I looked up from my training to see Ariana Silverspark, our mentor, looking down at our small class. As she sat on her balcony surveying our progress, I saw a look of sadness cross her face. I wondered if it was that we weren't progressing enough, or if she was having a personal problem at home. She noticed me staring, and I immediately put my head down. After a while, I glanced around at the class surrounding me, Ladinderia, Eladra, Andras and me, Aiyanna. Andras was the only boy in our group, he had golden-red hair, sparking green eyes, a sense of humor… and was strong, good at pretty much, any bladed weapon. The tall, blonde girl that is standing beside me is Eladra, she is a shy, skinny girl, but also very strong, able to wield a full sized sword and shield, only weeks into practice! Next to Andras, there is Ladinderia, she is a snotty, self absorbed brat, who is always wearing beautiful dresses to training, just to impress him! I despise her, she is a beautiful, raven haired girl, with a small sculpted face. Eladra, who is my friend, would never flirt with him, even if she did like him, but Lad, ergh, she just won't stop! Then, there's me, a long, auburn color haired girl, with a strong personality and a sense for right and wrong. The only weapon I've ever been good at is a small dagger in each hand. Ariana hates that I used two weapons, and is trying to get me used to two handed weapons. Two handed swords are working somewhat well, and Ariana just presented me with a very long, wooden practice weapon.

I was just sheathing my pathetic attempt at a weapon, when I heard a musical voice from behind me. "Nice sword." It was Andras!

I quickly thought up an answer, but what I had worked out in my head was turned into, "Thanks, my humiliation level just upped five points." This made him laugh and I said, "Your weapons are equally impressive, thank you very much." I had finally found my brain, pushing this response out at the God-like being before me.

"Well, we should probably practice more, so we can get real weapons." He said back to me.

"You and I? Wouldn't you rather practice with Lad?"

Andras chuckled and said, "Would you?" They laughed, and it was at this moment that Ladinderia walked up to him and hooked her arm around his. She glared at me, and, pointedly ignoring the me, said, "Well, Andras, what were you two talking about then, hmm?"

I replied, surliness creeping into my voice, "Actually Lad, we were just talking about… you!" She glanced up at Andras, and pouted up her bottom lip.

He sighed and said, "Me and Aiya were just about to go practice." I gave him a pained look and he replied with a helpless shrug.

Ladinderia's face brightened and she clung on to him, saying, "Ooh, could I join you?" I need training too!" I knew that she didn't, seeing as she could already beat three of the four warriors in their class; excepting me.

I said, directing it to Andras, "Of course you may, this time." I put a lingering emphasis on the "This" and he gave me an understanding look, while Lad jumped up and retrieved her wooden sword and shield, almost giddy with anticipation. I was pretty sure she was feeling exact same excitement as I was when he asked me to practice. I was unhappy, but I knew that having an anger source would help me to fight. The only reason that I had been able to beat her before, is that she was flirting excessively that day, and it was really getting on my nerves. After I had defeated her, Ariana had congratulated me, but that was then, so, we, all three of us, walked over to a small grassy patch of ground and decided who would go first.

I said, "Well, could I duel Ladinderia first?" I thought that I should probably get this over with. As I stood up, I unsheathed my sword in a small, smooth graceful movement. I grinned with satisfaction as I saw Lad with worry crossing her face. I set my hands in the correct position that Ariana had taught me, and waited for my opponent. Lad was very disoriented and was fumbling with her weapons, she had finally gotten her shield on correctly and poised in her battle stance. I sat in my defensive stance until, as expected, she charged me. I blocked her sword in a parry, then ducked to avoid her swinging shield, I then neglected blocking her sword swinging at my legs, and grimaced, knowing that the hit would end up as a long bruise across my knees. I then blocked another thrust, and flipped her over my right shoulder. Lad landed on her back, and I placed my wooden point to the soft flesh of her neck, "Dead." I said, panting with exhaustion. Andras clapped from a little ways off and I bowed, a silly, dramatic bow, but it made him laugh; and helped Ladinderia to her feet.

I said, "Good job." NOT! I thought to myself as she stomped over to Andras. I sat on Andras's shirt; which he so kindly laid out for me, and watched Lad and him duel. Their fight looked more like a dance, I didn't like Ladinderia, but, I had to give her credit for looking like she was a ballet dancer; even when she was fighting. I whistled my approval as Andras swiped at Lad, and smacked her hard in her ribs with the flat of his sword. She glared at me, giving Andras yet another chance to swing at her. She lifted her sword in a parry, and slid her sword down his "blade" and gave his knuckles a loud smack, he grunted in pain, and doubled his efforts in trying to win the duel. They sparred for a good twenty minutes, until, finally, Ladinderia jabbed him in the chest, and said, "Dead." Then, she slid her wooden sword into the sheath and said, "I am never practicing with you again!" I gave her a fake pained look and said, "oh, but I so enjoyed your face when you lost." She gaped at me in amazement, obviously never being insulted had had an impact on her. She got so angry that she pulled out her weapon and made to jab me with it; she would have succeeded too, if Andras hadn't stuck out his sword and blocked the strong thrust. She looked up at him, and clearly outraged said, "What do you think you're doing! You are standing up for her?!"

He replied calmly, "Yes, Yes I am."

She stomped away, screaming and crying, until she tripped in a small mole hill, that was sticking up out of the ground. I struggled to keep in a laugh when she stood up, covered in dirt, and kept stomping toward the mansion that we called home for the duration of our training. As soon as she was out of hearing range, Andras and I looked at each other, and doubled over laughing.

He said, "I almost beat her too! That would have made her really mad!"

I replied by saying, with false formality, "Would you like to commence with the training by dueling me, young sir?"

He grinned and said, "Why of course I would Miss." We grinned at each other, and stepped into the makeshift sparring ring, resuming our battle stances. We dueled four times, then, exhausted, raced each other to our rooms. Laughing the whole way, until we met Ariana walking down the hallway.