A few minutes passed before Sophia arrived, carrying a wooden spear. And my brother, he had chosen a simple wooden sword. Both of them stepped into the arena, facing each other with calm determination. The teacher entered the center and spoke.
"The rules are simple. The match ends if one of you surrenders or is unable to continue. Now, get ready..." He paused for a second before raising his voice. "Fight!"
Andrew smiled. "Good luck."
Sophia's expression remained steady. "You too."
This wasn't just a friendly spar; it was a test of strength, skill.
Andrew didn't waste time and just rushed toward her with an impressive speed. He jumped then aimed a strong strike directly at her head. But instead of blocking it, Sophia stepped to the side and dodged it, her movements were fast and smooth. My brother kept up with the same pressure, striking her again and again, but she perfectly somehow managed to dodge every attack like it was nothing.
It felt like she wasn't taking him seriously, but Andrew didn't seem to care, actually, he seemed happy. This is how he fights every time. And by knowing my brother, I knew he was already analysing her movement and figuring out where her weaknesses might be.
He slowly changed his fight style, attacking in a steady way and in a controlled rhythm, not allowing her a single chance to attack. But even so, Sophia found a way out of this, and suddenly her spear goes into action. She quickly switched to attacking, and I couldn't help but admire the way she handled her weapon.
Her strikes are coming from all directions, the spear spinning and darting like it had a life of its own. Andrew stepped back to create some space for him, realizing she was stronger than he'd thought. But Sophia didn't let him rest, she charged after him, her blows growing faster and harder. But he dodged and blocked everything.
What really surprised me wasn't just her speed or strength, it was her stamina. She kept moving as if she didn't get tired. I noticed a few openings in her attacks; I can say… Small gaps, that could be taken advantage of. Judging by Andrew's expression, he had noticed that too.
The fight became more intense. Their weapons clashed over and over, loud cracks filling the training ground. Even Yuri looked excited, clearly enjoying what he was seeing. It wasn't often you got to watch a fight this close and well-matched.
Finally, they both stepped back, taking a moment to breathe.
Sophia smirked, resting her spear at her side. "You're better than I thought." She paused, taking heavy breaths. "The rumors about you weren't lies."
Andrew smiled, gripping his sword tighter. "And I didn't expect you to be this strong. You're impressive."
For a moment, neither moved, their eyes locked. This fight wasn't over yet.
Andrew and I had a talent for finding weaknesses—not just physical but mental and emotional ones, too. In Sophia's case, she underestimated Andrew at first and made unnecessary movements.
Suddenly, Andrew did something unexpected. He dropped his sword.
Sophia froze, eyes narrowing. "Why? Are you giving up?"
Andrew straightened; his calm confidence unwavering. "No. I just thought it was fair. You underestimated me at the start… now we're even."
For a moment, Sophia's expression shifted. I saw a flicker of anger in her eyes. Then it turned into a storm. Her grip tightened on her spear as she rushed toward him, faster and sharper than before.
But I knew the outcome was decided. She had made a fatal mistake by letting her emotions take control.
Anger, frustration, fear... These are a fighter's worst enemies. The moment Sophia let her emotions control her, she lost her balance.
Andrew moved smoothly, waiting for the perfect moment. As she struck, he dodged, grabbed her arm, pulled her toward him, and with a swift motion, threw her to the ground, restraining her. Sophia struggled briefly but couldn't break free.
Yuri watched for a moment, then stepped forward. "The winner is Andrew. Well done, both of you. That was an impressive display. But remember, strength alone isn't enough. You need to control your emotions. Anger clouds judgment and makes you predictable."
His tone was firm but encouraging. "You both have great potential, but there's much more to learn."
He nodded to them before adding, "Alright, I'll leave you to it for today. See you all tomorrow."
As the sun set, I approached them. Andrew extended a hand to help Sophia up. When she took it, he spoke with his usual confidence.
"Trust me. You were incredible out there. Your performance was really impressive, but your anger got the control. And there were gaps in your technique, unnecessary movements that left you open."
Sophia seemed impressed.
"It's alright," he continued. "I'll help you get stronger. We can train together."
I couldn't tell if Sophia was blushing or if it was just the sunset's warm glow, but the moment is really weird. They seemed to understand each other in an unexpected way.
"Thank you," she replied, her voice softer than before. "But you can let go of my hand now."
Andrew chuckled. "Sorry about that… got caught up in the conversation."
Sensing the awkwardness, I stepped in. "Sorry to interrupt, but that was a great fight. Since Andrew won, I suppose you're joining us, right?"
Sophia looked at me with a playful glint. "Oh, Roy, you can talk after all."
My brother laughed, amused. Looks like I had a new source of teasing in the team. But watching Sophia, I realized she wasn't as intimidating as I thought. Beneath her tough exterior, there was more to her.
Sophia smiled. "Yes, I'll join you. And if you don't mind, I'll be the team's doctor."
Andrew blinked. "The doctor?"
"Yes," she nodded seriously. "I'm studying medicine. I think I'm better at that than fighting." She hesitated before adding, "My real goal is to invent a method to protect the human body from radiation. If I succeed, we could cultivate land anywhere, expand freely, and maybe even end these endless wars."
Her words hung in the air. It wasn't just about survival anymore, she had a vision that could change the world, just like us.
Andrew looked at me, a knowing smile on his face, already convinced she was the perfect addition to our team.
"So, you want to stop this war?" I asked, curious about her true motivations.
"Of course," she said softly but firmly. "Losing someone you care about… it's something I never want anyone else to experience."
Andrew leaned in. "Is there even a way to stop radiation's effects?"
Sophia's expression turned serious. "Yes. I'm finishing what my father started. He was a brilliant scientist. He found ways to reduce radiation's effects. Now it's up to me to complete his work."
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "And where is your father now?"
Sophia's expression darkened; tears welled in her eyes. "He died after a radiation exposure in a lab accident, that what they say. But… I don't think it was just an accident. He was always so careful. Someone had a hand in it. I will uncover the truth someday, no matter what."
Her father had worked to protect the future. A true hero.
"I'm sorry about your father," Andrew said gently. "But Roy and I will be by your side. We're aiming to end this war too. You're not alone."
Sophia's expression softened, a true smile forming. Gaining her trust felt like a victory. With a doctor and a skilled fighter on our team, we were one step closer to our goal.