Combat Class

As Silas arrived at the courtyard, he saw his classmates already gathered, stretching and practicing their moves.

He scanned the crowd, looking for Adalinda. When he spotted her, he headed over to her, greeting her with a smile.

"Hey Ada, how are you?" Silas asked, hoping to distract himself from his thoughts.

Adalinda smiled back, returning his greeting. "I'm good, Silas. How about you?"

"I'm alright," Silas replied, not wanting to burden her with his problems. "Just ready for combat training. I need to blow off some steam."

Adalinda nodded in agreement, knowing how important training was to Silas. "Me too," she said. "Let's give it our all."

As the instructor arrived and began organizing the class, Silas felt a surge of energy..

"Alright, everyone," the instructor said, "today we will be practicing advanced offensive techniques. Pair up with a partner and begin sparring."

Silas and Adalinda immediately stepped together, taking their positions. They began with some simple strikes and blocks, gradually building up to more complex maneuvers.

Silas felt himself getting lost in the rhythm of the fight, his mind focused solely on the movements of Adalinda's body and the sound of his sword clashing against hers. He couldn't help but think about how beautiful she looked, her hair flowing behind her as she moved.

Silas started to move with lightning-fast speed, effortlessly dodging Adalinda's attacks and countering with his own. His movements were precise and fluid, as if he had been practicing this particular style for decades.

However, Adalinda was no slouch. She was a skilled fighter in her own right, but Silas was simply on another level.

She struggled to keep up with his speed and agility, often finding herself on the defensive.

Despite this, Silas never once belittled Adalinda or made her feel inferior. He encouraged her to keep going, to keep trying new moves, and to learn from her mistakes.

As they sparred, the other students watched in amazement at Silas's prowess. His movements were so fluid and graceful that he almost seemed to be dancing.

He was like a blur, darting around the courtyard and striking Adalinda with incredible speed.

At one point, Adalinda managed to land a hit on Silas, but he simply smiled and complimented her on her technique.

He then launched into an even more impressive series of attacks, stunning the other students with his skill.

The instructor was equally impressed, nodding approvingly at Silas's form and technique. "Well done, Ward," he said. "You truly are a natural fighter."

Silas grinned, basking in the praise. "Thank you!" he said.

After a few minutes of sparring, the instructor called a break, allowing the students time to rest and rehydrate.

"What do you think?" Silas asked Adalinda, running his hand through his hair.

Silas smiled, feeling a rush of adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "That was intense," he said. "You did great, Ada. Your technique is really improving."

Adalinda blushed at the compliment. "Thanks, but you were amazing out there. You're on a whole different level."

Silas shrugged, trying to remain humble. "I just have a lot of experience, that's all. But you're catching up fast."

For a few minutes, Adalinda just continued to play with Silas's hair, twirling it around her fingers as she rested against him. Silas leaned into her touch, enjoying the feeling of her fingers on his head.

He turned to face her, a playful glint in his eye. "I think you're getting distracted, Ada," he said with a smirk. "We have training to finish."

Adalinda laughed, her cheeks turning pink. "Sorry, I can't help it," she said. "Your hair is just so soft."

Silas wrapped an arm around Adalinda's shoulder and pulled her closer to him. "I'm glad we're doing this together," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Adalinda smiled, feeling her heart swell with affection for him. "Me too," she replied, leaning into his embrace.

As they rested, they watched the other students continue their training. Silas pointed out a few who had potential and would benefit from some extra practice.

Adalinda listened attentively, her admiration for Silas growing with each passing moment. He was not only a skilled fighter, but he also had a keen eye for talent.

As they watched, the instructor called out, "Alright, everyone, switch partners!"

Silas stood up and walked over to another student as the instructor called out to switch partners.

Adalinda watched as Silas began to work with his new partner, a girl who seemed to be struggling with her technique.

Silas was patient with her, showing her the correct stance and helping her with her footwork.

Adalinda couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she watched Silas working with another girl. As she watched, she noticed that Silas had a way of making his partner feel comfortable and confident.

The girl's movements became more fluid as Silas guided her, and she was soon able to perform the moves correctly.

Adalinda realized that Silas was not just a skilled fighter but also a talented instructor. She had never seen anyone teach with such patience and understanding before. Watching him work with his partners made her feel even more drawn to him.

After a while, Silas returned to Adalinda's side.

"How was your partner?" Adalinda asked.

"She was pretty bad," Silas replied. "Inexperienced, but she's got potential. How about you?"

Adalinda grinned. "I had a great partner," she said, glancing over at Silas.

Silas chuckled. "Glad to hear it," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Adalinda smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She knew it was silly to feel jealous, but she couldn't help it.

As the class continued, Silas and Adalinda sparred together again, practicing some of the more advanced techniques the instructor had taught them.

Silas continued to impress Adalinda with his skill and finesse, but this time she was more focused on her own movements.

She was determined to improve her own technique and keep up with Silas. They fought with intensity, their swords clashing against each other with a metallic ring.

Silas suddenly swept his leg out, knocking Adalinda off balance. She stumbled, almost falling, but Silas quickly caught her before she fell to the ground, his arm wrapping around her waist to steady her.

"I'm so sorry, Adalinda," he said, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to knock you off balance like that."

Adalinda smiled, grateful for his quick reflexes. "I'm fine, Silas. Thank you for catching me," she said, placing an arm around him.

Silas looked relieved but still apologetic. "I didn't mean to be so rough. I just got carried away with the sparring. I should have been more careful," he said, his expression regretful.

Adalinda reached up to touch his cheek. "It's okay, Silas. I know you didn't mean it. And besides, I know you won't hurt me on purpose," she said, her voice gentle.

"I'll be more careful from now on," he promised.

"I know you will," she said meeting his gaze. "And just so you know, I'm not mad at you. Honestly I find you more attractive when you get all intense and focused like that," she added, a playful glint in her eye.

Silas chuckled, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, in that case, maybe I'll have to be a little rougher next time," he teased.

Adalinda rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "Just don't knock me over again, okay?" she said, still holding onto him.

Silas wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in closer. "I promise I won't. I'll always be here to catch you," he said, his voice low and sincere.

Adalinda leaned her head against his chest, feeling grateful for his presence now in her life.

As the combat class came to an end, Silas pulled Adalinda aside and said, "There's something I need to talk to you about..."