Fight Against Fate: Chapter 10

And so their training resumed. Once Alec was officially cleared from the hospital at the end of that weekend they got to work. Felix had already been preparing a regime for him. Starting the mornings with the obstacle course as a warm up to get the blood flowing more than anything else.

 After that Felix picked up a training sword and shield and became his sparring partner for a short amount of time. Felix wasn’t nearly as good of a fighter as Alec but he was smarter. He could out think Alec and forced him to think on his feet and get creative. And that was what he needed.

All of this done with the weights on which Alec had really gotten used to at this point. He teased that he could put on more but Felix firmly said to keep to what they had. They hadn’t even really saw what he could do without his weights on yet.

That would take them into the afternoon where they’d break for some lunch. Afterwards Felix forced him inside and made him study. They knew some of their opponents leading up to the tournament and that meant that they could at the very least know what they were getting into this time.

After studying Felix would have Alec train more, doing sword exercise, forms and getting used to working with his shield as both an offensive and defensive tool. Then they would rest at night and explore Roxa proper. They had been doing this for the last four days and so far, it had been a good system.

Felix pulled up a piece of paper as Alec sat on a stool in the small gym. “Alright so Rosa. She was also in the tournament. Your side of the last chance bracket. You could run into her in the tournament itself. Who knows. Could be your finals opponent. She’s from a village from the south. She came here with her older sister. Her sister was the fated one but she came to prove herself regardless. Sounds like someone I know.”

“Couldn’t be me,” Alec said smirking and Felix just rolled his eyes.

“She’s a glaive user. Relies on precise power strikes at range to take people down.”

“So like Lee except more direct,” Alec asked leaning back in the chair and kicking his legs.

Felix thought for a second before nodding, “Yes. Something like that. What is your idea for beating her?”

Alec folded his arms in thought and screwed up his face, putting his hand onto his face. “If she wants to keep me back and, in her range, I want to get inside her range and get a decisive strike on her.”

“Correct and she knows that. So, she’ll likely be ready for someone like you to get into her range. Being fast and smart. Don’t get risky. Be defensive until you see a good moment to strike and then get in there.”

Alec saluted, “Yes coach.

Felix rolled his eyes and smiled, “Good. From here out shouting things out for you won’t be ideal. Your opponents are going to be the best of the best. You’ll have to be able to make calls on your own.”

“I think I’m a pretty solid shot caller,” he said flashing his cocky grin.

“Moving on,” Felix said and flipped through the pages. Before he could go into their next target to study the door opened up. They glanced up and saw Lee. He looked surprised as he stared at them, not having anticipated that anyone would be in the area. He started to leave but Alec jumped up and reached toward him. “Lee wait.”

He rushed over to meet his previous opponent and fellow fateless. He stopped at the door and looked at Alec. His eyes flicked to Alec’s joints and saw the weights still fastened and he frowned harder. “I see you are committed to your weight training.”

Alec looked down somewhat embarrassed but nodded, “Yeah. Getting ready for the big tournament. Which is why I wanted to talk to you.” He lowered his head and dropped to his knee. Lee and Felix both looked at him surprised.

“I’m sorry. About our match in the tournament. I was looking at something ahead of me and not respecting what was before me. You’re an ally who shares the same goal as me. Someone who knows my struggle. And I didn’t face you the way I should have. I’m sorry for that. Please forgive me and if possible give me the chance to spar with you again.”

Lee looked at him unsure of what to say or do here but he finally nodded his head, “I understand getting obsessed with a goal. My teacher beat me often because of that. Fighting an opponent in the future rather than the opponent before me.”

He went down and picked Alec off the ground so that he was standing, “But it takes a real man of honor to recognize their fault and even more so to apologize. I appreciate the apology and yes if you ever want to spar I would be honored to be your partner.”

He extended his arm and Alec gripped it shaking it, their grins matching against one another. “What are you two doing in here if I can ask?”

“Studying for the tournament,” Felix said joining the two of them. “Going over our opponents and strategies against them.”

“Am I on that list?”

“Oh yeah. And if it’s up to fight you in the grand finals I want Alec ready. Going to have some strategies ready for you the entire way.”

“That sounds fearsome. I will have to prepare myself as well for you. Though I defeated you in the last chance tournament I don’t believe that was you at your best.”

“Not even close,” Felix said before Alec could talk. “In fact. I think this is a good opportunity. Are you free to spar with Alec now?”

Lee raised his eyebrow thinking and finally nodded, “I don’t have much to do today. I would be able to yes.”

“Good. You’re going to be the first-person Alec fights with his weights off.”

“What?” Alec and Lee said at the same time. Alec’s eyes were shining in anticipation. “Felix tell me you’re serious. You’re serious right?”

“I am. We need to see what you’re like with your weights off so we can plan strategies with that in mind. Especially for Dio,” Felix said and looked at Lee. “And Lee’s the only person who can meet those expectations.”

“Such praise,” Lee said and turned to face Alec. “I’m excited.”

Alec bounced on his feet, pumping his arms, “This is gonna be a fun.”