"Are you going to start or not?"
Napatingala naman ako kay Raniel dahil nakaupo ako ngayon when he approaches me with his bored light green eyes kahit na medyo natatakpan ang left eye niya dahil sa bangs niya na mahaba.
"...I am,"
I said kaya agad akong tumayo at sumunod sa kaniya para sa physical training like jogging, running, push-ups, curls-up, and many more that includes the endurance test.
"Don't tell me that's all you can do,"
Raniel said while looking back at me dahil nahuhuli ako sa kaniya sa lahat ng ginawa namin except sa unang ginawa namin pero no'ng tumatagal at naiiwan na ako pero pilit ko pa din siyang inaabutan pero hindi ko talaga siya mapantayan lagi.
"Don't underestimate me,"
Wika ko tsaka ko binilisan ang pag galaw ko at nilampasan siya kaya nagulat naman siya dahil may natitira pa akong lakas sa katawan ko.
"Told you. Don't underestimate me,"
I said when I am the one who finishes first for the last endurance test for the 2nd part.
"You are still behind me more than you being the 1st one to finish it,"
He brags as he drinks water kaya napairap nalang ako bago ko kinuha ang tubig ko mula sa aking bag at uminom.
"I see that you two are getting along with each other,"
"We are not!"
We both said to Sir Grayle who suddenly pops out in front of us pero hindi na ako nagulat dahil alam kong lalapit siya sa amin at sa tingin ko ay ganun din si Raniel as if my senses is getting strong that I can easily feel if someone is approaching us kahit na pagod kami pero aware kami sa paligid namin.
"Really? You two seem no surprised anymore,"
He said as if he was glad that he could see results before the end of the day. Davina and Raniel look at each other and look away from each other as they didn't expect they are both didn't surprise by his sudden approach.
"Hm? Do you two want to be the lead for the last activity? They will be over about 15 minutes plus a 5-minute break for them before we start,"
I nodded to Sir Grayle since it is better to be done so I can go to Allyssa since I don't want to watch until the end while Raniel also nodded after I agreed.
"That's great! Then, rest for a while,"
I looked at Sir Grayle who looks in a perfect mood for no reason while he is walking away from us to the other trainee at agad na pinaulit ang nakita niyang hindi maayos ang postura ng kaniyang katawan sa pag pupush-ups.
I look around while resting as Sir Grayle told us, and Raniel sits down, not far away from me, as if he didn't want us to look like we are friends. I am wondering if Sir Grayle will be our sparring partner and we are his first opponent since we both finished so soon than the others.
"Okay, let's start our last activity for today!"
Napatingin naman ako kay Sir Grayle na nagsalita sa harap o sa entablado na tila ba ang bilis ng oras na nakapagpahinga ako pero okay lang sa akin since I have enough rest to proceed for the sparring so I am planning to end as soon as possible but I don't think I can since Sir Grayle is my opponent but I will just do my best.
"Before we start the sparring session, let me call the two who finished the 1st and 2nd sessions of our activity since they have enough rest to proceed with the sparring,"
He said as he looked at us kaya tumayo na ako tsaka naglakad papalapit sa kaniya at naramdaman ko namang may nakasunod sa akin and it was Raniel who walks beside me but he walks faster so he is ahead of me kaya binilisan ko din ang paglalakad papunta sa harapan. We both stopped in front of the other trainees and waited for Sir Grayle's next statement on what we will do or who will be his first opponent.
"Since I can't handle all of you as my opponent so I let these two will be paired in this sparring since they are excellent in both sessions, and I don't think it will be easy for me to face them both considering skills I saw. Miss Davina and Mr. Raniel be the model for this session, both of you do your best in this sparring. There is no win or loss here but exercise your skills in real situations so Raniel fight Miss Davina equally since as I have said we can't discriminate against people in here,"
"Yes, Sir,"
Raniel answered as we face each other after Sir Grayle let the other trainees give us space in the center for the sparring, and I didn't think that I will be facing Raniel instead of Sir Grayle. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan o ano kay Raniel na nakatingin sa akin ng seryoso habang nagreready at ganun din ako since we are about to fight by Sir Grayle's commencement.
"Fight!"
Sir Grayle said at agad namang sumugod si Raniel papalapit sa akin kasabay ng pagsuntok ng kaniyang kanang kamay ng deritso sa mukha ko pero agad akong umatras kaya hindi ako natamaan as I tried to punch him but he dodged as he backs away. We both alternates attacking and defending each other for a few minutes at hindi ko inaasahan na may lakas pa siyang natitira dahil bigla siyang bumilis kaya nasipa ako sa kanang paa ko na dahilan ng pagkakatumba ko and I immediately block his punch to my face with both hands as Sir Grayle's interfere.
"Stop! That's enough. You both did a great job!"
Sir Grayle said as he approaches us na napatigil sa paglaban since Raniel stops himself from his next move because of the interference when I was also about to counter him pero hindi natuloy dahil pinahinto na kami at napatingin sa kaniya.
"..."
I looked at Raniel's hand na nasa harap ko dahil nakalahad ang kaniyang kamay without looking at me kaya tinanggap ko naman at tumayo since nakaupo ako as we both looked at Sir Grayle na lumapit sa amin.
"Thanks,"
I hold his hand as I stand up and face Sir Grayle who is smiling at us from ear to ear as if he was satisfied from our sparring, I look at him frowning while he taps our shoulders na magkabilaan no'ng nakatayo na ako at nakaharap sa kaniya.
"You two are really great. You guys will definitely be my top candidates,"
He said to us in front of everyone as I feel like everyone will talk behind about us as his best candidates who will be chosen to go to the capital.
"You flatter us, Sir Grayle,"
Raniel said in his usual bored tone as if he also doesn't like how Sir Grayle praises us since they will be wary on us at para sa akin hindi iyon maganda na kakainggitan kami ng iba but Sir Grayle's face is still smiling kahit na kita niyang nakakunot noo ako at sumeryoso ang reaksiyon ni Raniel na nakatingin sa kaniya.
"No, I just said what I saw since you two are good as the regular knight in the capital,"
"Thank you for the compliment but I think we are still lacking,"
"I agree with Raniel, Sir Grayle,"
I seconded to Raniel kaya napataas kilay si Sir Grayle as he grins a little as if this makes him thrilled by our response from his compliment.
"Alright. You two can go home and rest,"
Sir Grayle said to us as he smiles at us again kaya nagpasalamat naman kami before we get our things at iniwan sila as they continue the last session in which he is their sparring partner.
Raniel didn't talk as we walks away at hindi din siya lumingon nong huminto ako sa may labasan since I am waiting for Allyssa na tila ba wala siyang kasama na umalis kanina but I find it okay since I didn't plan on being friendly with him in the first place. After a few minutes when someone pokes me since nakayuko ako habang nakaupo na nakasandal sa pader sa may labasan at tinignan kung sino 'yong tumapik sa akin.
"Did you wait long?"
"No, let's go home,"
I answered to Allyssa na nakangiti sa akin na sa tingin ko ay masaya ito sa kaniyang grupo as her face didn't look haggard unlike me who looks so tired which makes me wonder what did they do but I'm too tired to asks her since hindi siya titigil kakakwento kapag nagsimula siyang nagkwento sa akin kaya tsaka ko na aalamin since I want to go home as soon as possible.
~~~
'She is a friend with that guy's knight trainee?'
Raniel whispered when he simply check on Davina who is talking with Allyssa at the gate when he felt she is not following her but he didn't check it immediately. After checking on Davina he continues to walk away from the training ground when he thought that Davina and Allyssa had just met recently at the training ground but what he saw was they are close by the way Allyssa talks to her.
Davina and Allyssa went home immediately so tired and her mother greeted them with food prepared on the table.
"You two should eat well,"
"Miss Lyn, you are a lifesaver. We were so hungry on our way here,"
Allyssa said after swallowing what's on her mouth since my mother greeted us earlier at tinawag na din si Allyssa na makikain sa amin kaya deritso kaming kumakain ngayon.
"You should just eat Allyssa and talk later,"
Wika ko dahil nagsasalita siya habang sumusubo ng pagkain sa kaniyang bunganga but she fell asleep after eating at the table matapos kong iligpit ang pinagkainan namin since nahuli kaming natapos.
"You should also take a rest,"
"Then, I'll take her to my room,"
I gently carry Allysa na hindi ko aakalaing hindi siya masyadong mabigat sa lakas niyang kumain na parang lalaki as I leave my mom finishing what I am doing with the unwashe dishes. I lay down Allysa on my bed and she shamelessly sleep comfortable while hugging my extra pillow.
"You awe me this time, Allyssa. I even let you sleep on my bed,"
I remove her shoes and I get to change my clothes since I feel so sticky from my sweat as I wipe my face and body with the wet towel that my mom prepared in advance in my room. I plan to wipe Allyssa too but she's so clean that even a speck of dust nor a mark of sweat on her face is nowhere to be found which makes me a little annoyed since it seems that they didn't do any physical activity but she looks tired.
~~~
Mabilis na lumipas ang araw at nasa huling araw na kami ng training namin para sa huling pagpili sa mga kwalipikadong sasama sa kapital.
"The time passed so quickly that you all grew over the past few months and tomorrow will be the final assessment. I do hope you all pass so we'll take this day to be the time for you guys to rest well for tomorrow,"
Sir Grayle said with a happy mood on his face at ultimu ako ay hindi makapaniwala na nakaya kong tumagal kahit na mahirap makipagsabayan sa mga kasama kong kalalakihan but I managed to close the gap. Sir Grayle didn't even think twice about punching me in the face when I faced in sparring so I really trained hard to make him pay for that and I didn't think I was able to land a punch on his face, although, it was only for once at bumawi pa siya sa akin ng dalawang suntok pero hindi na sa mukha kundi sa aking sikmura.
"Yes, Sir!!!"
They answered in joy since we will get enough rest and condition ourselves for tomorrow just what Sir Grayle said since he told us that the final assessment will be sparring between teams to assess individuals' skills so it doesn't matter who wins or loses but it is much better to win to ensure that you will be included to the qualified knights.
"Sir Grayle, do you mind joining us to eat?"
One of the trainees asks Sir Grayle after his announcement at ako naman ay nag aayos ng gamit since wala namang training ngayon so I plan to go back home to rest, and Allyssa also informed me that they will be having dinner today with her squad.
"Then, why don't we go throw a banquet for completing the training. I think we should all eat together as a squad,"
"That's great, Sir Grayle,"
They agreed to him and I don't plan to go with them kaya binilisan ko ang lakad kong papalayo sa kanila but a hand holds my shoulder so I stopped walking.
"Don't think of running away... same goes with you Mr. Raniel,"