Greagan had instructed, Laylan began to stretch her legs and arms. She could hear his instructions as she moved around, his usual lecture in his eyes and body language. She took it all in and kept it locked in her memory.
When she was ready, she stepped forward and Luca.s.sius did the same. Laylan brought up her staff, ready for the first blow. Luca.s.sius brought up his sword. They stood for a moment staring at each other waiting for the first draw.
After a moment of antic.i.p.ation, Luca.s.sius swung his sword down. Laylan stopped him with her staff then veered his sword away and circled around to take his legs out from under him. He jumped over her staff and brought his sword down to find her staff again. She knocked him back a few steps and quickly stepped up to attack him. Each end of her staff caught him in the sides in rhythm, first one end then the other. He finally regained his bearings in the cloud of pain and turned to swing at her again. Laylan jumped into a back flip away from the blade, landing on her feet. He charged at her with his sword up again and she knelt down to absorb the impact in her legs instead of her staff and arms. With all of the strength in her body, Laylan pushed up starting in her feet, through her legs, her body, arms, into her hands and pushed into Luca.s.sius" sword.
When the momentum pushed through, he couldn"t hold his grip and it flew out of his hands forcing him to take a step back. His eyes wide in surprise and his mouth gaped open at the sheer power of her force. He watched as if in slow motion as Laylan jumped up and swung around again and successfully taking Luca.s.sius" feet out from under him. He came crashing down to the ground and before he realized exactly what had happened, he saw Laylan standing above him with her staff pointed at his throat.
A bewildered look came across his face realizing that she had defeated him. After so many years of training, she had finally outsmarted him. He felt pride well up inside but there was something else as well. Something he wasn"t used to feeling. She smiled down at him, and then moved her staff to offer him her hand. He took her hand and stood, his head throbbing from the impact on the ground.
Applause surrounded them from around the village. Laylan and Luca.s.sius looked around them and realized that everyone had gathered around to watch. Now with looks of glee they all applauded Laylan"s success.
Laylan felt deep warmth spreading from deep within her belly and throughout her body. It spread across her face in a smile and she looked up to see the moon in the sky gazing down at her.
"Good job," Luca.s.sius said softly. Laylan looked over at him and could see the joy in his face as well. "I"ve been waiting for the day you would defeat me. It means that you are ready."
"Yes, it does," Greagan replied as he approached them. "Congratulations, Laylan."