Despite being failed knights, the two brothers still had the capacity to beco rcenaries for hire, which made them more powerful than most regular citizens and city guards.
The hoods they wore slid down. Their hair was slicked back, bright orange and spiky at the tips, showing their "fiery" nature.
Their fight moves were as flashy, flying kicks and flips made them seem like acrobats in the heat of battle.
Lucian tried to copy them from a distance, thinking he was doing the right thing, maybe even progressing. (Most of the things he learned were from his observations of others and copying them.)
The brothers tried not to laugh, but it was hard to keep a straight face when Lucian looked like a dancing spider.
"That's not how you do it," the younger brother said.
A question mark appeared on top of Lucian's head, "Then how am I supposed to do it? Show again."
"No, your whole approach is wrong," the older one stepped in, "No wonder you have to take a re-test. Did the instructors not show you the basics?"
"Not really. They said I have no talent, and I should find a different career path," Lucian then looked down, playing the part of a dejected student who was trying his best but failing miserably. "I'm trying to prove them wrong."
"They were right," the younger one mumbled under his breath, but Lucian heard it.
The older one elbowed his brother, "He is our client."
"What? It's true." the younger one said, "He moves like a girl."
Lucian's head snapped up, "What did you say?"
"I said you move like a girl." the younger one repeated louder, not backing down, "Don't take wrong. That's how the instructors treat the newbies. If you want to pass, you need to move with power, not like a sissy."
Lucian's smile was slow to form, "Is that so?"
Before the younger brother could react, Lucian's leg shot out, catching him in the stomach.
"Like this?"
The air whooshed out of the man in a rush, and he doubled over, gasping.
Bad habits died hard without prior training, and Lucian, despite his act, had never learned a single 'proper' form.
What he knew was an efficient and ugly way to start and end a fight, as quickly as possible.
"That was a dirty move!" he choked out, cursing.
"Shouldn't an experienced fighter be able to deflect that?" Lucian asked, his booth touching the muddy ground, "It seems to , you're the one who can't take a hit."
"You little..." the older brother snarled, lunging at Lucian.
The younger one, still gasping for air, staggered to his feet and joined in.
They were both larger than Lucian, with more muscle mass. They ca at him from both sides, a coordinated attack that would have crushed a lesser man.
Lucian blocked the older brother's punch with his forearm, the impact sending a jolt up his arm.
Another punch ca from his other side, and he wasn't fast enough to dodge it completely.
He took a hit to the ribs, the force of it making him see stars.
He didn't cry out, but he did stagger to the side, his breathing coming in ragged gasps.
The older brother smirked, "Not so tough now, are you?"
Lucian ignored him. They were not his targets, 'Here you go, Voice. Weak and pathetic Lucian at your service.'
'You crazy son of a bitch,' Voice's thoughts cut through the pain.
'I didn't ask for your past life comntary, yet you still made pay for it,' Lucian thought back, 'No wonder you ended up the way you did.'
He took another hit, this one to the back of his head. He stumbled to the front, his vision swimming.
The light rain that had been falling all day suddenly intensified, turning into a downpour.
The ginger dye in Lucian's hair began to run, streaking down his face and neck, the colour of diluted blood.
Lucian let them push him around, chuckling in the face of their aggression.
It unnerved them, seeing Lucian barely pay attention to their fists, his focus elsewhere.
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
Song Recomndation:
Save yourself while there's still ti - Mathew's Silent Chapter
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