CHAPTER SEVEN

TRAINING DAY

"I don't think I can look at anything retractable the same again..." Avaline sighed, trying to catch her breath and calm the giggles down.

"I don't think I could look at Blue the same again..." Red said, leading to them bursting into fits of laughter.

"Well, that meeting is supposed to last a half an hour, so knowing Johann it will an hour. What should we do?" Avaline asked looking up at Red. With her petite frame she barely came up past his chest.

"Get drunk?"

"He was implying we were drunk, not telling us to get drunk Red."

"Fine. Let's head to the training room. God knows you need help."

Avaline grunted as Red turned down the hallway towards the training wing of the manor. "I don't see why I have to learn weaponry. Guns work fine. Just point and shoot. Simple. Spinning metal is dangerous for a person's health."

"That's the point to kill others." Red said as he opened the door into the main 2000 square foot training room.

"Not talking about others. I always end up inflicting wounds on myself." Avaline pouted as they headed over the weapon room off to the side of the main training room.

"I know." Red snickered resulting in a kick in the leg from Avaline.

"Ow, save it for the spar woman..."

One wall was adorned with guns,pistols, rifles, bows and arrows, and other projectile weaponry for the shooting range outside. Another wall had blade weaponry such as spears, swords, axes, knives and daggers. There were also a few other rarities such as sickle shaped hand blades, Sai, the 3 pointed weapon, as well as other medieval and ancient swords.

Avaline herself always felt drawn to the two kopis swords and picked them up in her hands. They were one handed swords of ancient greek origin. She wasn't sure why, perhaps it was something ancient, like the water that flowed through her being. It was as if something inside willed her to protect herself, and these were the particular weapons to do so with. however, just because she was drawn to them, didn't automatically make her adept at them. For the most part she could wield them well enough, but it was like a musical instrument that needed fine tuning.

Since Abraham wasn't much of a fighter, and none of the agents were willing to take on Red, he was happy to finally have someone he could spar one on one with. Since returning to the BPRD, she seemed to have changed and come into her own more. That and her gift enabled her to cheat in his eyes. He wasn't even sure if she was sure of how she could do it, but she could predict his movements and his attacks perfectly. After the Golden Army Cavern however, he wasn't surprised.

They stood at opposite ends of the training circle in the centre of the room. Red always opted for his five fingered mary, on some occasions though he would pick up an axe or a sword just to test her. This time he decided on a sword, swinging it around and throwing it from hand to hand.

"Fifty bucks and a case of beer say you stab yourself." Red taunted.

"One hundred bucks says I beat you and stab myself..." Avaline countered as they stalked around the outline of the circle, staying horizontal from each other.

A clang of metal resounded in the room marking the start of things as Red attacked, swooping his sword down hard like that of Thor's hammer. Avaline countered, her body twisting in a graceful curve as she dodged the attack. She landed her own blow with the handle of one of her kopis swords, hitting Red in the centre of his lower back; sending ripples of pain through the nerves, ligaments and muscles. Stumbling forward he quickly regained his composure before swinging the sword around and almost grazing Avaline's forehead, had she not moved in that split second he surely would've taken her head from her shoulders.

He knew he could go all out in these sparring sessions because she could heal from her wounds. That was also what was so freeing about these. To completely train and fight at full strength. Though she was slightly weaker, having had no martial arts training, just dance lessons from a small child, she still held her own. Her body well trained in movement and especially with that gift of hers. Though it was only a second or so of warning, it was still enough to miss all of his attacks. Her own attacks on the other hand...

"Owww, son of a ..."

"I win..."

"No you don't. It's self inflicted." Avaline cried as she dropped the kopis to the ground. "Besides it's a large gash not an actual stab, so we both lose."

The meeting had dragged on for quite some time, and some how they had moved on from werewolves to a new agent that was joining the team due to Liz staying back with the babies, as there were not too many willing volunteers to babysit, and now Abraham wanting to stay back with Nuala during this time. Nuada, seeing her happy with her Abraham, the smile on her face as she glanced up at him and he held his hand to her stomach. Nuada had no idea how he felt. Jealous. Indifferent. Sad. Angry. All at once.

His thoughts were suddenly broken by the scent of blood filling his senses, leaving a metallic taste in the back of his throat. It was her's. Avaline's. Nuada quickly left the room, ignoring the protests of the Tinman as he quickly followed the scent and found himself at the training room. A large slash across the back of Avaline's shirt marked where the wound had been inflicted, and the back of her shirt and down her pants were covered with blood. However the wound itself had healed by the time he arrived. The demon and Avaline were busy arguing still as he walked into the room.

"That amount of blood is not a large gash..."

"We both said stab... The blade went across my back, it didn't actually penetrate. To stab, one must penetrate. Therefore we both lose."

"Avaline." Nuada spoke up. He realised this was the first time he had addressed her first with her name, it felt strange to him. "What did you do to her demon?" He asked of Red and stood between the two.

"I did it to myself. He couldn't hit me with a ten foot pole." Avaline taunted, from behind Nuada.

"You did that to yourself? Why would you do that to yourself?" Nuada asked as he turned to her. He had a facial expression that said it all. Confused and bewildered was the closest she could come to describe it.

"I didn't do it on purpose." Avaline said, suddenly feeling smaller from Nuada's gaze. She almost felt a lecture coming on.

"He couldn't hit you with a ten foot pole." Red exclaimed, finally returning with somewhat of a come back.

"Excuse me. What do you mean by that?" Nuada asked, that felt like a personal attack on him.

"Spar her and see." Red grinned. He threw his sword to Nuada who caught it and turned back to Avaline who already had the two kopis swords in her hands.

"It's courteous for the man to make the first move." Avaline stated. This should be very interesting. To be honest, she never did make the first move, she'd rather let her reactions and instinct guide her.

They stared at each other for a moment, just pacing around the outline of the circle at the centre of the room. Nuada's gaze never left her, he just seemed to look her up and down in contemplation.

"Don't hold back on her." Red called from the corner of the room where he was sipping on a can of beer.

"Where'd he get that from?" Avaline wondered, before getting angered at Nuada's next condescending comment that seemed to set the tone of where the fight was to head. Time to make an exception...

"She is but a woman, what ..."

He was cut off by metal grazing over his shoulder. Reacting quickly he returned and the clang of metal was heard again. Avaline blocking his attack with one sword while swinging back with the other. Nuada locked that attack by grabbing ahold of her wrist and holding her in place. His body pressed firmly against his he looked directly into her eyes. She was calm and tranquil, her eyes the colour of the Chilean lake he had found her in. Cobalt Green and Turquoise Blue. This shade was lighter however and seemed to dance and shimmer under the light.

"You're going to hold back on me aren't you?" Avaline asked before pushing him back and swinging one of her swords in a downward motion. Had he not reacted in time it would've certainly cut him from shoulder to hip. He countered hitting away another attack with his sword before stabbing towards her abdomen. In a split second just as he commited fully to the attack she had moved and countered herself, swinging both of her swords in a scissor like action and catching his sword between hers before pushing him back and swinging her swords around and centreing herself.

Nuada did not give her much time to do this as he soon attacked again. His sword swiping towards her neck, she again moved, twisting her body gracefully, her back arched as she spun and swiped back with one of her own swords and stabbing at him with the other. This dance lasted for some time, so much so that Red had tired of the display and returned to his room.

"You can read my movements." It dawned on Nuada. He was slightly breathless but kept his composure as Avaline seemed to not tire at all. It was slightly infuriating for him.

"Yes. The stronger the energy, the easier it is to read. That is a compliment." She said cheekily before the fight commenced again. He thrust forward in his sword, she noticed this seemed to be a regular attack of his when using swordplay. She remembered the spear and his name Silverlance and guessed that was his weapon of choice however. Avaline had grabbed onto his wrist and stepped forward, her body pressing hard against his as she held both of her swords in her other hand. His hair brushed against her head as they looked at each other.

"You leave your right side open when you attack like that." Avaline spoke up and pushed him away again.

"What?" Nuada glared.

"You leave your right side open to attack..." Avaline stated as she swung her swords preparing for his next attack. It soon came as swung the sword, Avaline spinning out of reach before twisting back and kneeling down. Her body pressed against Nuada's legs. Her shoulder firmly against his thigh. She had blocked his attack with one sword again, the blade almost pressing down on her scalp. Nuada put more pressure on the attack before he felt a tapping on his right hip. Avaline pressed firmly against his right hip with the handle of her sword.

"I believe from this angle." She started as she looked up at him. "And the length of my sword... I could stab you into your heart, couldn't I?"

Conceding defeat, albeit grudgingly Nuada dropped his sword to the ground as Avaline rose to her feet, her sword still firmly placed against his hip. As she stood her free hand swung back as it naturally seemed to do. She was shocked when Nuada grabbed ahold of her wrist and held it firmly in place. Their bodies once again firmly pressed together. It took her a moment to realise why as out of the corner of her eye she saw that her blade was a mere space from slicing into her again.

"You are quite skilled, however not enough. How long have you been training?"

"Four months." Avaline replied.

The look on Nuada's face said it all again. He was quite expressive Avaline realised. It was a look of utter disbelief. Nuada wasn't sure what he was more surprised about, or disbelieving about. Was it the fact she beat him? Or the fact that she had become this adept and beaten him at the weaponry in such a short amount of time?

"You have a tendency to over extend your wrist." Nuada stated as he squeezed her wrist tighter before letting go and stepping away.

With a slight nod of his head he turned to leave. He had to admit that that was exhilarating for him. To be sparring, fighting one on one with someone who could keep up.

"Would you like to train together again?" Avaline asked.

"What of the demon?"

"Red? He's not so much for technique. More so for trying to beat my head in."

Nuada turned and with a slight nod of his head agreed. "Tomorrow then."

For some reason as Avaline watched his retreating form she felt a smile on her lips as she started to pack away the weapons.

Later that evening Red and herself had been recalled into the meeting room by Johann to get a debriefing on the meeting, and to be told off for their behaviour earlier.

"This is like being called to the Principal's office at school." Avaline mumbled as Johann continued to talk.

"Right. New member joining us in a few days and werewolves are stalking a small village. Is that all?" Avaline asked as she stood up. Red giggled as she was promptly told to sit back down by Manning who had joined in on the meeting and had his two cents to add on the new member joining them.

"She is a witch. She has the power of elements. She can control fire, earth, wind and water. She also has helped with herbal remedies and healing elixir in Washington. " He stated simply.

As the meeting continued Liz brought an abrupt end to the meeting with the screaming fiery babies, she herself was stressed and had turned into flames also. On her way back to her room Avaline couldn't help but notice Nuada outside in the forests. She stood out on the balcony and looked over to him. Though he was in the distance she could see him picking up fallen branches, swinging them around before dropping them and moving onto others. The evening running late, and tired from the day, Avaline left him to it and went to her room for the evening. Excitement rumbled in her stomach at the thought of training with Nuada again. It would be really nice to finally learn technique rather than constantly dodging attacks. She had also noticed Nuada seemed more solemn than usual the past few days. However during their sparring session she had felt a mood change in him that made her smile.

The next day after breakfast Avaline went to the training room to get some exercise in before meeting with Nuada. On her way there she felt that he was already in the room and she opened the doors and slowly went inside. He had no shirt on and held the sword in his hand from yesterday. He seemed to be thrusting and spinning and at the same time consciously trying to defend the right side of his body. Realising he was not alone, Nuada turned and noticed Avaline standing nearby. With a slight nod of his head he put down the sword and walked across the room. With his back to her he picked something up wrapped in material and walked over, handing it to her.

"You will train with these for now." He nodded before picking up a wooden staff from the floor and walking to the centre of the room.

Avaline unwrapped the items and looked over at Nuada in wonder.

"Did you carve these?" She asked, taking them up in her hands. They were replica's of the kopis swords she used, carved out of wood.

"I tried to find branches of the same weight and length of those weapons. Are those sufficient?" He asked. "They are the same weight and length are they not?"

"Hmm." Was all Avaline could managed as she stepped up to the circle and met Nuada face on.

"Your technique is decent." He spoke up as they walked the outline, staying completely horizontal from each other. "However, if you continue to over extend your wrists as you have been, you will cause joint pain. You will continue to hurt yourself. And you also are unable to put as much strength into your attacks as it is."

The session went on as yesterday had. Fighting with full strength, except with the wooden substitutes. "You move your body very well... That is not from just four months of training."

"Oh no... I grew up dancing. I love to dance. It's one of the ways I stay fit now, it also keeps things out..." Avaline stated, hinting towards her powers.

"Dancing?..." Nuada started. Avaline figured he was not the dancing type and rather than leave things to linger she thrust her weapon at him, continuing on the fight. She twisted her body away from another attack, blocking with both of her swords before pushing him away. The fight ended abruptly however after Avaline hit herself on the head for the third time.

At that Nuada dropped his staff, Avaline figured maybe he was annoyed at her incompetency. However instead she was more shocked that he stood directly behind her and held each of her wrists in his hands. She was short and her head just sat tucked beneath his chin. She could feel him breathing, his chest rising and falling as he pressed himself against her for better leverage. He lifted her arms up and started with just spinning the swords, then using examples of thrusts and attacks, all the while staying firmly behind her with his hands close to her wrists. Once he seemed happy with her progress, he picked up the staff and stood directly across from her again. The fight continued for some time before again, for the fourth time, Avaline hit herself, this time across her leg.

"Over extending my wrists again?" Avaline asked looking up at Nuada as she rubbed her thigh.

Nuada returned with just a slight nod. "It can be difficult to break a habit." He spoke up and stepped towards her. "We should finish for today. You need sustenance."

"I do not." Avaline pouted.

"The colour of your eyes has dulled. I noticed that happens at night or when you are tired."

With that, he picked up his staff and the other weapons before walking towards the doors. "We shall continue tomorrow yes?"

"Yes. We have the new agent starting tomorrow, but I doubt we need to be there."