The Transmigrated Author

254  Desire (2)

Valencia swung downwards, aiming to slash Rel horizontally.

He quickly stepped back to avoid the attack.

But as her sword reached the ground, he realized that what he had seen was a mirage, a fleeting afterimage created by her incredible speed.

The real Valencia wasn't in front of him but to his side.

BANG!

Valencia's wooden sword struck Rel directly in the stomach, sending him reeling backward towards the padded edge of the sparring arena.

She isn't the type to pull her punches in a spar, huh...? he thought, wincing in pain. Damn, that really hurt.

"Don't predict what you see, predict what you feel," Valencia advised.

Rel tried to understand her cryptic advice as he recovered and adopted a new stance, mirroring the one Valencia had used at the start.

Valencia tapped the floor once, twice, thrice. Her movements created mirages of herself, each leaping towards Rel.

What?!

The first mirage, furthest from him, lunged forward. Rel assumed it was a fake. As it reached him, it vanished, and the closest mirage came in, ready to strike. Again, Rel assumed it was a fake, anticipating the third mirage in the middle to be the real Valencia.

WOOSH!

The second mirage disappeared, and Rel was sure the third one was her. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Valencia dashed forward with incredible speed.

That has to be her!

Rel swung his sword, aiming for her stomach.

POOF!

But the third figure was another mirage. Valencia was actually positioned where the third mirage had been, but her attack was even faster.

"I told you to predict what you feel, not what you see."

Valencia swung the flat of her wooden sword, striking Rel's shoulder.

BOOM!

Rel was sent flying towards the edge of the arena.

Rel's back hit the padding first and his eyes blurred from the fatigue.

Shit what does she even mean predict what I feel and not what I see. I don't understand.

But he wasn't even given time to think Valencia then tapped the floor and immediately dashed.

WHOOSH!

I don't get it, I don't get it...

He felt frustrated for not being able to understand what she was talking about, but at the same time, he felt less worried about losing or winning.

Could it be?

That was until then.... for a moment Rel paused and looked towards Valencia.

His mind cleared for only a moment.

The anxiety and fear that gripped his mind had suddenly been let go.

The blurred vision in his eyes became a bit clearer.

Valencia's entire body swayed towards the right side of Rel's blind spot.

She's attacking from my right... no... she's gonna anticipate my attack first.

Rel carefully watched Valencia move out of his vision.

She was too fast to be seen that even her mirages were almost as real as her.

TAP...

His ears heard the tap first, and Valencia suddenly appeared down the middle with her sword.

She took a step forward and suddenly disappeared again.

There!

Rel swung his sword to the left side and Valencia leaned backwards, just barely avoiding his attack, as his wooden blade was within mere inches of hitting her chest.

"You've figured it out," she muttered.

I think I've finally gotten used to her mirage fake-out. Rel took another step forward, pressing his advantage.

KAK!!

"...!"

But his mind had outpaced his body. He stumbled, his feet tangling, and crashed into Valencia.

"What?"

BUMP!!!!

His eyes slammed shut, and he braced for the impact, his muscles tensing instinctively. At the same time, his hand moved without conscious thought, sweeping his sword away from her neck.

He opened his eyes to find himself suspended inches above Valencia, his hands flat on the mat, her wooden sword angled between them, preventing his full weight from crushing her.

Their faces were mere inches apart. Neither moved.

He could feel the warmth of her breath against his cheek, the subtle rise and fall of her chest beneath his gaze. Her eyes darted nervously, unable to meet his.

Oh shit... what do I do now? He hadn't landed a single hit on her. It was a clear loss.

"I... I give up," he admitted.

"Eh?" Valencia turned towards him as her face flushed and her breath came in ragged gasps.

"You did well," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze. "For a beginner."

"What?"

"I said, you did well," she repeated, a little louder this time, but still averting her eyes. "For a beginner."

Rel frowned slightly, then sighed and got up. "Here," he said, extending a hand towards Valencia.

She hesitated for a moment, then took his hand, allowing him to help her up. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes darted nervously.

"Um...thank...you..." she murmured, still unable to meet his gaze.

"So, what do I have to do?" Rel asked.

Valencia looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You said the winner gets to tell the loser what to do."

"Ah!" Valencia's eyes widened. She had won, and now he was offering her a favour. She could ask him to do anything.

"I-I don't have anything in mind right now. Maybe later," she stammered.

Rel looked at her, even more confused, and noticed she was reddening even more. Is she sick? He wondered. She's burning up.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "You seem flushed."

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, taking a step back but still holding his hand. "Just a little... overheated."

Overheated? Rel's mind flashed back to a biology lesson about females in heat. Oh no, he thought, she must be really sick.

"Maybe you should go to the infirmary," he suggested.

"No!" Valencia exclaimed, her eyes widening in alarm.

"I mean... no, thank you. I'm fine."

Suddenly, they both seemed to realize they were still holding hands. Valencia nearly fainted and quickly let go.

"Ah, I have to go!"

DASH!!!!

Her cheeks burned, and she dashed off to the escalator. Why can't I look him in the eye? she thought miserably.

Rel watched her go. He hadn't expected her reaction to be like this and now he wondered if doing this hidden quest was worth the trouble.