Writer: It's been more than a year since I have written stories. Finally have the passion to create more for 2017! For this story, this will be my first time collaborating with another fellow writer named Sweet Blade. Hope you guys like what we have written! :)

Chapter 1

Heated Rivals

"Halt!"

Both fencers immediately stopped duelling hearing the loud command. One of the girls terse and almost flinched, upon seeing her opponent's foil touching her waist briefly by the tip, whereas hers was only mere inches away from hitting those vital areas. The referee then raised up her hand in the direction of the victor of that bout, signalling a point gained on the scoreboard.

"Dong!"

The hands of a huge round clock in the training hall reached and chimed twelve. With the place being emptied with no spectators, the deafening sound of the clock amplified and echoed the surroundings several times.

The loser drooped her shoulders harshly in disappointment, realising that the time limit for the match has expired. She slowly lifted her head and removed her mask. Hidden beneath the equipment is a charismatic girl with short black hair, and amber highlights on her long fringe. Sweat begun to drip down Fiora's eyebrows, as she nervously glimpsed at the referee walking towards in her direction.

"Draw! Again." The referee, who is also the school's coach, said as she stepped onto the mat and between the path of the two teenage girls. A ray of evening light shone onto the referee, showing a wise-looking woman in her late thirties. Radiance on her cheeks that reflected her youth, contradicted with tiny wrinkles by the sides of her eyelids. She looked at her students with a calm composure, sounded as though she had expected the outcome of the match, backing with evidence of similar and numerous duels from these two pupils in the past.

"Thank goodness! For once I thought I would lose to a pesky plebe like her. Fiora's opponent chuckled as she removed her mask as well, long scarlet hair sway gently from the gush of wind, revealing an alluring girl with blue eyes and mild freckles on her cheeks. Her lips twisted into a devilish grin and added, "Manage to snag the last point just before the clock ticks. Lucky!"

Fiora gritted her teeth in frustration, but no words came out of her mouth.

"Roxanne, enough with the gloating." The referee eyed at her quietly, and the haughty girl held her head down immediately. The redhead knew better to zip her mouth whenever her coach made that same stern expression to those students who have committed mistakes.

"Yes coach…"

"Young ladies," The coach continued with a sigh. "In less than a month, the annual Inter-house fencing competition will commence. I have seen, mentored and witnessed your progress during these four years in school. Many tutors including I, all felt that one of you may have the potential to be take the crown of the event. And of course, everyone knows that the winner will also be the valedictorian for the school. However, I also wish that neither of you are to be succumbed by conceit and complacency. Is that clear?"

The two girls nodded their head, watching as their coach walked a few steps away from them, just before turning a sharp glance at them.

"Oh, for goodness sake," The coach rolled her eyes. "Stop bickering like kids, you two are already eighteen!"

With that, the two girls witnessed in silence as the older woman exited the training hall completely.

"Neither of you are to be succumbed by conceit and complacency." Roxanne mimicked her master's words, albeit in a sarcastic and high-pitch tone. "Fiora, she is referring to you."

Fiora shook her head and closed her eyes. "Tu es stupide. She is talking to you as well. You are always so immature, in and out of trainings."

"Aww… Someone is salty that she can't beat a person in a duel." Roxanne covered her lips with her hand in a feminine way and sniggered.

Fiora said nothing and picked up her hand towel and water bottle. She slowly walked into the lockers room, located right next to the training hall. As she was busily packing her equipment with her back bag, Roxanne followed Fiora into the room, continued to provoke and make sardonic remarks.

"Hey, why are you not talking? Has the cat gotten your tongue?"

Not waiting to stay with her heated rival for even a second, Fiora quickly slammed the locker door and made her way to the exit. Feeling ignored throughout the whole conversation, the annoyed Roxanne quickly ran and blocked Fiora's path with her arms stretched.

"Listen here, French girl! I am going to win this fencing competition. Nobody, not even you, will stand a chance against my outstanding abilities. And I will be a valedictorian for the school, making motivational speeches that fellow peers would respect me even more. Ha!"

Upon hearing that arrogant statement, Fiora bit her lower lips, wanting to argue with her heated rival. She desired to win the competition as well. For her, being the top student of this prestigious academy would not only give her more opportunities or her career, but also receiving a lump sum of money would alleviate and improve her parents' current lives by a huge margin. But, knowing that retaliating the redhead's egoistic words would only result in endless debates, Fiora's expression remained neutral and gently pushed off the girl's arm.

"I don't have much time to argue with you. Going to go back and sleep. Wake up and practice again."

"Oh yeah?" Roxanne asked with hands on her hips. "And where are you going to train?"

"Here of course. Con."

"But tomorrow is Saturday, school isn't. Nobody is going to be there."

"Even better, I would prefer training alone. Quietly." Fiora dryly replied, making her way to the doorsteps.

Roxanne thought for a moment before she said to Fiora. "Fencing is hard without a partner. I will spar with you tomorrow. Interested to see who will get the edge this time. Heh."

Fiora briefly turned back to the redhead, and replied. "We will see about that."

Writer: Sorry if the usage of French words are wrong! (Not a French here)