Chapter 17: The B.E.T. (Beginner’s Extreme Training)

"Well, there's no perfect person in the world, Vica. Everyone hid their flaws from others only the right person would dare to see how imperfect the person could be and still stay. They were only a few, Vica, so better to take it with such care that they deserved." Gwen seriously doesn't have any slightest idea where her words coming from but she knew that it was really coming from the bottom of her heart.

"Gwen, how did you know what the right word to say to me?" Slavica felt light upon hearing those sincere words and wondered as she wiped the remaining tears from her face.

"Hmm, maybe because I know you too well." Gwen chuckled as Slavica felt how genuine she was when Gwen tells her that. She really did feel the warmth coming from Gwen.

"Well, if that's the case. Keep it up since I don't want anyone to take you away from me ever again." She chuckled as she sounded like she was daring Gwen to stay beside her.

"I'm all yours to keep then." Gwen laughed but she really meant those words to her.

"I'll that offer." Slavica agreed to take what words she was saying to her since she already could sense that every word that she was telling, really came from her heart. Gwen really sees what lies beyond the hideous scar Slavica has.

"You should be." Gwen winked which made Slavica look deeply into Gwen's orbs and she did not just see her lost queen but Gwen as well. She loves them and it was getting deeper every second she spends with them.

Slavica was leaning closer to Gwen and she was also doing the same but Slavica stopped mid-way and smiled. Gwen was totally confused and wanted to say something but she didn't as she saw how genuine Slavica was over her smiles.

"What were you thinking?" Gwen asked in her curious tone that made Slavica close the gap to leave a very long and lingering kiss over Gwen's forehead. It totally sent shivers down Gwen's spine and she loves it.

"Alright, even though we've confessed our growing feelings for each other and you saw my vulnerable side, it doesn't mean that I won't be serious about training you to the core." Slavica didn't answer Gwen's questions instead she warned her about her training with them.

"Oh, I'm going on my training for the main event today?" Gwen started to get excited as she asked Slavica.

"Yep. You're training." Slavica answered as she get up from the ground and started moving the silver steel table to the side. Gwen gave a hand to move some other stuff around the basement while she was getting excited over her training.

"I don't even care if it was an extreme one. I'm up to it as long as I'm with you." Gwen smirked but was excited about how she'll be trained. She even felt her body needed some exercises that she's been neglecting on doing after her adoptive parents died.

"Then let's get you started." Slavica offered her hand as soon as she said those words to Gwen who gladly accepted the offered hand.

Slavica might love what she was seeing around Gwen but she went into her serious mode as soon as their hands made contact. Something dark smoke began to swirl around Gwen's aura and Slavica found herself smirking upon seeing them. It was not a bad or threatening smoke but it was more on being serene and calm but it wanted to be released. She let Gwen's hand and began cracking her knuckles. Gwen grins upon seeing that gesture.

"Alright, while they were dealing with the task that I asked them to do, do you know any combat training?" Slavica wondered as she massaged her both hands and eyeing Gwen from head to toe or vice versa. From the well-fit figure of Gwen, she could tell that she did not just know any combat training but the control over her aura was indeed spectacular one.

"Yes, I've been doing them before my parents died. But I am sure that I'm already rusty since it's been a while since the last time I workout." Gwen smiled as she began stretching her body as she was preparing for whatever Slavica was going to throw at her.

"Let's see them." Slavica only managed to say when she uses her speed and surprisingly appeared in front of Gwen who was totally prepared.

Gwen quickly dodged the first attempt from Slavica but she knew that Slavica won't be just doing that without any counter. And like what she predicted, Slavica charged at her with a combo of straight jobs, hook punches, and uppercuts but every charge that Slavica threw at Gwen; was either being blocked or dodged. Slavica didn't flatter or stopped from what she was been doing. She just kept charging and throwing combos at her but with each pairing of hand-to-hand combat, there were some surprising kicks around the corner that almost hit Gwen's beautiful face.

"Not the face." Gwen complained as she kept dodging those incoming attacks from Slavica.

"I intend to." Slavica chuckled but her intention of hurting Gwen was still the priority to push the limit of what Gwen already knew.

"Whatever." Gwen kept dodging and blocking since her attempt counters always failed.

Gwen was already losing her temper but she knew better not to give in and kept her calmness as long as she could. She could recall what she learned from her long-gone adoptive parents. But the more she received those incoming attacks from Slavica, everything began to vibrate around the basement which alarmed the three people upstairs.

'Seriously, why do they have to do it there?'

"They want to make the cabin collapse." Yui agreed to the thought of her mate, Tacker as she sighed in disbelief at what they suddenly felt around the cabin.

"Just let them be. They'll be coming out there at any moment." Irina waved it off and went back to doing her report.

Meanwhile, in the basement, Gwen suddenly touched the ground as her blocks and dodges were being infiltrated by Slavica's heavy blows. She even started coughing blood.

I'm checking my vital signs

Drawing my battle lines

Going to war again

Yet, there was something began to play in her head, a song that triggers something she really had from very long distant memories.

Feeling the rhythm inside my chest

All I need is just a pen

I know I was born for this

Gwen started to feel everything. She began to feel the heat that was rising up all over her body but more importantly it was rising above her chest. It was about to explode as it radiate all around her.

I know I was born for this

"You could do better than that, am I right, Vica?" Gwen taunted as if she was being possessed by something. Slavica found it amusing as she could sense her lost queen taking the lead on teaching Gwen how to control the power bestowed inside of her. Or maybe not.

Don't care for the critics

My words are like physics

A force that they can't stop

They just don't get it, I think they forget

I'm not done till I'm on top

I know I was born for this

As the song Born For This by The Score kept playing through Gwen's head, she began on standing up once again. She even wiped the drop of blood over the corner of her lip with her thumb.

I know I was born for this

Slavica could see the sudden shift in Gwen's aura. It was totally unpredictable shifting and she likes what Gwen was showing her. It was making her feel of wanting to do more. Both of them feel the excitement radiating between them and it was making the basement radiate too much.

"Shall we head on the back door, it freer to move there?" Slavica smirked as she invited them to continue their combat training outside because if they won't and still stick in the basement, the cabin will fall onto the ground.

"Much better. Lead the way then." Gwen agreed as Slavica took a polite bow before she run off upstairs to the backyard which Gwen did the same speed as she followed Slavica.

I believe, I believe

We can write our story

I believe, I believe

We can be an army

As soon as they both got out of the cabin, Gwen didn't waste any time and just dashed to where Slavica was standing. Slavica thought Gwen was going to give her a straight and powerful punch but instead, she was given a powerful roundhouse kick to her side. Slavica might be able to block it but she did not stay on her ground instead, she was being stumbled for couple of feet away from her previous spot.

"Impressive, keep it coming." Slavica praised her attack but there was another hook punch that almost managed to hit her face, only if she didn't see it coming.

"No need to ask." Gwen blankly said as she added more power to the punch that was being blocked and again, Slavica made another stumble that almost loses her balance this time.

We are the warriors, who learned to love the pain

We come from different places but have the same name

'Cause we were born for this

They went on with their combat but along the way of their training, Slavica sensed other changes that kept revolving around Gwen's attack. It was shifting and hard to predict because it drastically changed into different patterns. She couldn't tell what Gwen's attack will be or where it was going to be coming from.

We are the broken ones, who chose to spark a flame

Watch as our fire rages, our hearts are never tame

'Cause we were, 'cause we were born for this

We were born for this

She even was trying to read the energy flows that Gwen was emitting but came up with zero. Slavica couldn't still tell what her flows were leading into. It may seem directly coming at her but then it will be on the side or under. She just couldn't tell the exact direction where it was coming.

I've struggled for years and

Through all of the tears

"You really moved like her…but at the same time not at all…" Slavica thought but she knew at the same time that wasn't the case at all. It was all on Gwen's and she loves it.

"I mean, she was really born for this…it runs in her veins. No wonder why the blood flame chooses her and why the soul of my lost queen resides inside of her." she added to her thought while she kept receiving the incoming attacks that came from Gwen.

I've faced the doubts I hide

I never gave into my fears deep within

'Cause I heard my voice inside

I know I was born for this

Gwen was indeed feeling the song as she owns what was changing her deep inside. The more she let it flow throughout her entire body, she knew that she'll keep changing. She even began accepting the changes that were happening even though there might be times that she will doubt but she knew that she'll do just fine with it.

I will never lose my voice

If I cut out all the noise

I know, I was born for this

She'll keep changing because she's accepting the changes in her. She's born for this. She was born to fight and protect those people she cares about even if there will be only a few people who will remember her.

"I've got to accept who I am. I have to be one with myself. I have to be the whole me. I have to own this so, I can move forward and not be stuck in the grave past that only hurts and drowning me." Gwen thought as she began to ignite the blood flame without forcing or being overpowered by it. It came out naturally to her as she kept exchanging intense blows with Slavica.

The blood flame that suddenly came out naturally from Gwen's fist each time she decided on hitting Slavica's head or letting her kicks land perfectly on her. Slavica couldn't be more proud of how Gwen managed to let it out but she didn't see it coming when the blood flame took form as an extension of Gwen's arms. She was taken by surprise when Gwen's punch landed on her palm, she suddenly had an urge to let go of Gwen's fist because there was a threatening blood flame was coming her way.

"Better to control your attempt so your opponent won't slip away from your grasp." Slavica taught her what she noticed lacking in her control but Gwen already knew that. She just plotted it like that.

These words that I write are for someone like me

To know you're not alone

The moves that you make ya they come with mistakes

"Slipped away you say…not in my watch, Vica. Especially, when that opponent was you." Gwen was totally emotionless when she told her.

Don't ever lose your hope

Just know, you were born for this

Then the next thing that hit Slavica was a very powerful slap over her body that came from Gwen's bloody flame. Slavica intensely stumbled like a bouncing ball before hitting a couple of oak trees in her direction. She didn't just land over them, they were being cut and she was coughing blood. A newbie made her bleed in their beginner's extreme training.

"That looks awful." Irina commented that made Yui and Tacker agreed since they were watching the two like a live-action series in front of them.