Chapter 6 What Makes Our bond

Sunny as usual with blue bright sky. And as usual, the city district of Crimson Knight Order is busy. Novices and trainees practicing in the courtyard and craftsmen and merchants trade from their vendor. Several guards also patrolled in between the halls and the buildings of the district. Their present may seem normal, but it actually odd for some of the Order's members. There are more guards inside their district than usual.

Since guards' barracks are located in the lower part of the city and one city level above the knight order's district, most of them are stationed there. Only a handful of guards are stationed in the second level of the city due to the militaristic nature of the dwellers. Both the knight order district and mages compound district, which next to each other, have their own security protocol. More guards are ever called to either district if there is an extraordinary event, such as a weird experiment that will be possible, if not already, gone wrong.

The guards' patrol behaviour is also different than usual. Normally, they are somewhat slow and lax when doing their duty, but today's guards are more disciplined and march in an orderly manner. It must be very tiring for them to do that in full armor while also carrying a spear and shield. As peculiar as it looks, most of the knights simply shrug their present. It's not like a few more guards will hamper anyone's daily activities.

While everyone in the district is busy, there is someone who is less so. Sora peacefully perched on top of a tree near the training yard. His back lean on the tree trunk in full relaxation and one leg dangling over the branch he is sitting on, leisurely reading a book. By the title of the book, this novice knight reads about the history of Elzen and its rival city state, Zandar.

Sora skimp page after page of that book. Some part he just briefly glanced, some part he read with full intention. His experience as a college student guided him to focus only on important matters. Any trivial details merely become footnotes in his mind. From what Sora read, the current city state of Elzen was built when they became the losing part of the secession war against Zandar and ousted from their ancestor's homeland that the book does not mention. The walled city itself was built on top of a hill, with the lowest level proposed as market row and majority of residential districts. The second level is reserved for the knight order and also a district compound that surrounds a college for magic and alchemy study. Originally, the college was strictly an educational institution without any tie with the knight order or military in general. However, as practical usage of magic in the battlefield grew, the college compound turned into a militaristic district like its neighbour. The third level is where the nobles and fancy vendors reside. This level also houses the grand temple of the Elzan patron deity, Frea, Goddess of the Bright Sky, and an academy to study art of healing. Because of this, that place became the second most prestigious spot in the entire city state. The first of course hold by Elzen royal palace that located upper most part of the city. The palace is the house of His Majesty the King, his family and the court officials. Alas, details about the palace are barely written anywhere in that book.

"Hmm, must be in another book," says Sora, referring to further detail about the palace.

The novice knight closes the book, and looks at the guards who still tirelessly patrol the training ground. He scoff triumphantly at a group of guards who pass near his tree but oblivious of the presence of a relaxing knight on top of it.

The patrol was gone from his vicinity. For a moment Sora was thinking to climb down and go somewhere else. But, he decided to stay and reopen the book to research any interesting details he might have missed. As he opens the book again, the tree shakes slightly, also there is a rustling sound from the branches below him.

Alerted by this sudden intrusion, Sora looks at the person who dared to disturb him. And it was Amamiya, who tried her best to climb up the tree. Nearly falls several times, the soon-to-be battlemage finally climbs on to one of the lower branches.

Tired and panting for her energy was spent at her novel endeavour, Amamiya sits, leaning on the tree trunk. Suddenly…

"HOI!"

"AHH!!"

The surprise was so sudden that Amamiya only had a mere seconds to desperately grab a tree branch to prevent herself from falling. After she regains her balance, Amamiya glares at the person who nearly makes her plunge into a world of pain and shame. And there she found a giggling boy sitting on the branch above her.

"Goddamnit, Sora!" she cursed, venting her anger.

"I'm sorieehehehehe. I cannot help myself." The novice knight's apology is as insincere as an insincere apology can be said. His laughing between the words surely does not help to comfort the injured party. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"The same goes to you. What are you doing perching on the tree like an owl?" asks Amamiya back.

"Hiding from marching lessons."

"Lady Margaret hounding you?"

Sora nods and points at a sour looking lady knight who is talking to some guards.

"I see."

"So, again, what are you doing up here?"

Amamiya was presented with the same question. "I...." And she is reluctant to answer it. The real reason why she sits on the same tree where her companion happens to already sit upon, is because it's her who always wants to try to climb a tree. However, knowing how rude Sora can be, in addition also knowing that she comes from a wealthy, aristocrat-like, family, he surely gives an unflattering comment or just laughs at her again if she answers the question truthfully. Then again, she also doesn't want Sora to give her a strange look if she answers with a mix-matched excuse. Hence, the fledgling mage decided to give the true answer, with a proper rebuttal of course.

"I always want to try to climb a tree. Since I have free time today…"

"I see." Sora gives a simple response just like Amamiya gave him before.

One second, two second has passed, but there is no additional comment from Sora. Instead, he returned his attention back to his book and. This was not expected by Amamiya. She already prepared a counter argument for that. Now, it's useless. She now waits anxiously with a smile of disbelief adorne her face. Half of herself was still expecting the comments, while another half knew it won't come at all. Within a short moment, her anxiety becomes an outburst.

"THAT'S IT!?" she yelled.

The sudden outburst surprised Sora. "What do you mean?"

"I mean is that it? 'I see'. Is that the only think you have to say?" The young lady kept pressuring her still perplexed friend.

"...I guess."

"No smartly put comments or absurd rhetoric or any jokes?"

Sora shakes his head.

"So, you won't say that something like 'It's not very ladly-like of you' or 'climbing tree is a boy's thing, you should not do that'?"

"It seems that what your mother said to back home, isn't it?

"Well… yes. So does what my father said, and my grandmother, and aunt, and pretty much every adult who lives around me."

Sora smirking. "I don't know what kind of home you lived in, but it's not a big deal. Many girls wished that, and actually did it. Heck, it's also my wish to climb a tree when I'm still a child, and that wish just came true a few days ago."

"What? You never climbed a tree before?" Amamiya changed her gear from 'irritated' to 'interested' since it potentially uncovered another of Sora's weaknesses.

"I can't. Remember? Shut-in ronin, fat. Also I was always fat as a kid," says Sora while pointing to his stature.

Hearing that, Amamiya cannot help but to hold her laughter as she imagines in her head the little, rounded Sora tries desperately to reach a tree branch only to fall to the ground again.

"So, since I am stronger here, plus the harsh training we do daily, I tried my strength and climbed this tree. Then, Ta-da. Now, it has become my hiding spot."

"Yeah, about that… Let's change subject to it. Don't you feel bothered you suddenly got stronger than before?"

"I don't."

The answer shocked Amamiya. "Really? I thought you would question it constantly, knowing you, at least you must be curious about that."

"Initially yes. But, after a while I stop thinking about it. Besides, you also never question how you got your magical talent, a prodigy level to boot."

"Well… it because, it's feels-"

"Natural." Sora cutted.

Amamiya nods.

"The feeling came to me as well. Every time I swing the sword, every movement, every time I seek books in the library...," he pointed at the book in his hand. "I know what to do and where to go. It feels like I already did it in the past all the time. It feels natural. Whoever, or whatever, that sends us to this world also provides us with the strength and knowledge to survive."

What his friend said left Amamiya pondering.

"Stop it. We can think about that later," says Sora when a frown forms on the young lady brow. "For now, let's just enjoy this moment of tranquility. We don't have many of them."

"Agree." The young lady's frown turns to smile.

The sway of cool breeze in the sunny day and glittering sunlight shine among the leaves indeed hard to resist. In peaceful silence, the two novice knights enjoy each other's company. Sora is content to continue reading his book, while Amamiya basks her sight with a wonderful sight that laid bare in front of her. The bright blue sky above, vast green and gold field afar and magnificent city district below are simply wondrous scenes to behold.

As she enjoys the wonder of the Blue Continent that is like straight from a picture book, Amamiya cannot help to notice the gondola lifts that travel between city levels. The transports move on cables that stretch from the lowest level of the city to the very top.

"Did you know people here using that to travel up and down the city levels," says her while pointing at the gondola lift.

"I know." Sora smiles, also kind of frowning at the same time. "When someone told me that I was very angry. After all, we arrived here by climbing the treacherous stairs of despair."

"Yeah, I remember that. Maybe we should try riding one of those lifts when we have another free time. Also, I want to explore other parts of this city. It's getting bo-"

When Amamiya turns, she does not find Sora sitting on his branch. Instead, she found him falling to the ground on his butt. A lady knight stands triumphantly in front of her writhing in pain friend.

"I finally found you, little hero," says the lady knight who is Lady Margaret. Wide smile decorated her face.

Turns out, the exciting banter between Amamiya and Sora was so noisy, it managed to draw the lady knight's attention. So, what Margaret did was just simply look at which tree was speaking. After that, she just needs to pull Sora's leg like picking a ripe fruit off the tree. And praise the gods, she likes the harvest she gets.

"It's your marching lesson time." Margaret goats the novice knight even further, knowing nothing he could do to escape her grasp.

However, this does not stop Sora from trying.

"NO THE HELL WAY!" he shouted while trying to crawl as fast as he could, but alas…

"Oh no, you don't!"

Margaret managed to catch him by the collar before he even took a second step.

"You, too, come with me, little girl." She kicks the tree. Her kick was so strong, the tree trembled, causing Amamiya to fall. Another good harvest for the lady knight.

With both hands full of satisfying catches, Margaret drags the two beleaguered novice knights back to training.

"YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO ME!!" Amamiya yells angrily. But, her struggle is nothing but pointless. She and Sora are still being dragged like two sacks of potatoes.

"Of course I can. I'm the senior knight after all and you two just novices." The lady knight cheerfully reminds them of their position.

"She is also stronger than any of us," Sora added. "It's better just to let it happen. Less painful that way."

"Orrgh, I hate you, Yamamoto Sora!" Amamiya grumbled.

It is never a dull moment whenever Sora and Amamiya are with each other. These rare and somewhat sweet moments they spend time together are what makes them know each other better. Sadly, those moments become rarer and rarer. As their strength and prowess grew, their training became more intense and demanded them to spend time apart longer.

Amamiya especially feels disheartened when Sora told her to stop their early morning pole training because he does not want to draw Ser Gon's ire any further with more tardiness. To her, Sora sometimes could be insufferable, but she does enjoy little secret training sessions. However, this did not sadden the young mage for long. She can still meet her companion in the evening after training is done. After all, they still share a room.

***

One day, Amamiya sees Sora talking to a Battlemage instructor. She doesn't know what they are talking about, but she does see Sora carrying a spell book while talking to the instructor. That night, Sora stood in front of the mirror with a straight razor at hand.

"What are you doing?" asked Amamiya.

"Shaving my beard." Sora applies soap around his chin and neck.

"I've never seen you shave before."

"That's because I always get shaved in the barber."

"They have a barber here? I've never seen them before."

"Well, they also act as surgeons, so not many people go there unless they get stabbed."

Amamiya watches Sora shaving with wanting eyes.

"Is something a matter?" Sora notices Amamiya's curious stare.

"This morning, you went to the mage tower, right?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Learning stoneskin spell."

"What for? I know knights sometimes use protection spells, but you don't need it for training."

"It's for shaving."

"For shaving? Seriously?" Amamiya is full of disbelief.

"You see this razor?" Sora stops shaving and shows the straight razor. "This thing is very dangerous to use for shaving. One false move, it can cut my artery. This razor is the only one I can use since the safety razor has not yet been invented here."

"So, that's why you go to the barber for shaving, but why suddenly want to do it yourself?"

"They charge 4 zeny per shaves. I don't have much money and novice knights only get paid 2 zeny per day," Sora continues to shave. "So, I rather do it myself."

"And that's why you cast stoneskin to yourself so you do not accidentally get killed."

"Exactly."

Amamiya smiles, she is filled with a sense of wonder. Seeing Sora shaves his beard, is a rare view to her. In her entire life, she barely sees how her opposite gender behaves. Most of her knowledge of men are from her friends in the school, and they almost always said that all men are either jerks or perverts which makes her view of men somewhat distorted. But, after becoming Sora's companion, fellow knight and roommate, Amamiya found a new sense of respect to men and to Sora.

The same also goes for Sora. In the beginning, Sora sometimes stays up late at night because he is afraid of Amamiya. Fortunately for him, the novice battlemage always thinks that he is joking when he says that she is more dangerous to him and him to her. That's right, Sora has certain fear around women. Although, this fear slowly eroded as they spent time together, and bonds also started forming between the two knights. Sora also becomes more caring with other people around her and this is due to Cara's constant visit during his training.

After a month, Sora physical training is finished. Amamiya spell training also hit the advanced spells stage and her spearmanship training was nearly complete. Both of them are stronger and more skill fighters now, worthy as the knight order's novice. The rigorous training also makes their body well shaped and well toned. Sora is slimmer and muscular. His posture also became straighter. No longer is he a fatboy with bad body posture. Amamiya who is already slim, now more muscular than before, looks more formidable and more confident. No longer looks like a frail and helpless damsel. Still, she somewhat lamented that the training did not make her any taller.

As one training finishes, another starts. For Sora is the combat training that already waited so long. While Amamiya, although she also starts her advanced spells lesson, Master Staghorn still puts her in regular combat training, deeming her technique still crude.

In the first morning of his combat training, Sora is called by Margaret when he walks to the training ground.

"Where are you going, boy?" called the lady knight.

Sora recognizes that condescending tone. He sees the conceited lady knight stand in prideful manners. "Where's else? Isn't my combat training starting today?"

"You train with me?" Margaret walks to Sora.

"Isn't Ser Gon teaching combat training?" Sora was confused.

"True, but I'm the one who will teach you how to crush your opponent," Margaret stops right in front of Sora and somewhat looks down to him. The novice knight may be older than her, but she is still his superior and she is also slightly taller than Sora.

"I didn't know you're an instructor."

"I'm not. For combat training, I will train you. Personally."

"How kind of you," Sora doesn't like the prospect of his future training with Margaret.

"Well, originally I did this because Captain Lydia asked to train you. However, your progress is intriguing me. I want to see you handle real fights with veteran knights." Margaret puts a mischievous smile.

"Wait, you supposed to teach me not to straight up fight me," Sora feels really worried.

"Best experience is acquired from facing a worthy opponent, and experience is the best teacher," Margaret mischievous smile turns evil. "Besides, you cannot refuse me. So, be a good boy and follow me."

The lady knight drags Sora to the training hall for the high-ranking knights.

Sora groans. He is already picturing himself getting carried to the infirmary this evening.

In the training hall, Margaret gives Sora the armor for training, knee length gambeson, leather cuirass and a pair of leather gloves. The novice knight looks confused with the equipment he receives.

"Don't tell me you never use protection when training with Gon," says Margaret.

"Ser Gon only gives me the cuirass, helmet and a gauntlet with shield," Sora tries to figure out how to put on the gambeson.

"You mean this?" Margaret showing a left-hand gauntlet with a round shield attached to it.

"Yes."

"He tries to train you as hoplomachus. But, you are using a bastard sword, right?" The lady knight confused Sora with her previous training direction.

"Hoplomachus?" In Sora's memory, hoplomachus is a type of roman gladiator equipped to resemble Greek hoplite. He confused why he trained to be someone who fought for others' entertainment.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you the unit classification."

"The knights have different unit classification," Sora cannot believe it. What Margaret says is something that comes from MMORPG.

"But, of course. These units are essential in the battle strategies. Each unit has a different fighting style and helped the battle in their unique way," the lady knight explained.

"Does this also exist in the Zandar military?"

"Yes. Sadly, this unit classification is actually their idea," Margaret smiled bitterly.

"How many units does the Elzen military have?"

"Well, I only know the knight order has at least six units. You already know one, the battlemages."

Sora nods, "Yes, Amamiya trained to be one. Now, I know my unit is hoplomachus. What are the other four units?"

"Hmm, there is Bladesguard. The one fight with a ridiculously big sword. Jaeger is the ranger unit. They adept with both bow and sword. Me and Roy are the Triarius. Most veteran knights are actually in this unit. The last is Halberdier, I think."

"You think?" Sora questioned the lady knight's doubtful remarks of the last unit.

"W-well, their weapon hardly can be called halberd since the axe head is way too big for such a weapon. And their duty mostly inside the city state rather on the battlefield. They are also involved in some kind intelligent collecting activities."

"So, the halberdier got their name because nobody knows how to describe their occupation on a single name?" Sora pulled the conclusion.

"More or less," Margaret threw the gauntlet shield to Sora. "Enough prattle, put on your gear, and let's start practicing."

The thick gambeson makes Sora feeling a bit uncomfortable. Though, that is not what he worried now.

"Without a helmet, this practice will end "bloody", you know. Even with a dull sword," says Sora.

"That's why we use this," Margaret gives Sora a wooden sword.

The novice knight strikes his shield with the sword, releasing a gong like sound.

"I still prefer wearing a head protection," Sora follows the lady knight to the middle of the hall.

"Stop whining and stand ready," Margaret points at where Sora has to stand.

Sora shrugs. Putting his stance, holding the wooden sword with both hands since the shield attached to the left-hand gauntlet.

"Start at my signal," Margaret also ready her stance. She raises her sword in parallel to her head.

"Really? Upper guard?" Sora commented to the lady knight stance.

"We do not wear helmets, do we? Now… En garde!"

Sora's body reacts instantly to the signal. He launches to Margaret in a single blink. The first strike was masterfully blocked by the lady knight, so did the following strikes. Margaret dodged one strike, and counter attack. As if he knows it, Sora blocks the attack with his shield. In a split second, the novice knight spun around Margaret and struck her back. Landing first hit the veteran knight.

"Nice move," the lady knight groaned. "Won't happen twice."

Next, Margaret takes the initiative to press on Sora. She attacks her pupil relentlessly. Those heavy and swift attacks nearly break Sora defense. A single strike took a significant chunk of his stamina, pushing him back. Out of breath, the novice knight has little choice but to defend against the next attack. Seeing her pupil exhaustion, Margaret dash to deliver a final blow. Unexpectedly, Sora, instead blocking, pushes the lady knight wooden sword to the side exactly when the strike lands on his shield. Surprised and off-balanced, Margaret can see the tip of the wooden sword dashing to her face. With sheer luck, she managed to avoid the thrust. The lady knight shouts angrily and tackles Sora with such violent force. Sora managed to block the tackle, but the immense strength of a veteran knight still sent him flying.

Rising from the fall, Sora stands ready again. Now, he is using a one handed stance with a shield rise up.

"Not given up, yet?" Margaret taunts.

"What, tired already?" Sora taunts back.

Subsequent training sessions mostly consisted of Margaret trying to break Sora's defense. The shield stance gives Sora more protection and firmer footing. This frustrates his mentor who seems hell bent to strike him down.

The training lasts for hours with both knights unwilling to give up. Then, the two of them strike each other with a wooden sword so hard, it breaks. Sora throws away the remaining part of the wooden sword and dash with fist raised. Margaret catches her pupil's hand and slams him to the ground. The novice knight falls flat on his back

Sora groaned in pain. His mentor rides on top of his body and restraining both of his arms.

"The practice is end," says Margaret with a seductive yet evil tone.

The lady knight��s face so close with Sora's, he can feel her breath. So close with such a beautiful woman, make the novice knight blush and uneasy.

"Move away, please," says Sora. He averted his eyes.

"What? you won't push me away yourself?" Margaret moves closer to the blushing novice knight. She finds it amusing seeing Sora's troubled face.

"Come on, get off me," Sora struggled but his diminished strength was not enough to move his mentor away from him.

Margaret stared deeply into Sora's eyes, and smiled. "As you wish, little hero."

She then slams herself aside, laying side by side with her pupil.

"Best fight I've ever had in a long time," says her with full satisfaction.

"So, this is who fighting in war feels like," Sora staring to the ceiling, panting.

"Pretty much, but just imagine with a few more blood crazed combatants."

"How exciting," remarks Sora sarcastically.

"War is a nightmare. It always does."

"Anyone who says it other ways either they never fought in war or maniacs."

Margaret chuckled. "You speak like a true veteran."

"You can say I fought in my own personal war," Sora sighs, his mind wandering through memory of the past. "The outcome is as harrowing as the war itself."

"Is that why you refuse to be called a hero?" Margaret smiles, tries to soften her pupil's grim visage.

Sora scoffs. "There are no heroes in war. Only the living and the dead."

"How about the undead?" the lady knight playfully asks the weird question.

"They technically…..," Sora stops mid-sentence and assesses the question. "There is undead here!?"

"Yeah. There are a lot of them in the north and around Zandar territory."

Sora whimpers.

"You don't squeamish around them, are you?"

"N-not really. But, they are not my favorite thing to face in the world or in this world or any world."

The lady knight giggles. Her playful question manages to erase grimness from Sora's face and mind.

"Rest assured. You will meet them soon after training is done," says her while still giggling.

"Well, that's hardly encouraging," Sora was not impressed by Margaret's joke. However, the cheerful smile of the lady knight lights his heart. He cannot help to smile and laugh as well.

Margaret stands up. "Come on, get up. Your spearmanship training starts in one hour."

She pulls Sora's hand until the novice stands up as well.

"That's odd. Usually only one type of training per day," says Sora.

"You took a long time in the physical training, your other training is behind. So, Captain Lydia decided you, my dear pupil, will take two combat training starting today until the last day."

The novice knight sighs. "I wish Ser Gon would teach me spearmanship during the physical training rather than swordsmanship."

"Aww, don't say that. I won't be able to play with a perfectly crafted toy if that happens," Margaret pinch her pupil cheek.

"Don't do that," Sora whisk away the lady knight's hand.

"Worry not. You'll train with a familiar face."

"With whom exactly," Sora asks.

"You'll see later in the training ground," Margaret walks toward the hall exit. "Now, rest and replenish your strength. I heard the knights lounge serving extra special electric eel pies today."

An hour rest is barely enough to get all the strength back after fighting against a veteran knight. At least, the eel pies were good. That is what Sora feels during his recess time. With body still sore from the morning "training", the novice knight walks to the spear training ground. He takes a pole that is more less at the same length of his height. The spear training ground, not like a combat training ground, deprived of any training dummy. In there, every knight and battlemages trained by sparring.

"Sora," a familiar voice called to him. "I don't know you'll be my partner today?"

"Neither do I," Sora looks at Amamiya in her training gear. "But, I expect no less."

Amamiya jumps to the front of her companion with joy. "Here I thought I would train alone again. It's getting really dull, you know."

"I think Captain Lydia is pulling some strings so I can be your partner," says Sora.

"I should thank her for that."

"So do the other knights."

Amamiya is confused with Sora's last remark, but she ignores that. The young battlemage is happy she has someone to train with again, and now she is absolutely excited because the training partner is Sora. For the past week she trained alone. No other trainee or novice knights have enough courage to face Amamiya due her unforgiving and unusual technique. Training dummies are the only thing that stand facing Amamiya in the training, and they always get beaten to the last straw.

"Here, your training gear," Amamiya gives Sora the training gear he wore in the morning.

"These from Lady Margaret, right?" Sora recognizes the gear since there is a left-hand gauntlet with a shield attached to it.

Amamiya nods. "Come on, hurry up. Put the gear on. I cannot wait to give someone a beating..., I mean, train with someone again."

The young battlemage enthusiasm makes Sora concerned.

"So, I hear you were promoted to hoplomachus," says Amamiya.

"I trained to be one. I still don't know if I get promoted to the unit," explains Sora. "How about you? Already recognized as battlemage, yet?"

"I'm glad you ask. Look at this," Amamiya shows a badge. Huge grind decorated her face.

"That's the battlemage badge," Sora looks at the badge. It's the same as a novice knight badge, but the silver sword has been replaced by bronze coiling staff in between two crescent moons.

"Now, I am officially your superior," says the young battlemage proudly.

"Why? Both of us are still novice knights."

"We might still be novice knights, but you still a trainee while I already a full fledged battlemage," pride really starts to fill Amamiya's head. "So, as you superior, I can order you around."

"However, I am still older than you. Thou shalt respect thy elder," Sora poking Amamiya's forehead, tries to empty it from the pride. "I'm no servant of yours, Princess."

Amamiya pouts and pushes the novice knight away.

Last strap of the gauntlet is fastened, Sora ready facing his lady friend on the training ground.

"Get ready young knight," Amamiya mocked.

"It's my first time. So, hold back on the beating and emphasis more in the teaching," says Sora ready to defend.

"It's spearmanship training. The teaching is through the beating," Amamiya dash with full madness at Sora.

The novice knight manages to block the attack. However, he was unable to deliver any counter attack. Training with Margaret before, makes Sora know how to defend against heavy strike, but Amamiya's attack is not just heavy, it is also swift. No wonder other knights said her technique is unforgiving. The young battlemage does not give any chance for the opponent to strike back.

The pole gives both of them long reach of each other, but due to the length, it needs to be held by two hands. Amamiya can utilize it easily, however Sora struggles with the pole. Not just because today is his first time using it, but also his defense is weakened because he cannot use the shield effectively. Most things he can do is to block and avoid Amamiya's relentless attack.

"Come on, you won't learn anything if not get hit," Amamiya protested.

"If I get hit, I think I won't learn anything for the rest of the week," Sora already panting. His strength has not fully recovered from the morning practice. "You are such a brute, you know that."

"That is not a nice thing to say to a lady," Amamiya dashes again, and delivers a wide swing to Sora.

They continue sparring until the sun sets and the sky turns orange. Out of breath and worn out, the novice knight and the young battlemage sat down in the middle of the training ground. Their poles broke into pieces.

"You are a savage," Sora panting heavily. His lung is burning.

"You're not bad either," says Amamiya. "I'm glad there is someone who can stand against me this long, but I'm not satisfied."

"What!? You get your hits," Sora rubs his shoulder. The pain from getting hit by Amamiya is still not gone. "Why are you still not satisfied yet?"

"Well, you get your hits as well."

"That's only fair."

"Not really. Every hit you give me, I need to give them back twice," Amamiya stands up.

Sora groans and stands up as well. His body was full of pain. "Where is the jittery Amamiya that I met before?"

"She is already shaped to be a formidable battlemage," says Amamiya, patting her chest with the fist.

"You are really full of pride."

***

Both Captain Lydia and Margaret sit in an empty cafeteria late at night.

"How is the training?" asks Lydia.

"Good. Very good and promising, in fact. He's mine, alright," says Margaret with a very evil tone.

"Not a change. He needs more than you as a mentor."

Margaret slightly pouts.

"If I remember, you still owe me for what happened between us in the past."

Lydia sighs.

"Fine. You can have him for a month. After that, he is mine to shape."

"Deal," the lady knight agreed with the captain. "Speaking of shaping, how's the other one doing?"

"After she showed her genius in handling magic, Master Staghorn took interest in her while other novice battlemages feared her. Now, with her sudden improvement in her combat technique in dealing spear, all other trainees also fear her. It forces me to partner her with someone that is as resilient as you, Maggie."

"So, that is your doing after all."

"I don't think that a bad decision," the knight captain shrugs.

"Anyway, who's watching her progress. I am not certain Master Staghorn alone is enough."

"I also put Roy to keep an eye at her."

"I still think that is not enough."

"I know, but there is a halberd in our mage tower."