Avryn’s eyes opened. He saw a blur of white and light blue. His vision finally focused. It was Rinna standing over him. The sight of her jolted him awake. He quickly stood up like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he instinctively said.

  “Thought you said you had it handled,” she observed his improvised cardboard bed.

  “There was some, uh, complications,” he avoided her gaze.

  Rinna’s arrival attracted several people’s attention. She stood out like a sore thumb.

  “Complications,” she picked up a piece of the cardboard.

  Vyktria came to the scene and immediately recognized Rinna.

  “Wow, the daughter of the Lioness graces us with her presence, huh?” she joined in.

  “Just call me Rinna,” she turned to her.

  Haley saw the commotion and wasn’t too far behind. She, too, recognized Rinna. She caught up right beside Vyktria.

  “What brings you here, Ms. Ingvertsen?” she asked.

  She gestured to Avryn. Vyktria, ever the opportunist, went and asked,

  “He your boyfriend?”

  Haley hushed her quick, embarrassed by such a thing.

  “Don’t go and ask people that!” she could not hide her blush.

  Rinna motioned her to calm down.

  “He’s my squad mate and leader, nothing more.”

  The slums elder had Rags and Stink Eye disperse the crowd. They all went back to their daily routines. Avryn and the girls had a quick drink over by the tavern. Rinna ordered juice, she was not in the mood for alcohol. Avryn asked her purpose of visiting.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  “Training. Didn’t you promise a certain someone to meet him in the Battle Festival?”

  Avryn almost forgot. Plus, Rinna added about the final exams for their sophomore year. Nobody still knew what it was. They all needed to be prepared for what’s to come. She was here to help, Avryn guessed. He was right.

  Rinna turned to Vyktria,

  “You live here, yes?” she received a nod from her. “Mind guiding us to where we can train?”

  “The barracks is where you’ll need to go, I can lead you to there. Help built it myself, actually,” she puffed her chest out, her pride emanating.

  They continued their conversations as they made their way to the barracks. Avryn told Rinna of his sparring session with Vyktria yesterday. She was glad hearing that, but she maintained her poker face. The soldiers greeted them and prepared the training area.

  “Make it as big as possible,” Rinna requested.

  “You got it,” one of the veterans replied.

  They moved cinder blocks and metal barrels to form a circle. The arena was prepared. Rinna warned Avryn what he had with Vyktria was a taste. She would be an even bigger challenge. He was too relaxed, she noted. She would not have him fail this far.

  “Alright, I’m game,” he summoned Lerosa to his side.

  Murmurs went around once again. The soldiers were not used to seeing this kind of magic before them.

  “I’m going to give it everything I got,” Avryn pumped himself up.

  “You’re gonna need to, if you want to best me,” Rinna prepared her halberd.

  She charged up ahead with a strong kick. Avryn blocked the blow. She backflipped over him and used the momentum of falling down to hook the halberd on Avryn’s gunblade. She pulled it towards her. Her finger was on the trigger. Avryn realized this and ran towards her. This earned him a swift knee to the gut despite Avryn partially blocking it.

  He was close to Rinna, and would have the advantage. A quick elbow to the jaw brought him down to reality. She propeled him away from her with a dropkick. Avryn was reeling from the blow, but she continued her assault. She spun and used both ends of the halberd. Avryn’s defenses were getting battered. He needed an opening, and soon.

  “Holding back won’t help, you know,” she bantered.

  Avryn fought back with his own flurry. He hacked and slash his way back into this fight. The soldiers weren’t as lively compared to yesterday’s fight. They were all observant. These were two high caliber of students from the Academy. They made sure to make some mental notes. Some of the younger ones, especially.

  Avryn switched up to his dual pistols. Frost and lightning emerged from the barrels as Avryn looked to slow down Rinna with them. Rinna was too quick for that. She danced around the bullets and countered. Avryn parried with a quick headbutt. It was enough to stun her. Avryn went for her feet and shot ice bullets near them.

  Rinna was immobilized. She audibly got ticked off as she tried fighting her way out of it. Avryn came running, he switched one of his pistols for his sabre. His sword and gunplay dazzled the crowd. Rinna finally got free from the ice and managed to get her defense back up.

  “God damn, I thought that was over,” Vyktria watched on, her eyes were lit up.

  A quick blow and Avryn’s sabre came flying off his hand. He summoned Lerosa once again. She was the tiebreaker for the fight. He threw everything at her. Dazzling sword play, well placed shots in between. A ferocious offense to anyone, but Rinna was a different breed.

  She weathered Avryn’s storm with her expert defense. Avryn was bewildered by how much stronger she had become.

  “You’ve become so good, the hell?” it was almost like he’s forgotten who he was talking to.

  A roundhouse kick to the head and Avryn was knocked to the ground. He tried to muster a comeback but he was quickly met with a halberd staring down his face. Rinna stared at him.

  “I win,” she declared.

  Applaud followed, then a round of cheers. The soldiers gave their appreciation. A couple of them helped Avryn up. He dusted himself off.

  “I say you’ve become better, at least,” Rinna gave him her props. “We’ll continue tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Avryn raised his eyebrow.

  “You think your training was over?” she expected better from him. “We’ll go to my mansion this afternoon.”

  Vyktria and Haley were listening on. If they didn’t had the context, they’d think she and Avryn were dating. Vyktria looked over at Haley and gave her a smug grin, much to the latter’s dismay.