Feel quite refreshed on waking up next morning, we made our way to breakfast and began speculating what would change today.

Tom hoped we would just continue and follow the pattern from earlier training. I had to pause and think, but that meant just using a shield? We would spend all day punching shields... while.... novel.... I didn't hope for that personally. Seemed boring.

Bea wanted to go back to range weapons. She had seemed to have great affinity when we had some archery training and was apparently eager to get back to it.

Myself I was hoping for the weapons that seemed more exotic. A mace or flail were fun in our practice, and seemingly useful against those golem creatures the knight had mentioned offhandedly so long ago. Morning stars and flanged maces seemed deadly to many creatures beyond just the golems also.

Or maybe I should hope for the weapons with a bit more reach? The brief experience we had with a pike that I recalled were interesting to adapt to, but maybe that was a bit too much. Something like a glaive, partisan, and polearms seemed like a good distance for me. That would keep anything with fangs and claws a good distance from me.

But hey, I guess we won't know until we get to class. Can't wait!

—----

Walking down the hall it was very hard to tamp down my excitement. Crossing into the training room I was finally able to see.... shields. Drat. I quirked an eyebrow at Tom as we walked in. He had a very self-satisfied smile on his face, since he got his wish after all.

Sighing, we continued into the room and waited for everyone else while our instructor reclined under the tree with the abbots. Once it seemed time, she hopped up let us know about our training.

"Starting today the difficulty is going to ramp up for you. Expect to be injured, but do not flinch as this is something you will need to be accustomed to as a squire and knight of the order. To start off today you will be using a shield. For the remainder of our weapon sparring you will be using a shield with each weapon so that you can understand both the advantages and disadvantages each weapon has when used with and against a shield. Since punching a shield is relatively pointless, we are moving straight on to a knight classic, the sword. Your armaments are distributed appropriately, so go to a circle with your partner when called."

As she finished a couldn't stop myself from giving a mighty fist pump. I paid a bit closer attention to the shields laying down and noticed they were all on top of the swords. That's why I hadn't seen them earlier, such a relief! It wasn't quite as fun and unique as a spear or a morning star, but at least I wouldn't be punching wood all week long.

She began calling the partners and I was waiting to hear if I would be paired with Walt again or not when I got quite the shock. My name had been called before his! How did I move in front of me? Do a quick look around I found my partner and took a quick count. I was 8th? Not only had I moved ahead of Walt, I also moved ahead of the next person? How did this happen? I didn't advance at all during the course!

I numbly walked over to where my new partner was as I was trying to process everything. She had her nose way, way in the air. This did not bode well. I looked back to check on Walt to see if I could figure out what his thoughts were, but he had his normal stoic face on and refused to meet my gaze as he went to the ring with his new partner. His new partner though looked just as confused as I did and our eyes met. I hoped my bewilderment showed enough for him to realize I was just like him. I also threw in a little shrug. He seemed to get it, as he nodded but still look confused by the whole thing.

Turning back to my new partner, I thought to try and get off on the right foot. "Hey there, I'm William, feel free to call me Will. Sorry for the partner shake-up, I had not realized I would be moving up! Hopefully I can learn a few pointers from you since you're ahead of me in the rankings."

"Hmph! I have no trouble beating some lessons into you. Hopefully you'll learn quicker than that slack-jawed ruffian. He could barely take anything I could hope to teach him with." She turned her face back down a bit, which was just enough to look at me but was still slightly in the air. "Since you're from two ranks back I might start easier on you, but don't expect that too last more than a match! I'm here for my own advancement as well!"

Oh. Well THIS would be a new experience for me.

At least she talked more than Walt.

Sighing and chuckling at the same time I walked over to a sword and shield farthest from the trainee. I gave them a quick inspection. Despite being made of wood they were surprisingly sturdy, just like I remembered from training on them individually so long ago. The shield was one of those triangular ones I believed were called "heater" shields. The sword, while being surprisingly longer than the name implied was actually considered a shortsword and provided a significant amount of reach.

I picked them up and ran threw some forms while waiting. I wanted to be limbered up and ready for when the bout began. Maybe the guy that was her partner before fell back one so he wouldn't have to match with her again. Although that doesn't explain why I moved up and not Walt. Hmmm.

The girl continued to stand there while I warmed up, but she no longer had her nose in the air and instead she was glancing at me just slightly. I had made a point not to ask her name after I introduced myself. I know the knight called it out, but because I was not expecting to be eighth I did not catch it. If she did not want to return the niceties and introduce herself, then I would just catch it some other time.

—----

Finally everyone had a partner and we ready to begin the spar. My opponent finally grabbed her sword and shield and with a flick of her hair squared off with me in the ring and tried to stare through me it seems.

I decided I would start hard from the get go like with Walt. Maybe if I caught her off guard too she would humble a bit. I gave her the same slight bow I gave Walt from last week and the got into position. She did not return the gesture and just glared at me.

After all the posturing the instructor finally let us begin.

And apparently we each had the same idea. We both lashed at hard at each other's shield and we both slid backwards from each others' blow.

This was a disconcerting feeling as I was attempting to stop myself but it was not working. This must be how Walt felt last week when I landed that one good hit. As I was sliding, since there was nothing else to do, I glanced at the girl.

She, surprisingly, acted similar to me only for a split second. At first shock was all over face, however before she even finished sliding her eyes flashed dangerously and she glared hard at me.

She barked a harsh laugh out. "If you can keep that up, this will be most interesting indeed!"

I provided my own soft smile in response.

We lunged at each other again.

—----

We never seemed to stop going full throttle until the end of the match. She was not quite as quick as Walt, so I was not defensive and backpedaling the whole match, and instead we just traded powerful blow after powerful blow. It was quite liberating to be honest.

By the end of the match neither of us was left unscathed. It became harder and harder for each of us to hold our shields properly and we each took advantage of that fact.

As soon as time was called, I dropped my sword instantly and moved to unstrap my shield. My whole shield arm was battered to no end. I only hope she felt like I did.

As soon as my shield arm was free I cradled it and dropped to my butt. I definitely needed a healer after that match. I was even breathing heavier than I ever did with Walt, so maybe this was a good matchup after all.

Watching the girl, she maintained possession of her sword and shield, but she too landed heavily on the ground and was panting hard. An abbot approached me as soon as I had landed and begun healing me. After he finished he hustled over to the girl and repeated the process. I laid down flat on my back, arms spread wide when he finished with me. This was quite the rush and I was positively euphoric while laying there.

After finally recovering enough where my breath had stabilized, I sat back up and glanced at the girl.

She was still sitting there where she had landed and was staring at me. As our eyes met she spoke. "Isabella. But you may call me Bella. Be proud, as this is not an honor I give lightly, and only do so you will know who it is that was able to best you."

Hah, even though we were essentially tied she was still going the arrogant young master route huh?

"The pleasure's all mine Bella, but please forgive me if I don't just roll over, okay?" I grinned haughtily towards her.

...

"I wouldn't want it any other way" she said while smirking.