“Alright, here’s the deal Yamada. And I want you to listen, as I will only say this once. I will spar with you ten times. Each time, I will change something about how I fight. I will try and provoke you each round, with increasing ferocity each time. You will have the opportunity to choose your weapon, if any, after the first bout. Understand?”

“No, I don’t. Why does the test have to be set up like this? How does it even make sense for my training to start like this?”

“That, my dear, is the realm of Bookworm. But to answer your question on a basic level, each weapon class has its own personality. For example, the swords are proud, the bows are cocky, the daggers are cunning and deceitful, and the shields are humble, kind, and nondiscriminatory. This phase of your training will determine your first weapon, your combat instructor, any attitude based flaws you may have, and the exact pacing of your training.”

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“Yamada! Are you winded already!? It’s only the second match!”

“How am I (gasp) not (gasp) supposed to (gasp) be (gasp) winded already (gasp)?”

“If you are going to fight, you need to improve your stamina. Understand you fucking High Elf?”

“Why (gasp) do you (gasp) condescend me (gasp)?”

“Because I have to provoke you. I said that in the rules at the beginning. Also, you don’t have time to be winded! Recover during this fight … or I will personally tie you to a bungee cord and throw you off the highest cliff in the whole mountain range, and laugh! Understand me?”

“(gasp) Yes, I understand. (gasp)”

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“Drin, here is the report of the results of the sparring matches, just as you asked me to deliver. Yamada’s strengths lie in the mind, as she has a tactician's mind, has cunning plans that are adaptable, but that comes at the price of terrible stamina, endurance, and knack to keep a cool head when under multiple stressors. Personally, I would recommend daggers and/or a collapsible bow, although I do believe that she could also benefit from the sword. That is all”

“Thanks Emiliot. I will start by training her in the sword, and then I will split the lessons with Shadow for the dagger. The collapsible bow requires too much strength and stamina, so I will withhold that weapon from her for now. You will be in charge of her hand-to-hand and hand-to-weapon combat training, and her endurance/stamina training. Please relay to the others my verdict on the training regimen.”

“Understood. The order shall be relayed.”

“Oh, and Emiliot?”

“Yes Drin?”

“What is Yamada’s state right now?”

“I would call her three quarters dead. She passed out right after the tenth round - which exceeded my expectations - and is now sleeping in my quarters with a jug of water next to her.”

“Once the orders are relayed, keep watch over her. This will allow us to test her vitality, which may just be her strongest point, just like her father.”

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“Drin! Drin! She woke up and is completely fine, other than being severely dehydrated!”

“How long was she out for Emiliot?”

“Sixty three minutes, give or take three minutes”

“Wow! That was even faster than Dick’s record! Feed her, tend to her, give her her own personal quarters, and let her rest today. The real training starts tomorrow.”

“Drin, important update. The representatives from realm CaK have left realm FA as of yesterday, and there is now a lone Drow warrior en route to our general location.”