The next morning I awoke to Oberon standing at the side of the bed. He had a wicked smile that was uncomfortably cheerful for the morning. In his hand was a practice sword, similar to my own. What was surprising though was that Titania wasn’t with him.

“Can I help you?” I asked sarcastically before rolling over.

“Yes, yes you can.” he said before hitting me in the thigh with his practice sword. I grabbed my thigh in pain right as he swatted me with it again on the other thigh.

“Get up! Have you not enough common sense to know that enraging me is a bad idea?” he demanded quizzically as he raised the practice sword to strike again.

“Okay! Okay! I get it.” I said as I got up.

“Good. Now, fight me!” he said before getting into a battle stance with the practice sword.

“Alright!” I said with obvious annoyance as I got up.

I readied myself as Oberon was and he came at me instantly. The instant charge threw me off guard but still gave me enough time to block. That said, my block wasn’t very effective as he just knocked my sword into myself and kept sending it. I was launched backwards with enough force to make me fall back and into a roll. As I rolled he jumped forward to attack me as soon as possible. I had fallen on my back and just as I opened my eyes I took a practice sword to the face.

“Ooow!” I said.

“You lack a proper stance and a good defense. Fix it!” Oberon said before helping me up.

“I was copying you!” I stated.

“Yes, but poorly.” he said with a judgmental tone.

“Okay, how should I do it?” I asked, even more annoyed.

“Not like me! Stand firm and move as you need to in order to keep your balance. That’s all I can say.” he said with a shrug.

I was then hit again before I could even get into a ready stance. Oberon tried to strike me again only for me to block it this time and spin around to face him. I held out my practice sword to be ready to block any other attacks. After a good moment he swung at me full force which I barely deflected away from me.

“Give me a minute to ready myself!” I said as I jabbed the practice sword at him.

“Your enemy will never give you time. You have to naturally be able to counter without thinking.” he said as he deflected my strike to the side and released a series of jabs to my abdomen.

“That hurt a bit.” I said under my breath as I fell to one knee. Oberon quickly took advantage of my state and brought his practice sword down against my head. Though right as it got close I blocked it by raising my practice sword over my head with both hands. Then pushing it to the side my hilt was on it allowed for me to jump forward and jab him with the practice sword.

My strike hit him directly in the throat that he started gasping for air and choking as he fell backwards. Taking this opportunity I charged forward again and struck him full force with a swing from the right. He flailed the practice sword but wasn’t able to block as my practice sword struck him full force in the neck. Finally with swift turn I withdrew the practice sword and rammed the pommel into his chest, knocking him to the ground.

“You should have been ready!” I shouted angrily.

“What happened?” I heard Elysif ask groggily from the pendant.

“Oh, I just kicked Oberon’s ass.” I said proudly.

“Really?” Compton and Elysif said with equally surprised tones.

“Yeah, either he went easy on me or I got lucky.” I replied.

“Well, good job. Can we leave now?” Elysif asked.

As I was talking I didn’t even realize Oberon getting up nor the fact that he was now surrounded by a black and blue mist. Which I should have noticed as he charged at me and swung the practice sword at my head. Thankfully, Elysif noticed and defended me from the attack with a web of blood before I even realized it.

“Thanks.” I said to her.

“You’re welcome.” she said worryingly.

“Good job. I was hoping for a challenge eventually but I wasn’t expecting that. I guess I have to fight you without holding back now.” he said as he pulled his practice sword away from the web of blood.

“If it’s anything like how your wife fights then I pray that is not the case.” I said half jokingly as I readied myself.