Vin pushed forward, his wooden sword cutting through the air as it struck Vex squarely on the left side.
The impact was solid and clean. Vex staggered back two steps, his balance breaking for a moment before he steadied himself.
The two brothers stood facing each other, both breathing a little harder now.
They wore matching training clothes—brown sleeves fitted tightly around their arms, black trousers tucked neatly into their boots. Sweat darkened the fabric at their shoulders, proof that they had already been sparring for some time.
"I won," Vin said, straightening his posture and lifting his chin slightly, confidence clear in his voice.
"Tch. A lucky hit," Vex replied immediately, tightening his grip on his sword. "Again."
Before either of them could move, both brothers turned their heads to the left, sensing movement.
Their eyes landed on Jude and the Head Guardian, who stood just inside the training hall.
The wide hall was quiet now, the echoes of their earlier clash fading into the polished stone walls. Sunlight filtered in from the high windows, casting long shadows across the floor.
"Well, look who's here," Vin said, lowering his sword as he stepped forward, a faint grin forming on his face. Vex followed closely behind him.
"What do you want, Jude?" Vin asked, his tone guarded.
Jude met his brother's gaze without hesitation. "Isn't it obvious?" he replied calmly. "I came here to train."
Vin glanced briefly at Vex, then back at Jude. "Is that so?" Vex said.
He gestured with his sword toward a nearby rack where wooden blades were piled. "We're in need of a third sparring partner. Pick one up. Let's spar."
Jude studied both of them for a moment. He could see it clearly in their eyes—seriousness, focus, and something deeper. They hadn't forgotten what happened two years ago. They hadn't forgotten the humiliation of being defeated by the youngest brother they once looked down on.
"Alright," Jude said simply.
He walked over to the pile of wooden swords and picked one up. He rolled it in his hand, testing the weight, shifting his grip once, then twice. He swung it lightly through the air a few times, feeling the balance, letting his body adjust.
"So," Jude asked, turning back toward them, "how are we doing this?"
Vin stepped forward before Vex could answer. "We're all sparring together."
Vex turned sharply. "Hey, what do you mean, Vin?"
"I mean," Vin continued, his eyes locked on Jude, "we'll all be fighting each other at once. The last one standing wins."
Jude raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced toward the Head Guardian.
The Head Guardian stepped forward a few paces, his expression calm but attentive.
"I'll step in if it gets too dangerous," the Head Guardian said firmly. "You may begin."
Jude exhaled slowly, centering himself.
I'm sure Vin and Vex haven't been slacking off these past two years, Jude thought inwardly. They must have gotten stronger. But so have I.
He lifted his sword and took his stance.
"Let's see how much stronger you two have gotten," Jude said aloud.
Vin, Vex, and Jude moved toward the center of the training hall, forming a loose triangle between them. The Head Guardian positioned himself at a distance—close enough to intervene, but far enough to let the spar play out naturally.
"Begin," the Head Guardian said.
Vex moved first.
He lunged toward Jude without hesitation, delivering a fast slicing slash aimed at Jude's upper body. Jude maintained his stance, calm and grounded. He raised his sword diagonally, blocking the strike with a controlled downward angle.
The wooden blades clashed with a sharp crack.
Vex stepped back immediately, resetting his footing.
Before Jude could move, Vin was already behind him, closing the distance with quick steps, planning a surprise attack. Jude sensed it just in time and twisted his body, but Vex reacted even faster—moving sideways with sharp reflexes and dodging Vin's incoming strike instead.
The three brothers separated again, standing a few steps apart, eyes locked on one another. The air felt tense now, heavy with anticipation. No one rushed forward this time. Each waited for the other to make the next move.
Jude was the first to move.
His feet shifted lightly against the floor as he dashed toward Vin, closing the distance in an instant. Vin responded immediately, raising his sword.
The two blades collided with a loud echo that rang throughout the hall.
"You've gotten better, little brother," Vin said as he pressed forward.
Before Jude could respond, Vex charged in from the side. Both Vin and Jude reacted on instinct. They swung downward at the same time, their swords crashing toward Vex.
Vex lifted his wooden sword overhead, blocking both strikes at once.
The force was too much.
The impact drove Vex down to one knee, the floor cracking slightly beneath him.
"Hey—what gives?" Vex shouted.
Jude was surprised as well. He hadn't planned that strike. His body had simply reacted, moving to stop the incoming attack.
"I'm sorry, bro," Vin said quickly, stepping to the side. "But I want this last fight."
Before Vex could recover, Vin moved in and struck sharply—his sword connecting with Vex's hand, then his ribs in a smooth follow-up motion.
Vex collapsed to the ground.
The Head Guardian moved immediately, stepping between them and lifting Vex to his feet. He guided him aside and helped him sit down safely.
After making sure Vex was stable, the Head Guardian turned back to Jude and Vin.
"You may continue," he said.
Jude looked toward Vin. "Won't he be angry at you for doing that?"
Vin shrugged slightly. "He'll get over it."
Vin raised his sword again, his expression sharpening.
"Time for payback," he said.
"That was two years ago," Jude replied with a small smile. "Don't be so petty."
Vin didn't answer. He sprinted forward.
He was fast—much faster than before.
Jude barely moved in time, lifting his sword to parry the strike at the last moment. The impact jolted through his arms.
He wasn't going all out before, Jude realized.
Vin attacked again.
The next strike came like a flash. Jude moved, barely keeping up. He couldn't match Vin's speed directly, but he didn't need to. He watched closely, reading the movement, predicting the angle of each attack.
Vin's thoughts raced.
How can he react to my speed?
Vin thought inwardly, frustration creeping in. Then I'll just have to go faster.
Vin tightened his grip and surged forward again, pushing his body harder, his attacks becoming sharper and more relentless as the duel between brothers continued, the wooden swords clashing again and again beneath the watchful eyes of the Head Guardian.