Chapter 48: Frenemies
"I didn’t know that sir Vandrel was so... apathetic." Elita admitted.
"Yeah, he’s not particularly great at expressing his emotions, I think I only saw him smile once during the fourteen years I’ve known him." Calen chuckled.
"Really?" She looked surprised. "What made him smile then?"
"It was when Cass won a sparring session with the vice-capitan of the city guard."
Isara raised an eyebrow.
"I didn’t know he fought with Graham. He should have said something, winning against someone like that is a pretty big achievement."
"He didn’t get a chance, it happened only a few days before Vandrel became sick." He explained. "Enough about his last duel though, let’s get back to his, and mine, first one..."
***
During the strength training Calen noticed that Cassian’s punches and jabs lessened - the boy seemed to be more focused at performing the exercises than their rivalry.
In turn, Calen also weakened his attacks and started paying more attention to the instructions from Vandrel. Soon enough they weren’t fighting at all, only training earnestly - Cassian to impress his father, Calen to not waste such an amazing opportunity.
When their training session came to an end Cassian approached him on his own to propose an unusual truce:
"I’m still going to wipe the floor with you when the time comes you filthy rat, but let’s try to keep fighting to the minimum until then."