Chapter Thirteen - An unexpected outcome

A week later, Arette felt like she was slowly getting used to living at Redhall.

For the first time in a while, she found that she was creating a routine for herself and for now, it was more comforting than it was boring.

She started going to the extra classes, quite excited to actually do something, only to receive notice from two of the three instructors that it was custom for a new student to just sit by and observe the others for a week or two, to get a hang of the class itself before joining in.

Needless to say, she absolutely detested it.

Sitting around and waiting was not one of her fortes, to say the least, it made her painfully restless.

It was like a buzzing inside of her, pushing her to move, to run, to fight, anything but sit around and do nothing.

The reading lessons with Liz were the worst.

While she really liked her new friend, she could say safely that she absolutely detested reading. Honestly, who even needed that?

It was tedious and boring and not just once had she snapped at her friend, even though she always made sure to apologize the next morning.

But today, she had finally managed to persuade her Martial and Weapon Arts instructor, a Sovereign of Combat, to let her participate. Finally!

Even if it was a hundred practice swings, she’d do anything!

Martial and Weapon Arts was no frontal class, like most others. It was taught in a small meadow in the forest around Redhall, where dozens of practice weapons, training dummies and obstacles for running were propped up.

It seemed a little out of place in the serene pink and green forest, but Arette liked it a lot better that most other places inside the buildings.

Today, she walked onto the clearing with a smile.

So far, she hadn’t made many friends other than Liz, but she got along well with the instructor, Nex, a girl who looked even younger than her but had a voice that easily carried across a crowded room. Well, she hoped they got along, seeing as Nex hardly spoke a word to her. Or anyone, for that matter.

Nex was already there when she arrived, as always ignoring her even when she sat down right next to her.

“Thanks for agreeing to let me participate today,” Arette said with a gleam in her eyes.

Nex gave a detached ‘hmph’ and concentrated herself fully on sharpening her sword.

“Can you teach me what you did last time?” she asked, unperturbed, “Those steps, they looked like you were dancing.”

The picture of Nex demonstrating a movement art was still burned behind her lips. She looked so light, as if her feet didn't touch the ground and Arette could only imagine how it would feel to be able to fight like that.

“No,” Nex said coldly and finally looked at her, “That’s not something a rookie could learn.”

Arette frowned at her, but could hardly refute her words. Nex sighed once she saw her disgruntled look.

“Fine. Stand up and show me what you can do. If you’re good enough, I’ll teach you.”

The instructor stood up and Arette jumped, fire licking in her veins at the thought of going all out.

“Swords or fists?” Nex asked dispassionately, as if none if it concerned her.

Arette didn’t mind and beamed at her, not hesitating for even a second.

“Swords,” she said resolutely, remembering the light and welcome feeling of Neiro’s weapon in her hands.

Nex only nodded and grabbed a small blade for herself while Arette drew her own.

“If you can land three blows on me, you win,” her instructor stated, looking strangely relaxed. Arette gaped.

Three blows? Surely, she could do that at least.

She frowned, thinking it a bit too easy, but Nex’ smirk discouraged her from arguing.

Nex’ flame was a curious thing, it was filled to the brim with greyish darkness, not unlike Liz’. But hers didn’t feel like a swirling, dancing kind of darkness, it was...deep. Unfathomably so.

It was the darkness that would hide monsters and swallow innocents and it wasn’t a gentle one but one with fangs and claws, ready to rip its enemies to shreds.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t a savage flame. It wasn’t as if she disliked Nex, either, more so, she respected the girl for the fighting power and internal strength she carried.

In terms of willpower, Arette didn’t think herself her equal, even if her fire filled flame was stronger than the dark one.

They both got into position, Arette holding her sword tight, filled with the instincts she knew would guide her.

Excitement boiled in her, urging her to take the first step.

So she did.

As fast as she could, she ran towards Nex, her sword raised in a chop directly towards her throat. Her eyes were focused, her steps lithe and she held nothing back, the thrill coaxing every of her reserve out.

She sprinted, then twirled around, ready to strike -

and next she knew, it was her body that flew threw the air, directly crashing into a tree.

Pain exploded in her back as she smashed into the hard trunk, a tremendous shiver running through her body.

She could only blink.

What in all hells just happened?

That was the only coherent thought she could make through the pain and the confusion.

She coughed hardly, wincing at the pain in her body.

Her eyes sought Nex, who stood just as she had before, as if she hadn’t moved at all. The instructor’s eyes were trained on her.

Arette gulped.

It wasn’t as if she’d expected to win against her, but this…it didn’t even take a second.

A shiver ran through her.

If this hadn’t been training, if Nex were an enemy....she’d already be dead.

“You fight with your heart, not your head,” Nex suddenly said, her voice a little gentler than before, “Technically, that’s not a bad thing. But your heart is ignorant. You underestimate your opponent, and you overestimate yourself.”

Arette looked at her with a frown.

She didn’t like to think of herself as ignorant or stupid.

In fact, a part of her wanted to rush up and demand another bout, fighting for her pride. But her loss was not by a small margin.

The difference between her and Nex was gigantic.

She closed her eyes.

No, another fight wouldn’t help her. And as much as she wanted to, wallowing in shock and pity wouldn’t do either.

And so, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes again.

“Teach me,” she said, with far more conviction than before.

She couldn’t read Nex like she could others, the black abyss in her flame was too deep for her to understand, and under her gaze, for the first time it felt like she was the one that was being read.

Nonetheless, she didn’t turn away.

It might be stupid to indirectly challenge a person that had just beat her into the ground, but it wasn’t in her to flinch.

Instead, she remained steady, holding against the pressure of Nex’ eyes.

Finally, her instructor nodded.

“Yes. I will teach you. But only if you can accept that it might take decades for you to reach my level, if you ever manage to do so,” her voice was grave and harsh and Arette stood up to mach her gaze.

The giddiness was gone from her system, flushed out by reality and a determination that was settling in her bones.

“I do. But I will reach it,” her words held promise, so fierce that Nex could not dare to ridicule her, “I will reach it and I will surpass you, even if it takes centuries.”

In that moment, Nex felt a shiver run down her spine for the first time in centuries. Her new student had seemed like a giddy, naive girl earlier on, but now, there was no innocence around her.

Nex didn’t quite understand why one loss would cause such determination to appear in her eyes, but she did know that she couldn’t afford to look down on this girl.

After all, the pressure of the flaming aura around her bore down on her and, no matter how much she tried to use her own powers to suppress it, she found herself unable to.

That alone could attest to the fact that the girl in front of her was no joke, even if her sword fighting ability was subpar.

Arette, oblivious to Nex’ change in attitude, trained her gaze on her a little longer, then finally looked away.

She truly hadn’t expected to lose this easily.

In a way, today was her first loss, the first of her life, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last.

Honestly, she hated it. Hated that she was weak, so much weaker than Nex, hated knowing that killing her would’ve been easy, had Nex wanted to.

But that hatred was what gave her the feeling that she had to improve.

She had to get stronger.

Not just to fight like she wanted to - free and unrestrained - but also to ensure her safety. After all, she could not protect herself, or Liz, or any friend she would make, when she was weak.

“Start with running,” Nex ordered, disregarding the other students that watched them with curiosity, “Fifty laps around the clearing, every fifth over the obstacles.”

Arette gave a sharp nod and began to run, not questioning her instructor’s orders.

She knew that Nex’ promise to teach her was sincere and her desire to get stronger was fiercer than her instinct to resist against such a blatant order, and she knew her pride was not worth risking a change of mind from Nex’ side.

And so she ran.