Ranking Zero

- Prologue -

"Alright you lousy excuse for trainees, fall in!"

Ten young girls all in white jumpsuits and shoulder armor quickly lined up in front of an older man covered almost completely in black clothes. One of the girls leaned over towards her companion. "You think he'll ever stop yelling at us, Teresa?"

The girl didn't turn to respond but whispered her answer out of the corner of her mouth. "I doubt it."

"Quiet cadets! I'll do all the talk from now on!" Smiling cruelly, he started to walk down the line of cadets. "You ten are such a lucky bunch! You're all in the candidacy to become high ranking warriors, but first…"

Five women walked in through a door and lined up before the cadets. Each one carried the weapon they had received on their graduation, the item that gave them their name among the general populace. A huge claymore, each engraved with their personal insignias. "…You'll have to prove yourselves to these high ranking warriors."

A woman whose hair was braided stepped forward with a hand on her hip. "Number 4: Galena. She is known for her skill in high-speed combat."

The woman whirled around creating a dust storm then sliced a wooden stump five times in just one pass. She returned to the line and another woman stepped forward. Her blond hair was nearly white and was cropped short. "Number 3: Sophia, also known as Sophia of the Swirling Blade. She is an expert in defense and counterattacks."

A chained yoma was brought into the arena. After it was loosed, it charged at Sophia. She dodged a swipe at her head then gracefully sliced the creature in half twice. She sheathed her sword then walked back to the line as a woman with her blond hair covering her right eye stepped forward with her eyes closed. "Number 2: Elizea, aka Boomerang Blade Elize. She is a master of ranged combat."

Elize didn't even look as she threw her sword into a target, throwing it just right that it would slice the hay bale then return to her hand. She silently sheathed her blade then walked back to the line. Another woman with longer hair combed until it was nearly straight walked up. "Number 1: Rosemary. She is a sensory type of fighter."

The woman's silver eyes glance in the man's direction but she didn't unsheathe her blade for a demonstration. She walked back into the line. "And last but not least, Adriana."

The woman walked jauntily forward with a warm smile on her face. She had medium length blond hair that was pinned back from covering her face by some little pendant. Nevertheless, the most startling thing about Adriana was that her eyes were not silver but onyx black. One of the trainees sheepishly raised her hand. "Excuse me? But, what is Lady Adriana's ranking in the Organization?"

The man was about to respond but Adriana held up her hand. "I think I can answer such a simple question, Sarge. I'm not ranked in the Organization for matters that you should not be concerned about. But if I were to be given a ranking, what would you say, Sarge?"

"Your ranking would be 0." A collective gasp escaped from all of the trainees, excluding Teresa. The man grunted then asked in a sarcastic tone. "Now, if you'll please allow me to continue?"

"My apologizes, Sarge. Please continue."

"As I was saying, Adriana is a master healer but she also is extremely skilled in the fatal slash. This last technique giving her the name, Slashing Adri."

A large slab of granite was rolled in. Unsheathing her blade, Adriana laid the flat of the blade on her shoulder then walked up to the slab. In a movement quicker than the trainees could follow, Adriana slashed at the rock. Confusion came over the trainees since the rock was still whole but Adriana just smiled and gently pushed the rock, revealing the perfect slash that had split it. She sheathed her blade and walked back to the line of warriors amidst the gasps and jealous glances from those around her.

Sarge cleared his throat and everyone around him grew silent. "Now, trainees, you will each pick a warrior to study under. You may break rank to stand near your chosen trainer. Now! Make your choice!"

All the girls raced to their choices except for Teresa. She was the troublemaker of the ten girls and really didn't like being ordered around, but that wasn't what kept her from making a choice. She truly had no clue which person she wanted to study under. Neither Galena, Sophia, nor Elize had any of the combat skills she wanted to learn. Their skills were amazing but it wasn't something Teresa saw herself doing in battle. That left either Adriana or Rosemary.

Rosemary, Teresa had heard, was the strongest of the Claymores but her only strength was her extraordinary ability to sense Yoki auras. Inwardly, Teresa smirked. She knew she could out-sense Rosemary any day when it came to Yoki auras; it was the only reason she was able to get as far as she had in training. That left Adriana. No one had told Teresa about this unranked warrior, but she'd heard rumors that Adriana had a very troubled past that no one knew about.

Hesitantly, Teresa walked towards Adriana. One other girl was already standing next to her and gave Teresa a glare with her silver eyes but Teresa wasn't fazed. Adriana looked at the two with her black eyes, "Behave you two, or I'll make sure that Sarge has two new training posts for the newer recruits' sword training."

Teresa stared at her but the other girl just shivered and looked away. Adriana gave Teresa a wink then turned back to watch Sarge with her arms crossed. Teresa just blinked then turned to face Sarge. Just who was Adriana and why was she so…different?

Sarge glanced at the trainees and warriors. "Only one of the trainees will be able to train under each warrior. Those warriors who have multiple selections are to have a small spar between trainees. The last one standing or whoever the warrior deems worthy will be the lucky student under them. Ready?"

Teresa was still shocked at the new set of commands so she was startled when she heard a clash of two swords next to her. Slowly, Teresa turned to see that Adriana had blocked the other trainee from attacking Teresa. The warrior gave a predatory grin. "Those who jump the gun and don't obey commands will be dead in a matter of seconds out in the battlefield. Also, it is dishonorable to attack a fellow warrior who isn't ready to defend themselves. Wait until your comrade is ready then I'll let you move your blade again."

Teresa gulped and quickly drew her blade. Adriana smiled then casually let her claymore slid away from the other trainee's blade. In a flash, Teresa and the other trainee had their swords locked. "Concentrate," Teresa told herself as she shoved herself away from the other girl. "Sense the yoki, feel its ebbs and flow then…wait for it…Attack!"

The other girl had leapt into the air for a two handed chop when Teresa burst forward and knock the other girl's blade from her hands. It went spinning into the air and landed right next to Sarge, who was paying attention to another battle, but he didn't even move an inch.

Teresa was about to sheath her blade when the other girl leapt at her again, this time with her eyes now slitted and radiating an evil orange light. Nevertheless, before the girl even came close to Teresa, Adriana grabbed the girl by her jumpsuit collar and shoved her into the ground. "Those who don't learn when to quit are also bound to fall, trainee. Apparently you still have some work to do with this one, Sarge. I'd give her a couple of days for her to cool her head first though. She's starting to lose control already."

Sarge grimaced but nodded in Adriana's direction then turned back to the other fights. Adri let go of the stunned girl and turned back to Teresa. "Impressive battle skills…Are you a sensory type of fighter, like Rosemary?"

Dumbfounded, the only thing Teresa could do was nod. Adri smiled, "I can see why you chose me instead of her now. You thought that she wouldn't give you enough of a challenge right? You don't have to answer that. Now, let's get one thing straight before you get any ideas. I will not allow any troublemaking or fooling around during training. When you train with me, it is serious until I say you can relax. Understood?"

Teresa nodded. Adri looked at her with a raised eyebrow but eventually continued. "Also, when you address me it will be either Lady Adri or Ma'am."

"Yes, ma'am. Permission to ask a question?"

"Well you just did but fine."

"How can you be a healer and a fighter at the same time?"

Adri gave Teresa a glance then nodded approvingly. "I can see why Sarge said you were a troublemaker. You ask hard and penetrating questions that make people uneasy and you're too observant for your own good… The answer to your question is because I'm both a defender and an attacker, though usually not at the same time.

"Another rule I'd like to add to your list, trainee…"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You are only allowed to ask me a personal question once per day and I will answer if I deem you're ready for it. Other questions, such as those regarding training or the warrior's art are allowed and encouraged unless you do it only to stall. Am I clear on that, trainee?"

"Crystal clear, Lady Adriana."

"Now, I can't be calling you trainee all the time. What's your name?"

"Teresa, ma'am."

"Very well, Teresa. You are to report to me first thing tomorrow morning for training. You're dismissed."

Teresa grinned and ran off to the barracks. She was so relieved to get away that she didn't notice Adri and Sarge walk over to talk to each other in hushed tones. Sarge yawned in annoyance when he saw which trainees he'd be getting back but he was even more annoyed that Adri had smartened up Teresa the Troublemaker in only a few moments.

"So what'd you say to get her to quiet down?"

"Just the usual run through of my rules. I think what truly got her to pipe down was when she saw I saved her from treachery by her former comrade. I don't think she realized how serious this little venture was until then."

"Just watch your back, Adri. You've already made enemies with all four of the other top rankers. Just try not to give them any excuse to report you to the Organization heads."

"You worry too much, Sarge. I'll be a good little soldier; the Organization already has enough to threaten me as it is."

Sarge nodded then turned back to the others. Adri was smart and resourceful; he had nothing to worry about. "Then, why am I so edgy about this whole thing?"