Immortality Is A Curse

Aaron wakes up to see Ben still in their room, <Why aren't you out in the arena practicing?> Aaron thinks. 

"I got kicked out," Ben says, lowering the sword.

<Kicked out?!> Aaron quickly rummages through Ben's memories of the last few hours. <Wow that guy is super petty. Shame, I was starting to like him.>

"We just gonna train here alone I guess," Ben says.

<No we aren't, I'm going to put that man in his place, give me control,> Aaron thinks.

"How do I do that?" Ben asks.

<Like this,> Aaron thinks taking control of their body. 

<You gonna show me how to do that one day?> Ben asks, getting sidelined to just voices in his own head.

"Absolutely not, it's time to win," Aaron says, walking out of their room. That's when he notices the sword in his hand, "Oh, you did find a long sword. Perfect length and weight. Good job." He continues out to the arena he knows all too well.

"Aaron, back so soon?" Cody remarks.

"Last dual I had a full stomach, now I'm ready for a real fight," Aaron says, holding out his sword. 

"Oh yeah, a full stomach slowed you down and made you that sloppy," Cody retorts.

"The arrogance," Aaron mutters under his breath. "Call the other trainers, I'm ready to prove myself."

"You're going to do that now? Need I remind you that if you fail at proving yourself in front of the others you will be removed from the tournament," Cody snarls.

"I know," Aaron says. "This isn't about me, this is making you look bad," Aaron whispers for only Ben to hear.

"Alright. Thank you for doing this so early on so I can still sponsor others to train when you're gone," Cody sasses as he leaves to gather the other trainers. 

"You're not going to be training anyone after this," Aaron mutters to himself. 

<Oh I can't wait for this,> Ben thinks with excitement and a little fear.

Aaron feels Ben's fear, "You have a little doubt. Do you really think this guy poses any threat to us?" Aaron asks.

<Not really doubt, it's more of worried if we get kicked out,> Ben responds. 

"You're doubting me. I won't disappoint," Aaron says saddened. "I've been sword fighting since before this guy's ancestors were alive."

<It's not that I don't think you can win, this guy seems really petty, I don't want to get kicked out by him,> Ben thinks.

"Ah, well I'm gonna push him. If he wants to be petty I'll show him pettiness," Aaron jokes.

Finally Cody returns with the trainers. 

"Here he is, the prodigal son that doesn't know anything about sword fighting," Cody announces.

"I know which end to hold," Aaron remarks, with a smirk.

"That's an improvement from our last duel at least," Cody mocks.

"Wait, this is the guy that formed a fireball at the recruitment, right?" Wink asks.

Aaron takes a bow, "That is correct."

Wink turns back to Cody, "He can manipulate energy like that but you say he can't fight with a sword?"

"He can barely swing a sword. Him being here makes us look bad, makes me look bad," Cody says, taking everything personally. 

"You don't need me for that," Aaron says with a smirk. "You do that well enough on your own."

"I hope your bags are packed, you're leaving tonight," Cody says, walking towards Aaron, leaving the other trainers at the sidelines. 

"No you," Aaron says, emulating Cody's pettiness. 

"Such immaturity," Cody says, holding up his sword facing Aaron in the center of the arena.

Aaron just smiles as he squares up to Cody. "Ready when you are," Aaron says.

Cody lunges forward with a devastating flurry of swings that all get blocked with ease. 

"Form Three? That's not all that useful against a longsword," Aaron mocks.

"I am the master of Form Three," Cody announces as he delivers another flurry of swings, all easily blocked by Aaron. 

"I'm sure you think that," Aaron says with a chuckle. "Now it's my turn." Aaron steps back and uses the length of his blade to keep Cody out of reach while delivering his own flurry of swings. For a long sword Aaron has great control with it. Cody is barely able to keep up with his short sword, frantically blocking. Finally he lets Cody get in close just to strike him in the face with the pommel of his longsword.

"Ahhh!" Cody cries out, blood dripping from his nose. "You dare strike me?!" He yells, rage filling his eyes. 

Aaron just laughs keeping him out of range again with his superior longsword reach. "What are you going to do? Bleed on me?"

"I'll kill you, you little rat!" Cody shouts, swinging harder and harder, getting more sloppy with every swing.

Finally Aaron sees the perfect opportunity to humiliate him even more, he goes on the defensive letting Cody push him back a little, then jumps to the side as Cody delivers a heavy swipe. With nothing to hit he falls on his face.

"You look more like a rat to me," Aaron says, looking down at Cody as he lifts his face up covered in dirt.

The other trainers are in shock, they've never seen their friend so worked up, so angry before. The trainers are forbidden to kill in the tournament, so this would get Cody removed. But no one wants to be the one to stop Cody.

Cody is still on the ground when he throws a low slash at Aaron's legs, Aaron stabs his sword into the dirt blocking the swing and uses the sword as support to swing around and kick Cody right in the face. His exhaustion mixed with that kick knocked him right out.

"Are you entertained?" Aaron calls out to the trainers on the sidelines. He raises his sword over his head then bows.

The trainers all clap. "That was impressive," Wink says.

"Glad you think so," Aaron says as he approaches Wink. "After tonight I'm gonna need a new trainer."

"With skills like that I'd be honored to sponsor you," Wink says, holding out his hand.

"The honor will be mine," Aaron says, shaking his hand. Wink is the one that has sponsored him through many lives, he's a good friend.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening, I'll talk with you tomorrow," Wink says.

"Okay, evening gentlemen," Aaron says with a respectful nod as he heads back to his room.

<Wow. Just wow. You really put him in his place,> Ben thinks.

"And won the respect of every trainer here. So you definitely need to learn for yourself now," Aaron says, as he enters their room. "Show me what you got," Aaron lets Ben take over the body.